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In Remembrance ... |
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Baba Amte
Murlidhar Devidas Amte popularly called Baba Amte, a follower of Gandhi and noted social activist who spent his entire life helping the lepers of India, died on February 9, at his commune for leprosy patients ‘Anandvan’ at Warora village in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. He was 93. |
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PERSPECTIVE |
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Kalpana Rajaram
The Need to Rise Above Parochialism
India is the largest democracy. On paper and in speeches. When it comes to the practice of this form of government, the country often fails miserably, to make an understatement. It is disheartening to see the increasing events manifesting parochialism and intolerance. The sons of the soil concept is inimical to a polity based on a written constitution proclaiming equality and fraternity. But then this country’s politicians are notorious for paying lip service to the Constitition and brazenly flouting its principles in practice. |
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PRESS SCAN |
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The Kidney Racket
Vidya Bhaskar
ARs 100-crore global kidney racket was busted by the police on January 25th, 2008, on the eve of the country’s 59th Republic Day. Police raids revealed that illegal kidney transplants were being carried out for over nine years by a team of money-crazed doctors in a three-storey house in an upscale Gurgaon colony which concealed an ultra modern hospital equipped with the latest devices for sophisticated transplant operations. |
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WORLD |
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Tadic Re-elected in Serbia
A pre-term presidential election was held in Serbia on January 20 and February 3, 2008. Incumbent President Boris Tadi¬c was reelected as President of Serbia in the second round with 51.61 per cent of the votes cast, defeating challenger Tomislav Nikoli¬c.
Iran launches rocket for research satellite
On February 4, 2008 Iran launched a rocket designed to carry its first locally-made research satellite in 2009, showing the country’s advances in ballistics at a time when Western powers are already jittery about its nuclear plans. The US, the Islamic Republic’s arch foe, called the rocket test “unfortunate” and said it would only further isolate Tehran from the international community.
Pakistan Testfires Missile
Chinese New Year of the Rat Begins
There are 12 animals in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, and the rat is the first in this series. Legend has it that all the animals concerned were in a race to cross a broad river. Displaying the canniness characteristic of its species, the rat rode on the back of an ox and jumped off to finish first. Legend also has it that the rat was the first one to arrive when Buddha summoned 12 animals to name a year in each cycle after each one of them. The rat was followed by an ox, a tiger, a rabbit, a dragon, a snake, a horse, a sheep, a monkey, a rooster, a dog and a pig.
Referendum on New Myanmar Constitution
Sarkozy weds Carla Bruni
AGV prototype unveiled |
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IN FOCUS |
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Regional Chauvinism
versus
Democratic Space
Priyadarshi Kar
The MNS chief’s main objection appears to be the usurpation of jobs in Mumbai by “North Indians”, who aggravated their “folly” by having the audacity to celebrate their own festivals in the ’land of the Marathis’. In the 1990s, a similar precedent arose in Arunachal Pradesh when a radical students group gave ‘quit notices’ to Chakmas, the refugees from Bangladesh. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) moved a public interest litigation (PIL) on the “quit notice” issue. The Supreme Court in its January 9, 1996, judgement said: “The state is bound to protect the life and liberty of every human being, be he a citizen or otherwise, and it cannot permit anybody or group of persons, like the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union, to threaten the Chakmas to leave the state”. |
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NATION |
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World Wetlands Day
All India Whips’ Conference
IONS Meet Inaugurated
Two New Additional Solicitor Generals Appointed
Bilateral Cooperation Agreement between India and Pakistan
Indo-US aircraft deal
India-Russia sign deal on nuclear reactors
Rajiv Gandhi Udyami Mitra Yojana
Law Commission Reports
Display by ‘Information Warriors’
Golden chariot flagged off
Fourteen rivers to be
Declared national assets
IVF research centre Established at AIIMS |
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MEDIASCAPE |
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R.K. Karanjia passes away
Veteran journalist and the former editor of Blitz, Russy K. Karanjia passed away on February 1, 2008. He was 95 and is survived by his daughter Rita Mehta, editor of Cine Blitz. Karanjia was senior film journalist B.K. Karanjia’s brother.
Shah Rukh Khan’s new TV Venture
Newseum in Washington
Dish TV-Sony Tie-up
World Book Fair 2008
Media delegation meets IB Minister
Who’s going where... |
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IMPRESSIONS |
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Great Job, Team India!
Sanjay Kumar Pandey
Even though Australia officially won the Test series, it was India, which really emerged triumphant. Throughout the Test series India had an upper hand. Had poor and biased umpiring (a large credit for which goes to Steve Bucknor) in favour of the Kangaroos not been there, more so in Sydney, the Indians would have not lost the series, perhaps, could have easily won it. |
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