In a move that is mostly aimed at reviving its sagging fortunes the Shiv Sena has called for a ban on the burqa in Maharashtra (India). The obvious reason is their well known dislike for the Muslim religion. But like many religious fundamentalist groups in the West, they have pointed to other reasons for imposing [...]
Secularism is one of the most abused words in Indian politics. Secularism in a political and social context is a belief in the separation of the state (government and government agencies) and the religious beliefs of the people. To many Indians a secular state also means a state that guarantees their right to practice the [...]
September 30, 2010 is perhaps the most monumental day in Indian history since we gained our independence from Briton on August 15, 1947. Let it be known that on this day India finally exercised one of its major demons. The Allahabad High Court delivered the verdict on the highly controversial Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute. [...]
I have always wondered about what the right to self determination means. According to the United Nations “All peoples have the rights of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.” This statement raises more questions than answers. Can my neighbor claim [...]
My interest in science and space in particular grew exponentially as I started watching the television show Cosmos presented by renowned astronomer and astrophysicist Carl Sagan in the mid eighties. I am not sure whether programs such as these are shown on Indian television anymore. But people of my generation will be forever grateful for [...]
Recently a co-worker of mine who is a Muslim from the Middle East asked me whether Indians like the people of Pakistan. I explained to her that an average Indian citizen probably has never heard of Pakistan and would not be able to point out Pakistan or Kashmir on a map (an average Indian most [...]
A special Mumbai Court judge on Thursday sentenced Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab to death for his role in the 2008 Mumbai bombings. Kasab who is from Pakistan was the only gunman captured alive. The method of execution in India is by hanging. Many organizations including prominent Muslim organization in India have welcomed the verdict. Prominent [...]
I consider myself to be fortunate enough to be brought up in a family environment where religion was not important. As a family we rarely talked about religion. Although a skeptic myself I am very fascinated by the history of religion, the mythologies that are part of it and the reasons why religion still plays [...]
One of the most common responses we hear when a terrorist attack takes place is that the attackers and their organizations are just criminals and that they do not represent any religion or caste or creed. A similar sentiment was echoed by the President of the BJP Nitin Gadkari who spoke with reporters yesterday in [...]
The President of the Bharatiya Janata Party has said that the controversial Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi is a role model for India. Talking to the media the new president of the BJP Nitin Gadkari said that “the riot case summons to Modi makes no difference; he still remains a role model for the [...]
The website for the “Art of Living Foundation” quotes its founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as saying “If everybody in society lives in the present moment, if we are able to accept people as they are, there will be no problems and no strife”. I enjoy reading quotes from the so-called gurus, spiritual and religious [...]
Dr. Shrinivas Ramachandra Siras (reader Modern Indian Languages) at Aligarh Muslim University was suspended by the University for being a homosexual. Dr. Shrinivas has a PhD in Marathi and specializes in comparative Indian literature, modern Marathi fiction, short story and modern Marathi poetry.
India’s best ever female tennis player today made a surprising announcement that she has called off her engagement with Mohammed Sohrab Mirza. In a statement she said “We were friends for years but found ourselves incompatible as fiancées. I wish Sohrab the very best in life.” Most men dread hearing the “wish you the best” [...]
The Hindu had a small article about the inaugural lecture delivered at the Center of West Asian Studies (School of International Relations) at M.G. University. The university is in Kottayam (Kerala). The lecture was delivered by Professor Anwar Alam who is the Director of the Center for West Asian Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia University [...]
I was sitting on the new red steps at Times Square. It was my final stop in a brief afternoon visit to New York City. One of the advantages of living near Philadelphia is that you are very close to cities like New York, Baltimore and Washington D.C. I do not visit these cities as [...]
Rahul Gandhi is touring India like no politician in India has done before him. He is making speeches and answering questions all over the country. I appreciate what he does because for the most part his comments are unifying and optimistic in nature.
One of the rules that I believe in is that the more religious you are the less you know about your own religion. Individuals who know and read a lot about a religion or different religious typically tend to be skeptical. Many fundamentalist Christians in the United States not only go to Church a few [...]
