On Sunday, January 7, the New York Times ran a front page story titled "Rising Anxiety in India is Piercing Modi's Aura of Invincibility". The article discussed the decline in GDP, consumption and consumer confidence and its impact on India and Indians. A little more than two weeks later, on January 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the opening address at the Davos World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland. In that address, he declared: "According to the World Bank and … [Read more...]
Articles
Frank blogs regularly for the Huffington Post and writes occasional columns and articles for publications such as the International Business Times and The Economic Times of India.
Frank writes on a wide variety of topics that are critical to shaping the future of America and the American dream and to making the United States and the world a better place. These include: Business; education; poverty and inequality; politics and public policy; immigration; manufacturing; innovation; leadership; citizenship; and social commentary.
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The Smoke and Mirrors Infrastructure Plan
It was less than one month ago on February 12, that President Trump introduced his American Infrastructure Initiative. Since then, the President has had very little to say about infrastructure as his attention has turned to other matters such as gun control, tariffs, and immigration. Congress has not paid much attention to Trump’s infrastructure recommendations either as it has been consumed by a myriad of other issues. Indeed, in late February when Senator John … [Read more...]
Why are Parkland Students So Articulate? Because They Were Taught Civics in Middle School
Students in Florida have benefitted from the country’s most successful effort to teach civic knowledge and engagement. The slaughter of 17 students and adults at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14 was, as we all know, only the latest in a seemingly endless string of recent mass shootings in America. But as many have noted, there is something different about this one. After past shootings, it was primarily adults—parents of slain … [Read more...]
Article sponsored by Frank Islam Foundation in Economic Times on A disabled woman’s fight for accessibility
BENGALURU: Never give up -- these were the simple yet profound words that kept Virali Modi, 26, fighting on after a deadly bout of malaria had her comatose for weeks and left her paraplegic and wheelchair-bound at the age of 14. In coma for 23 days, she miraculously opened her eyes on the day the doctors decided to remove her life-support and has not stopped since then, fighting for her rights -- and those of other disabled people. Manhandled and groped by railway porters when … [Read more...]
The Problem: American Democracy Is In Decline
The Solution: A Comprehensive Civic Learning and Engagement Intervention Beginning in Middle School. Our American democracy is in decline. The evidence to support this sad conclusion abounds. Freedom House is the authoritative source for examining and evaluating democracies world-wide. In its annual report titled Freedom in the World 2018released in January of this year, it noted that the United States aggregate Freedom score rating on a scale of 0–100 went from 95 in 2010 to 86 in … [Read more...]
The emerging India-U.S. Role Reversal in World Leadership
For the last half of the 20th century, the United States was the world's beacon for democracy and economic development and India was a laggard. These roles are reversing as the end of the second decade of the 21st century approaches. India is becoming a beacon and the US is becoming a flashlight. In large part, this is a consequence of leadership. India has a leader in Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is pursuing the future. The US has a leader in Donald Trump who is … [Read more...]
Indian journalist selected fellow for AFPP programme
Hindustan Times journalist Gulam Jeelani has been selected 2018 fellow for the prestigious Alfred Friendly Press Partners (AFPP) programme, a media announcement said on Tuesday. Jeelani is among the seven journalists from around the world selected for the six-month-long Alfred Friendly fellowship programme in the US. The fellowship includes training at the prestigious Missouri School of Journalism and working for a major US news organisation. Six other journalists are from … [Read more...]
Article in India Abroad on Frank Islam speech on India Republic day speech
Kachchrapur to Safaipur: The magical transformation of a historic Delhi neighbourhood
New Delhi, Feb 4 : Ten-year-old Chandni, living in the predominantly Muslim settlement of Hazrat Nizamuddin that grew around a venerated Sufi shrine, excitedly talks about the makeover of her once filthy neighbourhood that used to be disparagingly called "Kachrapur" (Garbageville) by outsiders. Along the southern edge of the slum quarters, with their tumbledown, uncemented brick houses, there was an open drain called Barapullah Nallah, originally a tributary of the Yamuna, that ran … [Read more...]
Frank Islam Remarks at the National Press Club
National Press Club – JFK Legacy Conversation Introductions BY Frank F. Islam Thank you for that kind introduction It is my distinct pleasure and privilege this evening to introduce our presenters for this evening Kenneth Feinberg and Steven Rothstein. Before doing so, let me make a brief comment. We are here tonight to discuss the legacy of John F. Kennedy. I am part of that legacy – an immigrant to the United States who grew up as a youth in India with John F. Kennedy as my hero … [Read more...]