Politics

By Dasarath Chetty The community of Indian South Africans is approximately 1.3 million strong; a relatively small minority when one considers that the total population is almost 52 million. However, over half this number live in Durban and surrounding areas, and over 800 000 in total live in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. It is therefore the City and Province in which Indians become a significant element in local government elections making up approximately 2,5 % of the national population and 8 % of KZNs population. Historical restrictions on freedom of movement for Indians, under Apartheid, are primarily responsible for this ...

Part 4 (final): The practical implications of patriotism and free speech Now let us come back to our basic duties towards our land and her people by the standard of a modern democratic system. It is summed up nicely by Mark Twain: “My kind of loyalty was to one’s country, not to its institutions or its officeholders. The country is the real thing, the substantial thing, the eternal thing; it is the thing to watch over, and care for, and be loyal to; institutions are extraneous, they are its mere clothing, and clothing can wear out, become ragged, cease to ...

Part 3: What is Nationalism and Patriotism?     In this current debate people are using patriotism and nationalism interchangeably, without reaching an agreement upon the definition of each. Nationalism: According to Merriam-Webster dictionary: 1: a feeling that people have of being loyal to and proud of their country often with the belief that it is better and more important than other countries 2: a desire by a large group of people (such as people who share the same culture, history, language, etc.) to form a separate and independent nation of their own Full Definition of Nationalism – 1:  loyalty ...

Part 2: Role of freedom, spirituality and dharma [Photo: A statue in Milton, MA, USA to commemorate those people from the town fought and died in World War 1 ] To Dwight D. Eisenhower this power of freedom is natural: “Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed – else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.” Current debate on the idea of nationalism in India has many limitations – the key one is the understating of these terminologies: Patriotism, ...

Part 1: Meaning and scope of freedom [ In this 4 part series I’m addressing Meaning and scope of freedom, Role of freedom, spirituality and dharma, What is nationalism and patriotism and The practical implications of patriotism and free speech. ] “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” -Nelson Mandela Debate on some fundamental ideas of life which is always refreshing – these include the preferability of various forms of government, roles of citizens and the government, constitution, race, caste, gender etc. A ...

  One wonders why gun battles in the 21st century seem as frequent as the tribal conflicts of the stone age. Is our civilization more barbaric? Today the world should worry more about the elimination of poverty and focus on the pursuit of higher goals in life. Ideologies of violence and monsters of war seem to be staying with us for a long time to come! Just like you, I’ve been following the Pathankot, Mazar-e-Sharif and Jalalabad terror campaigns, but with an open mind. Frustratingly, PM Modi is silent after his initial statement! Speculations and commentaries are far and wide. ...

  The BJP has crossed the half-way mark in the Lok Sabha on its own. Its stunning performance has been propelled by the landslide victory. Narendra Modi tsunami began to blow, says Rohit Kumar It was a clean saffron sweep and mud in the eye for the congress. As the election commission (EC) went about the giant role of tallying the votes of 563 million Indians, the exit polls and projections gave an early indication that the Narendra Modi wave had soaked up the highest majority ever. Sailing high on the anti-incumbency mood vis a vis the Congress, (similar to what had ...

Dividing Andhra Pradesh leads to a greater loss to the Telugu community, not only local but also across the world with more corruption, overhead expenses for the redundant state infrastructure and more, says Satya Nemana The current situation in Andhra Pradesh for separate Telangana and Rayala Seema is causing political and social instability leading to distress among people. Given the current situation, it is the best, if the Government forms a secondary advisory committee, address the issues of separatists and settle them on a mutually coordinated basis. Dividing Andhra Pradesh leads to a greater loss to the Telugu community, not ...

  With the Centre giving the nod, India may have the 29th state by year end. And, Telangana may soon be a reality. Mritunjay Kumar traces the journey of the Telangana saga, even casting a glance, through the lens, at its final metamorphosis. The Telangana saga curtain-raiser Opinion about this decision is divided. Some feel it is in country’s progress, while some say it was for personal and electoral gains. The state of Andhra Pradesh was in a messy phase when the Congress Working Committee took the historic resolution to create India’s 29th State – Telangana; and the division of ...

From Nehru era to the present political climate in India, the state and people have been struggling against all odds. With emergence of civil societies at the political front and Lok Sabha elections few months away, it is a right time to critically analyze the journey of Indian politics from 1947 to 67th Independence Day. A report by Neha Saluja Independence did not come easy to India and it paid the heavy price for it, The Partition. Soon, after Independence, all leaders proliferated to the establishment of democratic and secular system both at national and local level of governance. The ...