EDITOR'S COLUMN
Friends,
We are well and truly into the monsoon months. Most of India has experienced monsoon in different degrees, but in some places, it’s been rather very bad due to heavy and very heavy rains. But then, it’s been always like this, most of the past years. Whether we are ill prepared to manage the torrent or is it the unkind nature, but suffering has been there. There have been huge losses in both men and materials.
We are in August. Seven decades ago, on the 15th of this month, we were unshackled from the yokes of colonial bondage. Yes we are 70 years young as a politically free nation. Looking back over this journey of the past seven decades, the labyrinth the development has traversed, it is indeed a profoundly mixed exercise. The incumbent government in New Delhi, has been there for just over 3 years, and this shall be the 4th independent day speech Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be making from the ramparts of the Red Fort. As defacto executive head PM Modi must be keen to report to the nation his perspective of the development this nation has witnessed under his leadership. We have seen some change, both in style and content. we would like to come up with our take once the report card is presented. Until then it’s a very happy independence day to all our patrons, readers and well-wishers.
Biggest happening of the month that passed by was the selection and election of India’s 14th President. Ruling NDA combine had the required number to see thru their candidate as the latest occupant of Rashtrapathi Bhavan. And they made an entirely unexpected choice, but certainly a decent selection. The installation of Ram Nath Govind (We would prefer to call him so, instead of Kovind) as the first citizen of the country for 2017/22 has proved that you don’t need to be a well known person to be the supreme commander of armed forces. However when he took oath of office and addressed the nation he committed an eminently avoidable faux pass. Perhaps it was intended. He deliberately omitted to refer to India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. As a constitutional head of the government, ideological differences should not be allowed to get the better of you. Nehru is remembered for both positive and negative contributions. President Govind (Kovind) would have only elevated himself by referring to Nehru. His non-reference has caused a completely avoidable controversy leading to criticism from opposition politicians and even citizens from across the spectrum. However his record as Bihar governor should help him settle without much hassle in the Rashtrapathi Bhavan.
Month-in-Perspective has been as usual with our take on some of the happenings during the month.
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC), has been in the news for quite some time, for all kinds of reasons. Although for India it was an anathema, it was expected to be a bonanza for Pakistan. However the emerging details of CPEC are supposedly highly disturbing for Pakistan, or at least that is what they thought. The secrecy in documentation allegedly makes it very worrying. Terms of Agreement appears to be heavily loaded in favour of China. There is a possibility that Pakistan might end-up paying a heavy price for this embrace of their supposedly all weather friendship which is ‘higher than Himalayas, deeper than oceans’. The question is Will China Swallow Pakistan? We have tried to discuss the question in Focus. Hope our readers will find it interesting. Do revert with your thoughts.
We are well and truly into the monsoon months. Most of India has experienced monsoon in different degrees, but in some places, it’s been rather very bad due to heavy and very heavy rains. But then, it’s been always like this, most of the past years. Whether we are ill prepared to manage the torrent or is it the unkind nature, but suffering has been there. There have been huge losses in both men and materials.
We are in August. Seven decades ago, on the 15th of this month, we were unshackled from the yokes of colonial bondage. Yes we are 70 years young as a politically free nation. Looking back over this journey of the past seven decades, the labyrinth the development has traversed, it is indeed a profoundly mixed exercise. The incumbent government in New Delhi, has been there for just over 3 years, and this shall be the 4th independent day speech Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be making from the ramparts of the Red Fort. As defacto executive head PM Modi must be keen to report to the nation his perspective of the development this nation has witnessed under his leadership. We have seen some change, both in style and content. we would like to come up with our take once the report card is presented. Until then it’s a very happy independence day to all our patrons, readers and well-wishers.
Biggest happening of the month that passed by was the selection and election of India’s 14th President. Ruling NDA combine had the required number to see thru their candidate as the latest occupant of Rashtrapathi Bhavan. And they made an entirely unexpected choice, but certainly a decent selection. The installation of Ram Nath Govind (We would prefer to call him so, instead of Kovind) as the first citizen of the country for 2017/22 has proved that you don’t need to be a well known person to be the supreme commander of armed forces. However when he took oath of office and addressed the nation he committed an eminently avoidable faux pass. Perhaps it was intended. He deliberately omitted to refer to India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. As a constitutional head of the government, ideological differences should not be allowed to get the better of you. Nehru is remembered for both positive and negative contributions. President Govind (Kovind) would have only elevated himself by referring to Nehru. His non-reference has caused a completely avoidable controversy leading to criticism from opposition politicians and even citizens from across the spectrum. However his record as Bihar governor should help him settle without much hassle in the Rashtrapathi Bhavan.
Month-in-Perspective has been as usual with our take on some of the happenings during the month.
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC), has been in the news for quite some time, for all kinds of reasons. Although for India it was an anathema, it was expected to be a bonanza for Pakistan. However the emerging details of CPEC are supposedly highly disturbing for Pakistan, or at least that is what they thought. The secrecy in documentation allegedly makes it very worrying. Terms of Agreement appears to be heavily loaded in favour of China. There is a possibility that Pakistan might end-up paying a heavy price for this embrace of their supposedly all weather friendship which is ‘higher than Himalayas, deeper than oceans’. The question is Will China Swallow Pakistan? We have tried to discuss the question in Focus. Hope our readers will find it interesting. Do revert with your thoughts.
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