Editorial Board

Bihar and Pataliputra (modern-day Patna) has one of the most glorious histories in the world. It has been 101 years since Bihar became a state of India. It is not in the distant past when Bihar’s name was uttered with negative connotations, and at times even derogatory. The socio-economic condition of Bihar became the example of a worst case scenario. However, it took only few years to change the face and the reputation of Bihar. Kudos to the government and the people of Bihar under the able leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, ...

Prof Ujjwal K Chowdhury The middle classes world-over are the ones that have benefited the most from the modern state and its support of public transport, public schools, public health, public housing programs, public sector jobs. And, the middle classes today across the world are up in arms against the system and coming to the streets. From Occupy Wall Street in US to Arab Spring in Egypt, from anti corruption movement in India or anti austerity movement in Spain or Greece to anti fundamentalism movement in Bangladesh, from movement against rape in South Asian nations to movement for political stability ...

In recent times, the world media has almost written off the Indian growth story. Yes, there are several setbacks with growth igures coming below six percent in a quarter and the rupee’s devaluation heavily over the last one year, apart from the industrial slowdown. However, there are more than 50 reasons to celebrate the Indian economy as we view the possibilities in 2013. The story cannot be inished for a nation with the world’s youngest population (66 percent below 35 years of age), with one in every six people owning some business, farm sector experiencing growth unlike the developed world, ...

Time is ripe again for the ‘homecoming’ of the Indian Diaspora: and also for celebrating their achievements. Twenty ive million plus people of Indian origin, whether or not born in India and living outside of India in over 100 countries, are drawn towards their motherland that is variously referred to as Bharat, Hindustan or simply India – a land of dreams. Yes, India is far from perfect. The mother, once richest in the world, is unable to fulill the basic needs of its people such as food, education and healthcare today. But a mother is always a mother. Today, India ...

Who said we are in the 21st century? Who said we are more civilized than the medieval era of brutality? If we look at the violent incidents of the past year in different parts of the world, they would tell a tale of manmade calamities affecting lives of millions which in itself is evidence of a global village full of primitive inhabitants and leaders for whom the progress of the civilization seems regressive. In the name of religion, violence is found in so many countries! The jihad is more visible around the world now than even 10 years ago. This ...

The horrific gang-rape of the 23-year-old young paramedic girl in Delhi on December 16, and her subsequent death, has stirred the soul of India on the issues of safety and dignity of women, perhaps like never before. Tens and thousands of men and women, teenagers and even children have come out in more than 30 cities of India and may be many other places unreported in the national media to express solidarity with the braveheart. They have demanded death penalty for the six rapists (all arrested), and changes in the antiquated laws on assaults on women to make life imprisonment ...

It appears that India has suddenly shaken off the stereotypical ‘caste, cows and curry’ image in all media and textbooks. The nation’s economy has touched a new high. It is now, almost third largest and militarily third most powerful. India has one of the largest educated middle class populations. That has made some people to call India, a super power. The potential is there, but what does being a super power mean? In the contemporary sense, power means economic and military power. This power could mean bullying and controlling world affairs, which is not the will of the people of ...

At the outset, I wish all NGI readers of Middle East a very warm 41st National Day of the United Arab Emirates. We are proud of our Nation and its achievements in just four decades, of turning a vast desert land into one of the most modern technologically advanced and well governed countries of the world. The NGI protocol has always been to build bridges across the Indian diaspora and create a forum for bringing us under an umbrella, one that underscores our strengths and triumphs but is equally honest about raising issues that concern us outside the home country ...

The World Economic Forum India 2012 meet held in Gurgaon was significant not just for India but for the rest of the world as well. More than 700 business leaders from 43 countries took part. The discussions involved several concerns. As Europe continues to face a massive liquidity crunch – barring Germany – it is looking towards BRICS nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and perhaps Turkey. A major worry is that India may grow at the slowest rate in a decade, surely below 6%. A slump in industrial activity because of slow policy-making and the global slowdown, along ...

November heralds global leadership changes that may portend both political and economic directions for the coming years. US presidential poll and the hand-over of power in China — two different systems, but in a strange coincidence that can impact the world in a big way. The economy, food, energy, social justice, human rights, fundamentalism, global peace, climate and many more important matters will be affected by the change in leadership. The changes happening in Beijing and Washington have both domestic and global implications since both are economic super-powers. India must prepare itself to effectively deal with these changes. Perhaps, it ...