Latest news with #PeaceNobel
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Letters to The Editor — July 10, 2025
Level crossing accident The tragedy at a railway level crossing near Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu is symbolic of the Indian way of defying rules and regulations. I am now in the United States and in a neighbourhood that is very close to a railway track. I find no gatekeeper and no barrier rods but only a traffic signal-like warning. Yet, citizens dutifully stop their vehicles and wait for the green signal before proceeding. People here are aware that one stands no chance before a mighty railway engine. Some time ago, I had an opportunity to interact with the loco pilot of the Deccan Queen train, from Pune to Mumbai. He was cruising well over 90 kmph and on reaching Ambernath slowed down, well aware that this was the point in the journey where pedestrians begin crossing the railway tracks. Hence, a reduction in speed was essential. For loco pilots of the Rajdhani express, Vande Bharat, and of course the futuristic bullet train, they will remain in fear of irresponsible and daredevil 'track crossers'. Subramaniam Sankaran, San Carlos Pl, Fremont, CA, U.S. While conflicting versions are being circulated about the accident, serious questions arise. How many more non-interlocked railway crossings across the country are there? Why does it take a tragedy for safety improvements? The upgradation of non-interlocked crossings to automated systems and strict enforcement of safety protocols in railways must be ensured. R. Sivakumar, Chennai When the Indian Railways is spending crores of rupees in adding more trains to generate revenue, why is it counting its pennies when it comes to safety measures? Murali Mohan P.V., Chennai Self nomination It is shocking that we have a set of world leaders who keep hailing one another as 'great and mighty' and suitable recipients for the Peace Nobel. Giving the coveted prize to a person who has not done even the bare minimum to stop a painful war would be most terrible. Layona Maria, Varappuzha, Kerala Grass court calendar In Wimbledon, with different winners in eight years in the women's field, unpredictability has become the norm. This diversity highlights the depth of the women's game but also suggests a gap in surface-specific mastery. The grass season remains too short for players to develop meaningful consistency. Administrators must consider an expanded grass-court calendar to reward adaptation and produce champions who can dominate, not just survive. Nagarajamani M.V., Hyderabad 'Qualifying date' In the article, 'The ECI does not have unfettered powers' (Opinion page, July 9), there appears to be an incorrect detail — that the 'qualifying date' can be only January 1. Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, referred to in the article, was amended in the year 2021. As in the amendment, with effect from 2022, the 'qualifying date' means 'the 1st of' January, April, July or October of the year in which the electoral roll is prepared or revised. Rangarajan R., Chennai
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First Post
02-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
The defining moments in the life of the Dalai Lama as he turns 90
Lhamo Thondup was only two when he was recognised as the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. Today, as he nears his 90th birthday, we look at his journey, from fleeing to India to winning the Peace Nobel read more Dalai Lama is set to celebrate his 90th birthday on July 6. File image/AP The Dalai Lama is set to celebrate his 90th birthday on July 6 (Sunday). Buddhist followers consider him to be the 14th reincarnation of the first spiritual leader, Avalokiteshvara, who was born in 1391. The Tibetan spiritual leader was recognised as the reincarnation of his predecessor at the age of two and formally enthroned in 1940. A decade on China took control of the region and the Dalai Lama fled to India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even after years of exile from Tibet, he has been championing greater autonomy for Tibet. He supports the 'Middle Way', which seeks meaningful autonomy within the People's Republic of China. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his peaceful efforts. The Dalai Lama recently reaffirmed the continuation of his institution after his passing, explicitly stating that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust, his official office, possesses the authority to recognise his future reincarnation. This declaration sends a clear message to China, which claims the right to control the succession. As his 90th birthday approaches and questions surrounding his succession have drawn global attention, here are some key dates in the life of the leader. 1935: Born to a farming family Lhamo Thondup was born to a farming family in the rural village of Taktser on July 6, 1935, more than a decade before the Communist Party established the People's Republic of China. Situated on a high-altitude plateau, dubbed by some the 'roof of the world', Tibet has alternated over the centuries between independence and control by China. At the time, Tibet was largely autonomous, after shaking off both the grip of China's Qing dynasty and a British invasion. 1937: The 14th reincarnation He was just two when Buddhist monks in disguise arrived at his family home searching for the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, who had died four years earlier. The monks are convinced they have found the right boy when he asked for prayer beads that had belonged to his predecessor. In 1940, he was enthroned as Tibet's leader, taking the monastic name Tenzin Gyatso. 1950: China takes control The Chinese army poured into Tibet, crushing a ramshackle resistance. Beijing said it 'peacefully liberated' the rugged plateau. 1954: Meets Mao He visited Beijing and met Mao Zedong, who he said told him that 'religion is poison'. Visitors look at a 1955 photograph showing Chairman Mao Zedong (third left) and former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai (left) sitting with the 14th Dalai Lama (fourth left) and the 10th Panchen Erdeni (second left), on display at an exhibition in Beijing, March 18, 2009. Reuters 1959: Flees to India The Dalai Lama fled Lhasa after China deployed troops in the region to crush a popular uprising. Too sick to ride a horse, he crossed the snowy mountain passes into India on the back of a dzomo, a cow-yak hybrid. India allowed the establishment of a Tibetan government-in-exile in its northern town of Dharamsala. Beijing called him a 'wolf in monk's robes'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 1967: Launches global campaign The leader visited Japan and Thailand, the first stops on a globetrotting campaign to promote his cause, hobnobbing with world leaders and Hollywood stars. China's Cultural Revolution of 1966-76 devastated Tibet. 1988: 'Middle Way' The Dalai Lama abandoned demands for Tibetan independence, advocating instead for the 'Middle Way' approach for greater autonomy. China continued to call him a separatist. 1989: Nobel Peace Prize He received the Nobel Peace Prize for advocating solutions based 'upon tolerance and mutual respect'. Beijing, which months earlier had crushed large-scale demonstrations in Lhasa calling for independence, condemned the award as 'preposterous'. The Dalai Lama receives his 1989 Nobel Peace Prize from Nobel Committee Chairman Egil Aarvik at Oslo University on December 10, 1989. Reuters 2011: Political retirement He stepped down as political head of Tibet's exiled government to make way for a democratically elected leader. Today: Monastic life He maintains a rigorous monastic life, rising before dawn for prayers. 'I always consider myself a simple Buddhist monk,' he wrote on his website. 'I feel that is the real me.' With inputs from AFP
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
US backs Pakistan, China arms it — why India must rethink its strategy
US backs Pakistan, China arms it — why India must rethink its strategy Indrani Bagchi ET Bureau Jun 27, 2025, 17:49 IST IST Stars aligned for Pakistan, US and China should be a matter of concern for India. If India wants to handle China, a weakened Pakistan is in its interest. This is what it needs to do Donald Trump finally got his ceasefire, and a shot at the Peace Nobel. He even publicly toyed with the idea of regime change in Iran in the run-up to the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities. Thankfully, unlike in the India-Pakistan context, he did bang heads together, cussed, and brought calm to the skies. Trump should actually claim credit for executing a silent and smooth regime change — in Pakistan. With an intimate lunch meeting between him and Asim Munir on June 18, the US president effectively blessed Pakistan with a military leadership, completely undermining its elected civilian government. The message rang through clearly: Rawalpindi has the support of Washington, and Pakistan's political stakeholders in Islamabad should fall in line.
Economic Times
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Stars aligned for Pakistan, US and China should be a matter of concern for India
Inshallah, this could be the beginning of yet another beautiful friendship Donald Trump finally got his ceasefire, and a shot at the Peace Nobel. He even publicly toyed with the idea of regime change in Iran in the run-up to the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities. Thankfully, unlike in the India-Pakistan context, he did bang heads together, cussed, and brought calm to the skies. Trump should actually claim credit for executing a silent and smooth regime change - in Pakistan. With an intimate lunch meeting between him and Asim Munir on June 18, the US president effectively blessed Pakistan with a military leadership, completely undermining its elected civilian government. The message rang through clearly: Rawalpindi has the support of Washington, and Pakistan's political stakeholders in Islamabad should fall in line. Shehbaz Sharif's government is a figurehead, and there it will remain. While Munir took with him his ISI DG Asim Malik to the DC lunch, Sharif had to be content with a phone call from Marco Rubio. This was a bigger tectonic shift than Trump inserting himself into the India-Pakistan conflict in May. Indians felt betrayed by Trump's courtship of Pakistan-Munir as a slight to New Delhi. The US does not see it that way. It was reinstalling 'friendly' forces in power in Pakistan, particularly as West Asia is sitting on top of a powder keg. It also helped that Pakistan's leadership had embraced crypto in a way many others have new CEO of Pakistan Crypto Council declared recently that crypto would give both Pakistan and bitcoin an 'image makeover'. Trump has embraced both these developments. Basically, what Rawalpindi-facilitator and 'Imran Khan remover' former assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs Donald Lu started was completed by Donald Trump. Back in 2022, Lu's infamous message to Pakistan's ambassador to the US Asad Majeed Khan presented a clear choice - remove Imran Khan. According to a leaked text of the cable, Lu reportedly said, 'I think isolation of the prime minister will become very strong from Europe and the United States.' Lu goes on to suggest that if Khan were to 'lose' the confidence motion, US-Pakistan relations could be restored. 'I think if the no-confidence vote against the prime minister succeeds, all will be forgiven in Washington because the Russia visit is being looked at as a decision by the prime minister. Otherwise, I think it will be tough going ahead.' The tacit approval of Khan's ouster, followed by Munir's ascendance as army chief and Khan's continued incarceration, has received a renewed US seal of approval. Now, as field marshal with virtually no end-date, Munir is unlikely to allow Khan to make it out alive of Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail. The US embrace of Munir is can gauge Pakistani eagerness to be back in US good books and cock a snook at India, as it formally nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. That didn't age well, with Trump jumping into an explosive war in next-door Iran. Nevertheless, two things appear to have converged - Pakistan's efforts to appease Trump have been relatively successful; and Trump is mad as fire with India for not endorsing him. The last Modi-Trump phone-chat was undigestible in the White Army has always been in charge of Pakistan, with or without a coup. In recent years, though, there has been a growing disenchantment with the military, fuelled somewhat by Imran Khan. Khan was a pest, too close to Taliban and very prickly about the US and India. But he remains the most popular Pakistani leader alive. Imran Khan, in jail, remains a persistent thorn in Munir's US will make big demands of Pakistan at a time when the Pak military is no longer overwhelmingly powerful, but can still deliver. The economy is a concern, but not much. Pakistan has reopened international pipelines of aid. China is unlikely to cavil at the rekindled Pakistan-US alliance, they've been familiar with it for decades. With 80% of Pak defence equipment coming from China, there's little fear Pakistan will stray too far. Much more importantly, the Pakistan-China alliance worked well for Pakistan in the recent India-Pakistan leaves India - which has clearly lost eyes on Pakistan. We're back to post-9/11, with Pakistan as a favoured ally. Pakistan and US are ready to sign a trade and minerals deal. China is ready to transfer 5th-gen fighters to Pakistan. Biden put curbs on Pakistan for its incipient ICBM programme - Trump is okay with it. Terror camps are being rebuilt. Pakistan may even be looking at being the 'bridge' between US and China, have hit a rocky road with the US. The recent US travel advisory on India is a throwback, while the India trade deal is throwing up last-minute hiccups. Stars have aligned for Pakistan, the US and China in a way India never anticipated. That should be a matter of concern. Munir tasted success with his anti-Hindu tirade, which may have directly resulted in the Pahalgam attack. Munir's 'elevation' was a result of Operation Sindoor. India has to be careful not to hand him more 'victories'.India has bigger challenges to confront in Pakistan. If India wants to handle China, a weakened Pakistan is in its interest. This is India's moment to reaffirm support to democracy in Pakistan. We have a strong stake in who rules there. Currently, India is playing a weak hand. New Delhi has to do better. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. 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