All stories by AAKAR PATEL
Voters Least Bothered About Economy
Rediff.com7 Feb 2022Issues such as the economy's health and the government's ability to produce an environment where jobs are available are not of particular concern to us as voters, asserts Aakar Patel.
Why The World Is Worried About India
Rediff.com4 Feb 2022Our demonisation and dehumanisation of minorities and especially Muslims is so complete that calls for the abduction of and sexual violence against Muslim girls are acceptable in our society today and can be made in public spaces. The damage we have done to India internally and externally will be lasting, warns Aakar Patel.
Needed ASAP: A National Security Policy
Rediff.com27 Jan 2022In 2020 India was compelled by China to change its national security strategy. From counter-insurgency, which the army has been focussed on for years, we shifted to conventional war, observes Aakar Patel.
The Gujaratification Of India
Rediff.com12 Jan 2022The Gujarati's intolerance for diversity can be seen in India's hard nationalism which is showing itself in Kashmir and the North East, observes Aakar Patel.
Be Kinder, Gentler, 2022
Rediff.com1 Jan 2022'The wish is that 2022, if not bring us into happier times, at least sees some easing of the pain,' hopes Aakar Patel.
Why Are Christians Being Targeted?
Rediff.com27 Dec 2021There have been over 300 attacks against Christians and their churches and prayer halls, primarily in northern India, states Aakar Patel.
BJP And The Politics Of Conversion
Rediff.com20 Dec 2021It is unusual in democratic countries two decades into the 21st century for laws to become regressive instead of progressive. But that is clearly what is happening in India today and more of this is ahead, asserts Aakar Patel.
AFSPA: Repeal Won't Change Anything
Rediff.com16 Dec 2021The army has been left to do justice to itself for crimes it is accused of committing against civilians. As a force inside the government, obviously it will want that there be no intrusion into what they do, points out Aakar Patel.
How Modi Lost The Plot
Rediff.com9 Dec 2021Perhaps the BJP will win the UP elections, but that will be a political win and will leave the problems on the ground from the economy to national security to disaffected farmers and minorities intact, asserts Aakar Patel.
India Has Lost The Way Economically
Rediff.com1 Dec 2021India has the lowest labour force participation rate in South Asia and one of the lowest in the world, points out Aakar Patel.
What is India's Destiny?
Rediff.com22 Nov 2021The events of the last few years shows that pessimism about where we have arrived and where we are headed is justified, asserts Aakar Patel.
Modi's reforms are accompanied by lack of planning
Rediff.com22 Nov 2021What some of us think are strong, bold and firm decisions are cruel, harsh and unwanted for others. This is what we need to consider when we look at what has happened with the farm laws, asserts Aakar Patel.
Why the Hindutva Project Will FAIL
Rediff.com17 Nov 2021The modern world will not accommodate bigotry of the sort India is showing the world today, argues Aakar Patel.
The REAL Story Of The 1 Billion Vaccines
Rediff.com1 Nov 2021We should be relieved that we got the doses but we must also know where they came from and who was and who was not responsible for this achievement, notes Aakar Patel.
Mr PM, When will you solve India's HUNGER CRISIS?
Rediff.com24 Oct 2021It is a difficult problem and will require the Union, state governments and civil society, meaning NGOs, to work together, points out Aakar Patel.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: A FAILURE?
Rediff.com12 Oct 2021There should have been a focus on sanitation and not on littering or garbage. Absence of sanitation affects the health of children, explains Aakar Patel.
What does Modi gain by not REPEALING Farm Laws?
Rediff.com4 Oct 2021And the only answer one can think of is that this is being done to preserve the image of toughness and 56 inches and all the rest of it, notes Aakar Patel.
India's JOBS CRISIS
Rediff.com23 Sep 2021India's work participation rate is lower than Pakistan and Bangladesh. Are Indians lazy? No, there are no jobs, asserts Aakar Patel.
Lakha Khan, An Indian Treasure
Rediff.com14 Sep 2021It is astonishing, even for many of us who may have wide exposure to music, to see how such world-class performers are so little known in their own land, notes Aakar Patel.
India-US Military Alliance Against China?
Rediff.com4 Sep 2021We do not know, because there has been no discussion, no transparency and most likely no real thinking on this matter at our end, observes Aakar Patel.