All stories by ARCHANA MASIH
Meet the NDA Bronze Medalist
Rediff.com13 Jun 2023Battalion Cadet Adjutant Praveen Singh, son of a printing press owner from Agra, wants to join the infantry and serve the country to the best of his ability.
'I want to command the respect of my men, not demand it'
Rediff.com9 Jun 2023Anshu Kumar, 21, son of government school teachers from a village in Bihar, won the President's Silver Medal at the NDA. He commanded the grand passing out parade and will go on to join the Indian Navy.
The Cadet Who Won President's Gold Medal At NDA
Rediff.com8 Jun 2023Afrid Afroz, 21, who was adjudged best cadet at the NDA's 144th course, will join the Indian Air Force and hopes to be a fighter pilot.
Meet IAF's First Agniveers!
Rediff.com5 Jun 2023After five months of a rigorous training, the Agniveervayus passed out of the Airmen Training School, impressing the audience with the skills they had acquired in just 22 weeks of training at the IAF base.
'Peace can return to Manipur'
Rediff.com3 Jun 2023'...through the will of the people and commitment of leaders.' 'It may not happen today or tomorrow, but it will happen.'
'Prolonged ethnic conflict in Manipur can lead to a dangerous situation'
Rediff.com31 May 2023'The unfolding events indicate a dangerous internal security situation in Manipur and the region. It can have external ramifications also.'
The Prison Which Is A National Pilgrimage
Rediff.com29 May 2023The long queue outside Cellular Jail is a testimony to its place in India's national consciousness. The Andamans is also where the only British viceroy was assassinated and where Bose unfurled the Tricolour for the first time in 1943.
The Must-Visit City By The Lake
Rediff.com27 May 2023The elegant architecture, tree-lined roads, delightful gardens, delicious food, art and military history make Chandigarh an ideal short-trip destination.
'We have overloaded the unstable Himalayas'
Rediff.com26 May 2023'And Joshimath has already shown the dangers ahead.' 'We have to acknowledge that our mountains are still young babies.' 'You don't put an extra load on the back of a growing child!'
They Showed India To The World
Rediff.com26 May 2023'The culture of mankind has been spread by the travel gene which pushes one in five people to have the curiosity to move to unknown destinations.'
'I see a deep connection between the sea and the human soul'
Rediff.com18 May 2023After being caught in the perfect storm and conquering near death at sea four years ago, Abhilash Tomy has made seafaring history by coming second in the world's most difficult ocean race. As he sailed to the finish line to welcoming cheers, holding the Indian flag, his remarkable story tells us the amazing things human beings can do.
'BJP was not fighting Congress or JD-S, but the very idea of Karnataka'
Rediff.com16 May 2023'By design or default, the BJP's election strategy militated against the very essence of Karnataka politics and the idea of Karnataka.'
'Shivakumar is yet to grow as mass leader'
Rediff.com16 May 2023'The BJP's defining character is Hindutva. The party's political strategy is based on a combination of Hindutva+Development.'
'Imran's no typical Pakistani leader'
Rediff.com12 May 2023'He's charismatic, a populist, very popular, and indeed a cult of personality.' 'That ensures a powerful reaction from his support base -- even if it's not sustained, it will be quite intense, and that's worrisome for stability.'
'Imran has morphed into Frankenstein's monster for Pak army'
Rediff.com12 May 2023'The senior army leadership has no interest in reconciling with Imran Khan, and no interest in seeing him return to power.'
'We have to be prepared for the invisible enemy'
Rediff.com10 May 2023'Unlike on the western and eastern borders where there is an enemy at the gate, here there is an invisible enemy which is building its own capability and can come into play at a time and place of his choosing.'
When A Secret Rajiv-Badal Meeting Was Cancelled
Rediff.com8 May 2023'Mr Badal wanted to talk to a member of the Gandhi family to bring about some sort of rapprochement between the Akalis and the Congress which were the two major parties at that time.'
'The level of isolation in North Korea was amazing'
Rediff.com2 May 2023'In 1984, Pyongyang just had one hotel and one could not move out without an official escort.' 'India was the only country with an embassy, apart from the socialist countries.'
'Narasimha Rao was a prime minister with an open mind'
Rediff.com2 May 2023'Narasimha Rao asked me why China was doing so well in attracting foreign investments and I gave my frank opinion.' 'I told him that giving thrust to exports had to be a national effort.' 'But in India, the system was very centralised in the Government of India and the state governments had no role to play.'
'Political situation in Punjab has been somewhat volatile'
Rediff.com26 Apr 2023'The politics that is now being played in Punjab doesn't contribute towards peace and tranquillity.'