Journalism of Courage
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P Chidambaram
P Chidambaram is former Finance minister of India.
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P Chidambaram writes: Will Bihar escape its self-made traps?
November 02,2025 07:00:47 AM
The politics of Bihar must change. Who will change it? The answers can vary, but it is common sense that Mr Nitish Kumar is not the person who will herald the change. He is entrenched in his 20-year habits. Add to that the genuine concerns about his health and his unpredictable behaviour.
Sun, Nov 02, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Many perspectives, one conclusionSubscriber Only
October 19,2025 07:00:22 AM
While the quantity of infrastructure built in the last decade has been large (and the amounts spent colossal), the quality has been appalling — obsolete design and technology, falling bridges, collapsing buildings, and new highways that are washed away after the first rain. On quality jobs, the less said the better
Sun, Oct 19, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Up the down staircaseSubscriber Only
October 12,2025 06:50:54 AM
In my view, the war may stop finally, the hostages (or their remains) may be released shortly, and humanitarian aid may reach the hapless residents of Gaza, but Gaza itself will be a virtual colony under an ‘apolitical committee’ supervised by a ‘Board of Peace’ consisting of the likes of Mr Trump and Mr Blair. The Palestinian dream of statehood is virtually dead
Sun, Oct 12, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Two wars that are blots on humanitySubscriber Only
October 05,2025 07:00:58 AM
The world needs leaders with the moral authority of Jawaharlal Nehru, Dag Hammarskjold, Martin Luther King Jr and Nelson Mandela. The world needs nations that can come together and exert influence over the quarreling countries and restrain the superpowers
Sun, Oct 05, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Reading from the same hymn bookSubscriber Only
September 28,2025 07:00:11 AM
RBI describes the reduction in rates as landmark GST reforms. What is ‘reformative’ about cutting the high and multiple rates of tax that were the original sin? The design of the GST laws was wrong, the tax structure was wrong, the rules and regulations were wrong, the tax rates were wrong, and the implementation of the GST laws was wrong
Sat, Sep 27, 2025
P Chidambaram: Rendering interim justiceSubscriber Only
September 21,2025 07:05:13 AM
We may believe that we are secular and tolerant, but the world will view India through the prism of India’s laws, government actions, and the people’s social behaviour. The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Act has diminished India in the eyes of the world
Sat, Sep 20, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Time for an apologySubscriber Only
September 14,2025 07:00:36 AM
In the first part-year (July 2017 to March 2018), the government collected about Rs 11 lakh crore. In 2024-25, it collected about Rs 22 lakh crore. Every paise earned by consumers through their hard work was sucked by the government through GST — it was rightly, and derisively, called Gabbar Singh Tax
Sun, Sep 14, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Who is singing, who is dancing?Subscriber Only
September 07,2025 07:05:18 AM
It is clear that Mr Modi is not calling the tune anywhere. He is caught between India’s largest export destination (USA) and largest import country-of-origin (China). He is caught between tariff threats and trade dependence. He is caught between QUAD and SCO/RIC. Mr Modi, like Mr Trump, believes his political instincts are always right
Sun, Sep 07, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Thankfully, dead on arrivalSubscriber Only
August 31,2025 07:01:44 AM
If the Bill to remove arrested ministers is passed, India will join the ranks of Belarus, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo (DRC), Myanmar, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Rwanda, Uganda, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe which routinely jail Opposition leaders
Sun, Aug 31, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: A case of breach of promiseSubscriber Only
August 24,2025 07:01:32 AM
The ebb and flow of political and security issues ought not to deflect it from rendering justice according to law. The legal issue was crystallized before the Supreme Court. The Court refrained from deciding the issue based on a promise to the Court
Sun, Aug 24, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: To ‘SIR’, with distrustSubscriber Only
August 17,2025 07:00:59 AM
Given the crude birth rate of Bihar, the number of persons who had, since the elections to the Lok Sabha in 2024, attained the age of 18 would certainly run into a few lakhs. Have they been included? The ECI did not respond, and nobody knows
Sun, Aug 17, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Bull(y) in India’s shopSubscriber Only
August 10,2025 07:00:01 AM
India must let America know that it will stand firm, defend its interests, be open to fair trade, and ready to negotiate and conclude agreements, however difficult the process may be
Sun, Aug 10, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Military boldness, political timiditySubscriber Only
August 03,2025 07:00:03 AM
The failure of intelligence and the absence of security forces in Pahalgam led to the tragedy. No one in the government has taken responsibility. The military’s gains in Operation Sindoor will have a deterrent effect on Pakistan but the political leadership’s timidity before the US and China may cancel the gains and give encouragement to Pakistan
Sun, Aug 03, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Life is a mystery, not always beautifulSubscriber Only
July 27,2025 07:00:48 AM
What broke the cordial ties between Mr Dhankhar and the RSS/BJP? The speculation is that Mr Dhankhar’s decisions on the two motions broke the camel’s back. I disagree; the two motions were light straws. Obviously, there were more
Sun, Jul 27, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: ‘Mischief thou art afoot’Subscriber Only
July 20,2025 07:00:43 AM
The inevitable conclusion is that SIR is not an exercise to enable eligible citizens to enroll and vote. It is a dark, sinister plot to disenfranchise millions of poor, marginalized or migrant citizens. Over to the Supreme Court on July 28
Sun, Jul 20, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: How to build, how to growSubscriber Only
July 13,2025 07:00:21 AM
Public construction, especially of nationally important projects, do not suffer from constraints of land or money. But what do we see happening? Highways and new roads cave in; sewer lines burst flooding the road
Sun, Jul 13, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: The spectre never went awaySubscriber Only
July 06,2025 07:00:32 AM
The word ‘secular’ is anathema to the supporters of Hindu rashtra but can a plural, diverse, multi-religious and democratic country be anything but secular? I admire the French who are pre-dominantly Catholic but fiercely secular.
Sun, Jul 06, 2025
P Chidambaram writes | MoF: Accept or reject, don’t ignoreSubscriber Only
June 29,2025 07:00:13 AM
The GST laws have added to the burdens of business. The high and multiple rates of GST are per se bad. The rules, regulations, notifications, forms and compliances under the GST laws are worse.
Sun, Jun 29, 2025
P Chidambaram writes | Eleven years: a data-based critiqueSubscriber Only
June 22,2025 07:00:05 AM
Expenditure is a proxy for income and borrowing. The persons in the bottom 10% have an expenditure of Rs 50-100 per day. Ask yourself, with Rs 50-100 a day, what kind of food can a person consume? What kind of dwelling can a person have? What kind of medical care or medicines can the person afford?
Sun, Jun 22, 2025
P Chidambaram writes | Eleven years: A critiqueSubscriber Only
June 15,2025 07:00:55 AM
By all accounts, every power is concentrated in the hands of Mr Narendra Modi. He may deserve to claim sole credit for the government’s achievements; he should also bear sole responsibility for its failures
Sun, Jun 15, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: War against a fused frontSubscriber Only
June 08,2025 07:00:02 AM
I feel it would have been more appropriate to convene a special session of Parliament and for the prime minister or defence minister to make a statement on Operation Sindoor, and invite a discussion. However, it was egregious behaviour on the part of bhakts to troll General Chauhan (as they trolled Foreign Secretary, Mr Vikram Misri)
Sat, Jun 07, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: That’s the way the cookie crumblesSubscriber Only
June 01,2025 07:00:07 AM
Despite the dosti, America deported Indian ‘illegal’ immigrants in handcuffs and leg chains. Not a word of protest from the prime minister. Steep tariffs were imposed on imports from India; not a word. The U.S. voted in favour of IMF’s loan to Pakistan; not a word. Indian students face the threat of revocation of their visas; not a word. Student visa interviews have been suspended; not a word. The dosti lies in a shambles
Sun, Jun 01, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: Why no jobs for most youth?Subscriber Only
May 25,2025 07:01:50 AM
...The regrettable but inescapable conclusions are, firstly, that the applicants for jobs do not have the education or the skills to fill the jobs. And, secondly, that the jobs on offer are not attractive because of the structure of the enterprise or the emoluments
Sun, May 25, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: The irrepressible Mr TrumpSubscriber Only
May 18,2025 07:00:49 AM
There are other questions, but this is not the time or place to raise them. Mr Trump is irrepressible, he will not go away, he will make embarrassing statements, and he will give ample material for questions. Will we get answers or is silence the answer?
Sun, May 18, 2025
P Chidambaram writes: The Pahalgam paybackSubscriber Only
May 11,2025 07:15:41 AM
In a smart move, the government fielded two young women officers, one from the Army and one from the Air Force, to brief the media on live television. The nation watched. The only sour note was the absence of the prime minister at the all-party meetings held on April 24 and May 7
Sun, May 11, 2025Journalism of Courage
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