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History repeats itself. At least that’s what books say. Which means, history warns us that all that happened in the far or near past will happen again. Biographies of persons or organisations recap histories, retell stories, open our eyes to the politics of the time and provokes some comprehension.

Assam, being the largest of all the northeastern states in terms of population, has often been considered as the key to consolidation in the region. The political activities are almost in the final stage — as the elections in the state are only three months away.

“East is east and west is west and never the twain shall meet.” What Rudyard Kipling said about India and England is applicable to the seemingly irreconcilable differences between the secular and the Hindutva camps in Maharashtra where they have constituted an unlikely alliance to keep out the BJP.

Nothing is more untrue and misleading than the official statement that the near record surge in current domestic petrol and diesel prices is linked with hardening crude oil prices in the international market. The retail prices of petrol and diesel have almost touched their peak levels reached in October, 2018. The prices were manipulated then, and now. The domestic petrol and diesel prices have nothing to do with world oil prices. Their prices are artificially jacked up by the government’s high taxes and levies. They provide the easiest revenue source for both the central and governments. The current crude oil prices in the international market vary between US$47.12 per barrel for Mexican basket and $53.93 for Brent crude. As of January 6, 2021, the global price of MARS US crude was hovering around $51.03 per barrel. The price of OPEC basket was $51.36. The average world crude oil price through the last week hovered around $50.05 per barrel. The crude oil price did appreciate by only around five percent last week in anticipation that the newly discovered Covid vaccines may improve the global economic situation and raise the oil demand. Contrast the current global crude oil prices with those prevailing in the middle of 2008 when the highest recorded price reached $147.02 per barrel.

The aspirations for the economic comforts were growing more rapidly than the economy in the first four decades of post independence era and suddenly the economy growth became faster to induce the social transformation. Politicians and analysts found it much easier to blame the eras of the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi for slower economic growth. By then larger numbers had moved to urban areas in search of better life. They were not equipped with needed skills for survival in urban life. They were dazzled by comforts of the urban life provided to most but they were disappointed as urban population refused to accommodate them. The social distance between the traditional but corrupt elite and new migrants confined to live in slums and wait for food in cities continued to be increased. They became the raw material for the populist nationalist elements with a promise of high paced growth and employment generation. They were malleable young minds to be easily impressed.

Fatorda, Goa: Mumbai City edged out Mohun Bagan 1-0 in a keenly -contested Hero Indian Super League game at Fatorda Stadium on Monday.

Vasco, Goa: Struggling to stay alive in the tournament, NorthEast United and Bengaluru will battle it out for three points in the Hero Indian Super League season at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Tuesday.

The Republic Day celebration in the capital this year will be different from usual as the Delhi residents will have option to choose from two. Three wings of Indian Defence forces, school children and states floats will march through the Raj path to present a picture of their strength, abilities and special state features. On northern borders, the agitating grain growing farmers will present the picture of their agonies due to their belief of harms that three new agro-legislations will cause to them.

Vasco, Goa: Two goals by Jordan Murray enabled Ten-men Kerala Blasters upset Jamshedpur 3-2 to register their second win of the season in the Hero IPL at the Tilak Maidan Stadium, Vasco on Sunday.

Goa: Midway through the seventh season of the Hero Indian Super League, two clubs bossing the league so far are, Mumbai City and Mohun Bagan.