View Articles

Particular battles often have a significance that goes beyond the immediate context, of which even the combatants may not be fully aware at the time. One such was the Battle of Plassey, which was not even a battle since one side’s general had already been bribed by the other not to lead his troops against it; and yet what happened in the woods of Plassey that day ushered in a whole new epoch in world history.

Ten gunmen, members of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, carrying AK-47s and grenades, backpacks straining with dry-fruit. The 10 made a maritime entry into Mumbai, walking right through a waterfront village—pictures of curious villagers looking on surfaced later. At that time, on 26/11, the '10' were smiling and grinning, but of course these fellows were brainwashed bots—ready to kill and be killed.

Today, November 26, marks the one year of farmers’ historic struggle, with their numerous protests and rallies across the country that forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strategically retreat and announce the repeal of his three controversial farm laws on November 19, which he seemed hell bent on implementing for over a year.

Bhubaneshwar: On a day when it rained goals with 70 being scored in five matches hosts India unleashed their firepower as they trounced Canada 13-1 to record their first win in the Junior Hockey World Cup at Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday evening.

Kolkata: It was crowded at the top after the first round as Mari Muthu R, Harendra Gupta, Angad Cheema, Ankur Chadha, and Vikrant Chopra scored identical four-under 68 to share the lead at the Rs. 40 lakh ICC RCGC Open Golf Championship here on Thursday.

Hyderabad: Amandeep Drall, carded 5-under 67 and Seher Atwal returned 3-under 69 but both with the identical two-round total of 139 shared the lead while Hitaashee Bakshi hogged the limelight as she shot one of the best rounds of the season with a ladies course record of 7-under 65 in the 13th Leg of the Hero WPGT at the Boulder Hills Golf and Country Club here on Thursday.

After the air quality in the Nation Capital Territory Delhi turned severe and out of control in the second week of November, and the Supreme Court of India made sharp remarks on the failure of governance on November 13, the government of Delhi announced closure of schools and colleges within hours. Officially, it was to protect the children from harmful effect of the air pollution, but in reality it was simply a political expediency to show themselves really serious about tackling the air quality crisis. Now it has announced reopening of the same telling the people of ‘improved air quality’ which is still in ‘very poor’ category, and the toxic air continues to blanket the neighbouring cities in the NCR.

The Indian forces detected intrusion by Pakistani soldiers into Kargil heights in May 1999 and the political leadership of the day, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and others were categorical that they had to be evicted. What followed was massive mobilisation of the Indian Army, leading to a unique war, unique because it was fought in one district, Kargil alone, as Vajpayee refused to enlarge its scope beyond eviction! The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in a limited role in operations called Safed Sagar and conspicuously absent was participation of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) into hostilities.

It is the moment when you celebrate democracy, yet realise that it is also out of bounds. Prime minister has stepped back on three agrarian laws that were to be among the darkest in the annals of history. The ruling forces have realised that to maintain the semblance of democracy, there is the need for softening the brutal steps. The indifference towards the agitating masses, the ordeals they had gone through, in freezing winter, in scorching summer, under the open sky, living with newly born and the old, was painful, since it came from those whom people had opted for to deliver solace and also rule. They were not only ignored, but also horrified, since it was also a reminder of such horrors that people had gone through in the past, in Germany, in Italy.

The capitulation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in announcing the repeal of the three farm laws, is a historic victory for the united farmers’ struggle led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). It is a victory which has far wider consequences than just the nullification of a set of pro-corporate farm measures.