All stories by SYED FIRDAUS ASHRAF
The journalist who exposed Aadhaar
Rediff.com9 Jan 2018'Your phone number, your birth of date, your parent's name, your address, your photographs, I have everything with me.'
'Only Brahmins can defeat Brahminism'
Rediff.com4 Jan 2018'To all those then who talk about ending Brahminical hegemony, my advice is: Get the Brahmins on your side,' says Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
'BJP hasn't given up its Brahminical vision for India'
Rediff.com3 Jan 2018'The Constitution, which talks about democracy and equality, is something that will be applied in this country, and not Manusmriti in which the RSS believes.'
Why Prakash Ambedkar has called a Maharashtra bandh
Rediff.com2 Jan 2018'Why did they attack us? What was our fault?' 'They killed a woman. They burnt down vehicles.' 'They pelted stones at us over a 45 km stretch. There was no police bandobast.'
'There is a Brahminical resurgence'
Rediff.com2 Jan 2018'It is not happening in the same manner as it was happening during the time of the Peshwas.' 'Whatever happened during the Peshwas cannot happen now.'
'They only had bouncers, not safety officers'
Rediff.com29 Dec 2017'All restaurants and pubs must treat the issue seriously and appoint safety officers. This chalta hai attitude cannot work.'
Local politician's complaint about fire hazard was ignored
Rediff.com29 Dec 2017On December 7, the BMC wrote back to Kashalkar saying that on inspection, no unauthorised extensions had been found in the Kamla Mills area.
'Make instant talaq a non-cognisable offence'
Rediff.com29 Dec 2017''Laws are made for every citizen to get justice.' 'If there is abuse of law, then the law will have its own course correction mechanism also.'
''Are only lower caste politicians corrupt?'
Rediff.com28 Dec 2017'(Upper caste) leaders talk against the Constitution, reservations and the nation and still get away.'
Why BJP lost rural Gujarat
Rediff.com21 Dec 2017'I hope the anger that Gujarat farmers have demonstrated is also reflected in other parts of the country in ensuing elections.' 'Only then will the ruling parties accept that something is terribly going wrong in the hinterland.'
10 times BJP leaders turned offensive
Rediff.com15 Dec 2017Syed Firdaus Ashraf lists 10 instances when the BJP didn't pull its punches.
Rahul is a Hindu, so is Zakir Naik, and Amit Shah
Rediff.com14 Dec 2017Syed Firdaus Ashraf on the futility of the 'who is a Hindu?' debate.
How power was transferred in the Mughal empire
Rediff.com9 Dec 2017The cardinal rule for Mughal princes was 'Ya Takht, Ya Takhta' (the throne or the funeral pyre). They often went to battle against their brothers, even their father, to become emperor, points out Syed Firdaus Ashraf. Nothing bloodless about it.
The truth behind BJP's 'clean sweep' in UP civic polls
Rediff.com8 Dec 2017'The BJP has taken too much of credit for sweeping urban local elections.' 'It is true in the mayor segment. But in the smaller cities, semi-urban and rural areas, the BJP has done badly and so have the other parties.' 'Nobody can claim they have swept the elections.' 'What Mayawati failed miserably to do in the assembly election, she has managed to gain that in this election.'
Why a young Patel won't vote for the BJP
Rediff.com7 Dec 2017'The Congress will not make a difference in the life of a Patel, but only to teach the BJP a lesson we will vote against it.'
Gujarat: 'BJP 95-98 seats; Congress 85'
Rediff.com22 Nov 2017'Minus Modi, the BJP will get only 50 seats.' 'He is planning 25 big meetings in Gujarat and that will make a difference.'
'Let Bhansali go to Pakistan to release Padmavati'
Rediff.com20 Nov 2017'In the name of creativity, Bhansali fudges India's history.' 'Bajirao was such a great warrior, but he was shown as a lover boy by Bhansali.'
Trailer Review: Tiger Zinda Hai looks a winner
Rediff.com7 Nov 2017What do *you* think of the Tiger Zinda Hai trailer?
Why Communism will never die
Rediff.com7 Nov 2017On November 7, which marks 100 years of the Russian Revolution, Syed Firdaus Ashraf recalls a conversation he once had on Communism.