THERE are of course many myths about capitalism spun by economists. One of these myths spun by David Ricardo has endured for over two centuries. Ricardo had originally been an enthusiastic supporter of the introduction of machinery, dismissive of the argument by workers’ organisations of his time that it gave rise to unemployment. In the third edition of his Principles however he added a chapter titled “On Machinery” in which he agreed with the workers’...
CHIEF of Air Staff (CoAS) Air Chief Marshall A P Singh, just last week, repeated his concerns about lack of timely deliveries of military equipment, and what he termed the “futility” of contracts without on-time delivery adversely affecting defence preparedness. CoAS was reiterating a favourite refrain over the past year, mostly targeting Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the prime manufacturer and supplier of military aircraft to the Indian Air...
THE Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has completed four years in its second consecutive term since May 2021. This marks the ninth year of continuous governance under his leadership. During this period, Kerala has faced a series of severe crises – natural disasters, pandemics, and financial constraints created by the central government – yet it has managed to maintain...
ONE of the major issues facing the modern employment sector today is the challenge of maintaining a work-life balance. The relationship between life and work has been a constant throughout human history – people have always sought work to improve their living standards. However, in the present era, significant transformations have taken place in our work culture.
THE worst terrorist attack in the picturesque town of Pahalgam, Kashmir, claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists who were there to enjoy the beauty of nature with their loved ones. One image in particular – of a newlywed woman sitting in shock beside the lifeless body of her husband – has seared itself into the nation’s collective memory and will haunt us for years to come....
AS soon as the Modi-led BJP government assumed power at the Centre in 2014, one of its early and systematic moves was to initiate the privatisation of the defence sector. A significant starting point was the imposition of excise duty on products manufactured by Ordnance Factories and Defence Production State Units (DPSUs). Historically, these units were exempt from such duties, as both the producer and...
THE Government of India's decision to include two women officers from the armed forces alongside the Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs during the press briefing on ‘Operation Sindoor’ has been widely hailed as a masterstroke in showcasing women’s empowerment. Many view this move as a partial counterbalance to the selection of the operation’s name, ‘Sindoor’ – a term rooted in stereotypical and patriarchal notions of womanhood.
AMID stormy weather and torrential rain, the 21st Tripura State Conference of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) was successfully held on May 30-31, 2025 in Kailashahar town, Unakoti district. Despite facing significant logistical challenges due to the weather, the Reception Committee managed to hold the conference as planned. The adverse conditions could not dampen the revolutionary zeal of the SFI...
IN the demise of Comrade Lahanu Kom on May 28, 2025, the CPI(M) and AIKS have lost one of their popular and versatile adivasi mass leaders. For several decades, Lahanu Kom was a state committee member and later state secretariat member of the CPI(M), and also state vice president of the AIKS. He remained loyal to the Red Flag all his Party life of 66 years. The 86-year-old leader leaves behind his wife Hemlata (a Party and AIDWA leader in her...
THE All India Lawyers’ Union (AILU) has strongly condemned the ongoing opposition to the proposed installation of a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar within the premises of the Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, calling it a "dubious attempt to bring back Manusmriti and Manuvadi ideology through the back door."
