Indian Culture & Politics

In India, petrol pumps, LPG gas stations and kerosene oil depots are not sold by oil companies on the basis of competitive bidding. Instead, they are allotted by the government in accordance with a complicated bureaucratic procedure. This procedure has been challenged many times in the past because it breeds corruption and enables the high officials to patronise their faithful. Instead of going to deserving unemployed youth, these dealerships are siphoned off by politicians and high-level bureaucrats.

Sep 6, 2002 - Dr. Anand Deep

February 27, 2002 has registered itself as another black day in India’s history of communalism. It is a strong reminder to the fragility of our social equilibrium and the depth of our societal polarisation. How violent and brutal communal frenzy makes us.

Feb 28, 2002 - Dr. Anand Deep

Ever since the war in Afghanistan, South Asia has become a subject of discussion and focus across the world. It gives us a good opportunity to understand what efforts South Asians have made to cooperate with each other on their own.

Jan 16, 2002 - Dr. Anand Deep

The never too comfortable Indo-Pakistan relations are at a new low. Apparently, the two nations are preparing to battle it out for the fourth time since independence.

Dec 24, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Whether genetically modified food be consumed has been a subject of debate between the naturalists/environmentalists on one and the modernists on the other hand. But whether genetically modified insect resistant seeds be grown developed into a boiling conflict in India recently.

Dec 18, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Men cannot change their history. But regimes can surely filter it, mask it or interpret it otherwise.

Dec 10, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Democracies across the world confront a permanent dilemma. The dilemma of swinging towards authoritarianism or becoming a soft state. Anti-terrorist laws best illustrate this perplexity. On one hand, such laws demonstrate a State’s resolve to fight against heinous crime. On the other, they expose it to allegations of oppression and misuse. POTO in India, USA PATRIOT Act in America as well as the British anti-terrorist law of 2000, all illustrate this dilemma of a democratic State. This week’s article pursues last week’s discussion on such laws.

Dec 4, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Six years ago, the Government purposely allowed the Terrorism and disruptive activities prevention act or TADA to lapse. Now the Government intends to legislate a similar act called Prevention of terrorism Act. Pending its passage, the same law has been implemented through an ordinance called POTO or the prevention of terrorism ordinance. Does the government plan to take advantage of the present anti-terrorist mode to enact a draconian law?

Nov 26, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

The Bombay based shiv Sena is mostly known for its ability to dig cricket pitches for preventing Pakistan from playing a match with India. It is also famous for its bold, rather outspoken and loud-mouthed leader Balasaheb Thackeray. Its belligerent, hard-line and pro-native stances on issues are well-known. The spiciness of Indian politics emerges at best when such stances evoke equally aggressive responses from Shiv Sena’s opponents.

Nov 19, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

October and November have traditionally been highly auspicious for Indians. These two months host four of the most auspicious Hindu religious festivals. In this article, we understand what each of them signifies.

Nov 12, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

After reading about the Golden Temple, many readers of India Probe have asked me to outline Sikhism. Sikhism is a new Faith judged by ancient religions. Its only five hundred years old. It preaches remembering God at all times, social service, humility, equality of mankind, truthful living while denouncing superstitions. The Sikh religion has a following of around 20 million people across the world. Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the holly book of Sikhism and preaching of ten Gurus form the core of this religion.

Nov 5, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

This holly shrine has witnessed a lot of bloodbath since inception. It was periodically invaded and destroyed. Subsequently, the Sikhs had to sacrifice their lives to restore its sanctity.

Oct 22, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Named after its scenic beauty and a coating of real gold, the golden temple holds a place of high reverence in the psyche of every Sikh. Located in the holly city of Amritsar, it is also known as Swarna mandir, Darbar Sahib or Harmandir Sahib—the temple of god. Every Sikh makes it a point to visit this place frequently. All-important family occasions, successes or failures in a Sikh’s life are followed by a visit to darbar Sahib. Paying obeisance at this holly shrine is undoubtedly the most important ritual in a Sikh’s life.

Oct 15, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

The bombing of Afghanistan since last week has created a strange dichotomy. There are two goods and two evils in the contemporary world. Further, people in multireligious societies like India are being pressured to take sides. Surprisingly, the choice is not between being a patriot and being a traitor. Rather it lies in choosing one between pro-America and pro-Taliban.

Oct 8, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

An important contribution of Black Tuesday to social thinking has been the dramatic shift it brought to the perception of political violence across the world. For a long time, political violence has been justified in the name of freedom movements. No sensible human being will dare to justify organised political violence or terrorism in the name of liberation after September 12th.

Oct 1, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Support for a military eradication of Islamic terrorism has grown after attacks on WTC and Pentagon. In this article, we explore the merits and limitations of a military solution to Islamic terrorism.

Sep 24, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

The killing of twenty thousand people on September 12 has forced the whole world to think about the relationship between Islam and terrorism. Are they synonyms? Or is Islam being misused by perverted men with ulterior motifs.

Sep 17, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitaa Jairam has lead to another controversy. This time a five judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court is hearing arguments for and against the question as to whether a convict can be sworn as the chief minister of a State.

Sep 10, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Human behaviour must be equally stable in moments of joy as well as moments of sorrow.

Sep 3, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Whether it is correct to expose the wrong by being equally wrong? Whether it is moral to uncover corruption by adopting an immoral method? Whether ends justify the means or means must be as pure as ends.

Aug 27, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

There was a time when the difference between Indian and western lifestyles could be explained with two statements. It was a story of ‘eat, drink and be merry” versus ‘simple living and high thinking.” The two lifestyles began to converge rapidly since mid eighties. In 2001, the simple Indian stands dissolved. A new personality has emerged. Market Gurus define this personality as the Indian consumer and there are not less than 1000000000 of them in this country.

Aug 20, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Absence of ideology, lack of commitment, no loyalty and no vision for the future is what defines the whole lot of Indian political parties today.

Aug 13, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

It is extremely disgusting, nevertheless true, that the citizen has lost respect for institutions of the State. This is not only true in case of India, but many South Asian countries. It is a serious development for democracy as well as stability in the region.

Aug 6, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Phoolan Devi, the 38-year-old woman member of parliament was assassinated on her gate last week. From a submissive docile girl, she became the most dreaded bandit queen mauling in the barren ravines of Chambal. What brought this change and what did Phoolan represent?

Jul 30, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

The long awaited Vajpayee-Musharraf summit at Agra is over. In this column, we seek to understand General Musharraf’s agenda and the contribution of this summit to India Pakistan relations.

Jul 23, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Empires are ruled by moral authority, legitimacy and good deeds of the King. Force is not enough to govern people. We do not believe in expanding our territory by force. Nor do we believe in proselytism.

Jul 16, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Pakistani President General Musharraf is due to visit India on July 14-16 for a summit with Prime Minister Vajpayee. Let’s look at the response this summit has generated. Whether it can make room for a possible solution to the Kashmir problem? In a previous article, we explored the nature of this problem. We now move further and explore what kind of positions different parties to this problem are stuck with and what solution can we look for.

Jul 9, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Its 1.45 AM on June 30th. Policemen force their way into the house of Thiru Karunanidhi, the outgoing Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The 78-year-old man is asleep. He is lifted from his bed physically and dragged to the vehicle waiting outside. The present Government feels that the outgoing Chief Minister was involved in a flyover construction scandal. A little later, policemen break into the houses of two Union Ministers, Murasali Maran and TR Balu. They too are arrested after a scuffle. While Maran is hospitalised, Balu is taken to jail right away.

Jul 2, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

The newly crowned Pakistani President, Chief executive Officer and Chief of Armed forces, General Parvez Musharraf is visiting India in July. What hopes does the Vajpeyee-Musharraf summit raise for both countries? What can the three-in-one General bring to India and what can he return to Pakistan with?

Jun 25, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Taking lead from last week’s article on environment protection in India, we elaborate further on the policy and legislation governing the management of forests.

Jun 18, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Keeping with this week’s environmental spirit at suite101 community, this article examines the various issues concerning the protection and improvement of natural environment in India.

Jun 11, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

This article explains the basics of Kashmir problem and reflects at its possible solution.

Jun 4, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

this article examines the reasons behind the spread of terrorism in India.

May 28, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

During the past 2.5 years of its rule, the Union government lead by the Bharatiya Janata Party has attempted to float a new education policy. This article provides an insight into the intentions behind the need for a new education policy and the controversy surrounding its announcement.

May 21, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

This article explains the plight of Indian students in view of impending examination. Limited alternatives, family pressure, pride and the taboo linked to not performing well makes every summer a dreaded season for India's students.

May 14, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

This article explores the changing pattern of Indian family system from traditional to modern.

May 7, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

This article presents a window into five state level elections to be held in India next month.

Apr 30, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

This article explores the dramatic change in ruling BJP's stand on economic matters during the past decade

Apr 23, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

On March 13, Tehelka.com, an online magazine released some video footage, which triggered the corruption debate in India once again. What are the causes behind increasing corruption among public functionaries in India?

Apr 16, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Muslims ruled India for 500 years. British reduced them to the status of a minority. In post-independent India, they became mere vote banks. This article describes how it happened.

Apr 9, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

Every society contains elements of conservatism that reflect in its social behaviour. These Elements react strongly to winds of change generating social polarisation viz-a-viz modern reformist forces. Societies have to live through and survive this conflict. Since 1989, Hindu conservatism has become more vocal in India. Firstly, an aggressive articulation of their demand to conserve Hindu values has become evident. Secondly, they wish to impose their own interpretation of religious texts by claiming to be the sole vanguards of Hinduism. While doing so, they do not shrink from adopting antidemocratic techniques such as gagging liberal voices through hooliganism. ,Every society contains elements of conservatism that reflect in its social behaviour. These Elements react strongly to winds of change generating social polarisation viz-a-viz modern reformist forces. Societies have to live through and survive this conflict. Since 1989, Hindu conservatism has become more vocal in India. Firstly, an aggressive articulation of their demand to conserve Hindu values has become evident. Secondly, they wish to impose their own interpretation of religious texts by claiming to be the sole vanguards of Hinduism. While doing so, they do not shrink from adopting antidemocratic techniques such as gagging liberal voices through hooliganism.

Apr 2, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep

This study analyses the relationship between education, economic status and political development among the women of Uttaranchal. By tradition, the hill woman has been an earning member and a family breadwinner. But has she been able to use her earning to educate herself and to involve herself in local political processes? Or does the dominant male continue to usurp her income thereby keeping her uneducated and outside the decision making process?

Mar 27, 2001 - Dr. Anand Deep