This blog has been running for over a decade now. In the past, I used to write an annual post on selected posts written throughout the year.
I liked doing it because sometimes I was always surprised to see what I had written during the course of year--articles that I had almost forgotten and posts that had got really good traffic and response.
For the last couple of years, this exercise was discontinued. Here is the list of some of the selected posts for the years 2014 and 2015.
INTERNATIONAL ISSUES-ISLAMIC WORLD. I wrote several articles about Islamic world and introspective posts about Muslims this year:
Crisis in Islamic world: Clergy has failed, Muslims desperately need statesmen now. Read
Growing sectarianism among Indian Muslims: Criticising other sects, terming practices as 'un-Islamic'. Read
Lowest number of Muslims in Parliament: Just 22 or 4%, none from UP. Read
Irony for Israel: When world calls Israel a 'Nazi state'. Read
Our intolerance towards 'outsiders: We are elated when Indians grab top posts in other countries but can't tolerate people from other states. Read
ON CONGRESS, CRITICISM OF THE PARTY. Though the blog has taken a left-centre line, when I go back I find myself criticising Congress' too often. There were many such strong posts.
Hashimpura massacre, major communal riots took place during Congress rule. Read
Arrogant, Apathetic Congress bites the dust in Maharashtra, finally. Read
An Indian Muslim's letter to Congress: I'm not a BJP supporter but glad at Congress' defeat. Read
Congress' indifference to Saffron siege in Mangalore, coastal Karnataka. Read
Why Muslims don't vote for Congress, not willing to consider it as 2nd & 3rd option either. Read
POLITICS. 2014 was election year, hence, there were many posts on other political parties like JDU & AAP about issues pertaining to secularism and communalism.
Mamata Bannerjee reins in VHP, stops Pravin Togadia from entering WB. Read
Tilak, Topi in politics: People don't want Hindu politicians to wear topi, Muslim leader to sport tilak. Read
How media turned Nitish Kumar from hero to villain within months. Read
AAP victory in Delhi broke a psychological barrier. Read
BJP's rise in Indian politics: From 2 to 282 seats in 30 years. Read
Just 2.5% Muslims, yet Betul was considered safe seat for Muslims for decades. Read
On Terrorism. There were many articles on this subject and role of media in covering terrorist attacks within India and outside.
When media terms a terrorist attack as 'ambush'. Read
Terrorists on Rebel: Bodo 'miliants' kill 70 in Assam. Read
Media's excessive, hysteric coverage of Australia hostage crisis created worldwide panic. Read
Media and national security: How Manipur blast is viewed different from Bardhaman blast. Read
Media's surprising 'softness' towards Maoists: Even terms like 'extremists' and 'radicals' not used. Read
On Urdu language and literature. Also, about the language politics and discrimination with the language in Uttar Pradesh.
Now an entire Urdu library accessible on your cell phone. Read
Urdu must get its constitutional rights in UP, amend discriminatory law in UP. Read
ON COMMUNALISM. Rising bigotry & spread of online hate concern everyone. Trolling and abusing on the internet has become a major phenomenon in recent years.
Cyber bullying: Online arguments about religion and Twitter Trolls' strategy. Read
When person abusing your faith, turns out to be your co-religionist. Read
Misusing social media to fan communalism in society: WhatsApp, Facebook messages leading to riots. Read
OFF-BEAT. Stories like the photo feature on Muharram that shows unique cultural practices and interesting, inspiring stories.
Muharram in India: Mourning for Imam Husain in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh. Read
The lost world of spy fiction in Urdu: Akram Allahabadi's novels are back. Read
Mango mania in Awadh: For 'aam' lovers, t is not 'summer' but 'mango season'. Read
Schoolgirl writes to CM, gets road constructed to her village. Read
Bano Bi loves to fight elections, contesting for the 12th time. Read
Great social reformers: The roaming revolutionary saint Gadge Baba. Read
COMMUNAL HARMONY. This blog has always pitched for communal harmony. Stories about instances of inter-faith amity and secularism.
Hindus, Muslims, Christians join hands to celebrate Ganeshotsava. Read
Diwali celebrations in Pakistan: Politicians reaching out to minorities. Read
Chacha Chaudhary and secularism: How comics inculcated secular values among children. Read
Spreading humanism respect for other religions through children's magazines. Read
Holi Mubarak: Celebration of Holi on Urdu newspaper front page. Read
Now religious clocks: Will you buy a 'Hindu clock' or a 'Muslim clock'? Read
I liked doing it because sometimes I was always surprised to see what I had written during the course of year--articles that I had almost forgotten and posts that had got really good traffic and response.
For the last couple of years, this exercise was discontinued. Here is the list of some of the selected posts for the years 2014 and 2015.
INTERNATIONAL ISSUES-ISLAMIC WORLD. I wrote several articles about Islamic world and introspective posts about Muslims this year:
Crisis in Islamic world: Clergy has failed, Muslims desperately need statesmen now. Read
Growing sectarianism among Indian Muslims: Criticising other sects, terming practices as 'un-Islamic'. Read
Lowest number of Muslims in Parliament: Just 22 or 4%, none from UP. Read
Irony for Israel: When world calls Israel a 'Nazi state'. Read
Our intolerance towards 'outsiders: We are elated when Indians grab top posts in other countries but can't tolerate people from other states. Read
ON CONGRESS, CRITICISM OF THE PARTY. Though the blog has taken a left-centre line, when I go back I find myself criticising Congress' too often. There were many such strong posts.
Hashimpura massacre, major communal riots took place during Congress rule. Read
Arrogant, Apathetic Congress bites the dust in Maharashtra, finally. Read
An Indian Muslim's letter to Congress: I'm not a BJP supporter but glad at Congress' defeat. Read
Congress' indifference to Saffron siege in Mangalore, coastal Karnataka. Read
Why Muslims don't vote for Congress, not willing to consider it as 2nd & 3rd option either. Read
POLITICS. 2014 was election year, hence, there were many posts on other political parties like JDU & AAP about issues pertaining to secularism and communalism.
Mamata Bannerjee reins in VHP, stops Pravin Togadia from entering WB. Read
Tilak, Topi in politics: People don't want Hindu politicians to wear topi, Muslim leader to sport tilak. Read
How media turned Nitish Kumar from hero to villain within months. Read
AAP victory in Delhi broke a psychological barrier. Read
BJP's rise in Indian politics: From 2 to 282 seats in 30 years. Read
Just 2.5% Muslims, yet Betul was considered safe seat for Muslims for decades. Read
On Terrorism. There were many articles on this subject and role of media in covering terrorist attacks within India and outside.
When media terms a terrorist attack as 'ambush'. Read
Terrorists on Rebel: Bodo 'miliants' kill 70 in Assam. Read
Media's excessive, hysteric coverage of Australia hostage crisis created worldwide panic. Read
Media and national security: How Manipur blast is viewed different from Bardhaman blast. Read
Media's surprising 'softness' towards Maoists: Even terms like 'extremists' and 'radicals' not used. Read
On Urdu language and literature. Also, about the language politics and discrimination with the language in Uttar Pradesh.
Now an entire Urdu library accessible on your cell phone. Read
Urdu must get its constitutional rights in UP, amend discriminatory law in UP. Read
ON COMMUNALISM. Rising bigotry & spread of online hate concern everyone. Trolling and abusing on the internet has become a major phenomenon in recent years.
Cyber bullying: Online arguments about religion and Twitter Trolls' strategy. Read
When person abusing your faith, turns out to be your co-religionist. Read
Misusing social media to fan communalism in society: WhatsApp, Facebook messages leading to riots. Read
OFF-BEAT. Stories like the photo feature on Muharram that shows unique cultural practices and interesting, inspiring stories.
Muharram in India: Mourning for Imam Husain in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh. Read
The lost world of spy fiction in Urdu: Akram Allahabadi's novels are back. Read
Mango mania in Awadh: For 'aam' lovers, t is not 'summer' but 'mango season'. Read
Schoolgirl writes to CM, gets road constructed to her village. Read
Bano Bi loves to fight elections, contesting for the 12th time. Read
Great social reformers: The roaming revolutionary saint Gadge Baba. Read
COMMUNAL HARMONY. This blog has always pitched for communal harmony. Stories about instances of inter-faith amity and secularism.
Hindus, Muslims, Christians join hands to celebrate Ganeshotsava. Read
Diwali celebrations in Pakistan: Politicians reaching out to minorities. Read
Chacha Chaudhary and secularism: How comics inculcated secular values among children. Read
Spreading humanism respect for other religions through children's magazines. Read
Holi Mubarak: Celebration of Holi on Urdu newspaper front page. Read
Now religious clocks: Will you buy a 'Hindu clock' or a 'Muslim clock'? Read
