Frontline

12/12/2023

| ’s focus on alienated areas of , while ’s “double engine” government and sops swayed a significant share of voters.

Anando Bhakto writes.

While the BJP’s Madhya Pradesh win is being touted as a vote against Rahul Gandhi, the 40 per cent vote share for the Congress suggests otherwise. However, Gandhi’s OBC focus, which alienated tribal areas, and obsession with a caste census proved fatal. In Madhya Pradesh, the widely-held belief ...

12/12/2023

| "The of launched what became a call for revolution and azaadi—freedom from discrimination, freedom to live by the ideals of our founding fathers, by the Constitution of India."

Excerpt from Ziya Us Salam's book 'Being Muslim in Hindu India'.

https://frontline.thehindu.com/books/how-shaheen-bagh-women-stirred-a-nation-to-stand-up-for-idea-of-india-anti-caa-protests-anniversary-book-excerpt-being-muslim-in-hindu-india-ziya-us-salam/article67630103.ece HarperCollins India

The CAA of 2019 sparked nationwide protests, with the women of Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi’s Jamia Nagar neighbourhood leading the way. Unarmed students of Jamia Millia Islamia University were targeted, inspiring the women to stand up for their rights and the “idea of India”. The grand old women...

12/12/2023

| The ’s win in spotlights the effectiveness of its multi-pronged strategy, which leveraged the factor, social media, and communal messaging.

Ashutosh Sharma writes.

Surprising both Congress and BJP, the Chhattisgarh Assembly election results proved all opinion and exit polls wrong. BJP won 54 seats with 46.27% vote share, while Congress won 35 with 42.23%. BJP's success was due to its strategies for different constituencies, communal polarisation, and the "Modi...

12/12/2023

| Since the trick of electoral politics is to best the closest rival even if they have a healthy vote share, for the this is a superb result that showcases its mastery over the first-past-the-post system in the Hindi heartland.

Saba Naqvi writes.

The results of the recent Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh showcase the BJP’s mastery over the first-past-the-post system in the Hindi heartland.

12/12/2023

| The historic win against the mighty can alleviate some of the pain the has endured from its decisive losses in three northern States.

Ayesha Minhaz writes.

Congress stuns ruling BRS in Telangana, wins 64 seats. Revanth Reddy sworn in as CM, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka as Deputy CM. Congress' aggressive campaign, anti-incumbency, and perception of increased corruption aided win. BJP made inroads, but BRS still has 37.35% vote share. Congress must fulfill pr...

12/12/2023

| An aggressive campaign led by around issues of , law and order, , and minority appeasement ensured a decisive victory for the party in .

T.K. Rajalakshmi writes.

If the Congress in Rajasthan did not do an efficient job of communicating the “good work” done through its welfare schemes, for the BJP it was Modi all the way.

12/12/2023

| Despite being widely seen as the frontrunner, lost three key States in the Hindi heartland due to its inability to adapt: a weakness it must address before the .

Anand Mishra writes.

How did Congress lose 3 heartland States despite being seen as a favourite? It was due to an inability to read the pitch correctly and tailor shots accordingly.

12/12/2023

| An in-depth investigation by Washington Post published on Dec 10 reveals that since 2020, the has been targeting US-based critics of PM through dossiers and social media posts.

Shadowy org Disinfo Lab, led by Lt. Col. Dibya Satpathy, accused of mixing facts with unsubstantiated claims to discredit US-based critics of PM Modi. Reports allege connections between these funds and various US-based individuals, impacting debates on India's pandemic response and caste-based discr...

12/12/2023

| postulates , and we all agree that we should be equal at the starting line and that there should be handicaps devised to achieve real equality. But what of those who are privileged by association of name?

The latest pronouncement from Erewhon's High Court. By Sriram Panchu.

Names carry immense power, especially in India. The Gandhi name is a prime example, with Indira Gandhi appropriating it to her own benefit. We should consider restrictions on the carrying of famous names by progeny to ensure real equality. Our Prime Minister has cleverly fashioned his own name, "PM"...

12/12/2023

| In Aug 2019, the erstwhile State of was under President’s rule, and it has since been a source of debate whether irreversible decisions could be made in the absence of an elected Legislative Assembly.

Anando Bhakto reports.

SC upholds abrogation of Art 370, 35A. CJI: Constitution of India is complete code for constitutional governance. SC directs Centre to restore statehood, hold elections by Sept 2024. NC, PDP to explore possibility of seeking review. PM hails verdict as “resounding declaration of hope, progress, un...

10/12/2023

BACK PAGE | ‘The Dystopian Times’ by Appupen

‘The Dystopian Times’ by Appupen.

10/12/2023

WHITE SPACE | Why burn stubble when you can get to chomp up the paddy stalks? This might be the most pantheistic solution yet.

Geeta Doctor writes.

Why burn stubble when you can get goats to chomp up the paddy stalks? Geeta Doctor writes in White Space.

09/12/2023

| ’s latest legal suspense thriller, two memoirs, a monograph on the idea of , and much more on our Bookshelf!

What’s on our shelves this fortnight.

09/12/2023

| By offering two iterations of ’s 51 'abhangas', and invite readers to form their own interpretations of .

Review by Nachiket Joshi.

Speaking Tiger Books

‘Behold! The Word is God: Hymns of Tukaram’ is a new selection of Tukaram’s Marathi abhangas, translated by Shanta Gokhale and Jerry Pinto. It offers a glimpse of the 16th century saint-poet as a bracingly contemporary and continually relevant voice. The book is divided into three sections, ex...

09/12/2023

| ’s 'Stolen Hours and Other Curiosities' is filled with unpredictable, open-ended, and edgy sci-fi stories.

Review by Kalpish Ratna.

Manjula Padmanabhan’s ‘Stolen Hours and Other Curiosities’ is eerily close to a common household crisis. Her stories have adolescent edginess, unflinching honesty, and a visceral malice. Sci-fi restores a recognisable terrain and forces us to look at the human condition.

09/12/2023

| The battle for supremacy over the appointment of judges, between the and the Executive, now appears tilted in favour of the latter, although the Supreme Court’s may still have the final say on the matter as per the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP).

V. Venkatesan writes.

Supreme Court's Collegium may have final say in battle for appointment of Judges, despite Union Govt's attempts to manipulate system. Justice Kaul's efforts to resolve impasse through judicial means have been futile, suggesting resolution through judicial system may not be possible.

08/12/2023

| The recent in , , and showcase the ’s mastery over the first-past-the-post system in the Hindi heartland.

Saba Naqvi writes.

The results of the recent Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh showcase the BJP’s mastery over the first-past-the-post system in the Hindi heartland.

08/12/2023

| "Anyone who speaks about the - nexus, and how is being handed over the entire country’s infrastructure on a plate, is being targeted."

in conversation with Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay on the case.

Mahua Moitra, Trinamool Congress MP from Krishnanagar, told Frontline that she was “willing to answer all questions” but would not allow herself “to be subjected to such a public disrobing under a BJP whip”. She spoke at length about the unfolding controversy and claimed that even in the pas...

08/12/2023

| ’s new film is underwhelming enough for you to want more style and less substance.

Takshi Mehta writes.

Zoya Akhtar’s new film is underwhelming enough for you to want more style and less substance.

08/12/2023

| ’s book challenges us to examine the pandemic and reimagine our approach to .

Review by T.K. Rajalakshmi.

Speaking Tiger Books

Harsh Mander’s book on the COVID pandemic draws on individual narratives and media reports and reminds us of the things that went wrong and how things might have been different.

08/12/2023

| proposes a set of focus areas for the country’s while offering a way forward to activate the recommendations made.

Review by Uma Mahadevan-Dasgupta.

Sanjay Kaul’s book offers an actionable set of recommendations for people-centred developmental development in India. It proposes focus areas such as health, nutrition, food security, early childhood, school education, livelihoods, gender, and urbanisation. It advocates for involving people and co...

08/12/2023

ESSAY | With a fascinating gallery of images, quotes from texts, and poems and proverbs, this charming book is a cat lover’s dream.

Anusua Mukherjee writes.

B.N. Goswamy’s last book, ‘The Indian Cat’, is a charming and enlightening exploration of the feline in Indian art and literature. Through stories, poems, and paintings, Goswamy reveals the cat’s varied roles in Indian culture, from deceitful symbol to beloved pet. He also examines the cat.....

07/12/2023

| endears itself to travellers with remote pastoralism and an inaccessible, unearthly beauty. Like crossing a moat to enter a castle, before one reaches the green vale, there is a six-hour drive from Srinagar to endure.

Lakshmi Sankaran writes.

Kashmir’s remote Gurez Valley, a pristine land of emerald rivers and sapphire mountains, is poised for a cultural and commercial transformation as more and more tourists troop in. The Gurez Valley offers an unearthly beauty and remote pastoralism, drawing trekkers, family vacationers, and tourists...

07/12/2023

is an model trained to behave in human-like ways that might intensify the debate about the technology’s potential promise and perils. Is this the next big thing in ?

Google launches AI model Gemini, with Nano and Pro versions incorporated into its AI-powered chatbot Bard and Pixel 8 Pro smartphone. Gemini's Ultra model will be used to launch “Bard Advanced”, capable of multitasking and understanding text, photos, and video. Google competes with OpenAI and Mi...

07/12/2023

| With 14,247 cases in 2022, registered the highest rate of in India at 144.4—way above the country’s average rate of 66.4. Such cases in the national capital stood at 14,277 in 2021 and 10,093 in 2020.

The NCRB’s “Crime in India 2022” report reveals a surge in crimes against women in India with 4,45,256 cases registered in 2022, equivalent to 51 FIRs per hour. Delhi recorded the highest rate of 144.4, followed by Haryana (118.7). Uttar Pradesh (65,743) registered the highest number of FIRs, ...

06/12/2023

| 's multi-layered , encompassing diverse cultural narratives, is sought to be flattened today, as the new comes up at the site of the , which was demolished 31 years ago on Dec 6, 1992.

Ismat Ara writes.

Ayodhya’s rich cultural identity is shaped as much by its Muslim, Buddhist, and Jain pasts as by its Hindu cultural narratives. But this multi-layered history is sought to be flattened today. Ayodhya, historically known for its syncretic culture, now tends to be associated only with the Ram Mandir...

05/12/2023

PHOTO ESSAY | The “beautiful jungle” that straddles and to form the world’s largest forest known as is facing a coastal erosion emergency that threatens the survival of its 7.7 million inhabitants, 2.7 million in Bangladesh and five million in India. And is only hastening the inevitable.

Text & photos by Shailendra Yashwant.

Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest straddling India and Bangladesh, is facing a coastal erosion emergency threatening its 7.7 million inhabitants. Climate change is exacerbating the natural phenomena, forcing 1.5 million people to move and costing $250 million annually. The Sundari tree...

05/12/2023

’s cultural , encompassing Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu influences, is being overshadowed by the construction of the .

Ismat Ara writes.

Ayodhya’s rich cultural identity is shaped as much by its Muslim, Buddhist, and Jain pasts as by its Hindu cultural narratives. But this multi-layered history is sought to be flattened today. Ayodhya, historically known for its syncretic culture, now tends to be associated only with the Ram Mandir...

05/12/2023

| A solar cell with unprecedented power conversion efficiency,
plus the inadequacy of countries’ plans, and making glass-making greener in this edition of .

R. Ramachandran writes.

In this edition of Science Notebook, a look at the new design of the perovskite solar cell and its unprecedented power conversion efficiency, the inadequacy of countries’ climate action plans, and making glass making greener.

05/12/2023

| The 3-1 victory of the in the for four States— , , and —has highlighted the mounting challenge before the ahead of the 2024 general election, though it can take solace from its victory in , where it snatched power from powerful regional player .

BJP secures dominant 3-1 victory in Assembly elections, amplifies Congress’ 2024 challenges. Congress’ heartland debacle raises questions about the efficacy of Rahul Gandhi’s OBC pitch and demands for a caste census.

03/12/2023

| When a critic dies, they take with them their non-fungible, inimitable way of looking at the world, and of capturing it, too. What they leave behind are traces, such as ’s writings and lectures on Indian , which then become essential to our education. May that education live on.

Prathyush Parasuraman writes.

Goswamy's lectures and writings on Indian art offer pathways to see the world with desire, to turn context into consciousness and meditation into meaning. He was instrumental in energising an entire patch of us into the cult of seeing, of being alive to the world, to art. He sought to understand the...

03/12/2023

TRIBUTE | A researcher with an incredible academic rigour and a keen eye for detail, was a rarity among art writers: he could convey his profound ideas in prose that approached poetry in its lyricism and simplicity.

Soumitra Das writes.

A researcher with incredible academic rigour and a keen eye for detail, B.N. Goswamy was a rarity among art writers: he could convey profound ideas in prose that approached poetry in its lyricism and simplicity. Brijinder Nath Goswamy, an international authority on Indian painting, made significant....

02/12/2023

PROFILE | As the economist-turned-politician takes office as 's next President on December 10, the 53-year-old has significantly toned down his rhetoric.

https://frontline.thehindu.com/news/profile-javier-milei-can-argentina-president-turn-from-rabble-rouser-to-realist/article67597640.ece

02/12/2023

| The bubble has truly burst for now. The digital assets, which were a pandemic curiosity, experienced a massive rise in value before a huge crash. Do they have a future?

NFTs saw a boom in 2021, reaching a $40 billion market value. By 2023, trading volumes had dropped by 97 per cent. In November 2023, OpenSea laid off half its workforce. There are signs of a modest revival, but skepticism remains. NFTs revolutionised digital art and have potential for digital identi...

02/12/2023

| Despite his campaign promise to withdraw Indian military troops from the archipelago nation, newly elected Maldivian President met with Prime Minister & agreed to deepen bilateral ties.

R.K. Radhakrishnan writes.

PM Modi and Maldives President Muizzu meet on sidelines of the climate summit COP28, agree to set up core group to further deepen their partnership. Muizzu’s demand for Indian troops to leave Maldives not mentioned in the statements. India must prioritise strategic security, not cater to local nar...

02/12/2023

| The 's chances of becoming a strong regional force have significantly diminished following its electoral defeat and subsequent reunion with the .

Vikhar Ahmed Sayeed writes.

The JD(S) continues to remain in the control of Deve Gowda and his family and does not tolerate any attempt challenging their hegemony.

01/12/2023

, the former US Secretary of State, was widely reviled as a war criminal but much admired in the US.

Tariq Ali writes.

Remembering Henry Kissinger, widely reviled as a war criminal but much admired in the US. The controversial former US Secretary of State was involved in several war crimes in South-East Asia, South Asia, and Africa.

01/12/2023

| And yet, is not witnessing a polarised election. Indeed, the main determinant of voting choices appear to be identities.

Saba Naqvi on the .

On my travels in Rajasthan, the one thing that struck me was the various organisational parts of the BJP functioning in sync across the State. There are lessons in it for other political parties because what seemed advantage Congress until a few weeks ago is now anybody’s game.

01/12/2023

The opened by operationalising the landmark , setting an ambitious agenda for climate talks. Finance, adaptation & are in focus in the effort to reach an impactful climate agreement.

Mrinali K. writes.

https://frontline.thehindu.com/environment/cop28-unfcc-climate-conference-opens-in-dubai-uae-loss-and-damage-fund/article67593674.ece Land Conflict Watch

At COP28, Dubai launched the Loss and Damage Fund to help vulnerable nations cope with climate change impacts. The conference aims to bridge the gap between developed and developing nations, and to solidify plans to combat climate change. Key issues include the fight for adequate climate finance, th...