By Sidharth Mishra

The turn of events in Bihar last week, which saw reinstallation of Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister, albeit with the support of the BJP, could not have come at a better time. The state, after having fought and overcome the ills of 15-year-long Rabri-Lalu Raj, was again slipping back into what has been called the era of “Jungle Raj”.Without going into the merits of the charge brought against Nitish Kumar of being politically dishonest towards LaluYadav and family, as somebody whose interest lies in the progress of the state, release of Nitish Kumar from RashtriyaJanata Dal’s cobweb for your reporter is good news.The separation of Nitish Kumar from LaluYadav, should also bring good tidings for erstwhile Prime Minister AtalBihari Vajpayee, who mentored him in his early days after he broke away from Janata Dal with George Fernandes; and the two together formed the Samata Party. George and Kumar became vital clogs in the formation of NDA I governments led by Vajpayee in 1990s.

By Sidharth Mishra

As the events have unfolded, the 'resignation' of Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati from Parliament last week, hours after storming out of the Rajya Sabha over not being allowed time to complete her speech on alleged Dalit atrocities in Uttar Pradesh, has proved to be a drama albeit with an anti-climax. Anti-climax because the BSP leader was forced to 'resubmit' her resignation as people strongly came to believe that Mayawati chose to 'resign' to survive the political crisis she was facing. With media starting a discussion on her resignation may just be red-herring as she had not submitted the quit papers in proper format, the BSP leader, to overcome any embarrassment, decided to resubmit her papers and force its acceptance.

By Sidharth Mishra

The 'maid raid' in Sector 78 Noida last week, where domestic helps laid siege to an upmarket housing complex, brought rushing back memories of similar incidents which I have encountered in a nearly quarter-of-a-century-long career as a reporter. The first memory is a rather hilarious one. There was to be a slum camp in Kusumpur Pahadi in South-West district of Delhi close to Vasant Vihar. During one of the demolition drives, the Pahadi residents were shifted to a rehabilitation colony quite far away. I recall a reporter coming with an amusing story the very next day. The bungalows in Vasant Vihar went without cleaning and stoves in the kitchens did not burn as all the maids and cooks had been carted away in the demolition drive. News reports the day after the Noida incident mentioned that the apartments decided to put off their kitchen fire but not let the maids in until those guilty of violence were identified.

 By Sidharth Mishra

Scholarly research is all about citations. But do citations tell the correct story? Not always, especially when it pertains to the political history of the country. Like the official records of the 14 elections held for the post of the President of India, in their bare form would seldom reveal the politics which went behind the choice of a particular candidate. Same would be true for the election of the 15th president. In the case of the election of the 13th President, then Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had preferred Congress candidate Pranab Mukherjee over Opposition's choice PA Sangma. What was the real story of several who practiced politics of anti-Congressism deciding to go with the candidature of Pranab Mukherjee, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee?

Sangma was not the first "beef-eating" Christian from Meghalaya whom the BJP has taken a liking for. In 1991, GG Swell had contested as the Opposition candidate against the Congress nominee Shankar Dayal Sharma in the presidential race. However, unlike in the case of Swell, Sangma's name was not directly floated by the BJP.

 By Sidharth Mishra

Your reporter's acquaintances teaching on the various campuses tell him that he doesn't have the requisite credentials to be part of the intelligentsia. His observations on matters of interest are dismissed by intellectuals to be that of a journalist's superficial views. Well, they are a journalist's views. Having essentially been trained as a grassroots reporter the observations may be lacking in nuance but certainly not in honesty. The training to question an incident and seek an answer for the same is the ultimate test of a reporter's skill; lack of fieldwork is the ultimate testimony of an academician's intelligence in this country. Like there is this question – why is there such a hue and cry in the valley; and its cantankerous resonance in the corridors of the intelligentsia. Well, your reporter hasn't found an answer to it all these years, and theorems held forward by the likes of Partha Chatterjee are all bogus.

By Sidharth Mishra

Historian and political theorist Partha Chatterjee cannot be expected to applaud the efforts of Government of India, which is led by the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party. The portal, which published his article, is known for following an editorial policy promoting the dismemberment of the Indian state. The article, "In Kashmir, India Is Witnessing Its General Dyer Moment" was a product for a perfect stage for a protagonist wedded to a particular ideology.