Derek O’Brien

Derek O’Brien writes| Gender identity, now to be decided by the stateSign In to read

March 27,2026 06:12:31 AM

At a moment when representation is inching forward, amendments to theTrans Act, rushed through Parliament, push in the opposite direction

Opposition is using every instrument to protect institutionsSubscriber Only

March 13,2026 06:27:24 AM

In the last 75 years, India has had 25 Chief Election Commissioners. Neither House of Parliament has ever brought a removal motion against the CEC

Derek O’Brien writes: In its outreach to Bohra Muslims, BJP’s subtle divide-and-rule strategySubscriber Only

February 27,2026 07:16:35 AM

That the BJP may have involved itself in the community’s internal functioning in trade for support on the Waqf Act is part of a subtle divide-and-rule strategy. Unlike the unabashed display of bigotry, bias and prejudice against minorities, this tactic is slightly more covert

Derek O’Brien writes | Years after MeToo, a silence, broken briefly, can be heard againSubscriber Only

February 13,2026 06:47:10 AM

Entrenched patriarchal mores are the reason for the conspicuous absence of genuine outrage against those accused in the MeToo movement. Instead of anger, anguish or indignation, there is a certain smirking complicity, a nudge-nudge wink-wink acceptance, a sly laughing brush-off, as if incidents of assault are nothing more than a locker-room joke

Derek O’Brien writes: When the law fails women, violence fills the gapSubscriber Only

January 30,2026 07:33:02 AM

So long as consent remains conditional in law, justice for women will remain conditional in reality, in direct defiance of the Constitution’s promise of dignity, equality, and personal liberty

Derek O’Brien writes: Fake news, deepfakes and influencers — welcome to elections 2026Subscriber Only

January 16,2026 07:17:51 AM

Some thoughts on the intersection of media and politics from an ever-eager student of both

Christmas was a day of festivity — and fearSubscriber Only

January 02,2026 07:10:27 AM

No, this is not the Christmas we know. Harassing those earning a living selling Santa Claus caps on the roadside. Beating up those wearing them. Tearing down Christmas trees in malls. Ransacking decorations put up for the New Year. Threatening a congregation as they worship

Derek O’Brien writes: Notes from a very short Parliament sessionSubscriber Only

December 19,2025 06:55:48 AM

It was heartening to see J P Nadda, the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, ‘yield’ twice during his speech to allow an Opposition MP to intervene

Stifling autonomy, one institute at a timeSubscriber Only

December 06,2025 07:41:38 AM

ISI’s strength has always been its independence: An environment where statisticians, economists, and mathematical thinkers could work free of bureaucratic interference. That is now under serious threat

Parliament is the people’s voice. On EC, government is gagging itSubscriber Only

November 21,2025 07:27:13 AM

There are multiple precedents of the ECI being discussed on the floor of Parliament. I can cite more than half a dozen examples. Here are just three

Five men who sold us dreamsSubscriber Only

November 07,2025 07:12:42 AM

There were other advertising greats. The only reason they do not feature in the list above is because I did not know them personally: Alyque Padamsee, Subhas Ghosal, Gerson da Cunha… and many more. To all of them: May you Rest In Perfection (RIP).

Derek O’Brien writes: Number of public-sector vacancies is alarming. Can the government do something about them?Subscriber Only

October 24,2025 06:41:22 AM

From teachers and doctors to scientists and security personnel, staffing shortages have spared no sector. This has precipitated not just a jobs crisis but also a gaping governance deficit.

India is staring at one of its biggest crises: Unemployment of the educatedSubscriber Only

October 10,2025 08:35:38 AM

In 2024, over 46,000 graduates and postgraduates applied for jobs to be contractual sanitation workers in Haryana.

Derek O’Brien writes: Books will survive the AI invasion, if their fate is in the hands of womenSubscriber Only

September 26,2025 07:11:36 AM

If women stopped reading, the book market would collapse overnight. And if women are reading, why are we not talking enough about women who write?

Derek O’Brien writes: From Arun Jaitley to Sushma Swaraj, what my rivals have taught meSubscriber Only

September 12,2025 07:00:51 AM

In my three terms as a student in the university called Parliament, this kind of learning has been an enormously educative experience

Dear Union government, let Parliament functionSubscriber Only

August 29,2025 06:52:13 AM

Rushing bills and rejecting discussions on issues of national importance have become the norm.

Derek O’Brien writes: 79 suggestions for the Union government on 79th I-DaySubscriber Only

August 15,2025 06:49:45 AM

These cut across health, education and law among other spheres. For one, withdraw the SIR exercise in Bihar

Derek O’Brien writes: 8 suggestions for the Vice President of India — whoever that may beSubscriber Only

August 01,2025 07:27:45 AM

Raising a Point of Order is a legitimate parliamentary tactic. The Chair cannot, and must not, look away

Question Hour is one of the few tools still available to hold this government accountableSubscriber Only

July 18,2025 07:11:57 AM

Here are 12 questions asked in the Budget Session of Parliament, 2025. Each answer from the government tells a story

Derek O’Brien writes: Two quizmasters, on the factsSubscriber Only

July 04,2025 06:49:19 AM

Facts are important. The need today is also to train people to sift out misinformation and propaganda

Derek O’Brien writes: Unseeing the NortheastSubscriber Only

June 20,2025 07:58:22 AM

Coverage of Meghalaya honeymoon case, Modi government’s attitude to Northeast is proof of continuing discrimination

Derek O’Brien writes: Cagey in the HouseSubscriber Only

June 06,2025 06:53:15 AM

Centre's skittishness about calling a Special Session is of a piece with its attitude to parliamentary precedents and principles

Derek O’Brien writes: A quizmaster’s tribute to the Indian Armed ForcesSubscriber Only

May 23,2025 06:55:15 AM

Name the Operation launched by the Army and the IAF on 13 April 1984 to establish full control over the Siachen Glacier. And other questions.

Derek O’Brien writes: With child labour, law is not the problem — enforcement isSubscriber Only

May 09,2025 07:31:00 AM

Sectors that require urgent attention to address the worst forms of child labour include the production of matches and fireworks, glass, and leather products, as well as work in brick kilns, coal mines, and construction, among others

Derek O’Brien writes: He was my PopeSubscriber Only

April 25,2025 07:10:10 AM

Pope Francis had qualities that made me — made us — want to identify with him