Himal Southasian (Page 333)

Lumpens in the constabulary: Gujarat

It was in the mid-1950s that Justice AN Mullah castigated the police, calling it the "biggest organised goonda (goon) force" in India. Many events have occurred since

By Subhash Gatade

/ 1 Oct 2003

Collapse of the neo-liberal consensus

Conciliation and cooperation are the catchphrases of the liberal world. However, only a short time ago (even if it now seems like a long time ago), Western civilisation was busy

By Aasim Sajjad Akhtar

/ 1 Oct 2003

Inelastic doctrine

People can be charged for blasphemy under section 295 A, B, C and 505 of Pakistan Penal Code. Recent instances of blasphemy cases have once again brought the issue into

By Mohan Gopal Nyachhyon

/ 1 Oct 2003

Fishing for trouble?

The burgeoning problems of the fisher people of Tamil Nadu do not catch the ears of the powerful, either in the state or the centre. Madras seems to be far

By Syed Ali Mujtaba

/ 1 Oct 2003

Mining uranium in the mountains

In Domiasat, in the West Khasi hills of northeast India there is trouble brewing. The story dates back to 1976, when the Atomic Minerals Division (AMD) of the Atomic Energy

By Nava Thakuria

/ 1 Oct 2003

The peace process and the peace talks

In the resolution of a protracted conflict, it may sometimes be necessary to have visible breakthroughs in order to keep morale high, both of the negotiators themselves and also the

By Jehan Perera

/ 1 Oct 2003

Rivers of collective belonging

Continuing the debate on the river linking proposal of the Government of India, a Kathmandu-based water engineer-turned-social auditor examines the history of the emergence of the hydraulic technocracy in the Subcontinent and the principles on which it operates.

By Ajaya Dixit

/ 1 Oct 2003

Conditional Partnership

For a while, in a disconcerting five month period from April to last month, it seemed that the Sri Lankan peace miracle might be in danger of breaking down. In

By Jehan Perera

/ 1 Sep 2003

Haphazard devolution

The concept of devolution of powers to the grass-roots was floated under the Musharraf regime in late 1999. The framework for the devolution plan was placed before sections of

By Sajid Kazmi

/ 1 Sep 2003

Comfortably numb

The cure is part of the cause in this case; as Dalits avail themselves of the advantages of reservation in India, and awareness of rights increases, the status quo of

By The Editors

/ 1 Sep 2003

Mythology of bravery

Controversy erupted on the floor of the lower house of the Indian parliament, during the debate on the no-confidence motion against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in New

By Subhash Gatade

/ 1 Sep 2003

Mere dushman, mere bhai, mere humsai (My enemy, my brother, my neighbour)

I met Rahul and Amit during my first week at Trinity College. I can still remember those moments distinctly. Rahul was wearing the characteristic Sikh turban, and Amit was standing

By Shahvar Ali Khan

/ 1 Sep 2003