1. Dadri Lynching Pre-Planned: National Commission for Minorities
A member of the National Commission for Minorities has said that their findings suggest that the Dadri lynching may have involved “pre-meditated planning” and blamed “disturbing” controversial statements by politicians to “make capital out of such outrages”.
She added that evidence suggests that workers of the Hindu Yuva Vahini reached Dadri overnight and may have been involved.
2. A Shift in Bihar’s Electoral Politics: More Money, Less Muscle
The Nehruvian era was very much on. The country was going through the festival of the second general elections, mostly free of violence, only to be disturbed in Bihar’s Begusarai district. Way back in 1957, the young nation disturbingly got a taste of what was to become booth capturing, when some goons owing allegiance to a political party did not allow supporters of a rival party from entering the polling booth in a village in the district. The trend that started then was soon to assume monstrous proportions, reducing elections to a might-is-right exercise in many places.
3. In Arunachal, Threats to Ban Jana Gana Mana and Vande Mataram
In the late 80s, at his village school, hidden in the fog-encircled hills of Arunachal Pradesh, Gunjum Haider took no time to learn two things: Sing Jana Gana Mana, India’s national anthem, with perfect poise.
And sing Vande Mataram, the nation’s first song – in Heil Hitler pose, fists clenched, right arm raised. Nowhere in India are the two national hymns so zealously sung as in this militarised frontier state. Children know them by heart. So do their grandparents, who greet one another on hilly paths with a ‘Jai Hind’ or ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’.
4. Done Reasoning With Monsters, Rape Is the Murder of a Future
When you get raped in Delhi, this is what happens, even if you are a toddler: Someone who cares for you has to file an FIR. And you have to reveal your identity to the police. Chances are by then, everyone in your community knows you’ve been raped, and will definitely tell.
Then, if your loved ones are serious about getting the rapist charged, you are frog-marched to a medical examination room that is ‘recognised’ as official. The one I am describing is in AIIMS – the largest medical facility in the capital. The one with the ‘best’ doctors. But the one without privacy. Or hygiene. Or perhaps even a soul.
5. Exclusive: Giriraj Singh on Cows, Caste and Politics in Bihar
Member of Parliament from Bihar and Union Minister of State for Small and Medium Enterprises, Giriraj Singh is no stranger to controversy. From telling those opposed to Narendra Modi to shift to Pakistan to alleging that all terrorists belong to one community to commenting on the colour of Sonia Gandhi’s skin, Singh fits right in the BJP’s long list loose tongues.
In an exclusive interview to The Quint, Singh talks about beef, caste, BJP and Bihar.
6. Bigg Boss Day 10: Mandana Takes a Bad Hit Thanks to All the Drama
In the wee hours of the night, when everyone else in the Bigg Boss house is fast asleep, Suyyash and Prince are still burning the midnight oil over the Lagaan task. All this mehnat, just to earn a few brownie points? Anyhow, the next morning all the sleepy heads wake up to Chakkar Ghumiyo blaring in place of the alarm and they are all dreading the thought of churning flour under the scorching sun again.
7. The Story of Two Cycles: One For and the Other Against Nitish
More than a month back, or to be more precise, on the eve of Bihar polls, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who, till July, had favoured Nitish Kumar as the chief ministerial candidate of the secular alliance, suddenly walked out even before his embryonic formation could take a formal shape.
In the initial days of merger talks earlier this year, his party’s symbol ‘cycle’ remained a stumbling block in the coming together of Janata Parivar leaders. Bihar’s leaders favoured ‘lantern’ (RJD symbol) and ‘arrow’ (JD-U symbol) as it could have helped them connect with people better compared to a new symbol ‘cycle’ which was popular in UP but not in Bihar.
8. On Kumari Puja We Worship the Girl Child, Why Not Otherwise?
One of the most ceremonial functions in the ongoing Durga Puja is a popular ritual that goes by the name of Kumari Puja; here the mighty Mother Goddess is worshipped in her purest, virginal avatar, legendarily lauded as her most powerful elucidation of ‘Mahashakti’.
A pre-pubescent girl, who usually belongs to an upper caste Brahmin family is anointed, with a bunch of priests reciting sacred shlokas to invoke the spirit of the Goddess in her, as she sits with her legs crossed, her forehead decorated with tiny sandalwood designs, facing an array of oil-lamps and an ocean of devotees, adorned almost as a replica of the idol, the cherubic little girl laden with jewellery, her tiny frame wrapped in heavy silks.
9. After Choking in Rajkot, Can Dhoni’s Men Bounce Back in Chennai?
Indian Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will face one of the trickiest tests of his international career as he tries to come up with the perfect batting combination when India takes on South Africa in a must-win fourth ODI in Chennai on Thursday.
Down 1-2 and with a bunch of batsmen not showing enough flexibility at different numbers, it has become a tough task for skipper Dhoni, who is facing the danger of losing a home ODI series and a second straight ODI series after the 2-1 defeat against Bangladesh earlier this year.