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…]
Democracy or ‘Kakistocracy’? 
Reform monarchy, demands, biggest protest in years in Thailand 
Assange’s Thirteenth Day at the Old Bailey: Mental Health, Managed Risk and Publication Chronologies 
The Legend of Bhagat Singh: In Conversation with Prof Jag Mohan Singh 
Uphold the Constitutional Right of Farmers to Protest 
John Hersey, Hiroshima, and the End of World 
Imagine Trump or Biden In Church Praying For Yemeni Children Facing Starvation and US missiles? 
Film Screening On Kandhamal And Webinar 
Hyderabad Police Action (1948 Sep 13-17, Part-2) : The Screen Play and the Heroes 
What If Preventing Collapse Isn’t Profitable? 
Breonna Taylor protests erupt across the U.S. and 2 police officers shot 
The Ecological Impact Of Militarism 
Need for enhancing old age pension and other pension benefits under NSAP 
Assange’s Twelfth Day at the Old Bailey: Autism, Suicide and Prisons 
Palestinians Are Not Numbers: On the Future of the Palestinian Discourse 
Andrei Tarkovsky, Satyajit Ray And Mani Kaul 
How old is the Kashmir Dispute? 
Our duty is to ensure that our young ones survive 
The Dying Planet Report 2020 
The US is using the Guardian to justify jailing Assange for life. Why is the paper so silent? 
Andre, friend 
Has Living in America been a “Serendipitous Outcome?” Farm Bills: Punjab Farmers Rise Up In Anger 
Refer FCRA bill, 2020 to a Select/Standing Committee of the Parliament 
“Older!” … “Not: Old!” 
Arctic sea ice shrinks to its second-lowest annual minimum extent ever 
Assange’s Eleventh Day at the Old Bailey: Suicide, Hallucinations and Psychological Torture 
The UAE-Israel deal’s historicity is in the fine print 
(Un)Civil War? 
Strange Celebrations of the UN 75th Anniversary 
“Manifest Destiny” and the Mexican-American War 
A peacock, divine providence and we 
Iran – US Sanctions – Unilateralism – Turning the Clock Back to Before the Nuclear Deal 
Another Reason to Change Our Species Name! 
André Vltchek – Remembered 
You Can Ask Me….But 
Before teaching in English medium, first improve the shoddy text books 
A Moral Debate 
The End of Reality? 
RSS As A Terrorist Outfit: Evidences From Its Archives 
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…]
