Member of Parliament
for Thiruvananthapuram
A satire on the iniquities and inequalities of Pakistan empathises with its characters, but weakens at the end
Satire is the most difficult kind of fiction to write: it holds up serious, often solemn, and sometimes sacred matters to amusement or ridicule. Successful satire makes the absurd, the exaggerated and the
Read more
11th September, 2011
It is hard to believe that 10 years have passed since the terrible events of September 11, 2001 events which forced every one of us to explore how to move forward in an increasingly uncertain world, and to reflect on how to cope with terrorism at home and
Read more
September 2nd, 2011
Few things in international affairs are more agreeable, all round, than the non-official dialogues diplomats refer to as “Track-II”.
New Delhi played host this month to a visiting delegation of Pakistani parliamentarians, brought here by an enterprising Islamabad NGO called PILDAT (the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency).
The
Read more
Campion Is A Stage - Shashi Tharoor class of '71 when in std VIII B in 1968
Campion is a stage
And all the boys in it merely players
They have their mid-terms and their terminals
And one boy in his time play many roles
His acts being seven ages. At first the New Boy
With
Read more
As one who has long urged an end to public apathy about politics, I'm inspired by seeing the passion of Annaji's followers. I share their passion against corruption, and I have no doubt that he has touched a chord amongst millions of Indians.
But we must remember that the
Read more
August 19th, 2011
The current visit to India of the Speaker of the UK House of Commons, John Bercow, offers an amusing reminder of the similarities and differences between our two Parliaments — one the Mother of all Parliaments, the other the vividly coloured offspring of India’s political miscegenation with Britain.
In
Read more
Every year, during India’s rainy season, there is, equally predictably, a “monsoon session” of Parliament. And, every year, there seems to be increasing debate about which is stormier – the weather or the legislature.
Consider the current session, which began on August 1. The opening day was adjourned, in keeping with
Read more
Is he ready to take his place alongside team-mates Tendulkar and Dravid in the pantheon?
As a demoralised, underprepared, injury-ridden and outclassed Indian team attempt to
regroup for the third Test, the air of expectation surrounding the return of Virender Sehwag can be compared only to that of the faithful anticipating
Read more
July 10th, 2011
Over the last two decades, Amitav Ghosh has established himself as a writer of uncommon talent who combines literary flair with a rare seriousness of purpose.
His first novel, The Circle of Reason, seemed very much in the Rushdie magical-realist tradition, but he has evolved considerably since then, notably
Read more
12th July, 2011
NEW DELHI – US President Barack Obama’s announcement of the start of American troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, and his administration’s increasing emphasis on reconciliation with the Taliban, have been studied attentively in one capital that has a large stake in the outcome – New Delhi.
India has no troops
Read more