Politics

Stay informed on the latest political developments in Southasia with in-depth analysis, news, and stories from across the region at Himal Southasian

“A policy that equates rape with marketable insurance policies.”

It was with a bit of fanfare that the Indian government-owned General Insurance Company (GIC) announced its Rajrajeshwari Women Welfare Insurance Scheme on 17 March. This was an insurance

By Ranjeeth Perera

/ 1 Apr 1999

“Cultural fusion, not nuclear fusion”

Interview with Junoon's Salman Ahmad Sangeeta Lama and Khalid Ansari interviewed Salman Ahmed of the group Junoon about their music, their Sufism, the controversy surrounding their tour of

By The Editors

/ 1 Feb 1999

Free radical

Vinod Mishra (1947-98) What Mao Tse-Tung was to the Chinese, Vinod Mishra, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) was for millions in Bihar. And

By Irfan Ahmad

/ 1 Feb 1999

PINOCHET AND PANCHAYAT

"There was no reason for the police to shoot at all. We were just demonstrating on the streets, when all of a sudden, bullets began raining down on us.

By Ajaya Bhadra Khanal

/ 1 Feb 1999

PICKING UP THE PEACES

In his annual address marking Heroes' Day in late November LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran spoke of the need to solve the Sri Lankan conflict in a civilised manner. His

By Jehan Perera

/ 1 Jan 1999

Theatre of the people

SAFDAR HASHMI (1954-1989) There are still ways to produce art and social commentary without having to be routed through the media monopolised by Big Business. On 1 January 1999,

By Vijay Prashad

/ 1 Jan 1999

Law of the seas

Forgotten fishermen of the Palk Strait are caught in the crossfire between the Indian Navy, the Sri Lankan Navy and the Tamil Tigers. As the experience of Kashmir indicates, borders

By The Editors

/ 1 Nov 1998

POWER WITHOUT AUTHORITY

Beyond finding answers to who exercises power and how, what makes the political analysis of developing countries interesting is the attempt to understand how those in power increase their capacity

By C K Lal

/ 1 Nov 1998

Entertainers, intellectuals and liberals in Pakistan are being squeezed. They were already a threatened species, thanks to the policies of successive governments which have resulted in the rise of the

By The Editors

/ 1 Nov 1998

Ready to act

The Nepali Parliament is winding down its monsoon session amidst the most rowdy inter-party squabble the Lower House has ever seen, reminding one of the bedlam that overtook the

By Rajendra Dahal

/ 1 Oct 1998

The Taliban and the Hazaras

Fears mount in Hazarajat as the Taliban advance on the region.

By Michael Semple

/ 1 Oct 1998

The willing fields of Bangladesh

If he gets over his disenchantment with the nuclear daredevils of South Asia, Bill Clinton is slated to swing by Bangladesh, too, this October. Expect photo opportunities with cute street

By Quddus Mia

/ 1 Sep 1998