random thoughts

 The appointment of BJP’s Rekha Gupta as Delhi’s Chief Minister, replacing AAP’s Atishi, marks a significant shift in Indian politics. Since the Delhi Legislative Assembly was established in 1993, women have dominated the capital- Sushma Swaraj in 1996-98 and Sheila Dikshit 1998-2003-2008. Given Delhi’s unique status, where governance is directly influenced by the Central government, women politicians have often remained on the sidelines, securing occasional cabinet positions but rarely being considered for the highest office. However, with the Women’s Reservation Bill set to take effect in the 2029 general elections, this reality may be on the verge of change. For decades, political parties have made lofty promises about ensuring women’s representation. Yet, when election tickets are distributed, winnability becomes the sole criterion, often sidelining women. Rekha Gupta’s appointment makes her only the second female chief minister in India today, alongside West Bengal’s Mamata Ba...

The NDA is back for a consecutive third term and PM Modi is only the second prime minister to win three successive terms as leader of the ruling party. Much has been written about the kind of victory the BJP-led NDA secured in the 2024 Parliamentary election. BJP depends on two regional parties, JDU and Telugu Desam, for a stable government. BJP will not be able to further its Hindutva ideology through legislation like the Uniform Civil Code. At the same time, the BJP has a five-year tenure to rectify some of the mistakes and be in a poll position for the 2029 election.  The recent budget is indicative of this strategy to win back the lost groups and aim for a majority in the next election. The first full budget of the new government showered large on the middle class, once seen as the support base of the BJP. It had its immediate impact on the Delhi Assembly elections, where the BJP came back to power after 27 years ousting the AAP government. The breakdown of the INDIA allia...

The Club of Hindi and Urdu Poets (CHUP) at Christ University, Bangalore organised the annual Sham-e-Gazal night on 25th February 2025 in the main auditorium, Central Campus. One by one, poets took the stage—some sang, others recited—bringing their verses to life. Urdu and Hindi, often unjustly viewed as symbols of religious division, intertwined effortlessly in the voices of the performers, creating a shared space of artistic expression. The words of Allama Iqbal came to mind:  "Kaahil baste rahe, Hindustan banta raha" (The idle kept settling, and Hindustan kept being built).  Poet Raghupati Sahay, popularly known to the world of poetry as Firaq Gorakhpuri imbibed the spirit of Hindustan. He was an English professor, who wrote mostly in Urdu and in Hindi. Throughout his life, he tried to dispel the notion that a language is linked to one religion but belongs to anyone who learnt and spoke the language. Yet, the legacy of Partition has fueled the mistaken belief that Urdu belo...