Neeta Kolhatkar

Stories by Neeta Kolhatkar

How I Returned From Ukraine

How I Returned From Ukraine

Rediff.com   5 Mar 2022

'I have no idea what's in store for us.' 'I am in touch with my friends who are still stuck there.'

'The idea of Hinduism is at stake'

'The idea of Hinduism is at stake'

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2022

'While the ordinary Muslim must speak up against Islamic fundamentalism, ordinary Hindus too have to speak up against the excesses and fundamentalism that exists in their religion.'

'Battling anti-Muslim agenda won't be easy'

'Battling anti-Muslim agenda won't be easy'

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2022

'This chauvinistic attitude, what they call nationalism in the name of religion, is sad.' 'It is a tragic state that we are all in currently.'

'It is my love for the people of this country'

'It is my love for the people of this country'

Rediff.com   4 Feb 2022

'I can't help it if people don't love the minorities, the Dalits and Adivasis; they are as much of this country as any other Indian.' 'If I love them, it does not mean I do not love my country.' 'It is ironic and funny that they have laid such severe anti-national charges against me.'

'The State snatched away my time with my daughter'

'The State snatched away my time with my daughter'

Rediff.com   4 Feb 2022

'It's little things like these -- sharing medicines, consoling each other after a mulaqat (meeting) or a tearful phone conversation with your loved ones or when we would return, dejected, when our bails were rejected -- that made our time in jail bearable.'

'My greatest strength were prison inmates'

'My greatest strength were prison inmates'

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2022

'You are with each other 24x7, so how can you ignore someone crying next to you?' 'How can you not share a piece of chicken with someone who is sitting next to you and watching you eat it?' 'Of course, you will share.' 'And you become friends with the kind of people you never thought you'd even know.'

'I was imprisoned in the phansi yard'

'I was imprisoned in the phansi yard'

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2022

'I was told to go to the next room and strip -- that's when it really hits you for the first time... that you are a criminal and you are being treated like one.' 'It comes as a shock when, instead of your name, you hear, "Yeh naya Maowadi aaya hai (A new Maoist has arrived)".'

'I will not keep quiet'

'I will not keep quiet'

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2022

'If the person is silenced, then everyone else is terrorised and won't speak up.' 'See what happened to Kiran Mane, you will face the same fate.' 'They want to send this message to the world through my example.' 'We have to fight this and show that they cannot throttle everyone.'

'The perpetrators are cowards'

'The perpetrators are cowards'

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2020

'Only when they are in a group or in mobs, then they attack.'

'In 30 years, 400 Indian languages will die'

'In 30 years, 400 Indian languages will die'

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2020

'This government has made it compulsory to teach some languages that have died.' 'You can't keep languages alive by making them compulsory.'

'We have to respect dissent'

'We have to respect dissent'

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2020

'In a democracy, there is nothing like 'I am right'.' 'You can be wrong, so somebody has to point that out.'

When mob mentality came alive on stage

When mob mentality came alive on stage

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2019

'Zund makes one sit up and wonder why we have allowed ourselves to be played like pawns by power mongers,' says Neeta Kolhatkar.

An ode to my friend, Indigo

An ode to my friend, Indigo

Rediff.com   10 May 2018

Indigo (April 30, 1999 - April 30, 2018) was much more than a restaurant, says its regular patron, Neeta Kolhatkar.

A big win for the Media. And the Republic

A big win for the Media. And the Republic

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2018

The Bombay high court order quashing the gag order on reporting the court proceedings in the Sohrabuddin encounter case is a victory for every journalist and Indian, says Neeta Kolhatkar.

A tragedy that was waiting to happen in Mumbai

A tragedy that was waiting to happen in Mumbai

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2017

The promptness with which the railways renames stations, that is missing when it comes to providing commuters with basic facilities, says Neeta Kolhatkar.

Did Rakesh Maria go soft on Peter Mukerjea?

Did Rakesh Maria go soft on Peter Mukerjea?

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2016

Rakesh Maria's tough posture as Mumbai police chief, it seems, ruffled feathers in the Fadnavis government, says Neeta Kolhatkar.

Fadnavis, the biggest loser in MNS-ADHM row

Fadnavis, the biggest loser in MNS-ADHM row

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2016

'Devendra Fadnavis' brokering the deal between the MNS and the makers of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil raises questions about the chief minister's effectiveness,' says Neeta Kolhatkar.

'We have started a revolution, there will be change'

'We have started a revolution, there will be change'

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2016

'The Kopardi rape/murder was the immediate cause of the unrest.' 'However, there is a feeling of isolation and anger that has been simmering within the Maratha community.' 'The protests gave Marathas a sense of belonging.' 'They felt they have a stake in the protests and the issues being raised.' 'As for the future, let us see what happens.' 'All I can say is it will not stop here.'

Lessons for Mumbai from the Chennai floods

Lessons for Mumbai from the Chennai floods

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2015

The major cause of the floods in Mumbai in 2005 and in Chennai in 2015 has been the reclamation of reservoir areas and rapid, unplanned, urbanisation.

Fadnavis@1: Restless, insecure, leader

Fadnavis@1: Restless, insecure, leader

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2015

Devendra Fadnavis -- who completes a year as Maharashtra's chief minister this weekend -- knows his rivals in the party remain hungry for power and want to seize every opportunity to pull him down, says Neeta Kolhatkar.