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...]
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 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...]
National Infrastructure Initiative: Is It An Idea Whose Time Has Come?
Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” — Victor Hugo It is reported that President Trump will announce a $1.7 trillion infrastructure package in his State of the Union address on January 30. The idea for a national infrastructure initiative of some type has been around for some time. The question in 2018 is it an idea whose time has come? The odds against that being so appear relatively high. That’s not because there isn’t a tremendous need to repair … [Read more...]
India can be a standard-setter for democracy worldwide.
This is written from my adopted homeland of the United States of America to celebrate Republic Day in my motherland of India. It is a love letter to acknowledge the enormous privileges and benefits that I received growing up in India and then maturing in the US -- the two largest democratic republics in the world. Because of that duality, I have come to understand that these two great nation states have travelled somewhat parallel paths constitutionally to become the bulwarks of … [Read more...]
Button, Button, Who’s Got the Button? A New Year’s Lament.
“North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!” This tweet from Donald Trump at the beginning of the New Year brought to mind the very serious concern, “Button, button who’s got the button?” In the childhood guessing game, this is a question to … [Read more...]