Twist in the tale - Hindustan Times:
Enjoy this piece for New Year
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Societal morality to constitutional morality
Societal morality to constitutional morality:
Kalpana Kannabiran's Tools of Justice: Non Discrimination and the Indian Constitution is reviewed by Z M Yacoob, a Justice of the Constitutional Court in South Africa. Yacoob in his review examines Kalpana's thesis in the context of his own experiences in South Africa. Though I have not gone through the book it appears from the Review that Kalpana thinks that non-discrimination is not equality. In fact, non-discrimination and equality are the two sides of the same coin. Non-discrimination is a facet of Equality and gels well other rights like Liberty, Religious Freedom etc.
Kalpana Kannabiran's Tools of Justice: Non Discrimination and the Indian Constitution is reviewed by Z M Yacoob, a Justice of the Constitutional Court in South Africa. Yacoob in his review examines Kalpana's thesis in the context of his own experiences in South Africa. Though I have not gone through the book it appears from the Review that Kalpana thinks that non-discrimination is not equality. In fact, non-discrimination and equality are the two sides of the same coin. Non-discrimination is a facet of Equality and gels well other rights like Liberty, Religious Freedom etc.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
The C in Congress - Indian Express
The C in Congress - Indian Express:
Four Cs were used to describe the nature of India's Congress Party -- corrupt, casteist, communalist & criminal. Now PB Mehata has added a new C - cynical. In fact, the INC is responsible for most of the ills bedeviling Indian polity.
Four Cs were used to describe the nature of India's Congress Party -- corrupt, casteist, communalist & criminal. Now PB Mehata has added a new C - cynical. In fact, the INC is responsible for most of the ills bedeviling Indian polity.
Lokpal and Constitution Amendment Bills
The Hindu : News / Resources : Lokpal and Constitution Amendment Bills:
A Lokpal( Ombudsman) bill was first introduced in India in 1968. Nothing happened. Many more Bills were brought, nothing happened. In 2011 after the disclosure of several scams a movement led by Anna Hazare, India Against Corruption, engulfed India demanding Jan Lokpal( People's Ombudsman). The Govt.'s bill is not what what Anna has been asking for. In conformity with Third World Countries' penchant for form over substance Govt of India is proposing to amend the Const. to give constitutional status to Lokpal.
A Lokpal( Ombudsman) bill was first introduced in India in 1968. Nothing happened. Many more Bills were brought, nothing happened. In 2011 after the disclosure of several scams a movement led by Anna Hazare, India Against Corruption, engulfed India demanding Jan Lokpal( People's Ombudsman). The Govt.'s bill is not what what Anna has been asking for. In conformity with Third World Countries' penchant for form over substance Govt of India is proposing to amend the Const. to give constitutional status to Lokpal.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Václav Havel: in memoriam: Václav Havel, playwright and president | The Economist
Václav Havel: in memoriam: Václav Havel, playwright and president | The Economist:
A practicing political theorist and author of " The Power of the Powerless " Valcav Havel
A practicing political theorist and author of " The Power of the Powerless " Valcav Havel
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
The Future of History | Foreign Affairs
The Future of History | Foreign Affairs: Francis Fukuyama
After predicting the End of History Francis Fukuyama is now anxious to know the Future of History. The future of history is as good or bad as the future of mankind. In fact in this article Fukuyama is examining the impact of the weakening/ strengthening of middle class on the future of democracy. Since the time of Aristotle Political Theorists have argued that it is the Middle Class which imparts stability to the political system. The broadening of Middle Class is co-terminus with the spread of democracy. However, in countries like India in order to broaden their vote bank some political parties are targeting the Middle Class which may prove counter productive in the long run.
After predicting the End of History Francis Fukuyama is now anxious to know the Future of History. The future of history is as good or bad as the future of mankind. In fact in this article Fukuyama is examining the impact of the weakening/ strengthening of middle class on the future of democracy. Since the time of Aristotle Political Theorists have argued that it is the Middle Class which imparts stability to the political system. The broadening of Middle Class is co-terminus with the spread of democracy. However, in countries like India in order to broaden their vote bank some political parties are targeting the Middle Class which may prove counter productive in the long run.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
debt by david graeber - bookforum.com / daily review
debt by david graeber - bookforum.com / daily review:
David Graeber should have confined himself to the problem of Debt in present times only. In trying to show his erudition in going back to " original ... moral and cosmological notion" of debt in Axial Age civilizations ( Karl Jaspers' label to describe the period between 800BC and 600 CE of China, India and Greece ) Graeber has exhibited only his ignorance. Graeber writes that in India it was about our debt to gods, in China it was about debt to our parents and in Greece "and sometimes in India" it was about our debt to the cosmos. In fact in India we talk about three debts which must be repaid: Dev rina (debt to gods), Rishi rina ( debt to the sages) andPitri rina ( debt to forefathers) . We repay Dev rina by performing Yagnas, Rishi rina by spreading their noble ideas, imparting knowledge to others and doing good work, and Pitri rina by producing children so that the family cycle goes on.
David Graeber should have confined himself to the problem of Debt in present times only. In trying to show his erudition in going back to " original ... moral and cosmological notion" of debt in Axial Age civilizations ( Karl Jaspers' label to describe the period between 800BC and 600 CE of China, India and Greece ) Graeber has exhibited only his ignorance. Graeber writes that in India it was about our debt to gods, in China it was about debt to our parents and in Greece "and sometimes in India" it was about our debt to the cosmos. In fact in India we talk about three debts which must be repaid: Dev rina (debt to gods), Rishi rina ( debt to the sages) andPitri rina ( debt to forefathers) . We repay Dev rina by performing Yagnas, Rishi rina by spreading their noble ideas, imparting knowledge to others and doing good work, and Pitri rina by producing children so that the family cycle goes on.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Occupy This: Is It Comeback Time for Herbert Marcuse? - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education
Occupy This: Is It Comeback Time for Herbert Marcuse? - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education:
The writer claims that merican Universities are exemplars of pluralism, but Harvard's treatment of Subramanian Swamy exposes the American double standard.
The writer claims that merican Universities are exemplars of pluralism, but Harvard's treatment of Subramanian Swamy exposes the American double standard.
The Hindu : Arts / History & Culture : Landmark - Delhi redefined
The Hindu : Arts / History & Culture : Landmark - Delhi redefined:
New Delhi completes 100 years of its existence
New Delhi completes 100 years of its existence
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The Republic in Dire Straits: How to Put It Back on the Rails
The Republic in Dire Straits: How to Put It Back on the Rails:
P S Appu, a retired and distinguished bureaucrat but intellectually not objective, analyses the condition of Indian polity.
P S Appu, a retired and distinguished bureaucrat but intellectually not objective, analyses the condition of Indian polity.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Against abuse of the contempt power
Against abuse of the contempt power: V R KRISHNA IYER
Although the Courts themselves have realized the anachronism inherent in the power of contempt, Justice Iyer's opinion is always valuable.
Trust the people, Madam
Trust the people, Madam:
Why has the Family Brand / Dynasty been distrustful of the people of India? A masterly analysis by Nalapat.
Why has the Family Brand / Dynasty been distrustful of the people of India? A masterly analysis by Nalapat.
Friday, December 2, 2011
India's youth hates Sharad Pawar the most: India Today opinion poll : North News - India Today
India's youth hates Sharad Pawar the most: India Today opinion poll : North News - India Today:
This type of listing bears the US stamp and serves no purpose. Yet in line with human nature we find such listings interesting.
This type of listing bears the US stamp and serves no purpose. Yet in line with human nature we find such listings interesting.
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