Venu Naturopathy

 

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Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka can lead a new chapter in Indian para-diplomacy

The post-1991 era of economic liberalization catalyzed a paradigm shift in India's federal structure, empowering states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to engage in para-diplomacy and craft their global economic narratives. Their early success in leveraging IT-led growth demonstrated the transformative potential of subnational diplomacy. 

Across South Asia Slum Dwellers Are Deprived Of Their Human Rights

Eviction of slum dwellers in South Asian nations cannot merely be dismissed as collateral damage of urban development and anti-encroachment drives. They reflect a larger, alarming trend of displacement of the urban poor and gross violations of their dignity and human rights.

South Asian Women To The Fore In Peacebuilding And Crisis Response

South Asian feminist voices are calling for a shift from tokenism to transformation. The path forward lies in institutionalising women’s participation across diplomatic, security, and environmental policymaking. Whether it’s building back peace in Sri Lanka, safeguarding water rights in the Indus basin, or protecting Rohingya women refugees in Bangladesh, South Asia’s feminist peacebuilders are not just responding to crises; they are redefining what peace means.

50 years of Emergency: Have any lessons been learnt?

The fateful March 1977 election vindicated Indian democratic traditions and proved the triumph of freedom over bread.  Ballot after regular ballot has shown that just because a man is poor and maybe cannot read does not mean he does not care for his liberty and human rights.

More on Spotlight

India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy: Need to put money where its mouth is

The enthusiasm Modi has shown towards the neighbourhood, through his numerous visits has not got translated in overall policy during these years, writes Alakh Ranjan  for South Asia Monitor

Popular apathy towards elections a sign of institutional shortcomings in Bangladesh?

Fracturing political institutions like the Election Commission, Parliament and the Judiciary are also responsible for the popular apathy and political decay in Bangladesh, writes Akmal Hossain for South Asia Monitor

Delhi defeat is BJP's fourth successive state loss: Is there a lesson in it for PM Modi?

The BJP may have also harmed itself by its poisonous communalism which cannot but have put off some of the party’s own sensible supporters, not to mention the Left-Liberals, writes Amulya Ganguli for South Asia Monitor

US pullout from Iraq will embolden Taliban in Afghanistan

The US pullout from Iraq, which will be perceived as withdrawal under pressure, will have a fallout in Afghanistan, writes Lt Gen PC Katoch (retd) for South Asia Monitor

Fate of a film: How Pakistan is stifling creativity at the altar of extremism

In a country like Pakistan, where freedom of expression is strictly curtailed, guaranteeing that everything is in line with an openly orthodox and conservative interpretation of religion will only multiply the problem, writes Sanchita Bhattacharya for South Asia Monitor

TTP leader Ehsan’s escape to Turkey queers Pakistan’s anti-terror stance

How Ehsan could escape high-security detention and how he could reach Turkey, along with his family, remains a mystery that Islamabad is unable or unwilling to answer, writes Mahendra Ved for South Asia Monitor

The message of the Delhi elections

If the Muslims were indeed considered equal citizens of a secular India, why would government ministers speak so disparagingly, and even scornfully, of anti-CAA protesters who are mainly burqa and hijab-clad women - ranging in ages from the twenties to the eighties - most of whom are out for the first time in the streets, writes Tarun Basu for South Asia Monitor 

Urgent police reforms and regulation required in India, but politicians unwilling

What is required to be done is that all enforcement agencies, like ED, CBI and, at the state level, the police, should be completely insulated from political masters, writes Vinod Aggarwal for South Asia Monitor

India must help curb rising Islamic extremism in the Maldives

Increasing Islamic radicalisation and the influence of Pakistan and China in the island nation may be troublesome and India must adopt necessary measures to counter their influence at the earliest, writes Jai Kumar Verma for South Asia Monitor

Can India fulfil its commitment on Iran's Chabahar port?

The enhanced allocation of resources serves as a signal to both Iran and Afghanistan that India is ready to walk the talk and hasten the completion of the project, especially at a time when the almost complete Gwadar port in Pakistan received its first container shipment, in mid-January, writes  Nilova Roy Chaudhury for South Asia Monitor

Will the Trump visit heal fissures in the Indo-US strategic relationship?

The US-India relationship has a number of contentious issues, trade being the most important of them, writes Pranay Kumar Shome for South Asia Monitor

Can Nepal’s domestic laws prevail over an IPR Compact with US corporation MCC?

The MCC, which has approved 37 compacts for 29 countries since its inception in 2004, could extend a claim on products originating or produced from Nepal, which would unfortunately lose its sovereign rights over certain products which have their origin in Nepal, write Jivesh Jha and Nil Prasad Paneru for South Asia Monitor

Is India’s populist surge a threat to liberal democracy?

The success of Modi’s populist campaigns in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, followed by the majoritarian mobilizations and lurking use of repression, pose a serious threat to liberal democracy in India, writes L T Om Prakash for South Asia Monitor

A battle for India's soul

With Delhi assembly elections set for February 8, the battle lines are sharply drawn between two pitting ideologies that have polarised national discourse like at no time before, writes Tarun Basu for South Asia Monitor

Soleimani’s killing has only helped Islamic State, will threaten South Asian security

The re-emergence of IS would have a definite impact on the Af-Pak region, with its consequential fallout for India and regional peace and stability in South Asia, writes Brig Anil Gupta (retd) for South Asia Monitor