<table> <tbody> <tr> <td>The author retired from the IAS in December 2010. A keen environmentalist and trekker he has published a book on high altitude trekking in the Himachal Himalayas: THE TRAILS LESS TRAVELLED. His second book- SPECTRE OF CHOOR DHAR is a collection of short stories based in Himachal that was published in July 2019. His third book was released in August 2020: POLYTICKS, DEMOCKRAZY AND MUMBO JUMBO is a compilation of satirical and humorous articles on the state of our nation. His fourth book was published in July 2021. INDIA: THE WASTED YEARS - chronicles all the missed opportunities in the last nine years. His fifth book - THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER'S DOG AND OTHER COLLEAGUES - released in September 2023, portrays the lighter side of life in the IAS and in Himachal. He published his sixth book, DISAPPEARING DEMOCRACY-DISMANTLING OF A NATION in March 2024; it is a commentary on events from 2021 to the present, a sequel to THE WASTED YEARS. Shukla writes for various publications and websites on the environment, governance and social issues. He divides his time between Delhi and his cottage in a small village above Shimla. He blogs at <a href="http://avayshukla.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://avayshukla.blogspot.com&source=gmail&ust=1736664371498000&usg=AOvVaw3o_LPdYzXi-iEODoei4RXj">avayshukla.blogspot.com</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
The central government has refused to talk to anyone in Kashmir. It has arrogantly treated the separatists like lepers, and even called off talks with Pakistan on this churlish issue, forgetting that far wiser statesmen from their own party like Vajpayee and Advani had engaged with them.
Lord Chilcot’s report just stops short of stating that Tony Blair has blood on his hands – Muslim and Christian.
I am a fairly obtuse but stubborn 65 year old. I’ve had a dumb (as opposed to ” smart”) cell phone for the last…
A healthy democracy needs a strong ruling party to govern; equally, it needs a strong opposition to keep a check on the government
The last few days of the Brexit drama should be a revealing experience for thinking Indians who care for the quality of our polity,…
New crop of private hospitals and nursing homes are like Dante’s Hell: “Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter Here.”
Mathura incident occurred because the district administration had completely abdicated its role and authority over Jawahar Park to a rag tag bunch of land grabbers masquerading as a loony sect.
Strange indeed are the ways of God, and stranger are the ways of governments…….
Bushahr state, a tiny principality in earlier times, has finally achieved what Mr. Virbhadra Singh’s ancestors could never do: it has staged a coup and conquered the whole of Himachal Pradesh ! Mr. Singh’s satraps rule everywhere.
If we are to go by the CBSE’s just released results for the 10+2 exams we have nothing to worry about- India is a…