Archive for the “Politics” category

A discussion on trial by media and its ethical limits

by Ritwik on December 27, 2013

A discussion on TV reporting and its ethical limits in the background of Khurshid Anwar’s media trial and his subsequent suicide.It will be an open forum.Prominent journalists will be participating in the discussion.

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Mannequin Lingerie Ban in Mumbai – It’s about controlling women, not men

by Ritwik on May 29, 2013

While the BMC is trying to spin this move as a means to control men by removing from sight a ‘provocative’ object, it should be more than clear that the real attempt is to control women’s sexuality.

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Nandy Controversy – Not isolated but part of a worrying pattern

by Ritwik on January 27, 2013

Here is a former national president of the main opposition party, publicly threatening IT officials. There seems to be no imminent threat to Mr Gadkari’s liberty. In contrast, an academic’s loose comments have attracted non-bailable provisions of the law!

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Delhi gangrape case – protest at India gate!

by Ritwik on December 19, 2012

Please join protest against lack of safety, particularly for women, in Delhi. India Gate, 5pm, 19 December 2012. ——— On demands of castration and death sentences: Its a reflection of the helplessness felt by even our “upper classes” (on fb) (…)

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Corruption, Cash Transfer and Crony Capitalism

by Ritwik on October 22, 2012

We may all have loved office, office and certainly the bribes demanded by a small-time [or big-time] babu to get essential stuff done are insidious and frustrating, but to conceive of corruption primarily in these terms would be a grave folly.

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The cost of 28 seats – analysis of the Congress performance in UP

by Ritwik on March 7, 2012

Rahul Gandhi, and his expensive foreign trained image consultants, tried to project Congress as a party of change, of hope, of decisive action in UP. I leave it to the wisdom of the reader to decide whether any of the above is consistent with the image that was sought to be projected. It appears to me that the actions of the party in the last couple of years have rather been populist, oppurtunistic and given to the worst kind of sectarian and votebank politics.

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1 lakh people came together for Lokpal? Think again

by Ritwik on December 29, 2011

The crowds that gathered in Ramlila Maidan were asserting their right to protest far more than they were uniting against corruption. This is not new. The Indian public has a long history of punishing those who seek to usurp democracy. Even a leader of Indira Gandhi’s stature lost her own lok sabha seat due to the excesses of the emergency.

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How the Parliamentary Committee has “managed” Lokpal

by Ritwik on December 9, 2011

“If a case is made out, it would be referred to CBI in stage 3 which will investigate independently of the Lokpal or ministries.” There goes any chance of the Lokpal actually doing any good whatsoever. In true Indian way, it has been “managed” …

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The best way to spend your money this diwali – donate to Wikileaks

by Ritwik on October 26, 2011

I for one can’t think of a better way of spending my money this Diwali, than by helping Wikileaks in whatever small way I can.

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Petition against removal of Ramanujan’s Essay

by Ritwik on October 22, 2011

Please sign and circulate this petition against the removal of AK Ramanuja’s beautiful essay “300 Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts” from the history syllabus of the University of Delhi due to pressure mounted by right wing zealots:

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