SYMBOLISM OF TIRANGA YATRA
The BJP’s week-long Tiranga Yatra set out a deep message of unity across the country. It talked about four goals viz, protection of national sovereignty, striving to acquire respect in the comity of nations, striving to be materially prosperous and striving to establish a kalyan rajya The Tiranga Yatra, flagged …
RE-DISCOVERING A RARE HERITAGE
Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s own diaries record his deep anguish at the spectre of death and decay. But then scholars, bent on peddling a certain political line, are never serious and assiduous about studying primary sources, they prefer handling and peddling propaganda One of Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s diary entries record his …
ARTICULATING THE PAST HISTORY
A third category of people who have spread a Goebbelesian propaganda against Mookerjee’s legacy are the communist apologists. For them, his legacy is troublesome. They have, therefore, tried to marginalise any genuine nationalist who has challenged their world A third category of people who have in the last fortnight barked …
BUILDING INDIA’S INDUSTRIAL SPINE
It is an asinine mind that tries to distort records, and through a Google search, attempts to disprove SP Mookerjee’s contribution as India’s first Industry and Supply Minister. His role in strengthening the handloom and textile industry in India cannot be overlooked The dynamics of the exhibition (on the multifaceted …
NEW LIGHT ON FORGOTTEN STALWARTS
An exhibition on the multifaceted aspects of the life and legacy of Syama Prasad Mookerjee at the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library in Delhi has raised the hackles among those who have imposed a mono-narrative on us and have been intolerant towards a diversity of views For the first time, …
ARTICULATING THE TRUTHS OF HISTORY
On Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s 115th birth anniversary, it’s time people get over their ignorance, and communicate, without fear, certain historical truths about him that have been subverted by both British colonialists and communist historians In 1944, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, in collaboration with the legendary Ram Nath Goenka, founded the English …
INTERVENTIONS THAT SAVED INDIA
Had it not been for Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s interventions, India would have been a different place — its very raison d’être severely challenged and besieged. His sacrifice ensured that the civilisational bonds between this portion of India and the rest were further cemented Delivering a captivating public address in Thiruvananthapuram …
IRREVERSIBLE ACT OF INTOLERANCE
It is ironical that a champion of democracy and an upholder of the dignity of the Constitution such as Syama Prasad Mookerjee, should have been detained, confined and thrown to death a little over a year after the formation of free India’s first Parliament In a short life of 52 …
IN MEMORY OF ABHEDANANDA
This year as we commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Abhedananda, we must meditate on the spiritual nationalist’s epochal contribution to India’s selfhood. Such a rekindling of interest is imperative for the success of our national quest for an integral self-reliance This year and 2017 mark crucial centennial and …
MODI AND INDIAN EXCEPTIONALISM
The Prime Minister has laid the foundation for a grand narrative of India. He has spoken about the country being civilisationally distinct, but his concept of Indian exceptionalism goes beyond harmonising with the world and aims to weave coalitions of cultures From Tokyo to Madrid and from St Petersburg to …
VIEWING SAVARKAR IN A NEW LIGHT
The lighting of the Savarkar Jyoti at Cellular Jail will not only keep ignited the flame of freedom, it should also re-kindle a genuine interest in this period of our independence struggle, an interest that may culminate in a grand memorial someday Life in a jail”, wrote Vinayak Damodar Savarkar …
LET’S HAVE A LEFT-MUKT BHARAT
The CPI(M) and the communists parties in general refuse to see the writing on the wall; that of their nearing political decimation. They continue to remain active as a disruptive element on the political canvas, injecting violence and falsehood to maintain their hold When in power or in majority, the …
EMBRACE OF CIVILISATIONAL INDIA
Those who seek to deconstruct or repudiate the cultural idea of India, will fail to understand, let alone appreciate, the faith of the multitude that congregated at Ujjain for the Kumbh and participated in activities which have been part of our heritage for ages French philosophe Voltaire was convinced that all knowledge …
DIALOGUE THAT ENLIGHTENS US ALL
Prime Minister Modi’s Bodh Gaya initiative has made it clear that India’s objective is to activate its past civilisational linkages and to restructure them to the exigencies of the present, where it seeks to pursue a pragmatic foreign policy of multi-alignment and multi-engagement It was in September 2015, that Prime …