Latest news with #Nationalism
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Protests Over Jihad In New MA Pol Sc Syllabus
New Delhi: References to jihad, terrorism, self-determination in Kashmir and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Delhi University's revised MA political science syllabus have drawn objections from members of the university's Standing Committee on Courses. The syllabus, for implemented from the 2025-26 academic year, has already been approved by DU's Academic Council and Executive Council but awaits a final nod from the standing committee, where it was recently reviewed and sent back for revision after several faculty members voiced objections. At the centre of the objections is the elective paper, DSE 17: Politics and Ethnic Conflicts in J&K, which aims to examine "historical, constitutional and political aspects of J&K, internal and external dimensions, separatism, insurgency, migration of Pandits from the Valley, human rights and Armed Forces Special Act-related issues". The course also includes topics such as "debates on state autonomy, factors of terrorism, and secessionist politics". The syllabus features readings on India's national identity, Hindu nationalism and the politics of anxiety. Some members of the standing committee objected to the topics proposed to be taught in the paper. Another paper, DSE 51: Religious Nationalism and Political Violence, which examines the mobilisation of religious identity in political conflicts, also came under the scanner. According to its stated objective, the course seeks to understand "how religion becomes a political resource for mobilisation and contestation in different contexts, especially in multi-religious societies". It adds that "the course also interrogates the complex relationship between religion, modernity, nationalism and violence". You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi There are references to RSS in DSE 14: Identities and Political Transformation in India, which includes the organisation as part of a reading by famous French scholar Christophe Jaffrelot, a known critic of Hindu nationalism and the Narendra Modi govt. Also flagged was DSE 63: Discourses on Hindu Nationalism, which proposes to study "the core issues of Hindu nationalism which is the most contested subject of debate in the Indian politics". The syllabus engages with key thinkers and includes readings like "Essentials of Hindutva" by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. On the international front, DSE 28: Pakistan and the World includes discussions on 'Pakistan's ideological foundations and nationalism; Islam and the military; The Kashmir problem – genesis, wars, proxy war and peace process; Islamic radicalism, trans-border terrorism and Jihad', and Pakistan's evolving foreign policy, particularly in relation to India, Afghanistan and China. The inclusion of such framing in a university-level elective has also drawn pointed queries from a section of the committee. "These papers are not academic in nature. They are ideologically driven and meant to push a particular narrative. The inclusion of such content under the garb of curriculum reform is unacceptable," declared professor Harendra Nath Tiwari, a member of the standing committee. The panel has asked the political science department to revise the syllabus by removing the controversial papers and objectives. A fresh draft is expected to be presented when the standing committee reconvenes on July 1. The DU administration had earlier said the syllabus had to be reworked keeping India as the focal point of teaching. These objections come amid a wider pattern of contestation around syllabus revisions at DU. In recent months, changes to both undergraduate and postgraduate curricula — particularly under the New Education Policy framework — have faced criticism from sections of the academic community. In May, a controversy erupted over the removal of proposed papers on the Israel and Palestine conflict, issues in Kashmir and one on dating app-related suicides from the undergraduate syllabus of the psychology department.
Web Release
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
Lines of Fire: A New Book Published by AUB Press
The American University of Beirut (AUB) Press announced the release of its new publication Lines of Fire by Dr. Tariq Mehmood. Focusing on the works of the Afro-Asian Writers' Movement between the 1960s and 1970s, it presents a selection of poetry from the rich archives of the two major journals published during that time, The Call and Lotus. Through the selection, this book highlights key works from a movement that brought writers from all corners of the world together under the banner of resistance. Lines of Fire was finalized against the backdrop of escalating violence. 'It reminded me that poetry is not just an outlet for anger, grief, or love,' writes Mehmood in the introduction. 'It is resistance. It is resilience. It is the refusal to be erased.' Over the course of his research, the author's path has brought him together with many renowned poets and writers who shaped the history covered in this book. One of these poets is Ziad Abdulfattah, the last living editor of the journals. Ziad has written the foreword to this book where he shares his first-hand experience in formulating a journal and developing it to allow it to reach the entire world. This book introduces the history of the Afro-Asian Writers' Movement and highlights those who used their pens as weapons to fight injustice. This work also extensively discusses the Tashkent and Bandung conferences that aimed to bring writers together, discuss peace, poetry, and decolonization. As in many movements, internal conflicts and the watchful eye of intelligent services were some of the challenges that faced the writers and editors. Most importantly, this work draws parallels between the struggles of the past and those of today, placing poetry and powerful writing at the heart of resistance, remembrance, and the ongoing fight for justice. The book includes more than one-hundred poems from The Call and Lotus categorized into four sections: Exile, Independence and Nationalism, Place and Land, and Hope and Endurance.
South China Morning Post
14-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Winning narrative? How India, Pakistan's leaders seek cover under their flags after ceasefire
Pulled back from the brink by a ceasefire, nuclear-armed India and Pakistan avoided a potentially catastrophic collision, but the tides of nationalism unleashed by the four-day clash are still rising on either side of the border. Advertisement Now, leaders of the two nations are seeking to cement a political dividend from the May conflict, with competing claims of victory relayed to domestic audiences attuned to triumphalism whenever the two nations clash. 'The conflict has created a national fervour on both sides,' said Ajay Darshan Behera, professor at the Academy of International Studies at Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia University. India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is now hoping for a bounce in state polls later this year from Operation Sindoor – the military response to a militant attack in Indian Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians on April 22. India blamed Pakistan for backing the militants, a charge Islamabad has denied. People carry India's national flag as they take part in a rally on May 24 to express solidarity with the country's armed forces after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire. Photo: AFP The BJP has already started campaigning on the basis that its government – helmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi – dared to cross a red line, targeting what it says was 'terrorist infrastructure' on Pakistani soil.
Bloomberg
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Tusk Faces Crunch Two Weeks to Fend Off Poland's Nationalists
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his allies have less than two weeks to convince voters to stick with their ruling coalition after a surge in support for nationalists in a presidential election. In what's turned into a referendum on the government's 18 months in power, Tusk ally Rafal Trzaskowski will face Law & Justice opponent Karol Nawrocki in a runoff on June 1. After Sunday's first round, Trzaskowski led Nawrocki by less than two percentage points, a far narrower gap that polls had predicted.
Free Malaysia Today
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Pro-EU centrist wins tense Romanian presidential vote rerun
Voter turnout for the Romanian election between nationalist George Simion (left) and Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan was close to 65%. (EPA Images pic) BUCHAREST : Nicusor Dan, the centrist mayor of Bucharest, won a tense rerun of Romania's presidential election on Sunday, beating nationalist George Simion in a vote seen as crucial for the direction of the EU and Nato member bordering war-torn Ukraine. The ballot came five months after Romania's constitutional court annulled an election over allegations of Russian interference and a massive social media promotion of the far-right frontrunner, who was not allowed to stand again. Dan, who campaigned for an 'honest' Romania, gained close to 54% of the vote, while US President Donald Trump admirer Simion secured some 46%, according to near complete results. 'It's the victory of thousands and thousands of people who… believe that Romania can change in the right direction,' Dan, 55, told supporters, who chanted 'Europe' and 'Russia, Russia, Romania is not yours'. Turnout was close to 65%, compared to 53% for the May 4 first round, in which Simion secured most votes. 'The mobilisation was almost unprecedented,' political scientist Sergiu Miscoiu told AFP, adding 'never has an election been so decisive, with clear geopolitical implications.' Romania's president has significant sway in foreign policy, including holding veto power at EU summits. People's will EU chief Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Dan, vowed it would help work towards 'a strong Europe'. French President Emmanuel Macron said Romanians had 'chosen democracy, the rule of law, and the EU… despite many attempts at manipulation'. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Dan, saying it 'is important to have Romania as a reliable partner'. Despite exit polls showing Dan ahead, far-right leader Simion, 38 said he had won the election, but eventually conceded defeat to his rival. 'I would like to congratulate my opponent, Nicusor Dan. He has won the election, and this was the will of the Romanian people,' Simion said in a video on Facebook. He vowed to 'continue our fight' for Romania and to put its 19 million people 'first'. Simion, who leads the far-right AUR party, has criticised what he called the EU's 'absurd policies' and proposed cutting military aid to Ukraine. Simion and Dan both campaigned on a platform of change amid anger over the politicians, deemed corrupt, who have ruled one of the EU's poorest countries since the end of communism 35 years ago. Simion voted in Mogosoaia, just outside Bucharest, with far-right politician Calin Georgescu. Georgescu was the front-runner in last year's cancelled presidential election and was barred from taking part in the rerun. As the duo arrived, dozens of people, some holding flowers, shouted: 'Calin Georgescu for president.' Tense atmosphere The election campaign took place in a tense atmosphere. The cancellation of last year's vote and subsequent barring of Georgescu drew tens of thousands onto the streets to protest in sometimes violent rallies. Top US officials also criticised the decision to scrap the last ballot. The surprise resignation of prime minister Marcel Ciolacu and the collapse of his pro-European government coalition – after their candidate failed to make the runoff vote – further raised the stakes. The new president will have the power to appoint a new prime minister. The election turmoil has increased economic uncertainty in the EU's most indebted country, which has grappled with high inflation. 'The stakes of these elections are huge because there is widespread chaos in Romania right now after the annulment,' voter Runa Petringenaru told AFP. 'We can't wait for it to be over,' the 55-year-old workshop organiser added.
