Indian History Part 81 Akbar Sect IV The Conquering Emperor 6. The North-West and the Deccan

Canberra, 22 August 2020 Even when the rebellion in Bengal was raging without an end in sight, and it was thought that the East would be lost to the Empire, Akbar did not march to Bengal. Though all his military instincts—which were highly developed—prompted him to rush to the East, he held back, for the […]

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Indian History Part 80 Humayun Section VI: The Mughal Revival

Canberra, 16 May 2020 The exiled Humayun reached Shal on his way to find shelter in Kandahar, where he was informed that Askari was close at hand with a large force to apprehend him. Humayun changed his plans and decided to flee to the Persian border with his wife, while leaving behind his son and […]

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Indian History Part 59 The Lodi Dynasty Section I Origins of the Lodis

Singapore, 15 October 2017    Legendary Connection to Mythology The tale of the origins of the Lodis starts with their connection to Adam, the first human being according to religious mythology. It begins with the proclamation that 18 generations after Adam, Ibrahim was born. His son Yaqub, the progenitor of the Israelites had 12 sons. […]

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Afghanistan – A Long Way from Anywhere

Canberra, 20 September 2016 Afghanistan has been teetering at the edge of a precipice ever since the US-led invasion of the country in 2001. The situation has become further precarious, if such a thing is possible at all, after the current President Ashraf Ghani took over the reins of government two years back. The embattled […]

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Pakistan: Painting Itself into a Corner

  Canberra, 11 July 2016 Pakistan is a land of contrasts. The disparity between the haves and the have-nots in all aspects of normal life stands out as a prime example. However, the most starkly visible contrast is the two very different conceptual understanding within the nation of the role of religion in the State. […]

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AFGHANISTAN: FRAGILE AND FORGOTTEN

Canberra, 8 September 2015 Deliberate and repeated insurgent attacks, endemic corruption within the governing polity, a shrinking ‘formal’ economy, the end of a development boom as a more than decade long international war draws to a close that in turn has created unemployment levels of 35 to 40 per cent and a deteriorating security situation […]

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PAKISTAN: STUCK IN A CUL-DE-SAC

Canberra, 22 June 2014 Pakistan, a state created in the name of Islam, is today divided along linguistic, ethnic, tribal and sectarian lines. It also claims to be the ‘heart of Asia’, making any observer want to ask, ‘a wounded, bleeding heart?’ While it is beset with domestic issues that directly threaten the well-being of […]

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THE KING IS DEAD-LONG LIVE THE KING – SAUDI ARABIA: A LEGACY OF FOREIGN POLICY BLUNDERS

Canberra, 11 February 2015 Much is being written about the ‘peaceful’ transition of power and the rapid administrative overhaul that has been undertaken by King Salman in the fortnight or so that he has been in power in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi newspapers are trumpeting the changes as heralding a new era within the kingdom. […]

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PAKISTAN’S TALIBAN NIGHTMARE

Canberra, 20 April 2013 Pakistan has been in the grip of a domestic Taliban insurgency for a number of years. The insurgency has managed to repeatedly disrupt the normal functioning of the society and, more importantly, made the limited secular influence within the polity withdraw and become insignificant. In the past few months it has […]

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THE REALITY OF AFGHANISTAN POST-2014

Canberra, 9 January 2012 THE MIRAGE OF STABILITY Ever since the United States announced its intention to withdraw its combat troops from Afghanistan by end of 2014, President Karzai has been stating that the people of Afghanistan hold the key to their future in their own hands. And so it should be, especially since the […]

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