What stands out amidst this global indifference is the Dalai Lama’s unwavering grace. He harbours no ill will—not even towards China. In a world increasingly defined by conflict, coercion, and fractured diplomacy, the Dalai Lama remains an embodiment of moral strength and compassion, committed to the principles of non-violence and interfaith harmony.
There is increasing evidence that Trump has offered Pakistan advanced military equipment and financial aid in exchange for strategic cooperation—particularly access to airbases and logistics. How this plays out remains to be seen. India, meanwhile, finds itself once again let down by the U.S. Trump appeared unable to tolerate that India succeeded in neutralising Pakistan’s military and terror assets without American help and refused to validate his false claims of mediation.
The optics of the lunch are certainly not to India’s liking, but its consequences may not turn out to be as unsettling as might be apprehended in certain quarters. It surely gives Pakistan a profile in Washington that it was craving to have.
India will soon need to focus on reducing relative poverty and inequality too since the spoils of high economic growth cannot be cornered by a small few at the top. The elimination of extreme poverty in the next five years is a good shot in the arm, but in the journey toward a developed nation India has much work to do.
With China having around 1800 fighter aircraft and Pakistan about 400, India’s tally of approximately 530 combat aircraft amounting to 31 squadrons (each with 16 to 18 aircraft) means that it is woefully short of combat aircraft in view of the threat it faces from its two principal adversaries and two wide borders.
A recent study by the World Inequality Lab reports that India’s top 1% income share is among the very highest in the world. According to it, 1% of the population holds 22.6 % of the county's income and has access to a staggering 40.1% of national wealth. Hurun Global Rich List 2024 reports that India has 271 billionaires and ranks third, next to China and the USA.
For decades, we’ve allowed corporations to poison our planet, exploit our labor, hoard our resources, and abandon us in times of crisis. The flames we’re seeing today are the direct result of those choices.
While it is naive to expect a strong welfare system for the working class population in an intense and competitive business environment, what really bothers the proponents of social equity is that the physical and mental health of the working class have been hardly given thought to both by the state as well as the business class.
Bangladesh's real estate industry has evolved significantly over the past few decades, driven by rapid urbanization and increased economic activity. Dhaka, the capital, remains the epicenter of real estate development due to its role as the primary hub for commerce, education, and government services. However, land scarcity in Dhaka and other major cities has driven property prices to unprecedented levels
In fact, the decision to hang on in public life has given rise to the perpetuation of political dynasties. Successors like their parents or grandparents are not trained at the grassroots to understand the nuances of politics and often are not competent to occupy the seat of authority. Their politics produce suboptimal outcomes, and society is deprived of the benefits of the democratic franchise.
Communal divides are bad, Economic divides being created can be equally so, with increasing concentration of wealth in the hands of fewer people so that we have a nation split, literally and metaphorically, between the few within gated communities and the majority who cannot step in.
The BJP, time and again, has highlighted how PM Narendra Modi works 24X7 and sleeps for four hours, symptomatic of his due diligence pertaining to work. The idea of overworking is often draped as self-sacrifice, a cultural phenomenon typically revered in Indian society.
I think Jimmy Carter was one of the most decent and honest occupants of the White House who probably was undone by the Washington establishment who always considered him an outsider. His presidency was called a failed one, though in retrospect people feel he did not get the credit due to him.
And lo and behold most of the fringe organizations of Hindutva politics are coming out to oppose Bhagwat. One knows that RSS is a strict disciplinarian organization, and its members do not disobey the commands of its leader. So who are these Senas, Dharma Sansads springing up by a dozen and going against the appeal of Bhagwat?
On the one hand, we can see India pouring its heart out in memory of a life journey of grace. On the other hand, is a path of bitterness, a pulling down of civility and finger-pointing. It is the plain truth that the government delayed in naming a memorial spot so that the last rites for Dr. Singh was per force conducted at a public crematorium.
In my many discussions with him we discussed where the country was going. He felt sad about the present situation and said that this is not the India he recognizes. He said that India is a pluralistic society and the leader has to respect the diversity of opinion, divisive politics will not work, and will be harmful for the country.
In 2008, there was a new visitor to the PM house. A man from village Gah in district Chakwal, Pakistan, crossed the border to meet his old school friend 'Mohna'. He carried soil and water from the village in Punjab for the friend with whom he shared a bench in his school. Ali Raja Mohammad and Manmohan Singh had parted in 1947 and met in 2008. Not only this region but all of South Asia was Dr. Singh's very own.
The Indian rupee is expected to depreciate due to strong dollar policies of the Trump administration compounded by a wider trade deficit in India. The worry about how to increase foreign direct investment will remain. It has been falling for several years. The outflow of capital as well as the flight of rich people to other countries is also a matter of concern. Indians are expected to spend 70 billion dollars on the “import” of education, i.e. on students studying abroad.
For years, Imran Khan and his party have been vocal critics of foreign interference in Pakistan’s internal matters. They’ve consistently defended Pakistan’s sovereignty, opposing any foreign meddling in the country’s political affairs. Yet now, when the PTI finds itself in a political struggle, it is calling on the international community to intervene.
