Opinion
Independence Day 2026: Crores Spent on Spectacle While a Nation Still Waits for “Achhe Din”
15 August 2026: As the last echoes of the national anthem faded and the sky over the Red Fort lit up with fireworks and laser displays, the Government of India and various state governments had once again spent staggering sums to commemorate the 79th anniversary of India’s Independence. Official estimates put the combined expenditure by the Centre and states on parades, cultural programmes, lighting, security, advertisements, and associated events at well over ₹450 crore. In Delhi alone, the grand show is believed to have cost more than ₹180 crore. Yet behind the choreographed grand
N. Raghuraman's Column: Great leaders inspire even before they achieve
Ashok was just 21 years old. There were very few jobs in those days. His restlessness always inspired him to look for opportunities in the armed forces. Then came an opportunity. Not as he had thought but was very close to stepping on that path. It was a post in the CRPF. He decided to try his luck. There were already hundreds of people there. Curious and full of hope. When they were told that the regiment would be deployed in difficult and remote areas, more than half of the men left. Many were then eliminated in the Test rounds that followed. Ashok stayed because he had the stubbornness to a
Neerja Chowdhury's column: BJP's politics revolves around delimitation
The focus of the Monsoon Session was to be on the Delimitation Bill. Ahead of the session, which began on July 20, there were discussions that the ruling NDA was very close to getting a two-thirds majority in Parliament after the split between the TMC and the Shiv Sena (UBT). Buoyed by its victory in Bengal, the BJP had hoped to get the Women's Reservation Bill and the delimitation bill related to it passed, which was rejected in April this year. At the same time, many opposition leaders feared that the BJP wanted to pass this 'D' (delimitation) bill in a hurry, so that it could return to powe
Priyadarshan's column: Is it more important to contest elections or bring about a change in the country?
Should the CJP become a political party now? Many arguments are being made in favor of it. There is widespread support and attachment from the youth with him. She is known for her new language of resistance. Not only this, the system that the current generation is disillusioned with also includes the old parties. Why, then, should a mass organisation in a democracy refrain from real and legitimate politics? Ultimately, all change is driven by politics. On the surface, these arguments look correct. But there are counter-arguments too. After the Anna movement, the Aam Aadmi Party was formed with
Sayyid Ata Hasnain's column: Has a Sunni coalition been formed against Shiite Iran?
The agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in Mecca is being described as "Muslim NATO". The agreement states that an attack on one will be considered as an attack on all three. It is similar to NATO's Article 5, but it is not clear what kind of military assistance will be given after the attack. This ambiguity may have been deliberately kept. The strategic strength of these three countries is different. Saudi Arabia's strength is wealth, oil and its strategic geographical location. Pakistan is the only nuclear-weapon state in the Muslim world. Türkiye has a powerful military a
The Cockroach Janta Party Protest: A New Political Movement or the Same Old Playbook?
When Every Anti-Corruption Crusade Becomes the Very System, It Swore to Dismantle, India Must Ask Harder Questions About Power, Money, and Accountability In a familiar tableau that has played out repeatedly across India's democratic landscape, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has launched a high-profile public protest, complete with demands directed at the ruling dispensation, media-friendly optics, and the unmistakable ambition of political relevance. The party has put forward three demands and entered into public discussions with the ruling party — moves that, on the surface, suggest
“Our Children Deserve Better”- Education Reformer Sonam Wangchuk's Day 21 Ignites Soul-Searching Over Education Crisis, Police Action, and the Erosion of Democratic Trust
Heart of a Nation Fasting: As the scorching sun set over Jantar Mantar on Saturday, July 18, 2026, the air was thick with a palpable mix of hope and anxiety. Climate crusader, innovator, and beloved educator Sonam Wangchuk entered the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike, his frail body bearing the weight of a moral crusade that has sparked a national debate far beyond the improvement of India's education system. The examination paper leaks—affecting multiple competitive exams including NEET and state-level tests—have impacted an estimated 4.5 million students across India this
Development, Democracy and the Citizen Who Feels Forgotten
For years, Indians have been told that the nation is progressing at an unprecedented pace. New highways are built, airports are inaugurated, skylines are transformed, and record-breaking economic achievements dominate political speeches. Development has become the most celebrated word in public life. Yet, beyond the advertisements, slogans, and televised celebrations, there is another India quietly asking a simple question: Development for whom? The ordinary citizen does not measure progress through government campaigns or corporate presentations. Progress is measured by the quality o
India’s antiquated law on contempt of court restricts personal liberty and must be overhauled
After having raised the issue of whether the clubby and secretive collegiums system actually preserves the independence of the judiciary former Supreme Court judge, Justice Markandey Katju, has now trained his guns on India’s antiquated contempt of court law. He has made the valid point, in this newspaper, that judicial supremacy cannot be based on the law of kings in a democracy.
India’s best hope is that the Budget due February 2015 chooses growth and jobs
The presidential address to Parliament on June 9, 2014 had focussed nearly exclusively on projects and schemes, eschewing policy. Therefore, many had eagerly awaited the budget speech for a policy vision of the new government. Unfortunately, it too left observers guessing on whether the government would tackle tough reforms or rely principally on better implementation.
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