The gruesome incident of rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata has left the nation shocked. I was dismayed and horrified when I came to hear of it. What is more depressing is the fact that it was not the only incident of its kind; it is part of series of crimes against women. Even as students, doctors and citizens were protesting in Kolkata, criminals remained on the prowl elsewhere. The victims include even kindergarten girls. No civilised society can allow daughters and sisters to be subjected to such atrocities. The nation is bound to be outraged, and so am I.
Archives
The Best Books to Read at India’s 78th Independence Day
As the clock struck midnight on August 15, 1947, a new dawn broke across the Indian subcontinent. For the millions of people who had fought for decades under the colonial rule, that moment marked the culmination of a dream – a promise to self – determination, unity, and hope. The birth of a free India, announced with Jawaharlal Nehru’s stirring words, “At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom,” signified not just political independence, but the reclamation of a long-suppressed identity. Yet, as the jubilant celebrations of that day echoed across a land still trembling from the trauma of partition, India found itself poised between freedom and fracture, between euphoria and an uncertain future.
This is what Sheikh Hasina’s Bangladesh Looks Like
Bangladesh’s complex history, marked by its struggle for independence from Pakistan in 1971, provides a backdrop to the current turmoil. While the United States played a role during that period, the recent protests are driven by domestic issues such as the quota system, police brutality, and economic challenges. The recent turmoil in the country has been multifaceted, with several factors contributing to the ongoing crisis.
Epidemic of Exam Leaks: South Asia’s Education Under Siege
In a shocking turn of events, an investigation done by a team of journalists for six years has shown that more than 30 government jobs and academic board exams in Bangladesh including question papers of the nation’s most competitive exams like Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) have been leaked for over “a decade”. These incidents of paper leaks are spreading like a contagious epidemic in South Asia’s education system. Paper leaks where exam question papers are disclosed before the scheduled date have become a common phenomenon that disrupts the integrity of individual academic assessments.
Mossad’s Strategic Gambles in the Middle East
Two years after the US struck the Al-Qaeda chief in Afghanistan, Israel has allegedly carried out an offensive covert operation in Iran, killing its most wanted Hamas chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in a mysterious, sophisticated bomb blast, one of the critical successes in the global terror landscape after the US. However, Intelligence work in complicated situations has always led to playing a zero-sum game where conflict can go in two ways: either all hell breaks loose, or it can be strategically controlled and minimise escalation.
Emergence of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and Beyond
There was a time in the year 1979, when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, at that moment both Pakistan and the US considered Afghanistan as a region to safeguard their interest. When Afghanistan was having wars with Pakistan it didn’t bother Pakistan much as it was aware of US funding to Pakistan but today the scenario has changed, post US withdrawal from the region Pakistan is left to deal with terror outfits in Afghanistan all alone. Pakistan has a long-shared bond with TTP as TTP is Pakistani militants from Pakistan, TTP experienced a strong comeback in 2020 after the Afghan peace deal with the US. Afghan Taliban and TTP share deep ideological roots.
The Cult of Narcissism: How Social Media Shapes Leaders’ Images
In the digital age, social media platforms have become powerful tools for shaping public perception. Leaders across the globe, from the Western world to the Middle East and Far East, have harnessed these platforms to cultivate their images. Among these leaders, some exhibit traits associated with narcissism, a personality characteristic marked by grandiosity, self-centredness, and an insatiable need for admiration. In this exploration, we delve into how social media portrays narcissistic leaders and the implications for their governance practices.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s Shifting Political Landscape
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious in the 2024 Indian general elections, securing a third consecutive term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. However, […]
Dragon Breathes Fire at Shangri-La: China’s Approach to Global Security
The Shangri-La Dialogue, held in Singapore from May 31 to June 2, 2024, is a prominent annual forum that brings together defence ministers, military chiefs, and security experts from the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a leading think tank on international affairs, the event provides a platform for high-level discussions on pressing regional security issues. This year’s dialogue was particularly significant, as it took place against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts, and the evolving global security landscape.
The Group of Seven is the new Saviour of Africa
Group of Seven (G7) is an informal grouping of advanced democracies (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States) that meets annually to coordinate global economic policy and address other transnational issues. The G7 plays a significant role in global governance, as its member countries are among the world’s largest economies and have a substantial impact on international relations. The G7’s engagement in Africa is crucial for sustainable development, as the continent faces numerous challenges, including poverty, climate change, and security threats.