my diary

PATNA: The Churches of Danapur Cantonment have stood as silent sentinels for over two centuries. They have been silent witness to the most turbulent times in the Indian history. St Luke Church and St Stephen Church were built in the mid 18th century at Danapur Cantonment located at a distance of about 10 km away from Patna. They have virtually weathered the onslaught of time ever since. The forces of three allies -- Mir Qasim of Bengal, Nawab of Oudh Shuja-ud-Daulahand Shah Alam -- were decimated in the decisive battle of 1764. Thus the right of Diwan of Bengal, Orissa and Bihar fell on the British East India Company. To meet the challenges of time, the Britishers had raised six regiments at Danapur during 1756 to 1825. Since a good number of British officers owing allegiance to the Church of England had come to Danapur, establishment of a church became inevitable. According to Father Philip Manthra, St Luke Church is one of the oldest churches in Bihar spread over an ar...

The Centre’s proposal to make instant triple talaq an offence punishable with three-year imprisonment and a fine is an unnecessary attempt to convert a civil wrong into a criminal act. By a three-two majority, the Supreme Court has already declared, and correctly, that the practice of talaq-e-biddat, or instant divorce of a Muslim woman by uttering the word ‘talaq’ thrice, is illegal and unenforceable. While two judges in the majority said the practice was arbitrary and, therefore, unconstitutional, the third judge ruled that it was illegal because it was contrary to Islamic tenets. Its consequence is that the husband’s marital obligations remain, regardless of his intention in pronouncing it. When Parliament enacts a law to give effect to the judicial invalidation of talaq-e-biddat, it must primarily ensure protection to Muslim women against its use. Although the details are not yet available, the proposed Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, appears to have...