New Delhi is proud of its indigenous development of ballistic missiles, but the reality is that massive investments in this area have yielded little real return and languid state-owned labs continue to dominate the military R&D sector.
The vision of Pakistan's founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, that of a liberal, democratic society tolerant of religious minorities, has largely gone away. What can take its place is uncertain. This uncertainty has produced a sort of identity crisis in Pakistan.
Good governance balances growth with justice. And that's why accountability, transparency and whistleblowing are critical to ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders in the policy process. Until we get that balance right, India's grand narrative can wait.
A recent Open Letter to President Obama written by a host of well-known and experienced Afghan experts, which includes a recommendation to end the escalating war in Afghanistan and Pakistan through a power-sharing arrangement with the Taliban, presents itself as a realistic new alternative.
In a country where onion prices have had a definitive impact on electoral outcomes, the UPA government has announced measures for providing relief to consumers from the sudden rise in food prices. Most of the proposed measures are criticised as populist and ad hoc.
It is hoped that good sense will prevail on the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and they will give up their plans to hold their own flag-hoisting function in the Lal Chowk of Srinagar on the Republic Day on January 26.
In justification of their intolerance, bigotry and belligerence, the Left-liberals say, “We must draw a distinction between ‘hate speech’ and ‘free speech’.” Really? When does ‘free speech’ become ‘hate speech’? When it bruises bogus Left-liberal sensitivities?
In the early days of the struggle for India’s freedom, Netaji’s influence and impact on the freedom movement was equal to (if not more than) that of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Unfortunately the relationship between Netaji on one hand, and Mahatma on the other was uneasy and fraught with disagreements.
Those who travelled to the fifth Vibrant Gujarat Summit this past week experienced not just dazzling investment statistics and the fruits of purposeful governance but also, in a sense, social engineering.
The issue of corruption in India appears to be overtly generalized and ignores some important nuances which need to be highlighted if the problem of corruption is to be genuinely addressed.
