PM mum; his colleagues talk differently! There is intense speculation in the concerned sections, agri ministry, wheat trade and the prevailing political situation with state Assembly elections in some major states that there is a pressure on food grains prices. More so the wheat prices. Wheat prices have increased to a record high on tight…
President Abdul Kalam
The tireless talker and dreamer! There was this news item in several newspapers of Mumbai but not in The Hindu. It was about our President Abdul Kalam participating in a media interaction outside the Rashtrapathi Bhavan at the New Delhi luxury hotel, Taj Palace.The theme was ‘empowering’ India. While different newspapers give different versions, we…
What chances for the employment guarantee and such populist schemes to succeed?
When the Governance norms in Delhi being what they are What chances for the employment guarantee and such populist schemes to succeed? New Delhi environment is lately very tentative. Though the Congress-led coalition government is in office for 20 months, the focus and direction of the government is not purposeful. Instead of any cohesion, there…
Education theories and ideals
Dr. C. N. R.Rao, Dr. P.M. Bhargava and Prof. Krishna Kumar All three engaged with Government in transforming India as a knowledge society, empowering the youth and bringing back new insights, new strengths to our education system. It is funny but true that no one cares for any education theories nowadays! And mercifully there are…
US & French Presidents’s high profile India visits
India’s enlightened national interest? Or enlightened international good? President George Bush was in India. Before this high profile visit came the French President Jaques Chirac’s visit. The French President came to India when India’s nuclear deal with America had created a storm in the Opposition ranks. France as everyone knows is a top nuclear power;…
A fine piece of chaste Tamil prose writing
An Autobiography Incidentally, no other Tamil district town, as far as I know, has such a well-built cultural and literary meeting place and in this Salem stands out as a unique society of much literary merit. There was one more literary meet in Salem.This time it was the invitation of a leading figure in the…
Can the Govt. afford to be pro-poor, pro-farmer?
Finance Minister’s unhelpful attitudes There is this joke feature on the NDTV. It mercilessly exposes the humbug of our polticians, brings the PM, Sonia Gandhi and others and makes them answer to some plain questions. It brings in all the bigwigs, Vajpayyer, Advaniji and others too! In one recent feature, the month being the budget…
Prime Minister vs Chief Justice of India
Judicial activism ? Or Executive inaction? Executive excesses? Or, executive apathy? How the public mood swings? From helplessness to activism! By brave individuals and dedicated citizens! Judicial activism springs from the fact some bold individuals file public interest litigations on a variety of issues, from land encroachments to environment protection to human rights violations. Only…