Daily Hindu Editorials

👉The lesson from Karnataka: the parties opposed to the BJP must work together from the word go👈 Mathematics is about numbers, and mathematics is an exact science. The addition, subtraction, division and multiplication of numbers in ganita is about getting problems right. Just that. Right. And a satisfaction is derived, both mathematical and aesthetic, in getting the exercise right. Precision is its sole dharma. Numbers, after a problem is done, stand still. They do not pull at each other, jumping from a plus to a minus, from the times or multiplication sign into an obelus or division sign. A sum does not try to or want to alter itself. The problem-solver or sum-beholder derives satisfaction from the purity of its precision. 👉Integrity of the arithmetic Elections too are about numbers and are an exact exercise. But only until the sum is reached. That is, until the Election Commission finishes its calculations and declares the ‘sum’. The Election Commission counts and th...

👉The Governor has banked not so much on the count the BJP had, as on what it could engineer👈 In summarily ignoring the claim of H.D. Kumaraswamy, Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala abandoned both propriety and common sense, acting in a politically partisan manner unbecoming of his office. Mr. Kumaraswamy was elected leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party and, with the declared support of the Congress, had the backing of a majority in the newly elected Assembly. The leader of the BJP Legislature Party, B.S. Yeddyurappa, offered no demonstrable proof of majority, but was invited to form the government, and given all of 15 days to prove he had the confidence of the House, solely on the basis of being the leader of the single largest party. Far from ushering in a stable government, the Governor unbolted the doors to allow room for the BJP to try to engineer defections. In situations such as these, the Constitution allows an element of discretion to the Governor, but this ...

👉A fresh look at urban governance is necessary as migration from rural areas picks up pace👈 Cities are economically vibrant spaces around the world and draw a large number of rural migrants looking for better prospects. This is a sustained trend, particularly in developing countries now, as production, jobs and markets get concentrated. More evidence of this comes from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, which has released its 2018 Revision of the World Urbanization Prospects. Forecasting for the year 2050, the UN agency estimates that the percentage of urban residents in India would be 52.8, compared to 34 today, while Delhi would edge past Tokyo as the world’s most populous city by 2028. India, China and Nigeria are expected to lead other countries and account for 35% of the projected growth in urban population by mid-century. This forecast frames the challenge before developing countries, India in particular. Urbanisation in the country is a complex process, sinc...

👉After years of mistrust, China reaches out to Japan with high-level visits👈 It appears to be the season for diplomatic resets in Asia. Would-be hegemon China is at the centre of this regional spring thaw. India is not the only rival with which Beijing has recently been trading pleasantries rather than threats. Usually fraught China-Japan ties are in the midst of an upswing as well. 👉Peace overture Last week, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was in Japan on a three-day state visit, his first trip to Tokyo since taking office five years ago. It was also the first top-level bilateral visit after relations between the two countries plummeted in 2012 over a chain of disputed islands claimed by both sides. The melt in this years-long freeze has been evident for several months. One signal came last September when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the first Japanese leader in 15 years to attend the Chinese Embassy’s annual National Day celebrations in Tokyo. Since then, Mr. Abe an...

👉A look at the achievements of the Open Era, 50 years after it began👈 Fifty years ago, the British Lawn Tennis Association declared, “The English are tired of the hypocrisy in the sport, the shamateurism that plagues high-class tennis.” Thus was born the Open Era in tennis and on April 22, 1968, John Clifton hit the first serve of the Open Era at the Hard Court Championships in Bournemouth, England. Before the Open Era, tennis was a sport split into two. The vast majority of its players were amateurs who competed in a host of tournaments, including the major championships. They didn’t play for money but they did, however, deal with under-the-table profits which earned them the title “shamateurs”. The professionals, who wanted to earn money, were not allowed to play at prestigious events and had to pick up the racquet to eke out a living wherever they could find an audience that was willing to pay and watch. But the Open Era established prize money and allowed both professiona...

SWACHH RANKINGS ARE OUT, INDORE GETS CLEANEST CITY TAG   (GOVERNANCE) The results for Swachh Survekshan 2018 released by Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry have been released with Indore in Madhya Pradesh retaining its title of being India’s cleanest city. 👉Details of the ranking Jharkhand has emerged as the best-performing State in terms of cleanliness. Maharashtra stood second behind Jharkhand, while Chhattisgarh was at the third position As far as cities are concerned, table-topper Indore is followed by Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal, while Union Territory of Chandigarh stands at the third place in the national-level category. Indore was the cleanest city last year as well, but that survey was conducted only for around 430 cities. This time it was conducted for around 4,200 cities. Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh found a special mention as the fastest moving big city of the Swachh Survekshan 2018, moving up to Rank 36 from the previous 351, in 2017. Greater Mumbai in Maha...

💥 Daily Word Bytes - 1  from editorial  - Death in Gaza  💥 toll (noun) – adverse effect, undesirable consequence, damage. Hindu Editorial usage  :   The deaths at the Gaza-Israel border show the continuing toll of occupation precede (verb) – come/go before, pave the way for, lead to. Hindu Editorial usage  :   The violence in Gaza that preceded the opening of the American embassy in Jerusalem on Monday has once again reminded the world of the dangerous consequences of President Donald Trump’s decision to move the U.S. diplomatic mission from Tel Aviv to the disputed city besides (preposition) – apart from, in addition, as well as. Hindu Editorial usage  :   many had warned it would trigger violence in the Palestinian Territories besides complicating any peace processes suffocatingly (adverb) – oppressively, domineeringly, repressively. Hindu Editorial usage  :   On Monday morning, across Gaza, a tiny Mediterr...

💥 Daily Word Bytes - 1  from editorial  - Rupee rout: on the Indian currency's slide  💥 rout (noun) – downfall, collapse/defeat; fiasco. Hindu Editorial usage :   Rupee rout: on the Indian currency's slide slide (noun) – fall, decline, tumble/sink. Hindu Editorial usage :   Rupee rout: on the Indian currency's slide trade deficit (noun) – a trade deficit (a deficit in the balance of trade) occurs when the value of a country’s imports exceeds that of its exports. It is also called a trade gap. Hindu Editorial usage :   Slide of the currency and a widening trade deficit present the RBI with a huge dilemma dilemma (noun) – difficulty, problem, conundrum. Hindu Editorial usage :   Slide of the currency and a widening trade deficit present the RBI with a huge dilemma grapple with (phrasal verb) – tackle with, face, deal with (a difficulty). Hindu Editorial usage :   India’s macroeconomic threats lie exposed as it grapples wit...