Dear Reader,
5 August 2019 will remain a landmark day in India’s political history. The decision to scrap Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that gave the state of Jammu and Kashmir special status is a step that will have ramification for years to come. In this issue of India Review & Analysis, we bring to you a balanced view of what the move means for the country. While the cover story written by Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd) commends the Narendra Modi government for the bold decision, C Uday Baskar in his column has warned against the undermining of democratic principles through unilateral and arbitrary actions.
Arun Anand who has authored several books on the parent organization of BJP, the RSS, has hailed the move and went on to term it as a ‘bloodless coup’ by the Narendra Modi government while Prof Reeta Tremblay has dwelt upon the political calculations that were at play behind the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir. In another piece Arul Louis brings to light how Pakistan had failed to fulfil the demands laid down by the 1948 UN resolution on Kashmir.
The By Invitation section has been penned by Frank Islam, an entrepreneur and thought leader based in Washington. At a time when communal tensions are threatening to ensnare the entire nation, he urges the readers to celebrate and embrace the nation’s diversity.
South Block Watch dwells upon the zero-sum game that have come to characterize India-Pakistan relations and looks ahead with the prime minister’s scheduled visit to Bhutan and the G7 summit in France.
Under foreign affairs, Dr H A Nazmi talks about how Haj will continue to have a pivotal role in transforming India-Saudi Arabia ties through cultural and economic cooperation. In the next article Saroj Mohanty argues that India’s external aid has gone up in the last few years to counter the rising Chinese influence in the region.
In the section on environment, Rajendra Shende talks about the urgency of taking steps to fight climate change and has expressed hope that there will be another Modi-Macron climate correction moment at the G7.
In the section on Defence, Cdr K P Sanjeev Kumar (retd) questions why India insists on the ailing Chetak despite it having a long trial of blood behind it.
N Chandra Mohan in his column has talks about the need to kickstart investments and revive overall economic activity in the face of sluggish growth.
Through our Changing India series, we bring to you a heart-rending story of how sex workers in Delhi are trying to reclaim their lives by cooking for everyone and also a story on the grammy award winner, India born and internationally renewed ghatam player, Vikku Vinayakram.
As India enter the 73rd year of its independence on Augusst 15, 1947 - and also gears up to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi - a Happy Independence Day to all our valued readers.
Happy reading!
We hope you do enjoy reading what we have put together and write to us with your suggestions and opinions, which we highly value.
Warmly,