All stories by Utkarsh Mishra
'1962 War Broke Nehru'
Rediff.com20 Dec 2022'The war of 1962 exposed the hollow intellectual foundations of Nehruvian foreign policy, especially vis-a-vis China and that is why it was such a shock.'
'Aurangzeb also ordered protection of Varanasi temples'
Rediff.com13 Sep 2022'Aurangzeb supported construction of the Kumarswamy math and the reconstruction of the Kedar temple and supported the Jangambadi math in Banaras.'
Did Nehru write mercy plea to get out of jail?
Rediff.com27 May 2022Social media posts and articles falsely suggest that Jawaharlal Nehru 'signed a bond' or 'used his father's influence' to escape from serving a prison term in Nabha in 1923. Utkarsh Mishra reveals the true story. The first of a series of occasional columns correcting social media's false take on History.
'Beneath Hindutva right-wing's hatred for Nehru lurks a very deep fear'
Rediff.com19 Mar 2022'Under the more strident Modi version of Hindutva, Nehru has almost become a contemporary political figure.' 'The ruling party knows that without total erasure and distortion of Nehru, their fantasies will always be wobbly.'
Bhagat Singh's Advice For Bhagwant Mann
Rediff.com16 Mar 2022As Bhagwant Mann repeatedly invokes Bhagat Singh in his speeches, Utkarsh Mishra picks five takeaways from the legendary revolutionary's thoughts that may help Punjab's new chief minister identity his goals.
When BJP Is In Trouble, Out Comes Hindutva Card
Rediff.com12 Mar 2022Successive elections have demonstrated that the BJP campaign switches towards polarisation when it is faced with palpable discontent among the electorate, notes Utkarsh Mishra.
'Nehru profoundly misunderstood how important religion was in the lives of the people'
Rediff.com26 Jan 2022'Nehru's inability to take religion seriously as a category led to serious errors of judgement in his dealings with the Muslim League, and later, also with the Hindu right.'
Don't Use Netaji To Score Political Points
Rediff.com24 Jan 2022Bose's views make it amply clear how he would have dealt with communal and supremacist forces post-Independence had he been there at the helm instead of Nehru, points out Utkarsh Mishra.
Human Review
Rediff.com14 Jan 2022Human presents an ugly truth -- that some people need to die a painful death in order to facilitate the process of finding a cure for deadly diseases, observes Utkarsh Mishra.
Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story Review
Rediff.com12 Nov 2021Special Ops 1.5 is an interesting start to 'The Himmat Story', notes Utkarsh Mishra.
Jai Bhim review
Rediff.com8 Nov 2021Jai Bhim is a story of hope and despair, observes Utkarsh Mishra.
Why Sardar Udham Is A MUST WATCH
Rediff.com26 Oct 2021Sardar Udham sets a great standard which, Utkarsh Mishra believes, would be emulated by other film-makers who want to make movies of this genre.
When Colin Powell Apologised To Yashwant Sinha
Rediff.com21 Oct 2021'I made it known through diplomatic channels that I was unhappy.' 'So, he called me and tried to explain, but I said this is something that doesn't happen between friends.'
What would Bhagat Singh think of India 2021?
Rediff.com28 Sep 2021'Communalism was the biggest enemy of a free society and Bhagat Singh imagined a future without it. Did we succeed in bringing alive such a future?'
'Why single out Badruddin Ajmal?'
Rediff.com19 Mar 2021'Himanta Biswa Sarma has put a lot of effort in demonising Muslims this time.'
'BJP in Bengal means Borrowed Janata Party'
Rediff.com15 Mar 2021'You don't win elections on the basis of borrowed players.' 'There is a great crisis of leadership for the BJP in Bengal'
'No magic bullet to agriculture reforms'
Rediff.com9 Feb 2021'Agri reforms need to go beyond the limited concerns of these three laws in improving agriculture productivity in cereal and crop diversification and production patterns.'
'A strong, decisive leadership is what India needs'
Rediff.com18 Jan 2021'What matters is meeting the needs and expectations of the people who have voted to provide governance for the country.'
Tandav review
Rediff.com18 Jan 2021A Web series shouldn't be outright unrealistic. Being Bollywoodesque is always suicidal, asserts Utkarsh Mishra.
MUST SEE FILM: Gabhricha Paus
Rediff.com23 Dec 2020At a time when thousands of our farmers are sitting on the roads in bitterly cold December nights, protesting another policy measure that 'tightens the noose around their neck', ironically sold as 'beneficial' for them, it becomes all the more necessary for us to watch Gabhricha Paus to understand their problems better, says Utkarsh Mishra.