Former vice president Hamid Ansari says against religiosity and strident nationalism, patriotism is a more positive concept.
Last week, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board had said it plans to open Darul-Qaza (Sharia courts) to resolve issues in line with Islamic laws.
The former vice-president made these remarks and other observations about Indian democracy in his new book “Dare I Question? Reflections on Contemporary Challenges”.
"Inventors trying to create a time machine by which you can go back in history and rewrite history. Now, such an effort is not going to succeed. History cannot be changed"
After spending some time with students at the University, Ali Khan Mahmudabad finds out that the ‘portrait problem’ was deployed as a countermeasure to cover up the fact that a mob of people had arrived on the campus shouting slogans about the former vice-president of India.
There is no discussion on the breach of security to Mr. Hamid Ansari. Everyone is busy discussing the role of Jinnah in the British period of the Indian history. One feels like screaming, my dear fellow, Jinnah is not the issue.
"PM in his speeches didn't question, nor meant to question the commitment to this nation of either former PM Manmohan Singh or Former VP Hamid Ansari, any such perception is erroneous, we hold these leaders in high esteem, as well as their commitment to India."
"No effort at seeking socio–economic equality between citizens is possible unless the state, as the implementing agency, is secular in letter and spirit and acts to implement the provisions of Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution,"
Former Vice-President Ansari was criticized for attending an event allegedly organized by the women’s wing of PFI, which NIA suspects has terror links
"He was spreading dissatisfaction in the Muslim community even when he was holding the post of Vice President"
'I was disturbed and saddened by the words of Modi, who mocked Ansari on his last day in office.'
Ansari had said that the Muslims in the country were experiencing a "feeling of unease."
Modi's comments come a day after the outgoing vice-president said Muslims were feeling insecure.
'Nobody expects such "petty comments" from a person holding such a high post.'
He also said that "a democracy is distinguished by the protection it gives to minorities. .... But at the same time the minorities have also their responsibilities."
Ansari made these remarks in the backdrop of incidents of intolerance and cow vigilantism
He would take his colour, brushes and canvas outside to paint and talk with his love. He would stand close to the window and paint, keeping an eye on his muse.
They say the violin mimics the human sound. In his case, it was that of love, of longing. He didn’t know any other way of loving.
Younger people do not have much progressive beliefs; a 2017 survey found that one-third of young people opposed inter-caste marriage.
The pandemic has made it clear that virtual learning is here to stay. In the West, the big question is whether it will dilute the quality of the college experience and education. In India, which grapples with digital divide, the question remains whether this will reach most people at all.
Even after two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, many 'informed' individuals in India continue to deny the virus with unscientific claims and unfounded data. The latest? Omicron will end the pandemic.
Across Asia there are deeply entrenched obstacles to a mode of higher education that is liberal in multiple senses – disciplinary and epistemological but also social and political.
The two incidents in the recent past, one in Mon district of Nagaland and the other at Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, undermined the core principles democracy and federalism.