Modi government's 100 days in office
Give credit, where credit is due. The NDA government under the leadership Lord ModiJi has apparently done lot of good work in past few months, clubbed with some exuberant speeches. Friends, this regime has allegedly taken a strict stance against corruption, and there are instances to prove it:
1) Clipping the powers of Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch.
2) The removal of the chief vigilant officer at AIIMS that has smoothened the flow of corruption.
3) You can’t see their strong steps against corruption, but its happening just like the so-called economic "development" that was earlier promised.
The new government apparently seems strict on women's safety as well. They have a cabinet minister from Rajasthan who is a rape accused and then you have senior cabinet ministers like Arun Jaitley, who think rapes are small incidents. – Sameer Dubey

The plight of manual scavengers
It is depressing to know that there are 1.3 million Dalit manual scavengers in our country, most of whom are women. It is disgusting and shameful.  What have we fought and obtained our Independence for? To marginalise and divide a large section of our own brethren to this level? Do we as a society understand the significance or the kind of deprivation we have put Dalits through? They are shunned and discriminated by society to such a low level that even their basic needs and wants aren't fulfilled, leave alone being considered a normal member of society. The present government of Narendra Modi should go all out to not only construct a toilet in each school but restructuring the lives of our brethren, who have so far failed to savour or smell the success of India's Independence! – Salma Bala

Should have been more respectful to UR Ananthamurthy
Amazing piece on UR Ananthamurthy.  For such a a towering personality, he remained child-like in his zest for life. He was warm to everyone, never took anything to heart and anybody could have had a conversation with him. I am very sad that a section of Kannadigas he loved most did not give him much mental peace. – KR Balasubramany

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UR Anathamurthy is a big personality. He deserves all the accolades.  But he appeared ''immature '' in his 80s, after he threatened to quit India if Modi became our Prime Minister. He didn't, however, quit India after PM Modi's swearing-in. Sorry, but there was no place for his whims and fancies. – VSR Sastry

The Congress can't complain
What do Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi or even Indira Gandhi have to do with the political creed of Jawaharlal Nehru? Not much as is well known. So why are they claiming his political legacy? The Congress (Indira) is just one of the parties that were formed after the Indian National Congress split into two, courtesy Indira Gandhi. Besides Nehru was part of a movement and not the sole leader. Nehru's descendants have led us to believe otherwise and now they are miffed that he has not been given the importance he deserves.  Shama Zaidi

Planning Commission was irrelevant
This article is critical out of what appears to be a political bias, even as it attributes the same to Prime Minister Modi. A  lot can be said about the flaws in Nehru policies and economics that had consigned India's poverty and child mortality levels at par with sub-Saharan Africa, rather than a nation befitting its size and history.

My interaction with the then Head of the Planning Commission, a certain Mr Jha in mid-1980s, as a banker at India House in London, very clearly illustrated the irrelevance of the Planning Commission. He told me that various bold economic measures, which I had advocated then and which needed to be taken to salvage India's terrible credit rating and economic situation could not be implemented, as Rajiv Gandhi was not bold enough to do so. Subsequently, Prime Minister Narasimha Rao came in and did many of the things that were discussed, albeit under pressure from the  International Monetary Fund.

So if it is the PM that really decides on policy issues, then why create an irrelevant bureaucratic structure that only enhances red tape and blocks action. Modi is right in overhauling India's politics, its processes and bureaucracy. – Vibhaker Baxi

Beautiful renditions of Heer-Ranja
What a beautiful rendition of Heer-Ranja by the Sain at Pir Warris Shah's Darbar and that too without any instruments to accompany it. Thank you. – Nilima Sheikh