by Hardeep Singh Puri Howrah was once called the Sheffield of Asia. The jute mills along the Hooghly were the largest concentration of organised industry on the subcontinent. Kolkata was India’s commercial capital, head office to the Birlas and the Tatas, to ITC, Britannia, Coal India, Hindustan Motors, Garden Reach Shipbuilders. IISCO at Burnpur dates to 1918, Durgapur Steel Plant to the Second Plan. In 1950-51, Bengal produced roughly 27 per cent of the country’s manufacturing output. I knew that Calcutta. Before I joined the Foreign Service, one of my first jobs was at Hindustan Lever in the city, and…
Author: Guest Author
by Dr. Priyanka Saurabh In today’s digital age, the flow of information has become faster and more widespread than ever before. Smartphones and cheap internet have given everyone a platform for expression. While this is a positive sign for democracy, it also poses serious challenges. Especially when some people, armed with a microphone and camera costing just 100-200 rupees, declare themselves “journalists” and begin disseminating information without any responsibility. This problem isn’t just about individuals, but about the mindset that transforms journalism into a game of views and likes rather than a responsible social obligation. Digital media has democratized journalism.…
by Syed Majid Gilani It was the day before yesterday. I was on my way when I noticed a man standing quietly by the roadside. His appearance suggested he was a Maulana, simple clothes, a calm face, and a certain dignity that needed no introduction. He raised his hand gently, asking for a lift. I stopped. He sat beside me, and for a few moments, there was silence. Then, as often happens in simple journeys, a conversation began. He spoke about his life, years spent in madrasas, immersed in books and discipline. Step by step, he had completed his religious…
by Syed Ali Mujtaba In the cacophony of the shock and awe of Israel’s and the US’s attack on Iran, the news that has been buried under the debris of the Iran war is that Israel has closed the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem for the Palestinian worshippers in the holy month of Ramadan. Israel has announced that the closure of the mosque, the third most revered mosque for Muslims in the entire world, is for an indefinite period. The Al Aqsa mosque is said to be the place where Prophet Muhammad offered prayers during the miraculous Night Journey and…