#HashtagNil.

‘The issue was unemployment. The concern was related to scarce job prospects. The discussion was about creation of new jobs and opportunities. The debate was to revolve around finding ways to engage growing population in some work, some creative and productive work according to their talent and caliber.’ But eventually the whole discourse has been confined to a rather irrelevant point, and interestingly the point is PAKODA . The reference of Pakoda was used by Mr. Prime Minister in an interview and then was picked up in political circles and by the intelligentsia. A faction has even started creating analogies like Pakoda Minister for PM. According to my understanding of the context, it was a mere symbolism by him to reflect the issue and the cry over the issue is greater than deserved. But then it is not limited to one section only. There is another group of people, who are trying to glorify the statement, relating it to self-employment and skill development, again more than deser...

इशावास्योपनिषद का एक श्लोकांश है 'विद्ययामृतमश्नुते'. संयोग से, इस वाक्यांश को अपने ध्येय वाक्य के रूप में स्वीकारने वाले काशी हिन्दू विश्वाविद्यालय की संस्थापना कल ही के दिन हुई थी. हममें से अधिकतर लोग ये जानते हैं कि काशी हिन्दू विश्वविद्यालय की स्थापना बसंत-पंचमी के दिन हुई थी. मगर कम लोगों को ही ये ज्ञात होगा कि वर्ष 1916 में 4 फरवरी की तारीख को, अर्थात जिस दिन काशी हिन्दू विश्वविद्यालय कि संस्थापना हुई थी, उस दिन बसंत-पंचमी नहीं थी. मालवीय जी अपना हर शुभ कार्य बसंत-पंचमी से ही शुरू करते थे. विश्वविद्यालय के संस्थापना के लिए भी उन्होंने यही दिन चुना था. उस वर्ष बसंत-पंचमी 8 फरवरी को थी. मगर तत्कालीन वायसराय लॉर्ड हार्डिंग ने 4 फरवरी का ही समय दिया था, वो अपने कार्यकाल के आखिरी दिनों में थें और व्यस्तता के कारण बसंत-पंचमी के दिन आने में अक्षम थे. धुन के पक्के महामना मालवीय ने तब समारोह को एक हफ्ते तक चलाने का फैसला किया और इस प्रकार 8 फरवरी का दिन भी समारोह का हिस्सा बन गया. कहा जाता है कि उस दौर में भी समारोह इतना वृहद था कि तमाम संसाधनों के बाद भी शताब्दी वर्ष समारोह के ...

‘One Nation, One Election’ is the phrase that has gained great attention in Indian Political circles during the past fortnight. The debate over single elections throughout the country is not new and has continued since the time our constitution came to existence. Though Prime Minister Modi has led the campaign for it in past few years, but he is not the first to advocate single elections and in past decades too there were several politicians and scholars who wanted state and parliamentary elections to be conducted together. In fact the first three general elections were on the pattern of single elections and it was in 1967 for the last time that parliamentary and state legislative elections were conducted together.   Election in some state or the other at regular intervals is a crucial determinant of actions of our lawmakers and their policies are generally guided by elections to follow and are inclined in the favour of states where elections are due. Indian federal setup has g...