South Asia Citizens Web

We seem headed for government and governance by innuendo. The PM is silent when he should speak and speaks when he should remain silent. These straws in the wind have not gone unnoticed. The Modi mystique is unravelling even before the 100-day “celebrations” of his regime. The nation’s 5.7 per cent growth rate in the quarter ended June is welcome but derives from decisions, emerging trends and impulses that essentially belong to the earlier UPA era, whatever the government might claim.

While elsewhere the ISIS factor is trying to gain legitimacy by the Prophet, in India, the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has begun pedaling the theory that Maulana Abul Kalam Azad stood for an Islamic Caliphate. This is a dishonest and devious attempt not only to defend a pernicious ideology but also to paint a man, known for his Indian nationalistic credentials, his role in Indian freedom struggle, his support for social democracy and his staunch opposition to even Islamic Khilafat.

Civil society groups in Pakistan appealed for an end to confrontation and called for dialogue to protect democracy. Posted are media reports about this and also specific proposals for electoral reforms

India’s well known historian Romila Thapar speaking of a fellow historian Prof. Bipan Chandra who had been a close friend and a valuable colleague for her. [This recording was made at a memorial meeting to remember Professor Bipan Chandra, held at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi on 2 September 2014]

In the sad demise of Shri Balraj Puri at Jammu India has lost a great champion of human rights and a political analyst of high repute. He was 86. He was participant in momentous political events such like ‘Quit India Movement’ of 1942’ and ‘Quit Kashmir Movement’ of 1946’ in association with Sheikh Abdullah and Pt. Prem Nath Bazaz against Dogra Ruler Maharaja Hari Singh. He did his utmost to prevent outbreak of communal violence or check its spread in Jammu in 1947 and on many occasions thereafter- even at the risk of his life. Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, sought his opinion on Kashmir affairs on crucial occasions. Puri always tried to bridge the gap between Nehru and the Sheikh Abdullah. He rendered great help in the conclusion of Indira-Gandhi-Sheikh Abdullah Accord in 1974.