Articles
Oct 02 2015
GOUR HARI DASTAAN
A celluloid tribute to Gandhi
GOUR HARI DASTAAN : A celluloid tribute to Gandhi

At a time when we're drifting away from Gandhiji and the values he stood and fought for, a film like Gour Hari Dastaan comes as a reminder of what we've lost and forces us to reflect on why. Shoma Chatterji reviews this film about a Gandhian and his fight to prove that he was indeed a freedom fighter.

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Sep 30 2015
INDIA TOGETHER NEWSLETTER - OCT 1st 2015
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How prepared are we to tackle a human crisis? | Losing our rivers to grand plans | Malnutrition - A national disgrace
The ongoing Syrian and Mediterranean refugee crisis makes us look into our nation's as well as South Asian region's refugee policies in this edition. We also take a look at the widespread malnutrition amongst Indian children, why the proposed National Waterways Bill in its curent form is not a good idea, how Ladakh's cultural heritage and natural resources are deteriorating, the six-decades long suffering of Manipuri women under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts, a panel discussion on Nehru’s India: Essays on the Maker of a Nation a book by Nayantara Sahgal, a review of a newly released movie on the challenges faced by the Parsi community, and much more.
Sep 30 2015
THE PARSI STORY
The path of Zarathustra
THE PARSI STORY : The path of Zarathustra

The traditionalists and the liberal Parsis have an never-ending debate on how to keep their community and faith alive. Recently released feature film The Path of Zarathustra directed by Oorvazi Irani looks at this debate and more. Shoma Chatterji reviews the movie and talks to the director.

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Sep 27 2015
VIOLENCE AND ACTIVISM
Manipuri mothers want an end to the killings

The International Day of Peace, celebrated on September 21 every year, has little meaning for people living in conflict areas. Like the Manipuri women, who feel that decades-old violence in Manipur has not only increased but taken many different forms. Anjulika Thingnam speaks to some of the feisty women of Meira Paibi (women vigilante) groups of Manipur to find out more.

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Sep 24 2015
PANEL DISCUSSION
In defence of Pandit Nehru
PANEL DISCUSSION : In defence of Pandit Nehru

Darryl D'Monte talks about his recent participation in a discussion on Nayantara Sahgal's book on Nehru, which delves into Nehruvian policies, his cherished dreams, his lasting legacy and its importance in today's time.

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Sep 22 2015
REFUGEE TRAIN
How prepared are we to tackle a human crisis?
As the refugee crisis deepens in Syria, visuals of millions of people hoping to catch a train to a better life fill the media space. Shalini Bhutani reflects on the state of refugee policies in the South Asian region while remembering her own father’s experience weeks before the India-Pakistan partition.
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Sep 21 2015
NEW NATIONAL WATERWAYS
Losing our rivers to grand plans
NEW NATIONAL WATERWAYS : Losing our rivers to grand plans

As per the National Waterways Bill recently introduced in the Parliament, 101 stretches of rivers in the country will be declared as National Waterways. There are many advantages of waterways but these advantages will be realised only when certain conditions are met, and only under certain circumstances says Shripad Dharmadhikary.

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Sep 19 2015
MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN
Malnutrition - A national disgrace
MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN : Malnutrition - A national disgrace

When malnutrition among children is widespread, the government is slashing funds allocated to the mid day meal scheme that covers most of the vulnerable children. Questioning this approach of the government, E S Ramamurthy started a petition to raise the funding for mid-day meals to cover minimum nutritional needs of a child.

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Sep 16 2015
BLOG: RESISTANCE AND RECONSTRUCTION
Ladakh in the throes of change
BLOG: RESISTANCE AND RECONSTRUCTION : Ladakh in the throes of change

The pristine and idyllic pictures of Ladakh do not tell the true story. In recent past Ladakh has been losing its rich cultural heritage and natural resources, and sadly there has been no sincere concentrated official effort to stop this deterioration. But hope is on its way, says Ashish Kothari who visited the region recently.

Sep 15 2015
INDIA TOGETHER NEWSLETTER - SEP 15th 2015
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Easing building regulations | What is really driving India’s Pakistan strategy? | One year of the Modi government
In this edition we look at the implications of the recent amendent to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), the performance of the present government which completed one year in the office, the poor menstrual hygiene effecting our older school-going girls, the sad state of sanitary conditions in the slums of Assam, how Muslim women are stepping out to set up businesses in Kashmir while in Uttar Pradesh they suffer as their husbands are being branded a terrorist, the review of Harsh Mander's latest book, and much more.
Sep 14 2015
INVISIBLE VICTIMS
When the man in the family is branded a terrorist

What happens to the mothers, sisters, daughters, and wives of the Muslim men who are rounded up, rightly or wrongly, for being terrorists? While the media talks mostly to the men the voices of these women are lost. Their family, community and the organizations working on releasing their men are not able to offer them much support. This leads to a silent suffering, the results of which could be dangerous finds Puja Awasthi.

Sep 13 2015
AN OBJECTIVE REPORT CARD
One year of the Modi government: Between the cup and the lip

The present government completed one year in the office in May this year. It came to power by promising to bring achhe din for the Indians, who were frustrated with high inflation, corruption and policy paralysis during the last government. Pradeep Baisakh objectively analyses the performance of the Modi government in its first year.

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Sep 10 2015
CRAFT & EMPOWERMENT
Arifa shows how business is done
CRAFT & EMPOWERMENT : Arifa shows how business is done

In conflict-stricken region of Kashmir where women are sheltered and house-bound, it's next to impossible for a woman to be an entrepreneur. Making it possible are women like Arifa, who overcame various challenges to start her own crafts store in Srinagar. Renu Agal meets Arifa to write her inspiring story.

Sep 08 2015
SANITATION & HYGIENE
Slum dwellers in Assam suffer from poor sanitation and hygiene
Sanitary conditions in most of the slum areas in Assam are abysmal. Ignorance about cleanliness, lack of water supply and proper working toilets, absence of covered drainage and sewage, and no action from the local and state government are to be blamed for the mess, reports Nilotpal Bhattacharjee.
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Sep 07 2015
COASTAL REGULATION ZONES
Easing building regulations: Where’s the groundwork?

The recent amendment to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification relaxes building norms for CRZ areas. There are certain necessary measures that should have preceded it, says Meenakshi Kapoor as she brings out the implications of the amendment.

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Sep 04 2015
GEOPOLITICS AND THE MILITARY
What is really driving India’s Pakistan strategy?
Our government and the National Security Adviser are promoting 'defensive offence' as India's Pakistan strategy. Firdaus Ahmed explains why that's not the case and that our strategy is more 'offensive-compellence' than 'defensive offence'.
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Sep 02 2015
MENSTRUAL HYGIENE
Why rural girls need more than just sanitary napkins

Handing out non-biodegradable sanitary pads to rural school girls who have reached menarche will not address their menstrual hygiene issue. Clean and functional toilets with water supply, awareness about menstruation, economical and biodegradable pads and more is needed, finds Puja Awasthi.

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Sep 01 2015
BOOK REVIEW
A human gaze
BOOK REVIEW : A human gaze

Harsh Mander's new book Looking Away: Inequality, Prejudice and Indifference in New India talks about the growing inequality and the lack of compassion amongst the rich for the poor in India. Darryl D'Monte reviews the book which despite its candidness about the grim realities offers a message of hope and promise.

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Aug 31 2015
INDIA TOGETHER NEWSLETTER - SEP 1ST 2015
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Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai | “Settling” forest rights in “campaign mode” | For Pakistani Hindus in India, hopes start to sour
In this edition we look at a powerful documentary on the Muzaffarnagar communal riots that shook the nation in September 2013, the plight of Pakistani Hindus refugees in Delhi, the intent behind settling the forest rights claims of tribals, the crime, atrocities and discrimination against Dalits which is on rise, the sad state of our nation's health care system, the message of Pope Francis’s latest Encyclical, and much more.
Aug 30 2015
INDIAN NAMES
From Hema to Hemiya, the complex world of Indian names
What's in a name? Apparently a lot in a country like ours, where even today regressive practices like identifying a person's caste by his or her surname or identifying a woman by her husband's name continue unabated, writes Navya P K.