Derek O Brien – Author, NDTV.com

Opinion | India Is Failing Its Young. But Happy Children's Day, I Guess

Derek O'Brien | Thursday November 14, 2024

To support her family, Sulekha has been forced to drop out of school. One in every five students is compelled to do so.

Opinion | Big Poll Promises From Maharashtra To Michigan - But Where Are The Jobs?

Derek O'Brien | Monday November 04, 2024

Eight thousand miles away, across an ocean, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have desperately tried to woo youth and women before election day.

Opinion | Trump To Bolsonaro To Many More, The Death Of Decency In Politics

Derek O'Brien | Monday October 28, 2024

Last year, an MP from the ruling dispensation used communal slurs on the floor of Parliament. The Home Minister, in 2018, termed illegal immigrants as 'termites'.

Opinion | When Will Centre Understand That India's Malnutrition Problem Is Real?

Derek O'Brien | Monday October 07, 2024

Uttar Pradesh tops the list in zero-food children. Madhya Pradesh allocates a meagre Rs 12 daily to tackle malnutrition. An elderly disabled woman crawls in Odisha to collect her pension and rations.

Opinion | One Nation One Election (ONOE) Is Oh Noe!

Derek O'Brien | Friday September 20, 2024

Under Article 368(2) of the Constitution of India, ratification by not less than half of the states will be required to carry out amendments to Article 324A to facilitate simultaneous elections of Panchayats and Municipalities.

Opinion | 12 New Opposition MPs India Should Watch Out For - Part 2

Derek O'Brien | Monday September 09, 2024

This is the second part of a two-part column: 12 new MPs in the Opposition to watch out for. In the first part, Derek O'Brien wrote about six of the 446 new MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Opinion | 12 New MPs To Watch Out For - By Derek O'Brien

Derek O'Brien | Monday September 02, 2024

Of the 543 MPs in Lok Sabha, 280 are spanking new - into their first few months as Members of Parliament.

Opinion | Here's To Tribals And Their Endless Fight For <i>Jal, Jungle, Zameen</i>

Opinion | Here's To Tribals And Their Endless Fight For Jal, Jungle, Zameen

Derek O'Brien | Friday August 09, 2024

As the world observes International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Adivasi communities in Hasdeo, Singrauli, Talabira, Gare Pelma, Chhindwara, and elsewhere are resisting the takeover of their jal, jangal, and zameen.

Opinion | The 12-Letter Word Giving The Government Sleepless Nights

Derek O'Brien | Monday July 29, 2024

A recurring theme in many of the powerful interventions on the Budget was a 12-letter word giving Modi and his coalition sleepless Delhi nights: unemployment.

Opinion | Amitabh Bachchan To Suchitra Sen, Derek O'Brien's Favourite Reel Politicians

Derek O'Brien | Friday July 12, 2024

Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien lists his top politician characters from Indian films.

Opinion | Here's An Unlikely Combination: Narendra Modi and Billy Joel

Derek O'Brien | Friday June 28, 2024

The verdict after India Elections 2024 is that the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha must not be allowed to be turned into a deep, dark chamber. Turn the Lights Back On.

Opinion | Bengal Has Lessons For India In Sending More Women To Parliament

Derek O'Brien | Tuesday June 18, 2024

India ranks 145 out of 185 countries in terms of women's representation in the lower house of parliaments.

Opinion | My Home Is The Nation - Notes From A 12-Year-Old On Vote 2024

Derek O'Brien | Thursday May 30, 2024

"When the TV is switched on, there are angry people shouting at each other. I want this Vote 2024 to end."

Opinion | Know Your Alphabet: A Random A-Z List For 2024 Lok Sabha Polls

Derek O'Brien | Friday May 17, 2024

'A' is for appointments, namely, the new rules for selecting Election Commissioners; 'B' is for Brij Bhushan Singh; and 'C', for Constitution.

Opinion | Labour Day: Remembering A Four-Letter Word Missing In BJP's Campaign

Derek O'Brien | Wednesday May 01, 2024

A pre-poll survey by a prominent think-tank revealed that three out of five respondents believe unemployment is the single most important election issue.

OPINION