The Afghanistanization of South, West & Central Asia
by Gaurang Bhatt, MD 
Imperial powers are well known for their divide and rule policies. Britain in acquiring and dissolving its empire split Iraq and Kuwait and created Jordan and Gulf kingdoms. It split the Pashtuns by the Durand line between India and Afghanistan and subsequently hived off the two wings of Pakistan from India. France divided Syria and Lebanon. Russia in its conquering phase took over Azerbaijan splitting Azerbaijanis between Iran and its conquests. The breakup of the Soviet Union left economic deprivation, autocratic and corrupt authoritarian rulers and rising Islamic insurgencies. Read On

Hillary’s Rebuke
to Pakistani Leadership
by Col. Rahul K. Bhonsle 
Exasperated with lack of progress and the amount of efforts it is taking for the Pakistani Establishment and the government to act against the Al Qaeda and the Taliban, the US Secretary of State is possibly taking the harsh approach now. With 80 percent of the respondents opposing US assistance in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism – a 19 percent increase since March, Hillary Clinton had a tough job in any case to woo her Pakistani hosts. Read On

A Note on Arundhati Roy’s Essay
by Uddipan  Mukherjee 
It needs to be clarified right at the very outset that the present piece is neither an outright remonstrance against Arundhati Roy’s essay ‘Mr. Chidambaram’s War’ nor a panegyric of Mr. Chidambaram’s policies regarding the ‘Maoists’. Rather, what the author fails to comprehend is the manner in which Roy embarks on a ‘reprimanding spree’. That obviously does not exonerate the Home Ministry of its rhetoric, policies and actions which keep on fluctuating in an asymmetric fashion. Read On 

UHO in UINING by J. Ajithkumar 
Unique Historical Opportunities (UHO) thrown up during the lifetime of individuals and nations can matter a lot. Indian nation, which has been stagnating with the miserable tag of a ‘developing nation’ for the past six decades, is a best case study for missed opportunities. In the past one hundred years, India passed through at least a dozen UHOs’ when a different decision by those in power then would have made us citizens of a developed nation by now. Read On

The Man Who Spoke to Ashes
by Jai Jui 
Dwarkanath figured he must have been evil in his previous life to get such a lousy deal in this present one. Brought up in an orphanage he never knew his parents. In appearance he was dark skinned scrawny and bug eyed. At least he had thick black hair and a straight long sharp nose. The other kids always teased him ...called him Darkee or Dracula. He almost wished he was Dracula the undead, living for centuries on the blood of other human beings. Read On 

A Trip to Canyons and Vortexes
by Michael Levy
I have just returned from an eight day bus tour of The Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon, Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley. There is no doubt about it; the Canyons are truly an awesome sight to behold. Time, wind, fire and water have worked their magic to make these shines of nature places of overwhelming wonderment and stunning awe.  Read On

The Margosa Tree
by Dipankar Dasgupta
Some are skinning off its bark and boiling it. Some are tearing away leaves for grinding. Yet others are frying them in oil. To apply on ringworm afflicted skin. A panacea for a variety of skin ailments. Many eat the tender leaves. Raw, uncooked. Or, sautéed with eggplant. Helps the liver. Endlessly many chew the young twigs ...
to keep their teeth healthy.  Read On

Yes, Dear! by Naira Yaqoob 
“Yes, dear. Oh, definitely! I’ll arrange everything tonight. I’m sure this guy must be special. I can’t believe it. This is for the first time that you have invited someone on your own. I’m so excited. Gosh! Is he rich? Must be.” Mrs. Tanner was beaming with excitement. “We’ve selected him for our show. He simply fits the title! I too am excited.” Mr. Tanner was the head of a small production studio. Read On

Look Ma,
Democracy has No Clothes!
by Rajinder Puri
After the Constitutional deadline had expired for the Maharashtra government to be sworn in the UPA-NCP alliance advised the Governor that they would do the needful within forty-eight hours. Okay, said the Governor indulgently. Heck, a few hours delay won’t ruin the Constitution. The BJP demanded President’s rule. Stop worrying about Maharashtra and focus on Karnataka, sneered Congressmen. What ailed government formation in Maharashtra? Read On

Peace with India:
The Onus Lies on Pakistan Army
by Dr. Subhash Kapila  
Pakistan is imploding as a result of the policies and lack of policies of the Pakistan Army. Pakistan is not imploding as a result of civilian governance of Pakistan as the Pakistan Army has throughout the history of Pakistan never allowed democracy and civilian government to strike roots. Now when Pakistan is headed towards ending up as a 'nuclear weapons failed state' there is international concern about the implications of this implosion. Read On

Why Taliban is Winning 
by Rajinder Puri 
PM Manmohan Singh in Srinagar urged Pakistan to end terror so that Indo-Pak talks may commence. That will not happen. Pakistan cannot end terrorism given even the most sincere efforts by a section of the army genuinely fighting it. What needs to be done is to stand Dr Manmohan Singh’s Srinagar statement on its head. Terror cannot be ended to start talks. Talks must start to end terror. If talks are to end terror they must address the core issues: encompass not just Kashmir but also the Pak-Afghan border. Terrorism is a South Asian problem. It requires a South Asian solution. Read On

Know Your River by VK Joshi 
Human civilizations and rivers have been part and parcel of the same eco-system. Water means life and naturally all living beings including humans get attracted towards water bodies. Since times immemorial major civilizations have developed and vanished on river banks only. They prospered on the river banks because of availability of water for drinking and irrigation and vanished because of mega floods. There is a dire need to know the river around which human habitats are located. The floods do not distinguish between developed and developing nations. A river in spate just maroons everything. Read On

Shrimad Bhagavatam:
The Living Tradition
by Prof. R.N. Mishra 
It is believed by all Indians that Shrimad Bhagavatam consisting of eighteen thousand verses was authored by Vyas Dev in ancient India. Earlier Vyasa Dev had also composed the great saga of Mahabharata. It is said that after completion of writing the great epic Mahabharata, the author somehow felt greatly discontented and was advised by the sage Narad to write the epic Bhagavatam. It tells the stories of Lord Vishnu (Vasudev) in His various incarnations and contains the gist of almost all the great epics of India. It is regarded as the foremost epic among the eighteen great epics. Read On

Confessions of a Tea Drinker
by Pramod Khilery
Days are fast drawing close to yet another season of mist, haze and cold waves when we all will be forced to take refuge into whatever promises the soothing of much desired warmth. Everyone has his or her own way of alleviating the buffeting of cold waves dictated by topography, financial status and individual traits. So if bonfires come to the rescue of poor and rustic, air-conditioned interiors provide respite to those who are well heeled. If woolen sweaters, jackets and blazers adorn our personality then woolen blankets come in as all-in-one for those for whom these few months become a test of survival. Read On

Rock Cut Architecture 
by Ashish Nangia
Rock-cut architecture occupies a very important place in the history of Indian Architecture. This differs from 'building up' in many important ways. Firstly, the art is more akin to sculpture than architecture, in that a solid body of material (rock) is taken, the final product visualized and cutting starts. Read On

Ayurveda: No Longer Just "Vaidji Ki Pudiya"
by Vaidya Ramakant Mishra
Ayurveda, the more than 5,000-year-old traditional system of healing from India, is justly enjoying a widespread resurgence in popularity today. Savvy, health-conscious individuals all over the world are taking more responsibility for their own health and well-being. The old adage "prevention is better than cure" makes increasingly more sense in a time when health-care is exorbitant and fraught with risks such as dangerous side effects of drugs that often lead to more problems instead of treating the illness they were taken to address. Read On