Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

December 16, 2019 Dr. Pankaj Jha Commentary

Following the two informal summits between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Wuhan (2018) and Chennai (2019) the important question that is being asked within the academic circles in China is what could be the possible template....

Keywords : International Relations and Diplomacy , China , Commentary , Indo-Pacific , QUAD , Kashmir , Terrorism , Belt and Road , Informal Summit , RCEP , trade imbalance , Aksai Chin , SR talks

Notes from the Sub-continent (Dec 1-15)

December 15, 2019 Mayuri Mukherjee Commentary

In this fortnight’s compilation of some of the big ideas being debated in the media across the Indian sub-continent, we start with Bangladesh’s coverage of Myanmar’s Rohingya trial and note how the country which has shouldered a large part of t....

Keywords : Neighbourhood Studies , Commentary , Myanmar , Rohingya trial , International Court of Justice , Rohingya population

London Bridge Attack: An Islamic State-Inspired Knife Terror Attack

December 12, 2019 Anurag Sharma, Associate Fellow, VIF Commentary

“We are resolute, we stand United in the face of terrorism, and we will not allow anybody to divide us”. - Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London. On 29 November 2019, a 28 years-old British terrorist identified as Usman Khan—a British cit....

Keywords : Terrorism , National Security and Strategic Studies , Commentary , London terror , English laws & terror , Islamist radicalisation in UK

The Belt and Road Initiative: Is it Viable?

December 09, 2019 Dr Teshu Singh Commentary

Recently, the US diplomat Alice Wells speaking at the Wilson Center at Washington D.C., criticised the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and questioned the economic feasibility of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).¹ She reiterated that ....

Keywords : International Relations and Diplomacy , China , Commentary , US , China , Belt and Road Initiative , CPEC

‘Second Consultative Meeting’ of Central Asian Leaders in Tashkent: A Significant Feature of Regional Integration in Central Asia

December 09, 2019 Dr Pravesh Kumar Gupta, Associate Fellow, VIF Commentary

Background

Uzbek President Shawkat Mirziyoyev’s efforts of re-channeling the regional cooperation among the Central Asian states seems to be fructifying lately. Since assuming power in December 2016, he garnered greater ambitions of get....

Keywords : International Relations and Diplomacy , Central Asia , Commentary , Central Asian consultative meetings , Visions for Central Asian region

The Malnutrition Crisis

December 04, 2019 Rajesh Singh Commentary

On a visit to India this November, Bill Gates, co-chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, expressed his desire to see India eliminate the malnutrition crisis. “If there was one wish I had for India, it would be to get rid of malnutrition becaus....

Keywords : Governance and Political Studies , Commentary , Stunted children , Malnutrition alleviation programmes

Notes from the Sub-continent (Nov 16-30)

November 30, 2019 Mayuri Mukherjee Commentary

In this fortnight’s compilation of some of the big ideas being debated in the media across the Indian sub-continent, we start with Bangladesh’s success in holding to account those who had attacked the Holey Artisan Bakery inn 2016. This is follow....

Keywords : Neighbourhood Studies , Commentary , Radicalisation , Bangladesh , Sri Lanka’s presidential election , The Rajapaksas return , Bajwa , Kalapani region

Supreme Court’s Verdict on Ramjanmbhoomi and its Impact on Nepal

November 29, 2019 Prof Hari Bansh Jha Commentary

The recent verdict as given by India’s Supreme Court to allow the construction of Lord Ram’s temple at in Ayodhya has been heartily welcomed by over a billion-plus Hindus in India and other parts of the world, including in Nepal. In Janakpur, the....

Keywords : Neighbourhood Studies , Nepal , Historical and Civilisational Studies , Commentary , Ayodhya-Janakpur connection , Ramjanambhoomi in Nepalese heart

Sri Lanka Presidential Elections: Reinforcement of Security Concerns

November 26, 2019 Dr Sreeradha Datta Commentary

As the latest election in Sri Lanka results reveal, issues of national security continues to be predominant for this island’s population. More generic issues of social welfare, gender sensitivity and local development did not find the similar reson....

Keywords : Neighbourhood Studies , Sri Lanka , Commentary , New government in Sri Lanka , Sri Lanka’s challenges , Sri Lanka-India-China equation