My Blog

Sri Lankans have been peacefully rallying against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for the past month and a half, as the country faces its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948 -  Rolling blackouts, a scarcity of gas, dwindling food reserves, a dearth of medication, pen, paper, etc.  Huge foreign debt stacks, a series of lockdowns, surging inflation, fuel shortages, a drop in foreign currency reserves, and currency devaluation have all hampered the country's economic progress. Amidst all this, former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has recommended a reform in the country's government system. The main issue, according to her, is that Sri Lankans have lost trust in politicians. She suggests the creation of an interim government and two critical councils as part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure a democratic governance - integrity and fairness. The intended procedure is as follows: - - The incumbent President will designate a Prime Minister who ...

From witnessing the drafting of the Indian constitution, to hearing the famous Tryst with destiny speech, this place has for the last 70 years nurtured democracy. It is not a building, but a mirror reflecting the transformation of an ancient culturally diverse civilization into a democratic superpower. It indirectly portrays the ideologies of India. Yes! It is the Parliament house. The green coloured carpets spread everywhere signify that India is an agricultural land and the people are elected through rigorous elections from the grassroots level. Every step that led to India’s glorious independence took place here. It is known worldwide for its classic colosseum-like design. Even former parliamentarian Dr. Karan Singh believes that there is no other building in the world quite like it. It is ready to awe anyone because of its grandeur and huge structure and has been a living space to India’s great leaders. Carved with detailed crafts at every end, the Parliament is studded with 30 sta...

Caste is seen everywhere, in every part of India. We've all been taught about the various castes that exist in India, as well as the castes that are deemed superior. Various cases of caste-based discrimination against dalit women have occurred in various Indian states. This was a source of worry because the constitution guarantees every individual a dignified existence, yet in many cases, the situation is the polar opposite. To make matters worse, caste prejudice is now invading classrooms and education. Caste bias has now been exaggerated to the point of absurdity. Quite recently, in Uttarakhand's Champawat district, some upper caste students refused to eat the food cooked by Ms. Sunita Devi, a Dalit  woman. To exacerbate the situation, the local administration dismissed Ms. Sunita Devi. A few days later, an upper caste woman was appointed as the "Bhojanmata" and was assigned the task to cook the mid-day meal instead. To exact their vengeance, the enraged Dalit young...

With the present global situation and chaos (the Ukraine-Russia conflict), I believe India has done a fine job in transforming this crisis into an opportunity. India, however, must not stop here. It must work consistently to secure its interests.  When Putin invaded Ukraine, India was dragged into a global crisis, which was not of its making, but has an intimate relationship with the conflict's protagonists. India has very little influence over the course of a conflict, much less the ability to halt it.  With the procurement of the S-400 missile system, India has demonstrated its independence to the rest of the world. From abstaining from voting in the UN, India has signaled to all the countries, that it has the ability and power to make choices on its own and in its own interests. At the same time, however, India has made sure that Russia does not take it for granted. It has let Russia and the world know that Russian actions are in violation of the established norms and ...