DIPLOMATIC NOTEBOOK: Facing up to the Myanmar challenge
India’s heart may be with Aung San Suu Kyi and the struggle for democracy but its head knows there’s no alternative to dealing with the military. Is there a middle … Continue reading
Dictatorship by cartography, geometry
Vast and empty, Burma’s new capital will not fall to an urban upheaval easily… A photofeature in Himal magazine February 2007Himal Southasian Dictatorship by cartographySiddharth Varadarajan Vast and empty, Burma’s … Continue reading
India struggles to steer its own course on foreign policy
India and U.S. are ‘partners’ whose interests often diverge 26 January 2007International Herald Tribune News Analysis: India struggles to steer its own course on foreign policyIndia and U.S. are ‘partners’ … Continue reading
Nay Pyi Taw – A photo album
These are, I believe, the first photographs of Myanmar’s new capital, Nay Pyi Taw (also spelt as Naypyi taw or Naypyidaw) to be published anywhere on the web. Most of … Continue reading
India to supply military equipment to Myanmar
We are willing to expand ambit of military cooperation between two countries, says Pranab Mukherjee in a major Indian policy shift. 22 January 2007The Hindu India to supply military equipment … Continue reading
Myanmar will sell India gas "only if reserves permit"
India has agreed to sell weapons to Myanmar’s military rulers. But it is still not clear whether it will get gas in return. 22 January 2007The Hindu “Gas for India … Continue reading
In Myanmar’s phantom capital, a city slowly takes shape
But Naypyitaw is a city with a difference, its geometry so incredibly vast that even a crowd of half a million is unlikely to pose a political threat. In Myanmar’s … Continue reading
India not interested in exporting ideology: Pranab
Democracy, human rights are Myanmar’s internal affair, says the External Affairs minister. 20 January 2007The Hindu India not interested in exporting ideology: Pranab Siddharth Varadarajan Yangon: Barely days after an … Continue reading
Inside Myanmar IV: Remembrance of things past
21 January 2005The Hindu> Inside Myanmar – IV Relics of the past abound here By Siddharth Varadarajan YANGON, JAN. 20. The Burmese capital is where Bahadur Shah Zafar — the … Continue reading
Inside Myanmar III: Censor’s pen makes it difficult to read between the lines
20 January 2005The Hindu Inside Myanmar – III Censor’s pen makes it difficult to read between the linesYangon: In the 1949 film, Patanga, Shamshad Begun sang wistfully about waiting for … Continue reading
Inside Myanmar II: Distant neighbours warm to each other, but slowly
19 January 2005The Hindu Inside Myanmar – II Distant neighbours warm up to each other, but slowly By Siddharth Varadarajan Yangon: When the Government of India took a major policy … Continue reading
Inside Myanmar I: India, China vie for energy, influence
January 17, 2001The Hindu Inside Myanmar- I India, China vie for energy, influence By Siddharth Varadarajan Sittwe: Dressed in an orange jumpsuit with calf-length boots and the salt-and-pepper mane of … Continue reading
Siddharth Varadarajan 