A kaleidoscope of colours at SKLPC
I usually enter the Shree Kutch Leva Patel centre in Northolt with a spring in my step and a light heart as I cross the border from Ealing North to Kutch. On the rare occasion I feel the need to leave |
Gendercide: Shame that disfigures societies
The Economist is to be congratulated for its exposure of a dark and shaming practice it labels "Gendercide," a more graphic term for female infanticide. It sets a context to the tragedy. "Imagine you |
Scrutator's
Financial Times guru, Martin Wolf, once a 'moderate' admirer of the Indian economy, but having subjected the evidence to fresh critical scrutiny, during a week's visit to the country, where he met i |
Asian presence in the general election
As the general election looms ever larger, so too will the mainstream political parties intensify their efforts to get their message across to a diverse electorate. Therefore, Asian Voice and Gujarat |
Clean energy improves public health
A few years ago the Delhi administration bit the bullet and banned buses and scooter rickshaws from using polluting diesel oil. They were forced to opt for LMGs. All hell broke loose. Strikes and agit |
Scrutator's
It has been Sachin Tendulkar's week. Even the Indian budget took second place to the derring-do of the country's greatest sporting icon and its most treasured asset. His phenomenal feat of scoring an |
Budget for inclusive growth and reform
Framing a national budget is difficult at the best of times, in a country of India's subconti- nental size, with a population of a billion plus and myriad interest groups striving to catch the eye of |
Labour-Conservative gap narrows as election looms
As Britain gears up for a general election some- time in the summer, the three parties are having their last conferences before the battle. About a year ago, the Conservative lead over the govern- ing |
Case to answer
Channel 4's excellent Dispatches documentary film by Andrew Gilligan , who first blew the whis- tle on skulduggery on the Iraq war, kept to the high standards expected of him. His subject on this occa |
Damian Green MP - Immigration is an important issue
Immigration is an important issue Last week I was thrilled to receive the honour of being Asian Voice's C o n s e r v a t i v e Parliamentarian of the Year. I would bet it is somewhat unusual for the |
Gordon Brown's Death Tax
A 20,000 death tax is yet another panic-strick- en Labour policy which has differential conse- quences for the groups of people, for example, for many Asian families who have worked hard and saved som |
Scrutator's
The following item appeared in the Evening Standard (January 29). Its author, Sebastian Shakespeare, writes: "I have just returned from a two-week holiday travers- ing Tamil Nadu. Unfortunately, in or |
Afghanistan-Pakistan requires realism
When one is hard pressed on the battlefield (or the stock exchange, for that matter) the remotest signal that better news is on the way is treated as manna from heaven. "Taleban 'on the backfoot' afte |
Islam's modern face
There are positive stories from Islamic societies and these need to be told. Consider the case of Bangladeshi Fazle Hasan Abed, British-educat- ed scion of a distinguished family with a tradi- tion of |
Immigration issue revisited
Every general election in Britain casts its shad- ow over the contentious subject of immigra- tion.There is the usual scaremongering on jobs, housing, health and education. Concerns are expressed � an |
Scrutator's
"India on the brink of introducing GM crops to avert global crisis" was the title of an extensive Rhys Blakely report in The Times (February 9). He was referring to an eagerly awaited government decis |
Indo-Pakstan bedevilled by Islamist terrorism
India's Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is in a bind: just as he had ageed to a resumption of the Indo-Pakistan dialogue in Islamabad came yet another bombing in India, this time in a popular restaur |
ECB arrogance impedes English cricketet
Michael Vaughan, England's former Test captain, and Paul Collingwood the current star, are both agreed that English cricketers are losing out in their earnings and cricketing experience by not being a |
Tackling Naxalite violence
Naxalite Maoist violence in India has many roots, some complex, others less so. Naxalites have tapped into the discontent of marginalised communities in the impoverished eastern and central regions of |
Thought for the Week
The one important thing that I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously.
The first is imperative and the second is disastrou |
Barry Gardiner MP - Beware of Children Asking Questions!
Every parent has had that totally unnerving experience: when their toddler asks a seemingly innocent question that it is just not possible to answer. No, I don't mean the "How are babies made?" sort o |
Stain of corruption shames British politics
The scent of corruption appears to have taken hold in the land. No sooner does one scam disappear than another takes its place. The story of the MPs allowances which broke last summer looks set to run |
Amnesty has case to answer
Amnesty International has long presented itself as the institutionalized conscience of the liberal great and good. Its bulletins are frequently quoted in the mainstream British media including the BBC |
President Rajapakse throws caution to the winds
Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse has clearly got the bit between his teeth. Having presided over the defeat of the Tamil Tiger insurgency, he spoke bravely and wisely about the need to heal his |
Thought for the Week
We tend to measure life by too one-sided a standard: its length rather than its greatness; we think more of extending life than of filling it. - Tomas Masaryk (1850-1937) |
From Bharatnatyam to the ballet via Beck theatre
Very, very occasionally even the most jaded Parliamentarian can experience an aesthetic epiphany that leaves him breathless and such was my reaction to the stunning Geeta Chandra |
Scrutator's
We start on a note of optimism. James Lamont's analysis piece on the India's economy (Financial Times February 5) describes the profits chalked up by the Steel Authority of India (SAIL), much to the s |
Bribing the Taliban offers no exit
The London jamboree of foreign ministers representing 60 countries with an avowed interest in the future of Afghanistan have broken bread with their British hosts, talked at length on this the most in |
A case to answer: Blair in the dock
Former prime minister Tony Blair provided the nation with live political theatre when he appeared before the Chilcot panel inquiring into the genesis of the Iraq war. Mr Blair put up a stout defence o |
Andy Murray gave it his best shot
The finest modern British tennis player, the 22-year-old Scot Andy Murray, is climbing the heights of his sport. It is 74 years since a Briton won a grand slam tournament, when Fred Perry carried off |
Thought for the Week
Don't waste your time on jealousy.
Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself. |
Sarah Teather MP
This week everyone is talking about Tony Blair's evidence to the Chilcot inquiry, which is examining Britain's disgraceful decision to follow George Bush into war in Iraq. For many people, Blair' |
Scrutator's
India's Republic Day was an occasion for stock taking of the country's economic performance. In Bill Clinton's memorable words, "It is the economy, stupid" that will define India's place in the 21st c |
Scrutator's
"Harbingers of hope for India in 2010?": Soutik Biswas's title for his thoughtful BBC News blog was a good read. "Has India's 'Deciding Decade' begun?, he asks. "A study done by a Delhi-based economic |
Thought for the Week
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead (1901-1978) |
Republic Day Diamond Jubilee: What it means for India
January 26, 1950 was the day, 60 years ago, when India declared herself a republic and adopted a written constitution proclaiming the event. Republic Day, and every anniversary of Indian independence, |
Faith and charity in Gujarat temple town
Palitana is a sleepy town in Gujarat. Perched high on a hill overlooking it is a network of 1,500 exquisite temples. For adherents of the Jain faith it is a place of considerable significance, since i |
Tougher road in Afghanistan: no sign of relief as conflict deepens
Just how tough the situation in Afghanistan is will become clear when the London conference on the country convenes. Past assurances from on high are as far from reality as they ever were. The Taliban |
Barry Gardiner MP - Open letter to the Hindu Forum of Britain
The Hindu Community of Britain in 2010 is more influential and more self confident than ever before.
It is also more prosperous.
That prosperity has been built on the hard work and educational a |
