Satyendra Dubey, Manjunath and now Yogendra Pandey…
As I read the news about investigation into Yogendra Pandey’s death yesterday, I wondered where does the trail of death end?
Last week (18th June) Yogendra Pandey, an engineer responsible for road-works in Bihar was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Sitamarhi collectorate premises.
On 25th Jun, the government of Bihar finally recommended the case to centre for a CBI enquiry. Indian Express reported that “…the police term the death (of Sh. Pandey) a suicide even as the second autopsy and forensic sciences reports …

Dear All: Over the next few weeks, I will be publishing excerpts from a new book by Dr Radha Rajan titled, “Eclipse of the Hindu Nation“.
The first excerpt from the Introduction, below:
*** Excerpt from “Eclipse of the Hindu Nation” – Introduction ***
Historically, the sense of nation and nationhood among Hindus has been cultural and civilisational. The culture and its unique value system, founded in an extraordinary concept of dharma, touched every aspect of individual and collective life. Politics, a means to protect and preserve dharma, was subordinate to dharma. Historically, …

Start your weekend by reading about the “Renaissance man of India – Shri Aurobindo” – written by Shri Jagmohan (Former Governer,J&K), from which a brief excerpt:
Out of the stalwarts of renaissance, Sri Aurobindo emerged as the strongest champion of the Indian spirit and expressed the highest confidence in its underlying strength. In no uncertain terms, he declared: “India cannot perish, our race cannot become extinct, because among all the divisions of mankind it is to India that is reserved the highest and most splendid destiny, the most essential to the …

…or something like that…From the New York Times:
…Ken Pagano, the pastor of the New Bethel Church here, is passionate about gun rights. He shoots regularly at the local firing range, and his sermon two weeks ago was on “God, Guns, Gospel and Geometry.” And on Saturday night, he is inviting his congregation of 150 and others to wear or carry their firearms into the sanctuary to “celebrate our rights as Americans!” as a promotional flier for the “open carry celebration” puts it.
“God and guns were part of the …

Readers may remember a series of posts (links below) I had published last year (against the backdrop of violence against North Indians in Maharashtra) examining state-wise GDP and contributions to the central exchequer in India.
In those posts, I had raised some questions around the fiscal imbalance and deficits of various states, their GDPs, their representation in Parliament etc.
A few weeks ago, I discovered these two excellent sources of reference which can be useful in further exploring the issues I had raised:
a] Gross State Domestic Product at current prices (Feb 2008)
b] …

Discovered this while looking for something else over the weekend:
Tulsi to ‘insulate’ the Taj Mahal
Lucknow: Tulsi, known for its medicinal qualities, will now help protect the Taj Mahal from environmental pollution. In an exercise being undertaken by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and the Lucknow-based Organic India, a million tulsi saplings will be planted near the marble mausoleum.
A spokesman for the company said it is one of the best plants to purify the environment. It cleanses as it releases high amounts of oxygen, which minimises the adverse impact of industrial …