The Indian Express -- Expressions

This page contains Editorial and Op-Ed articles

Saturday, December 13 1997

Letters to the Editor

See how they limp

Conventional wisdom: it is wrong for lameduck or caretaker governments to take policy decisions. A new government with a new mandate is to follow, and they must not preempt its decisions. That, as far as it goes, is right. But it is a logic designed for ordinary democratic practice where elections take place at regular and relatively long intervals, constitutionally defined.

Good intentions, bad doctrine

With the departure of the Gujral government, a question mark hangs over the fate of the Indo-Pak dialogue. Both sides are putting up a brave face, with New Delhi insisting that the Foreign Secretary-level talks will resume and Nawaz Sharif reiterating his desire for the continuation of the bilateral dialogue in an effort to project a business-as-usual image. But without Gujral shepherding and at times even cajoling South Block mandarins, any effort to deviate from the present stance appears unlikely.

The unnatural number

I was being harassed by friends. "Get a phone, why don't you?" they urged. "It's the easiest thing for a journalist. There is no backlog of applications in your area exchange," I was assured. After three months of procrastination, I finally applied. A month on, the stern visage of three linesmen greeted me outside my door. They scoldingly informed me that there were people whose connection had yet to come a year after they applied. I should count myself lucky. I did.

See how they limp

Good intentions, bad doctrine

The unnatural number

Kyoto Protocol

Twilight of the nation-state

Turnaround in three years