90 Muslim sites among 249 encroached monuments in India
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
After Manipur cop’s admission on ‘fake encounter’ PUDR demands prosecution of his superiors
By TCN News,
New Delhi: In the wake of sickening on-camera confession by Manipur Police head Constable Thounaojam Herojit Singh of killing an unarmed...
Religious riots down in 2015, but other riots rise
By Abhishek Waghmare
Religious tension in Ballabhgarh, Haryana, when 150 Muslims sought refuge in a police station; clashes between Hindus and Muslims during Ganesh festival...
Pyare Khan: the journey of a socially conscious entrepreneur
Pyare Khan from Nagpur has spent around Rs 1 crore for procuring oxygen tankers, oxygen concentrators and cylinders. Through newspapers, he learnt about the...
After 74 days of struggle, Jayalalithaa is dead
By Venkatachari Jagannathan
Chennai : Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, one of India's most charismatic political leaders, died here on Monday night after a bitter...
Why the specific mention of ‘Secularism’ in the Indian Constitution matters?
By Jamal Khwaja,
Let me begin by recalling what an eminent Muslim leader from Hyderabad, Bahadur Yar Jung, said in 1946—after the transfer of power to India the Nizam of Hyderabad should become the constitutional monarch of his dominions. Highly responsible Indian quarters rejected this stand on the ground that almost 90% of the Nizam’s subjects, were likely to have other ideas about their future. Unfazed, Bahadur Yar Jung (perhaps in all sincerity) replied that there was no reason for the Nizam’s non-Muslim subjects to feel insecure or apprehensive of their future, under Muslim rule, since Islam stood for the full protection of the life, property and welfare of peaceful non-Muslim subjects (dhimmis) in an Islamic state.
First click for NRI Investors
By Kul Bhushan
When an NRI wants to invest in India, what is his first step? Look for opportunities in India through different government bodies promised as 'a one-stop shop'. As if all the existing bodies to attract investment were not enough, the ministry for overseas Indians launched a new one last week - the Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC).
Does Religion Matter? Communal Violence in India
Dr. Ram Puniyani
The carnage or to put it more precisely the anti Muslim violence in Delhi (February-March 2020) has shaken us all. Analysts are...
Kashmir killings trigger panic among ex-militants
By Sheikh Qayoom
Srinagar: Panic stricken former militants and sympathizers of separatists have started migrating out of Kashmir's Sopore town following the killings of former...
Labourer killed over petty issue in Delhi
New Delhi : Days after the killing of a Delhi-based dentist by a group of people over a minor issue, another man was beaten...
‘I want to visit Pakistan before my death’ – Sardar Son Singh from shrine...
By Ravi Nitesh,
At a time, when we are witnessing difficult times for communal harmony and situation of conflict between India and Pakistan, at a time when few advocate and propagate hatred in the name of religion and nationality, there still are examples that are shining like a ray of hope.
A new EU constitution – a matter of the right packaging?
By Gaby Mahlberg
When the European Union celebrated its 50th anniversary in March, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she intended to present a roadmap setting out how Europe should go forward before Portugal took over the EU presidency this summer.
Yet, the word "constitution" was strangely absent from the speeches that marked the great occasion in Berlin. With the German EU presidency ending on June 30, the people of Europe are left wondering what has happened to the proposals to place Europe on a renewed common basis.
Will the Deoband edict restrain jehadis?
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS
Although belated, the condemnation of terrorism by Darul-Uloom Deoband is a major step forward in the war against religious extremism. It can seem odd, however, that it took this widely respected religious seminary based in Uttar Pradesh so long to express its disapproval of the militancy of bigots and mercenaries although this country, and the world, have been battling this menace over a long period.
Mallika Sarabhai writes to Amitabh Bachchan
My dear Bachchanji,
Greetings from a Gujarati.
You are indeed a fine actor. You are an intelligent man and a shrewd businessman. But should I believe in your endorsements?
Let’s take a brief look at what you proclaim you believe in (albeit for huge sums of money). BPL, ICICI, Parker and Luxor pens, Maruti Versa, Cadbury chocolates. Nerolac paints. Dabur, Emami, Eveready, Sahara City Homes, D’damas, Binani Cement and Reliance.
And now Gujarat.
Promoting Muslim entrepreneurship
By Shahid Sayed,
'Threshold India 2009' is brain child of Shahid Sayed to promote entrepreneurship amongst the Muslim youth, to bring them closer to the mainstream and make them committed global citizens that value life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as a goal worth achieving by their own efforts.
Kiran Bedi is not the only reason BJP lost
By M.R. Narayan Swamy,
It will be too tempting to solely blame it all on Kiran Bedi, the BJP's chief ministerial candidate, for the party's humiliating rout in Delhi. Nothing can be farther from the truth.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be committing a blunder if it does not accept the larger ugly reality that the main culprit for the colossal loss is the party's leadership. Just how much of the blame should go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and how much to BJP president Amit Shah is a matter of perception.
For Tawang, the incidents of May 2 will remain a scar forever
In the second of the three-part series, we look at how the Police completely botched up in handling the protests of May 2 and...
Celebrating Hazrat Ali in Bangalore
By Nigar Ataulla for TwoCircles.net
I was overwhelmed to be invited to a program held on the 21st of April amidst special guests from...
Lowering juvenile age to curb offences doubtful prescription
By Parmod Kumar,
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Menaka Gandhi's suggestion to lower the lower the juvenile age from 18 years to 16 so that those accused of heinous crimes such as rape can be punished instead of being sent to reform homes is an outdated proposition.
Poll-humbled Congress, resurgent regional parties could help BJP in RS
By Nirendra Dev,
New Delhi: As the poll verdict from four states saw the Congress decimated in two states and regional parties reasserting themselves in...
Another dream of Charlesworth is shattered
By K. Datta, IANS,
To many students of Indian hockey Ric Charlesworth's resignation may not have come as a surprise. A long-time coach of the Australian women's hockey team, he was sent out by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to help put Indian hockey on the road to recovery after India's poor showing in the last world cup in Germany, but, it is no secret, that his appointment was greeted with little warmth not only by the K.P.S. Gill-headed Indian Hockey Federation but also by coaches and others outside it.
कैराना विवाद: किसी क़स्बे या शहर में मुसलमानों का बहुसंख्यक होना ग़ैरसंवैधानिक है क्या?
पंकज श्रीवास्तव
कैराना का भाजपाई झूठ सामने आना कोई आश्चर्य नहीं, उसके दंगाई चरित्र का एक और प्रमाण ही है. देश की सबसे बड़ी पार्टी...
Orissa violence: Time to act beyond tears
By Navaid Hamid,
The continuous murderous attack on the innocent, unarmed, peace loving Christians belonging to lower strata of society in Orissa (India), the Adivasis, by the right wing Hindutva organisations particularly Vishwa Hindu Parishad and its armed wing Bajrang Dal is most deplorable and needs not only strongest condemnation but sincere and assertive actions to counter them and stand with the innocents.
Quill Foundation offers Scholarships to under privileged for doing law
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Quill Foundation, a research and advocacy group has decided to provide scholarships for young members from the society who...
बिन ईंधन का सिलेंडर, फ्लॉप साबित हो रही है मोदी की उज्ज्वला योजना
जावेद अनीस, TwoCircles.net के लिए
मध्य प्रदेश के शाजापुर ज़िले के कांजा गांव की निवासी मंजूबाई का प्रधानमंत्री उज्ज्वला योजना के तहत मिला गैस...
The travails of the Indian diaspora in Malaysia
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS
Kuala Lumpur's imaginative 'Malaysia truly Asia' campaign emphasising the country's multicultural society has taken a hit following the recent violence involving local Indians, many of whom are Tamil Hindus.
Although the outbreak was brought under control fairly quickly, the fact that the agitation was spearheaded by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) was a disturbing sign. Though small, such outfits can remain active for a long time if the grievances of its ethnic supporters are not adequately addressed.
PSU banks opened 20,000 branches to improve financial inclusion of minorities, says Naqvi
By TwoCircles.net Staff reporter
New Delhi: Pursuant to the submission of Sachar Committee Report, the Central Government is focusing on opening more bank branches...
Budget ignores welfare of the minority community: E. Ahamed
By TCN News,
New Delhi: E. Ahamed, Member of Parliament and President of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has criticized NDA government’s third budget presented...
Hitler’s avatar seeks US visa
By Muqtedar Khan
Nishrin Hussein, a resident of Delaware since 1989, suffered immeasurable trauma in February of 2002. Her father, Ehsan Jafferi a former member of the Indian national parliament and a poet was dragged out of his house and burned alive by a rampaging mob.
Islamic Banking windows possible in India
By Syed Zahid Ahmad and K. A. Najmi,
Islamic Jurisprudence or principles of Shariah does not allow receipt or payment of interest. It believes that money has no intrinsic value; however its commercial use is permitted. In the hand of an entrepreneur money turns into capital. Lender of the capital is entitled to share the profit and loss of the business. A lender of the capital puts his money at risk and therefore is entitled for reward in the form of business profit.
India’s Muslims lack an enlightened leadership
By Amulya Ganguli, IANS,
Indian Muslims continue to suffer from the misfortune of being led by people with a limited vision whose initiatives appear to be aimed at fostering a ghetto mentality instead of encouraging the community to become a part of the mainstream.
Muslims should emulate Sikhs by donating 100,000 meal packages to Nepal quake victims
By Kaleem Kawaja,
The Sikh community in India has pledged to donate 250,000 packages of ready- to- eat meals daily for next few days to the victims of the recent horrible earthquake in Nepal. This is an awesome example of how the Sikh community always helps the suffering in their hour of need. When floods hit Kashmir in September 2014, the Sikh community donated 100,000 meal packages.
Ten issues India Inc has to contend with in 2009
By Sushma Ramachandran, IANS,
What lies ahead for the Indian economy in 2009? This is the question looming large in corridors of the country's corporate world, as India Inc hopes the economy will transition from annus horribilis that 2008 was to annus mirabilis, which it hopes the New Year will be. A look at 10 major issues which the country's corporate sector has to contend with in 2009:
Why the China threat story sells in India
By Manish Chand,
It's the season of China-bashing in India. In bad old socialist days, the ruling party in India was quick to conjure up the "foreign hand" to distract public attention from a host of domestic crises. Now, it's the turn of market-driven media to manufacture "external threats" to spike their TRP ratings.
Let’s celebrate disrobing of ‘Rekhta’!
By Alim Naqvi,
Scepticism is bound to raise its head as the well-oiled machinery is firing on all its cylinders. There won’t be another such opportunity to act at will.
‘Jashn-e-Rekhta’ has raised a valid question. The vital one is if it was long drawn and well planned attempt to bereft Urdu of its beautiful script. Jashn-e-Rekhta was held at New Delhi on March 14-15 to “celebrate Urdu”.
Stop domestic violence now!
This is the spirit of the new law that was passed to prevent domestic violence, provide immediate relief, and stand firmly by victims.
By Nasiruddin Haider Khan
The Prevention of Domestic Violence Act is a historic step towards a gender sensitive law in India. However, the big question remains, how is it different from other existing laws of the land? Why is this law unique? Most importantly, what are the benefits an aggrieved person can get from this law?
The Prevention of Domestic Violence Act is a historic step towards a gender sensitive law in India. However, the big question remains, how is it different from other existing laws of the land? Why is this law unique? Most importantly, what are the benefits an aggrieved person can get from this law?
Prohibition Bihar: Cheers for toddy
By Amulya Ganguli
It is sad to see a promising politician stumble and be in danger of falling flat on his face. Till the...
Shari’a in favour of minority rights in Egypt
By Sara Khorshid
Over the past decades, numerous polls have demonstrated that the majority of Egyptians want shari'a-or Islamic principles-applied to parts of their country's legal system. Egypt's constitution reflects this: Article 2 of the constitution states that shari'a is the principle source of legislation.
Why can’t Muslim women also lead the whole community: BMMA
By Yoginder Sikand for TwoCircles.net,
Based in New Delhi, Zakia Nizami Soman is one of the founder members of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), a movement of Muslim women across India struggling for their citizenship rights. In this interview with Yoginder Sikand, she talks about the BMMA’s work and reflects on the daunting challenges facing Muslim women in India today.
Q: How did the BMMA start? What made you and your colleagues feel the need for a separate Muslim women’s movement?
US needs to lean on Saudi Arabia to pressure Pakistan
By K. Subrahmanyam, IANS,
On the night of June 10, American air strikes took place on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Mohmand agency. It killed 27 people, of which 11 belonged to the Frontier Constabulary. While both sides agree that the air strike took place, there are different versions about the nature of the incident and the circumstances surrounding it.
The limits of Pakistan-US counter-terror cooperation
By Nasim Zehra
In Pakistan insecurity and concern about a US attack is catching on. The only logical and plausible Pakistani response to such a possibility is for the government to publicly warn the US that all cooperation on anti-terrorism will immediate stop if the US violates international law and attacks Pakistani territory.
In Pakistan insecurity and concern about a US attack is catching on. The only logical and plausible Pakistani response to such a possibility is for the government to publicly warn the US that all cooperation on anti-terrorism will immediate stop if the US violates international law and attacks Pakistani territory.
Tata’s Rs.100,000 car: boon or bane for India?
By Bhamy V. Shenoy, IANS
It looks as though Tata's Rs.100,000 car will be a reality next year. It is now being praised all over the world as India's shining moment ushering in a new automobile era. When seen in the background of India's energy crisis, it shows India's total lack of preparedness and long-term planning failure.
आपसी खींचतान और जातीय भेदभाव से ख़त्म हो गया मेरठ का मुस्लिम नेतृत्व
आस मोहम्मद कैफ, TwoCircles.net
मेरठ: मुस्लिम समुदाय के भीतर आपसी खींचतान कितनी बढ़ गयी है, यह समझने के लिए मेरठ एक माक़ूल जगह है. एक...
Youth refuse to be ‘targetted’ by the tobacco industry
By Bobby Ramakant, CNS,
More than 80% of the tobacco use begins before the age of 18 years. The tobacco industry loses more than 5.4 million of its best customers every year as they die of causes attributed to tobacco use. Documents recovered from the tobacco industry reveal that the tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship campaigns are targetted to encourage young people and women to begin tobacco use.
Sri Lanka: Humanitarian disaster in making
By Bobby Ramakant, CNS,
Activists expressed their deep anguish and concern on unabated mass killings in Sri Lanka which is, as they underlined, "no short of a humanitarian disaster in northern Sri Lanka".
"We also protest the covert provision of economic and military aid to Sri Lanka by Indian government which has, certainly, deeply aggravated the situation in Sri Lanka" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and Convener of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM).
Post-Benazir, Pakistan faces multiple challenges
By C. Uday Bhaskar, IANS
Tuesday, Jan 8, marks 12 days since the tragic assassination of Benazir Bhutto - the deeply flawed yet highly charismatic former prime minister of Pakistan. Her grief stricken country now faces multiple challenges even as Scotland Yard detectives from Britain sift through the carnage that accompanied her death in Rawalpindi on Dec 27.
State terrorism and Muslim youths
By Abu Zafar Adil Azmi,
(Translated from Urdu by Mumtaz Alam Falahi)
This is a fact that no society can live long with injustice and double standard in giving justice to its people. Unfortunately our country India is fast turning into a society of that character. The attitude of police, administration and judiciary towards Muslim youths arrested in connection with terror cases shows the double standard of justice in the country.
How did Mina Stampede happen – Who is Responsible for it – Saudi Arabia...
By Dr.Ajmal
769 Haj piligrims died in the Mina Stampede, and the preceding week around 107 died in the Crane Crash in...
Men against violence-1: Learn masculinity from Mahatma Gandhi?
By Nasiruddin Haider Khan,
Dhaka : "Women have raised their voices against gender-based violence. They have fought for policies and laws. But now it is high time that women's movement should engage men. There are enormous challenges to counter violence against women. Without involving men, it is not possible to prevent gender based violence."
Food For Thought
Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam,
Over the last several days I was so deeply pre-occupied with other concerns that I could not find time to write...
Terrorism in India and victimization of Muslims
By Maulana Mohammad Wali Rahmani,
Power and freedom are a two-edge sword. If it lands in the hand of people of low moral ground, consequences cannot be but worse. This is exactly what is happening in our country India.
Here freedom means freedom unlimited, unrestricted: freedom for burying truth and freedom for telling a lie repeatedly until it is accepted as truth; freedom to keep one from noble deed and freedom for evils. Using that kind of freedom, Muslims are now being labeled as terrorist.
Jihad? But what about other verses in Qur’an?
By Asghar Ali Engineer,
The terror attacks in India as well as abroad has created an impression as if jihad is central to Qur'anic teaching. First of all, as we have asserted repeatedly, jihad does not mean war in Qur'an as there are other words for it like qital and harb for war. Jihad has been used in Qur'an in its root meaning i.e. to strive and to strive for betterment of society, to spread goodness (ma'ruf) and contain evil (munkar).
‘Eichmanns’ with Z-class security propel repetitive terror
By NM Sampathkumar Iyangar
Adolf Eichmann, the genius scientist who invented the gas chamber for the Nazis as a ‘perfect solution’ to end the ‘Jew menace’, remained incognito for 15 years after Nazis fell. When he was captured in a covert act by the Mossad in Argentina, Argentina and even UN initially said it as “violation of the sovereign rights of the Argentine Republic.”
Ex-babu and ‘neta’ battle in Kerala’s commercial capital
By Sanu George
Kochi: A grizzled politician and a seasoned bureaucrat will match their wits to win over Kerala's commercial capital, the Ernakulam Lok Sabha...
स्कूलों से महरूम दलित-मुसलमान बच्चे
अफ़रोज़ आलम साहिल, TwoCircles.net
दिल्ली: देश में ‘शिक्षा का अधिकार’ कानून 2010 से लागू है, जिसके तहत 6 से 14 वर्ष के बच्चों के लिए...
Disconnected by virtual connection
By Fatima Zehra for TwoCircles.net
In less than a decade or so, things had changed. Things had changed too much. Relationships no longer means the...
State-wise equitable implementation of Mishra Commission’s Muslim quota
By Syed Shahabuddin,
Camelot or estrangement: US-India relations in Obama era
By Harold A. Gould, IANS,
Hillary Clinton, America's Secretary of State in the Obama administration, made her pilgrimage to India (July 17-21) for the purpose of determining the nature of the relationship which the world's two largest democracies will pursue with each other now that the George W. Bush administration has run its course.
There is a touch of almost romantic irony in the fact that for the first time in US history the country's foreign policy has been conducted in sequence and across successive administrations by women secretaries of state.
Collapsing credibility Of Western media: An opportunity for India
By Saeed Naqvi,
Even the skeptics now agree that India shall be a power in the Asian century. To insure this rise to the top, India must maximize all its assets. One asset for which it has a reputation is a lively media, a function of a relatively stable democratic order since independence.
APCR brings out a guidebook to save common man from police ‘power’
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net
Kollam Tragedy: Local Hindu groups played communal card, defied orders on ban on firecrackers
By TCN Staff Reporter
With the death toll at Kollam temple tragedy touching 110, the media attention Kerala has now turned to the bitter...
Modi magic may face its severest test in Delhi
By Amulya Ganguli,
The Delhi elections next month will show whether Narendra Modi continues to find it difficult to score sweeping victories in states where he faces a modicum of political resistance.
Unite world’s religions through spirituality: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
By Fakir Balaji
By IANS,
Buenos Aires: Indian guru and Art of Living (AoL) founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has exhorted religious leaders the world over to unite people through spirituality.
Can India Inc. come to the rescue of women?
(March 8 is International Women's Day)
By Sanjiv Kataria,
Many occasions last week tugged at my conscience, primarily because of a series of events. Two ladies were planning their shopping itinerary, seated in a McDonald's in south Delhi, till their drifting conversation hit me that the whole expedition was centered on one thing - clean toilets. The next day I overheard another lady refusing to sip tea or coffee before heading out. Politely, she stated, no fluids, on the days she steps out, lest she should have to use a restroom outside.
Madrid Mayor’s soothing slogan against post Brussels rightwing hysteria
By Saeed Naqvi
If “terrorize” and “polarize” is the name of the game, the message from the Brussels terror attack has been transmitted to Madrid...
How to explain these unsystematic investigation?
By Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam for TwoCircles.net,
Recently there was a talk about how people have been killed in fake encounters. The police have claimed...
Scholarly research in the madrasas: A brief overview
By Maulana Waris Mazhari
(Translated by Yoginder Sikand)
Some days ago, I had the chance to meet a leading Islamic scholar, an author of several books. During our conversation he remarked that the biggest and most influential madrasa in India had, in the last thirty years or so, produced only two well-researched books. This, he said, was evidence of the pathetic state of scholarship characteristic of the vast majority of the Indian madrasas today.
Respect for Ulama: Earned or Requested for?
By Dr Wasim Ahmad,
There is a discussion currently going on initiated by a request “Please respect our ‘Ulama”. We should respect all human beings – including the ‘traditionally’ and ‘modern’ educated. Having said that, please allow me to assert that respect is earned more than requested for. Do we ever need to start a campaign for increased awareness about the importance of sun, air, water and light etc? We don’t.
Pakistan creates army commands to mollify restive military
By Brigadier Arun Sahgal (Retd)
Nearly six decades after the country came into being, Pakistan's military junta recently announced the reorganisation of its army's operational deployment into three geographical commands with the ostensible aim of improving efficiency and strengthening its overall command-and-control structure.
The Northern, Southern and Central Commands that are being created are to be responsible for the administrative arrangements of the country's nine corps that fall under their respective commands.
Should Supreme Court favour Sikh beard but disapprove Jewish, Christian and Muslim beards ?
Dr Syed Zafar Mahmood, President, ZakatIndia.org
The Supreme Court of India recently offered to a suspended Muslim Maharashtra police constable the revocation of his suspension...
Muslim Personal Law Board was set up with blessings of Indira Gandhi: Shia Board...
By Yoginder Sikand, TwoCircles.net,
Ganga rejuvenation: Many attempts over 30 years
By Manoj K,
New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS/IndiaSpend) An analysis of the initiatives highlighted in the report card for Ganga rejuvenation by Prime Minister Narendra...
Discriminating “others”
By Adnan Alavi,
Noted journalist and columnist Shobaa De recently found how several colleges in Mumbai were not giving admission to meritorious Muslim students though they fulfill all criteria.
Hindu philosophy and Dadri lynching
By Namrata Chaturvedi for TwoCircles.net
A man was killed and his family tortured in a village in Uttar Pradesh last week. In a news report,...
Exaggerated claim of BJP’s core vote-base in Delhi
By Soroor Ahmed, TwoCircles.net,
Rarely in 68 years of Indian history the gap between the winning party and the runners up been so wide as this time in the Delhi election. With 54.30 per cent votes the Aam Admi Party got 22.1 per cent more votes than the Bharatiya Janata Party, which ended up getting 32.2 per cent.
Who gets to decide the boundaries of madrassa curriculum?
By Muddassir Ahmad Qasmi for TwoCircles.net
In modern India, in spite of moral decline in different spheres of life, contemporary educational centers are talking...
Phenomenon of Shah Faesal: Some lessons
By Balraj Puri,
Shah Faesal is a phenomenon which is unparalleled in recent years in Kashmir. His performance has been hailed from the Governor and the Chief Minister to a layman in Kupwara. Columns after columns have been written on him. His fame has crossed the lofty Pir Panchal. The spontaneous welcome he received at the airport and unending crowd that continued to greet him at his residence for many days without any organisational support would be envy of any popular leader. It has demonstrated the potential of Kashmir youth if given an opportunity.
Where is Muslim leadership of the new generation in India?
By Shamsher Alam
Veteran leadership is considered a hallmark of political discourse. However, a political party cannot be run only by the old leaders. New leadership...
Don’t lose touch with heritage, J&K CM tells youth
Jammu : In their pursuit of science and technology, the youth of Jammu and Kashmir should not lose their connect with heritage and traditional...
Hindutva outfits are threat to India
By Madhu Chandra,
Be it the post-Godhra violence in Gujarat 2002 or ethnic cleansing of Christians in Orissa 2008 or Mangalore pub attack on women, the non-action of concerned ruling state governments in dealing with fanatic outfits is grave threat to Indian secularism.
The Karnataka BJP Governments' Home Minister deciding to wait and watch the Sri Ram Sene outfit to commit the crimes on "couples celebrating Valentine's Day will be forced to marry in temples" is the clear sign of ineffectiveness of the concerned state government.
Rickshaw ban: a bane or boon?
By Firoz Bakht Ahmed
To a person like me who has spent the major portion of his life in the vintage streets and lanes of Shahjahanabad, or the Mughal-built Old Delhi, riding on horse carts and rickshaws, the blanket ban on cycle rickshaws by the Delhi High Court has come as a shock. I feel that courts that otherwise are doing yeomen service to the cause of justice at times pass orders that are not people-friendly.
What, it is to be a Muslim in India today?
By Prof. Dr. Rameeza. A. Rasheed for TwoCircles.net,
If your exposure to Muslim lives is through popular media then you believe that Muslim’s main profession is smuggling. Every beard and skull cap wearing men, particularly youth is at least remotely connected with a terrorist group. Neighbors don’t move closely, with the Muslim families who follow their dress code. It is propagated constantly that, every Madrasa is a breeding ground of violent actions. It is believed that, they don’t teach Islamic principles and general education but, implant principles of vengeance and Jihad (most misunderstood word).
Sincere efforts can only address less pre primary education in Muslims
By Dr Kouser Fathima for TwoCircles.net,
The recently released “State of the World Children Report-2016” by UNICEF says 34% of Muslim children have no access...
Kerala warns of administrative, legal steps in Mullaperiyar dam case
Thiruvananthapuram : As an opposition legislator accused the Kerala government of adopting a "callous attitude" on the Mullaperiyar dam, a state minister on Monday...
नए आन्दोलनों की ज़मीन तैयार करता जाट आरक्षण आन्दोलन
जावेद अनीस
जाट आरक्षण आंदोलन आगामी तीन अप्रैल तक के लिए टल गया है. इसी के साथ जाट नेताओं ने हरियाणा सरकार को एक नयी डेडलाइन देते हुए कहा है कि सरकार 31 मार्च तक चलने वाले विधानसभा के मौजूदा सत्र में आरक्षण विधेयक पारित कराए. अखिल भारतीय जाट आरक्षण संघर्ष समिति के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष यशपाल मलिक ने उम्मीद जतायी है कि सरकार उनके सुझावों पर गौर करेगी
24 Pargana communal attacks: Muslim fundamentalists emulating the Hindutva genre of violence
By Shamsul Islam for TwoCircles.net
RSS, the leading flag-bearer of the Hindutva politics and the most significant motivating spirit behind Modi government at the Centre...
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is a Minority Institution rules Supreme Court
Syed Ali Mujtaba,TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: In a landmark judgment the Supreme Court of India “overruled” its judgment taken in the Azeez Basha case of 1967...
The shallowness of the discourse on Muslim Personal Law
By Umair Azmi
The liberal silence has, thankfully, been broken. If equality between the genders is impossible within the realm of Muslim law, irrespective of...
Modi’s vision bodes well for a clean India
By Robinder Sachdev,
I run a think tank where we focus on the image and imagination of India and, among many other issues related to leadership development, we are passionate about a clean India.
थोड़ा-सा जहर, रस्सी, इच्छा-मृत्यु और रोहित वेमुला का खत
नासिरूद्दीन
18 दिसम्बर 2015 यानी ठीक एक साल पहले. हमारे जैसे सभ्य नागरिक समाज के लोगों का एक आम-सा दिन था. मगर हैदराबाद केद्रीय...
Quit blaming Ulema and start to write your own destiny
By Abdul Hannan Siwani Nadvi for TwoCircles.net
Dr. Mehrunnisa – An example of her own message “Read and Lead”
TCN Special Series on Women of Inspiration
By Ilyas Khan Pathan and Rehan Ansari, TCN
The killer Dengue and the sordid saga of poor governance
By Dr. Mumtaz Naiyer for TwoCircles.net
Last week there was an outcry in the print, electronic and social media as Avinash Rout, 7, and...
How a death in UP can influence polls in Bihar
By Amulya Ganguli
For the present, the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh has bought peace with the family of the slain journalist, Jagendra Singh,...
When nature cries
By Zohra Javed for TwoCircles.net,
When everyone had given up any little hope for rain, it sure has played havoc in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. And also in some parts of Goa and Maharashtra. There is an irony in this whole situation: the areas that have been hit by devastating flood were declared drought-hit some time back.
And in this situation there is a cruel tragedy also: whatever was left of the crops (under a drought) has now been washed away by the fury of the rains.
Bengal Elections 2021: The dilemma of Muslims in Bengal
By Nazma Parveen
Recently the crucial and much-hyped Bihar elections came to an end and the BJP-JD(U) NDA alliance is set to form the Government...
In the end, Assam is the loser
By Sanjoy Hazarika
For weeks, protesters had blocked the national highway at Doom Dooma, among the major tea producing areas of Tinsukia district. Their grievance appeared genuine: demanding justice for the family of a young man who was killed by the army in the area, a man from the Moran community, one of the most economically backward groups in Assam, which anyway is at the bottom of India's economic pile.
AMU ranked top-notch university for research in ‘US News Best Global Universities Rankings’
TCN News
Aligarh: The seventh annual US News Best Global Universities Rankings has given Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) premium position in the Indian and global...
सवर्णवादी व्यवस्था से पीड़ित पत्रकार मीना कोतवाल ने अब ‘सो कॉल्ड लिबरल-प्रोग्रेसिव सवर्ण पत्रकारों’...
मीना कोतवाल,Twocircles.net के लिए
सो कॉल्ड लिबरल-प्रोग्रेसिव सवर्ण पत्रकारों, प्रशांत कन्नौजिया को जेल गए हुए 50 दिन हो गए हैं. एक ट्वीट की वजह से प्रशांत...
Courtroom trial tells on India-Myanmar relations
By Syed Ali Mujtaba
The trial of the infamous 1998 ‘Operation Leech’ in Kolkata court is turning out to be a public relations disaster for New Delhi. This is crucially at a time when several big business deals with Myanmar's military junta hang in the balance.
‘Operation Leech’ refers to Indian intelligence sting operation capturing 34 Myanmar nationals in Andaman’s Landfall Island on February 8, 1998.
The Army’s version says they captured an "international gang of gun smugglers" waging a war against the nation.
US-Russia Escalation at heights over US missile deal with Poland
By IRNA,
Tehran : Escalation between Washington and Moscow reached its heights when the United States signed a deal with Poland to house the 10 interceptor missiles as part of the defense shield whose directional radar is to be sited in the Czech Republic.
The US and Polish officials say the timing of the deal had nothing to do with events in Georgia, but no one is going to believe this, least of all the Russians who will inevitably see it as a further gauntlet thrown down by the Bush administration.
World food scarcity and the challenges of climate change and bio energy
By Shobha Shukla,
'Rarely has the World Food Day assumed greater meaning than in present times, as rapidly rising food prices risk increasing the number of hungry in the world,' according to the Food And Agriculture Organization (FAO).
A marriage of, for and with self-respect: Remembering Periyar 140 years after his birth...
By Daisy Katta, TwoCircles.net
The news of the caste killing of Pranay in Telangana has sent shockwaves throughout India. This is not an isolated incident...
What are they preparing for?
By Nasiruddin Haider Khan,
What are they preparing for? Against whom? For whose security? And who are the people who are doing these preparations? A channel reported that in Indore, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) members openly fired guns in the air. There were multiple rounds fired. I am sure people of the area would not have become happy to hear the sounds of gunfire. They must have been scared. Who is being scared? And who are these preparations against?
बहुत गहरे सवाल पैदा करता है बाबरी मस्जिद के आरोपियों का बरी होने का...
वसीम अकरम त्यागी
बाबरी मस्जिद विध्वंस मामले में सीबीआई की विशेष अदालत के 'निर्णय' से न्यायप्रिय दुखी हैं। कोर्ट के फैसले का 'सम्मान' के साथ...
Slavery a disturbing truth in India
By Amit Kapoor,
The Global Slavery Index 2013, compiled by non-profit Walk Free Foundation, presents quite a dismal picture about a reality in India: Modern slavery. It estimates that 13.3 million to 14.7 million people are enslaved in India, exhibiting the full spectrum of such rights violations. It is scary, heart-rending, exposes our underbelly and gives a peep into our minds and the exploitative tendencies we have. Most of all, it depicts the feudalistic mindset we suffer from.
India is not a secular state: Dr. Omar Khalidi
By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net,
Last July, a meeting of Rajasthan Minority Commission started with lighting lamps in front of a photo of Vagdevi, the goddess of learning. Rajasthan has declared Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Parsis as minorities and none of these light lamps before Vagdevi. Then what was the need to worship a Hindu deity in a Minority Commission's meeting? To many who have seen all government functions begin with lighting of lamps, this comes not as a surprise.
Turkey’s Erdogan or Erdogan’s Turkey?
By Mohammad Behzad Fatmi,
The Republic of Turkey has been a turbulent democracy since its very inception. The country has witnessed a number of coup d’état and continuous military dominance over elected governments resulting in limited civilian liberty, rare tolerance for dissent and utter disregard to the rule of law. It was in the year 2002 when the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power with the promise and apparent determination to strengthen democracy, rule of law and freedom in the countrywhich gave hope to the people.But today after more than a decade, the country is standing at the same position (in a different form though), if not worse.
नोखा: जानिए एशिया की सबसे बड़ी मोठ मंडी को
अफ़रोज़ आलम साहिल, TwoCircles.net
नोखा (राजस्थान): दलित छात्रा डेल्टा मेघवाल की मौत ने राजस्थान के बीकानेर जिले के नोखा शहर को चर्चा में ला दिया...
Unrepentant SP seeks to play minority-victim card
By Mohit Dubey ,
Lucknow: An unrepentant Azam Khan, Uttar Pradesh's loud-mouth urban development minister, continues to justify his acerbic speeches and acid-laced comments on...