A THOUSAND years ago, during the reign of Chola King Rajaraja, vast tracts of land, known as Brahmadeyam, were granted to brahmins. Successive kings followed this tradition, generously donating land to key administrative service providers, such as the army and palace staff. The ruling class of that era favoured a select few – primarily those close to them – elevating them to the status of landlords.
THE fact that the world economy has slowed down since the financial crisis of 2008 is beyond dispute. In fact even conservative American economists have started using the term “secular stagnation” to describe the current situation (though they have their own peculiar definition for it). The purpose of the present note is to give some growth-rate figures to establish this particular point.Calculations of GDP, which are notoriously unreliable for particular countries, are even more so for the world as a whole.
THE victim in the RG Kar case has a new name born in the womb of protests against the barbarities she had to face. She is called Tilottama – one who combines in herself the best of all. The solidarity struggles for justice for Tillottama — have shaken not just Bengal but the country. Thousands of self-mobilised citizens, their conscience awakened have come out in street protests in solidarity . The West Bengal Junior Doctors organisation and the Joint Platform of Doctors are in the forefront.
THE 16th Finance Commission (FC), constituted on December 31, 2023, with Aravind Panagariya as chairman, is currently preparing its report. The FC has already started visiting state governments and holding discussions on the memorandum submitted by the state governments. Recommendations of the 16th FC will cover a five-year period starting on April 1, 2026.Article 280(1) of the Indian Constitution outlines how a Finance Commission is established.
ISRAEL’S policy of climbing the escalation ladder has now brought West Asia to the brink of a much larger war. With Israel entering Lebanon and Iran’s missile strikes on Israel, it is no longer about the fate of Gaza and its people, which has been under Israel’s genocidal attack for almost a year. The war is about to enter a new phase with Israel’s threatened response on Iran’s nuclear facilities and full US support. It risks drawing Yemen, Syria and Iraq into a much larger war with global implications well beyond the region.
PULVERISING Gaza, emptying the Strip of its people, bombing the West Bank, and expanding illegal annexations of land there – none of that is enough for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his genocidal drive to build “Greater Israel.” Lebanon, too, it seems, must be parceled up and pieces of it brought under Tel Aviv’s control.Since the war on Gaza was launched by Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, Lebanon has been a secondary theater of combat, with periodic bombing runs by Israel and rocket launches from Iran-backed Hezbollah militants on the other side of the b
ON September 28, thousands gathered at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium to remember their beloved leader, Comrade Sitaram Yechury. Grief was evident on the sorrowful faces of those present, as the news of Comrade Yechury’s demise was still hard to accept.The memorial began with four revolutionary songs performed by Jan Natya Manch and Parcham.
THIS October 7 marks a year since Israeli aggression on Gaza. Israel used Hamas attack as an excuse to carry out its genocidal war on Gaza, Palestine. It declared the elimination of Hamas as its objective in attacking Gaza. Far from achieving its objective, Israel has today pushed the entire West Asia into a cauldron of fire with its attacks on Lebanon, Iran, Syria,Yemen and Iraq. The US has stood steadfastly with Israel backing its every aggressive move.Israel’s military attacks on Lebanon over the past fortnight have completely changed the character of the war.
THE value of creative labour has always been very context specific and dependent on subjective appreciation of the buyer of the products of such labour. The importance of aesthetic value of products has increased particularly with increased possibility of customisation of products. This has also increased the demand for artists, designers and different types of content creators who could add value to the product or service beyond its core uses.