Rajmohan Gandhi
The writer is research professor at Centre for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
Articles By Rajmohan Gandhi
The meeting with Golwalkar: What Gandhi really said
He was unconvinced by RSS chief after 1947 meeting, stood against majoritarianism
Lessons from 1952, 1967, 1977
Indira Gandhi’s audacity, which few foresaw, split the Congress in the 1969 summer and the state of Pakistan in the 1971-72 winter. In March 1971, well before the liberation of Bangladesh, that daring had fetched Indira’s Congress 352 seats out of 545 in a mid-term poll.
Reconciliation with honour
What Ayodhya needs now is healing, not compromise.
A new temple, a new mosque
Ayodhya’s disputing sides can come together. The Supreme Court can direct them to do so.
Age of prejudice
'Age of terror' may be an inadequate term for our times. Ours is an age where suspicion and loathing infiltrate police stations, courtrooms, newspapers, TV, and dance wildly on social media.
Past Forward: Iron Man, his flesh and blood
On the 31st of this month, when his mammoth statue is unveiled, India will see the Sardar raised to the sky. Here’s a slice of history.
Past Forward: Iron man, in flesh and blood
Can we get to know, today in our 21st century, a heart that began its life in the 19th century and expired in the middle of the 20th? Researching the Sardar in the late 1980s, I was staggered by his self-sacrifice.
Transient triumphs
History reveals that popularity of authoritarian leaders and majoritarian agendas is a transitory phenomenon
Giving up on a statesman
Dalai Lama has won many hearts, including in China. India’s decision to shun him reflects poorly on Delhi.
Debating Partition, the Oxford way
Lambasting the British is easy. India needs to examine its own inability to nurture debate.
A battle of consequence: A campaign of interesting OTMs (other than Modi)
The Jignesh-Hardik-Alpesh (JHA) trio have previously clashed with one another. Their understanding with Rahul and the Congress is fresh. Win or lose, their biggest test will be over their mutual partnership after December 18.
The other as foe
History is replete with the horrors of us-vs-them narratives.
Truth, without fear or favour
Central government must lead the fight to protect what the killings — of Kalburgi, Pansare, Dabholkar, now Gauri Lankesh — have violated: The rights to life, belief and expression. The nation is watching.
Flags of our fathers
Does Modi want the Indian people’s voluntary love and respect? Does he want the world’s approval? The future’s appreciation? Or does he merely want to rule for a long time, allowing persons in his large parivaar and supportive vigilantes to enforce obedience?
Marriage made on earth
In the backdrop of the Israeli-Indian alliance are realities of occupation, suppression and misery.
Turn searchlight inward
Those who want India to stay pluralist, must conserve strength, correct mistakes, construct networks
India needs change by conversation, not audacity alone
After 31 months, the BJP’s Modi-centred government seems to have divided India into two sharply opposed camps.
Nehru for our time
India needs to recall its first prime minister for his love and passion for personal liberty
Calm down
This is a time of surgical strikes, hysteria, hostility to dissent. Why frankness, debate, questioning must follow
Drop the stone…
... because, to embarrass the rest of us into caring, Kashmiris must use fresh methods, free of radical Islam, free of violence.
