Author Archives: M.J. Akbar
19th May, 2013
Silence of the vultures
THE only surprising fact about most corruption stories is that anyone in authority gets surprised. Everyone in charge knew that the Commonwealth Games organising committee was buying toilet paper at art paper prices, and turf at the rate of platinum.
THE only surprising fact about most corruption stories is that anyone in authority gets surprised. Everyone in charge knew that the Commonwealth Games organising committee was buying toilet paper at art paper prices, and turf at the rate of platinum.
12th May, 2013
No country for confusion
THE results of the Pakistan elections should be far less important than the fact that elections are taking place.
THE results of the Pakistan elections should be far less important than the fact that elections are taking place.
5th May, 2013
Anwar’s moment
IN Malaysia, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s campaign is on song, sometimes literally so. He does tend to remind his massive rallies that it is ‘Now or Never’.
IN Malaysia, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s campaign is on song, sometimes literally so. He does tend to remind his massive rallies that it is ‘Now or Never’.
28th April, 2013
The will & won’t of corruption
A NEUROSCIENTIST of Indian origin, V.S. Ramachandran, has noted that the human brain might get lost in variations of “free will”, but can certainly be clear about a “free won’t”.
A NEUROSCIENTIST of Indian origin, V.S. Ramachandran, has noted that the human brain might get lost in variations of “free will”, but can certainly be clear about a “free won’t”.
21st April, 2013
Birnam wood not moving, yet
MACBETH, Shakespeare’s most self-destructive politician, was confident that he would never lose power until Birnam wood began to move. Since it seemed highly unlikely that a whole forest would trot across towards his fortress, he lived in the complacent world of invincibility.
MACBETH, Shakespeare’s most self-destructive politician, was confident that he would never lose power until Birnam wood began to move. Since it seemed highly unlikely that a whole forest would trot across towards his fortress, he lived in the complacent world of invincibility.
14th April, 2013
Ghosts do not die
CHECK with the haunted: ghosts do not die. Since this sounds like the ultimate paradox, some explanation is necessary. Ghosts are not happy spirits.
CHECK with the haunted: ghosts do not die. Since this sounds like the ultimate paradox, some explanation is necessary. Ghosts are not happy spirits.
7th April, 2013
Looking for heroes
IT is a long way back to zero point. When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was re-elected in 2009, almost the first thing he did was to offer Rahul Gandhi his job.
IT is a long way back to zero point. When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was re-elected in 2009, almost the first thing he did was to offer Rahul Gandhi his job.
31st March, 2013
It is 11 o’clock
ARITHMETIC obviously matters, for democracy is a game of numbers. But there is a smarter way for a minority government to ensure stability: good governance.
ARITHMETIC obviously matters, for democracy is a game of numbers. But there is a smarter way for a minority government to ensure stability: good governance.
24th March, 2013
The prologue to war
IS America planning to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the war which eliminated Saddam Hussein and destroyed Iraq with an intervention in Syria?
IS America planning to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the war which eliminated Saddam Hussein and destroyed Iraq with an intervention in Syria?
17th March, 2013
Cardinal concerns
KAROL Jozef Wojtyla, the first non-Italian pope in more than four centuries, did not get elected to the throne in 1978 merely through a throw of electoral dice.
KAROL Jozef Wojtyla, the first non-Italian pope in more than four centuries, did not get elected to the throne in 1978 merely through a throw of electoral dice.
10th March, 2013
Real story of a Raja
CONSPIRACY is a natural morsel in the media diet, a vitamin that adds energy to a news meal generally more flat than nutritious.
CONSPIRACY is a natural morsel in the media diet, a vitamin that adds energy to a news meal generally more flat than nutritious.
3rd March, 2013
Absence of an idea
A UNION budget can help a ruling party win a general election, but only if it is a first budget, not its last. Voters understand the difference between a policy and a promise or an alibi.
A UNION budget can help a ruling party win a general election, but only if it is a first budget, not its last. Voters understand the difference between a policy and a promise or an alibi.
24th February, 2013
The other half of murder
COULD death be a half-truth? This question is obviously a killer’s last hope and best alibi. There is enough truth in that great genre of mystery fiction to suggest that murder can often be an open debate.
COULD death be a half-truth? This question is obviously a killer’s last hope and best alibi. There is enough truth in that great genre of mystery fiction to suggest that murder can often be an open debate.
17th February, 2013
Papacy in transition
POPE Benedict XVI will be remembered not for the ease of his arrival, nor for the unremarkable quality of his tenure, but for the courage of his departure.
POPE Benedict XVI will be remembered not for the ease of his arrival, nor for the unremarkable quality of his tenure, but for the courage of his departure.
10th February, 2013
Justice or gender bias?
A SUPREME Court judgement may be anchored in law, but it sails a long way through the mind of judges before it becomes a public pronouncement. Law and justice are both human and therefore prone to frailty and error.
A SUPREME Court judgement may be anchored in law, but it sails a long way through the mind of judges before it becomes a public pronouncement. Law and justice are both human and therefore prone to frailty and error.
3rd February, 2013
Men are the weaker sex
THE one certain fact about this uncertain business called advertising is that you can’t do without it. Such compulsion does not mean this hit-and-run affair necessarily works. It is difficult to predict when a campaign will be a hit, and when the agency has merely run away to lubricate its salary sheet.
THE one certain fact about this uncertain business called advertising is that you can’t do without it. Such compulsion does not mean this hit-and-run affair necessarily works. It is difficult to predict when a campaign will be a hit, and when the agency has merely run away to lubricate its salary sheet.
27th January, 2013
Bose’s stature reduced
WE measure power through size. Check any political poster. The boss gets the biggest face. Others in the pecking order descend till the miniature at the end.
WE measure power through size. Check any political poster. The boss gets the biggest face. Others in the pecking order descend till the miniature at the end.
20th January, 2013
Wanted: a magic wand
AMBITION is a perfectly legitimate gene within the political DNA. Without ambition it would be almost impossible for anyone except a saint to suffer the dross, ennui and heartless envy of foes and friends that consume so much of a politician’s time.
AMBITION is a perfectly legitimate gene within the political DNA. Without ambition it would be almost impossible for anyone except a saint to suffer the dross, ennui and heartless envy of foes and friends that consume so much of a politician’s time.
13th January, 2013
Guardians of the pulpit
IT is silent. It is complex. There is unease but no outcry. There is diffidence and uncertainty because it seems to carry sanction — not of faith, but of some of the faithful.
IT is silent. It is complex. There is unease but no outcry. There is diffidence and uncertainty because it seems to carry sanction — not of faith, but of some of the faithful.
6th January, 2013
Leave it to God
THE most intriguing international story of 2012 was the election of the new Egyptian Coptic Christian pope. His name need not detain us. It is the method that matters; the process is ennobling precisely because it is
THE most intriguing international story of 2012 was the election of the new Egyptian Coptic Christian pope. His name need not detain us. It is the method that matters; the process is ennobling precisely because it is
