Founding Editor: Daya Varma (1929-2015)
Editors: Vinod Mubayi (New York) and Raza Mir (New Jersey).
Editorial Board: Ram Puniyani and Irfan Engineer (Mumbai); Pervez Hoodbhoy (Islamabad); Dolores Chew (Montreal); Vamsi Vakulabharanam (Amherst); Ajay Bhardwaj (Vancouver).
Circulation/website: Feroz Mehdi (On behalf of Alternatives, Montreal).
EDITORIAL: THE NATION AND ITS FRAGMENTS: INDIA’S TYRANNY OF ENUMERATION
Vinod Mubayi and Raza Mir
‘Majrooh,’ likh rahe hain vo ahl-e wafa ke naam
Hum bhi khade hue hain, gunehgaar ki tarah
Majrooh, they are writing the names of the faithful
And we stand in wait, like a guilty supplicant. Read more…
ASSAM RECOGNISES 1.9 CRORE LEGAL CITIZENS IN FIRST NATIONAL REGISTER OF CITIZENS DRAFT
Indian Express
The Assam government published its first draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) that includes the names of 1.9 crore people out of the 3.29 crore total applicants, recognising them as legal citizens of India. Read more…
BENEFITS OF AADHAAR UNCLEAR: RBI RESEARCHERS
Swagata Yadavar
The benefits of Aadhaar, India’s biometrics-based unique national identity system–the world’s largest–are unclear and the impact of direct benefit transfers it will be used to deliver to the poor is not studied enough, a new study published by an arm of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has concluded. Read more…
CAN YOU AFFORD TO DIE? ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE ON RITUALS AND IMPACT ON ECOLOGY
Archana Kaushik
Even though death seems to wipe out all social inequalities, ways of disposing dead bodies continue to perpetuate economic differences. This article provides an indicative estimate of the costs incurred in cremation and burial according to religious affiliations. Read more…
AADHAAR IS SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY MASQUERADING AS SECURE AUTHENTICATION TECHNOLOGY
Javed Anwer
Aadhaar didn’t start as surveillance technology. While the concept of a unique ID for all was fuzzy even in the beginning — around 2009 — it was meant to be an authentication technology that would plug leaks in India’s welfare schemes. Read more…
WHY DID THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA SUPPORT THE CREATION OF PAKISTAN?
Yasser Latif Hamdani
I have been receiving non-stop mail in response to my article “Two Nation Theory” which has now necessitated that I further develop my thoughts on the complex political scenario that 1940s’ British India presented and which ultimately led to two distinct events which are often interlinked partition of India and creation of Pakistan. Read more…
PAKISTAN: WHO BENEFITTED FROM US AID TO PAKISTAN?
EPW
After putting Pakistan on notice through a tweet on 1 January, US President Donald Trump’s administration suspended at least $900 million in security assistance to Pakistan, beginning from Friday 5 January, until Pakistan takes action against the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network militant groups. Read more…
AGAINST MILITARISTIC NATIONALISM: WE MUST REMEMBER THAT ZIONISM AND HINDUTVA DO NOT REPRESENT JUDAISM AND HINDUISM
EPW
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India from 14 to 19 January 2018 completes 25 years since the two countries established full diplomatic relations in 1992, following the victory of the United States (US) over the Soviet Union in the protracted Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel from 4 to 6 July 2017 came in a year that marked the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration by the British occupying government in 1917, asserting the objective of establishing a Jewish “National Home” in Palestine, a promise British imperialism had made to the Zionists. Read more…
THE SLAIN ‘MILITANT’ WAS A MODEL, AND A KARACHI POLICE COMMANDER IS OUT
Meher Ahmadjan
KARACHI, Pakistan — A top Karachi police commander known for harsh tactics has been forced out after what he called a shootout with the Taliban ended in the death of an aspiring model popular on social media, triggering days of protests. Read more…
INDIA’S RICHEST 1% CORNER 73% OF WEALTH GENERATION: SURVEY
PTI
DAVOS: The richest 1% in India cornered 73% of the wealth generated in the country last year, a new survey showed today, presenting a worrying picture of rising income inequality. Read more…
FROM THE ARCHIVES: THE POVERTY OF PAKISTANI IDEOLOGY: AN INTERVIEW WITH TAIMUR RAHMAN
Last year, Pakistan’s government nearly fell. Denouncing alleged vote rigging in the 2013 general election, opposition leader Imran Khan organized what he called the Azadi March in protest. Read more…
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