People have flown kites for millennia – for relaxation, as recreation, as an ancient tool for military signalling and as a modern signifier of an ephemeral harmony. The practice originated in
Rating peacefulness
The first-ever Global Peace Index (GPI) was unveiled recently, revealing some unpleasant surprises for Southasia in general, and all-but-shining India in particular. The GPI, which
Contrary to the impression created by the reaction of an obviously unnerved regime in Islamabad, independent military analyst Ayesha Siddiqa's recent book, Military Inc.: Inside Pakistan's
A unitary, democratic and progressive Indian state was by no means pre-determined by its colonial legacy. At the time of Independence in August 1947, there had been nearly a
After years of turbulent relations, it is ironic that New Delhi is currently basking in a sense of reassurance over the possibility of good-neighbourly relations with Bangladesh, with the
India oversight
Thanks so much for your recent coverage of the Lhotshampa refugee issue (June, "Repatriation or resettlement"). We found it unfortunate, however, that the writer did not
Whatever history and allure football and cricket possess, neither can claim the mythical roots known to Southasian archery. The Ramayan, Maha-bharat and the legend of Ekalvya each use an
When Bangladesh's current caretaker government was sworn in on 11 January, the country was on the brink of economic disaster. The economy was still licking its wounds from
2 May. The government of the Maldives had decided to hold a celebration in honour of World Press Freedom Day, and had chosen a state-of-the-art slogan: '
The March 2007 issue of Critique, a review of Indian journalism, is dedicated to Sham Lal, the veteran editor and literary critic who died on 23 February. Writes the Nagpur-
