Category: Articles
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Blending democracy with autocracy!
But can we really make a cocktail of it? Democracy and dictatorship are two different ways of leading the civilization. One is by collective leadership evolved by mindful introspection and the other by grabbing power brazenly all through overt and covert means. Even after experiencing flawed democracy for decades most people in the sub-continent cannot…
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Meeting Mufti
Politics apart, he was a great administrator! I intended to write this piece on the first death anniversary of Mufti Mohammad Syed, but then I changed my mind lest I may be branded as an unprincipled sycophant. Anyways, facts are facts and we should never distort realities. All my interactions with Mufti Sahib were in…
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The Budget Speech
It was more about administrative reforms than about budgeting. Finance Minister Dr. Haseeb Drabu is a well-read economist with a vast experience of working with national and international economic institutions. His time with country’s leading business media house puts him in the category of widely known economic analysts. Mr. Drabu has the distinction of serving…
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Beyond Me
Prof. Bhat and the art of weaving yesterday into tomorrow! True to his distinctive characteristic of habitual quietness Professor Abdul Ghani Bhat in his autobiography ‘Beyond me’ has conveyed a lot about his personal life without making much noise. In a unique style of his trademark articulation professor has used words in a much…
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A crowded city!
Srinagar stands hijacked by vendors and vehicles. In the first week of June 2016, I was pleased to write in these columns about Srinagar freed from roadside vendors and illegal parking. The administration had done wonders by restraining ever-growing roadside vendors and reining unruly vehicles. That time it was a wonderful and comforting sight and…
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A murky trade!
All about trade unionism in Kashmir After the fall of autocracy in 1947, a new era of empowerment and emancipation blossomed in the subcontinent; the aura of freedom and sense of authorization liberated mind and soul of almost everyone. Workers, especially government workforces who were the most exploited lot during the oppressive rule were the…
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The theatre of the absurd
That sums up the whole scene of Kashmir politics. Recently Farooq Abdullah a prominent political figure in Kashmir ruffled many political feathers by offering support to Hurriyat Conference. A strong advocate of finality of Kashmir’s integration with union of India, Farooq not only surprised, but amazed many Indian politicians. Kashmir politics is so complicated that…
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Modi’s Great Gamble!
The move can turn out to be a risk for him. Usually politicians are unpredictable, but in the sub-continent entire political scenario is more erratic. The surprise and fluidity factor in politics can provide good political dividends to politicians, but ultimately the quality of leadership and authority get vastly compromised. Narinder Modi from the days…
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Greater Srinagar
Is it a distant dream? Last month Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) extended an invitation to attend two days interaction session at SKICC regarding the evolving concept of ‘Greater Srinagar’. Defying unrest and strict restrictions I would have loved to be part of this event, but an important date at Delhi hospital constrained me to miss…
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Modi’s Salvo
A nation in hot pursuit of currency! A nation of more than a billion people was rendered cashless (virtually penniless) from midnight of Nov 8. With one stroke of pen Narinder Modi, Prime Minister of India demonetised a sizeable part of Indian currency. Obviously, Modi before announcing and implementing demonetisation decision might have given due…