The Kashmiri word galwan is quite riveting. In common idiom, it has an unsavoury connotation laced with an overwhelming pejorative sentiment. Anyone described as a galwan would be uncouth both in visual representation and in deed, provoking an insalubrious characterisation in mind. Another meaning is to describe somebody who possesses a clamorous voice. But that is not what galwan is[Read More…]
Finally, the storm over General Qassem Soleimani’s death seems to be over. Had it not been for the strategic restraint and wisdom of the Iranian regime, the war seemed imminent which would have certainly resulted in the decimation of the stranglehold of the religious elite and wide-scale destruction of the country and beyond. It is now clear that the sustained[Read More…]
On the New Year’s Day, Kashmir will complete 150 days of siege – largest ever in any place with the world’s longest-ever internet blockade. Although the curfew-like siege that started on mid-night 4 August has been considerably eased, the wherewithal of the cordon remains entrenched and determined to activate with a wild vengeance whenever Kashmiris display any potential for resistance.[Read More…]
Notwithstanding the claims and counter-claims of India and Pakistan, one thing is now acknowledged from both sides that the Indian Air Force planes entered the Pakistani territory and returned back safely. That is pretty embarrassing for the Pakistani authorities – both the Prime Minister Imran Khan who, only a few days back, promised retaliation and the Army Chief, General Qamar[Read More…]
Shah Faesal’s journey from an overwhelming personal tragedy to excellence in his career is both amazing and awe-inspiring. At 19, his father, a government teacher who was very popular locally, was murdered by the hitherto unknown militants because of his refusal to provide them shelter, according to a 2010 newspaper report quoting his mother Mubeena Begum. Such a calamity could’ve[Read More…]
Pakistan’s former spy chief, General Asad Durrani, is facing flak. His former colleagues in the army are fuming for his latest endeavour – writing a book in collaboration with Amar Singh Dulat, former head of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the premier Indian intelligence agency. General Asif Ghafoor, head of the ISPR, Pakistan military’s public information arm, summoning Durrani[Read More…]
The recent announcement by New Delhi to halt its military operations in Kashmir that seek to kill nominally trained and armed militants and the youth that lead agitations during the military operations is a welcome move. After two years of relentless and wanton violence, mostly provoked by the illogical military response to a struggle that is primarily based on[Read More…]
Mohodai Sena Pati Ji: Namashkar Ever since you assumed the top position within the Indian army, Kashmiris have been following your statements with quite an interest. This is because they are unique despite now being too many – from outright threats to elderly counsels, and prophecies to the ones that clearly show that you are as clueless as the rest[Read More…]
Manzoor Pashteen swears by his commitment and dedication to the cause of Pashtuns who continue to be the victims of an endless war. In the CIA-instigated Afghan Jihad, they had a massive image makeover: from the British colonialists’ categorisation as uncivilised brutes they became celebrated warriors wedded to a holy cause fighting the Communist Russia. Even the Hollywood, that[Read More…]
Twenty four years ago, on 22 October 1993, Bijbehara, my hometown, was struck by a vicious massacre that killed scores of peaceful protestors who were demanding revocation of a military siege of famous shrine, Dargah Hazratbal. According to the state government’s own magisterial enquiry report, “a procession of 2,000 to 3,000 people” that was “entirely peaceful and unarmed” was attacked[Read More…]
“Raqqa will never be the same”, claims Abu Adam Al-Britani in a 72 minute long tape that was issued late last month. He provides a chilling account of the scale of death and destruction in the city that was a de facto capital of the Islamic state in Syria, when the group formally declared the Islamic Caliphate in the[Read More…]
Demanding Justice, Farmers march on Delhi 
Australian War Crimes in Afghanistan: Redacted Brereton Report & 2 Centuries of Australian War Crimes Ignored 
200th Birthday of Freidrich Engels 
Walking for peace: Pandemic halts Gandhi-inspired world march 
While Confronting New Challenges, Social Movements Must Also Consolidate Old Commitments and Strengths 
Not Adding Up: Australia, Iran and the Release of Kylie Moore-Gilbert 
Dispossession and Imperialism Repackaged as ‘Feeding the World’ 
Lives of Workers Should Matter 
A Crestfallen Year 
Tribal Development in India 
November 26: Two Notable Features About The Constitution Day And The Massive Struggle by Workers And Farmers 
Mr. Prime Minister, Listen To The Farmers 
Maradona, people’s love 
GNP and the Tribal’s Flute 
What will the opposition with individual thinking do? 
A Barefoot Chronicler Of Endangered Crafts 
Crackdown on human rights defenders in India 
Neuropsychological lens of COVID-19 
Biden’s Promise: America is Back(wards) 
Warriors vs Australia’s CoverUps, War Crimes and Thug Culture 
25th November: a Day of Dignity for the Selk’nam People 
Salute to Comrade Diego Maradona 250 Million Workers And Farmers Strike Nationwide In India 
Farmers have the right to peaceful protest to get their grievances heard 
Israel’s recent diplomatic ties and the issue of Palestine 
Survival Crisis Has No Technological Fix; Resolving This Needs Changes in the Way People Live and Think 
Wasting public money in the name of Beautification 
RSS Mourned When Indian Constitution Was Passed 
Like a Rocket in the Garden: The Unending War in Afghanistan 
Affordability and prescribing patterns of generic medicines in India 
Expansion and Mass Eviction: Israel ‘Takes Advantage’ of Trump’s Remaining Days in Office 
United Nations panel calls for end of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory 
Invasion of the body snatchers: How political science and neoclassical economics zombifies the Yankee population 
For an Artist 
Stimulus 3.0 is not a package, not stimulatory either for the economy in recession 
Social Agro-Ecology Is The Key To Real Progress and Security of Food and Farming Systems 
The Implosion of Capitalism in Guatemala 
End of Election of American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of US of A 
Do we really practice Communal Harmony? 
Political Representation of PwD’s in India 
This article is based on the 25th Chandrashekar Memorial Lecture delivered on 20 September 2020. The original lecture was delivered in Hindi and the event was organized by Punashcha, the Indian People’s Theater Association (IPTA) and Koshish. Friends, comrades gathered here; I am very honoured to be invited to deliver the Chandrashekhar Memorial Lecture this year but I cannot say[Read More…]
