Commentary Archive

  • My feelings for the multi-headed and ever-reverse-evolving beast called the Indian National Interest alias Takshashila alias…whatever its next avatar…have similarly evolved over the past 5-6 years. In the reverse. Currently, I feel infinite pity. It could change depending on what shape they’ll take tomorrow. From...

    The Case Against Dishonesty

    My feelings for the multi-headed and ever-reverse-evolving beast called the Indian National Interest alias Takshashila alias…whatever its next avatar…have similarly evolved over the past 5-6 years. In the reverse. Currently, I feel infinite pity. It could change depending on what shape they’ll take tomorrow. From...

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  • This man has caused great loss not only to the Muslim community but to the entire society. He may be occupying a very high office, but we will not spare him. He has committed grave and deliberate mistakes. I have ordered a detailed inquiry into...

    Coming Soon: An Entitlement University Named After a Mass Murderer

    This man has caused great loss not only to the Muslim community but to the entire society. He may be occupying a very high office, but we will not spare him. He has committed grave and deliberate mistakes. I have ordered a detailed inquiry into...

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  • Note: This is a translation of Pratap Simha’s piece that appeared in Kannada Prabha on November 19, 2012. But who was he really? Do we go by the opinions of analysts who put him on par with political cartoonists like R.K. Laxman? Or, barring Times...

    Was he Merely a Great Maratha or the Hero of Hindu Hearts?

    Note: This is a translation of Pratap Simha’s piece that appeared in Kannada Prabha on November 19, 2012. But who was he really? Do we go by the opinions of analysts who put him on par with political cartoonists like R.K. Laxman? Or, barring Times...

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  • This piece was first published in Center Right India. Posted here in full. Of all “Days” that India celebrates every year, only Engineers’ Day is meaningful, and Children’s Day, the most wasted. It stretches the limits of even fantasy to find a link to Jawaharlal...

    A Nightmarish Legacy

    This piece was first published in Center Right India. Posted here in full. Of all “Days” that India celebrates every year, only Engineers’ Day is meaningful, and Children’s Day, the most wasted. It stretches the limits of even fantasy to find a link to Jawaharlal...

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  • Note: This is a translation of Pratap Simha’s piece that appeared in today’s Kannada Prabha. Girish Karnad image courtesy: IBN Live.  The Mumbai Lit fest on Friday witnessed major drama when veteran actor and theatre artist Girish Karnad slammed Nobel prize laureate VS Naipaul and...

    Are you Spending your Life Abusing Others Girish Karnad?

    Note: This is a translation of Pratap Simha’s piece that appeared in today’s Kannada Prabha. Girish Karnad image courtesy: IBN Live.  The Mumbai Lit fest on Friday witnessed major drama when veteran actor and theatre artist Girish Karnad slammed Nobel prize laureate VS Naipaul and...

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  • So Girish Karnad is back again. In style. And with a fury I scarcely expected he was capable of. It’s really a monumental pity that a fine actor like Girish Karnad can nary control his itch to mouth inanities. On Friday afternoon at the Tata...

    Girish Karnad’s Toxic Tantrums

    So Girish Karnad is back again. In style. And with a fury I scarcely expected he was capable of. It’s really a monumental pity that a fine actor like Girish Karnad can nary control his itch to mouth inanities. On Friday afternoon at the Tata...

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  • How often have you heard this refrain or its variants: Naah! I don’t go to temples. I don’t like going to temples…I mean, there’s no point…all that noise, meaningless mantras and rituals…some are so unhygienic…I believe in God but I’m spiritual…after all, Hinduism is a...

    On The Need to Revive the Temple Culture

    How often have you heard this refrain or its variants: Naah! I don’t go to temples. I don’t like going to temples…I mean, there’s no point…all that noise, meaningless mantras and rituals…some are so unhygienic…I believe in God but I’m spiritual…after all, Hinduism is a...

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  • An obituary is the mightiest writer’s block. And so this shan’t be an obituary. One writes obituaries to dead people. Varsha Bhosle will live forever. Her bodily death is, in the highest tradition of Sanatana Dharma, but a temporary station in an eternal journey. Speculations...

    Varsha Will Live On

    An obituary is the mightiest writer’s block. And so this shan’t be an obituary. One writes obituaries to dead people. Varsha Bhosle will live forever. Her bodily death is, in the highest tradition of Sanatana Dharma, but a temporary station in an eternal journey. Speculations...

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  • Exactly one refrain emanating from the 1970s generation encapsulates the significance of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday: a complaint that October 2nd is a Dry Day. That’s what Gandhi has been reduced to after 65 years: a symbol of Prohibition that middle class India must vocally protest...

    Mahatma Gandhi’s True Legacy

    Exactly one refrain emanating from the 1970s generation encapsulates the significance of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday: a complaint that October 2nd is a Dry Day. That’s what Gandhi has been reduced to after 65 years: a symbol of Prohibition that middle class India must vocally protest...

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  • Note: This is a translation of Pratap Simha’s original Kannada Prabha piece titled Baaibittare Banna Bayalaaguttademba Bhayave Manmohan Singh published last Saturday.   Hazaron jawabon se acchi hai khamoshi meri  Na jaane kitne sawalon ke aabroo rakhe So please answer us: how did this loot...

    Are you Scared the True Colours will Show if you Open your Mouth Dr. Singh?

    Note: This is a translation of Pratap Simha’s original Kannada Prabha piece titled Baaibittare Banna Bayalaaguttademba Bhayave Manmohan Singh published last Saturday.   Hazaron jawabon se acchi hai khamoshi meri  Na jaane kitne sawalon ke aabroo rakhe So please answer us: how did this loot...

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  • There used to be a time not too long ago when the most charitable thing that the media said about Modi went something like this: “Narendra Modi is no stranger to controversy.” The story of how that narrative changed after the courts exonerated him in...

    How Narendra Modi Spoiled Media Prime Time Party

    There used to be a time not too long ago when the most charitable thing that the media said about Modi went something like this: “Narendra Modi is no stranger to controversy.” The story of how that narrative changed after the courts exonerated him in...

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  • NOTE: This is my translation of Pratap Simha’s piece titled Hindugale Haedigalaagiruvaaga Anyarannu Doori Phalavenu that appeared in Kannada Prabha on August 25, 2012. As always, comments and criticism are welcome. It has been called brain drain or flight of talent. Much noise has been...

    Why Blame Others When Hindus Themselves are Cowards?

    NOTE: This is my translation of Pratap Simha’s piece titled Hindugale Haedigalaagiruvaaga Anyarannu Doori Phalavenu that appeared in Kannada Prabha on August 25, 2012. As always, comments and criticism are welcome. It has been called brain drain or flight of talent. Much noise has been...

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