Akhilesh Sinha

India’s battle against Naxalism is fast moving beyond the gun to the more shadowy battlefield of ideas. The tendency of some educated people who describe themselves as intellectuals to provide ideological justification for violence, disorder and anti-establishment activities is often viewed as a manifestation of “urban Naxalism”. In his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broadened this idea by introducing the term dimaagi Naxalism or “Naxalism of the...

Paying respect to Vande Mataram is not about endorsing any party or government but is a tribute to the freedom struggle where countless Indians from all states created a singular national chorus. The recent controversy in Keralam over the full recitation of Vande Mataram at official events has once again brought to the fore an old yet critical question that can the national memories of our freedom struggle be compartmentalized within the boundaries of states, political parties, and momentary...

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has moved beyond tax reform to become the economic engine of India’s ambition to become a developed nation. AI generated image Nine years ago, the GST replaced a maze of taxes, cesses and state-level barriers with a single national framework. Since then, it has altered how goods move across the country, how businesses enter the formal economy, how governments track economic activity and how the Centre and states share fiscal responsibilities. Since its launch,...