When Tripura governor Tathagata Ray referred to the Gujral doctrine as the ‘Gujral-Vajpayee’ doctrine during a book launch, he was perhaps making a not-so-subtle suggestion of his lack of faith in unilateralism in foreign policy. Launching veteran journalist-author Subir Bhaumik’s “Agartala Doctrine” at British Council in Calcutta (Kolkata), Ray batted for the ‘Agartala doctrine of…
Read moreNAMRATA GOSWAMI The Naga Peace Accord, a framework agreement as it has been termed, signed between the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and the Government of India is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it shows the flexibility and realism of the NSCN (IM) in terms of the willingness to alter goals, from complete sovereignty…
Read moreVEERA PRATEEPCHAIKUL There seems to be no stopping Thai Buddhists’ loss of faith in the Thailand’s two top Buddhist institutions – the Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) and the National Office of Buddhism (NOB). The SSC and the NOB seem to be living in their own little world, completely oblivious to the criticism directed at them…
Read moreBangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) will conduct the census in six districts – Khagrhachharhi, Bandarban, Rangamati, Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, and Patuakhali. “We’ll have to finish the work by March next year,” Project Director Alamgir Hossain told reporters in Dhaka. The government claims thousands of unregistered Rohingyas are staying in Bangladesh apart from 30,000 registered Rohingyas,…
Read moreUPANANDA BRAHMACHARI Though a part of political parties and some Muslim organisations have criticized All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Maulana Badruddin Ajmal for his call of “Muslim unity against Hindus”, the Muslims agents in the major parties have been geared up for a franchise of “Political Jihad” in India. While Assam is now…
Read moreAt an event in Kolkata, Vidya Balan released the Nihar Naturals #IAmCapable national report. As a brand, Nihar always stood for the inner-voice of women and has supported a progressive life for them. This time, Nihar took upon the task of making Indian women realize that, “Appearance cannot be a tool to judge a woman’s…
Read moreAndaman, a group of 550 islands, is located in the Bay of Bengal. It is part of the Union Territory of India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The territory comprises 572 tropical islands (of which 36 are inhabited), with unique wildlife and lush forests, although the Nicobar Islands are off-limits to tourists. Port Blair is the…
Read moreSARA PERRIA In the mountain village of Kalaw, Myanmar, women in bamboo hats are busy laying the foundations of a road. They woke at dawn, ate fish soup for breakfast and then joined other female colleagues in the boiling sun. Surrounded by red soil and gravel, the five-month baby of 21-year-old Cho Mi Ko is also on…
Read moreSUHAS CHAKMA On 14 December 2006, King Jigme Singye Wangchuk of Bhutan announced abdication of the crown and coronated his eldest son Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk the new ruler of Bhutan. Earlier in December 2005, King Jigme Singye Wangchuk had announced his decision to step down in 2008. The King’s abdication of power in favour of…
Read moreCOL. R. HARIHARAN Sandwiched between two huge powers – India and China – Bangladesh has little option but to do a strategic tightrope walk in its external relations. While India is trying to flex its economic and political power beyond the confines of South Asia, China is bent upon becoming a global economic and military…
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