Dhokha and Being a Muslim in India

Mukesh Bhatt’s Muzammil Ibrahim starred ‘Dhokha’ or ‘Betrayal’ is the Bollywood’s latest offering that raises several questions about Muslims and their identity in India.

Harold and Kumar Escape From Gitmo

This time the duo attempts to explain the difference between a Bong and a Bomb aboard an airplane to Amsterdam in a post 9/11 environment.

The Deoband Declaration on Terrorism: Why Now?

On February 25, 2008 an “All India Terrorism Conference” was attended by over 10,000 Islamic clerics, scholars, muftis and teachers.

Revival of Passive Resistance in Indian Commercial Cinema

That non-violence is an integral and a much respected part of our culture, seems to have slowly escaped our memory.

India Chalo - An Anecdotal Look at the Indian Economy

Combining real facts with anecdotes and colourful characters that symbolise the new India, INDIA CHALO written by Brij Raj Singh, is a passionate look at India and its opportunities .

6th December 1992

A turning point in Hindu Muslim relations in the post independence Indian history. It was a moment when all truths about religious coexistence suddenly proved false.

Nandigram Turmoil, Boiling the Nation

Left Front used a private army to recapture Nandigram in November 2007. 600 people were killed. The Muslim friendly, Kisan Friendly and Labourers friendly mask of Left is torn.

Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema

His skin color is not fair; his acting skills are too loud; he is less muscled than neighborhood gym boys; and he is rumored to be gay! How did this Khan become a Sultan?

Bobby & Jerry : Rise of a Coloured ‘son’ Retold

Bobby has proved that he is more Christian than the Christians, more conservative than the conservatives, and as or more embedded in the Bush-Cheney establishment than the others.

Identity and Synergy - Classical Music and Film Song

The popularity of film songs is at a peak today, irrespective of the quality of music. In stark contrast, classical music is getting less patronage and popularity.

Magic of metaphors : Op-Ed Journey of Thomas Friedman

What is common between Detroit, Toyota, Jack Kevorkian, Mileage Standards and Assisted Suicide? Who would see such disparate elements as connected? Thomas Friedman!

Footfalls of Indian History

Nivedita shows a remarkable insight into India’s past which comes out in this book. It is not that she accepted India without questioning.

The First Indian-American Governor in America

Odds are that shortly after October 20th Louisiana, US will have the nation’s first-ever governor-elect of Indian descent.

Violence, the Indian Media, and 'Non-Violent' Indian Society

Coverage of violence appears to be motivated by the profit margin, and often veers on the sensationalist. Issues are also prioritized based on their populist appeal.

Rise of Hindu Right Wing Ideology

Today, when a Hindu shouts an obscenity at Pakistan the Indian Muslim has to shout two to show their patriotism towards India.

The Indian American

A mixed up amalgam of diluted Indian traditions and strong western ideas, the Indian American appears to be a rootless, yet confident, brown entity aspiring to be something it is naturally not.

Talking Tall on Human Rights

India talks tall on human rights in its attempt to seek re-election to the Human Rights Council.

Citizenship and Identity in Pakistan

Before the British colonised the subcontinent, the people of this region existed in overlapping sets of multiple identities, where contending sovereignty of identity groups was negotiated and power was shared at several levels. When the British came alon

Understanding the Death Fatwa on Taslima Nasreen

It has become a time honoured tactic to incite the faithful into attacking and murdering those dare to criticise Islam and has served the spread of Islam well by terrorizing people into submission and silencing opposition.

Why Assam to be Asom?

In the early nineties BJP politically aired a new slogan—'Indianization of big cities' since old names, to them were, symbolic to either Mughals or British slavery. The idea later became cheaper for all political parties with much vote bank credits.

The Art of Eating Gulab Jamun

One evening I suddenly feel an urge, a craving, a desperate sort of yearning, for my favourite sweet – The Gulab Jamun.

Losing one’s culture

August 2003

Eventually I learnt to leave my Kraft cheese at home, stop talking about Luke Perry, and dress up to look poorer.

Cardamom Cloud over Coffee

Indians have so many divisions, and one of the divisions between North and South India is the preference in beverages. Tea is the preferred drink in the North of India, while South Indians love coffee.

Dude, Where’s My Reference Point?

The edge to Harold is that he affirms to us the mainstream perception of the Asian Ivy League quota buster. It is almost as if the filmmakers are rubbing our noses in the very stereotype of the Asian takeover-a tyranny based on the work ethics America has

Bharati Mukherjee : The American Dreamer

‘The experience of cutting myself off from a biological homeland and settling in an adopted homeland that is not always welcoming to its dark-complexioned citizens has tested me as a person but it has made me the writer I am today.’

An Indian in Pakistan

Love across the Wagah border

Kalapini Komkali & Shewta Jhaveri

Kalapini Komkali & Shewta Jhaveri are a breath of fresh air. I came across them recently and would like to share my impressions.

The Most Ineffective Ban Ever

What is common to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka? Besides being neighbours of India, these countries also live under the fear of Indian hegemony.

Greatest Indians

Ideally speaking, the Bharat Ratna award should give a list of the greatest Indians, but I was rather disappointed with it, it doesn’t fit into my definition of greatness. In any case, it comprises of people from the past 50 odd years only. So I dec