COLUMNIST: SAURAV JHA
The Estranged Analyst
Saurav Jha studied economics at Presidency College in Calcutta and Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India. He researches and writes on global energy issues and is passionate about clean energy development in Asia. His first book for Harper Collins India, "The Upside Down Book of Nuclear Power," is due for publication in January, 2010. He is currently writing a Tom Clancyish techno-thriller; defence and military history are his other great loves. He also works as an independent consultant in the energy sector in India.
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December 30, 2009Kolkata, India — The United Arab Emirates’ US$40 billion deal with South Korea to build and operate four nuclear power plants in the UAE serves to underline how even hydrocarbon rich states are embracing nuclear power in a big way. The Korean victory surprised many, beating French and U.S.-Japanese competitors.
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December 03, 2009Kolkata, India — Reports of a nuclear leak at the Kaiga nuclear power plant in the Indian state of Karnataka on Nov. 24 were misleading, as there was no radioactive release. Instead, a water cooler was contaminated by an insider who poured heavy water into it, affecting 50 employees who drank the water.
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November 17, 2009Kolkata, India — Reports suggest that U.S. President Barack Obama is likely to adopt a “neutral” stand on issues such as the Indo-China border dispute during his China visit. Indian officials are concerned over what they see as a climb down in U.S. commitment to the Indo-U.S. strategic alignment.
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November 03, 2009Kolkata, India — Indian strategic planners often talk about the country’s area of privileged interests extending from the Persian Gulf to the Strait of Malacca. India sources most of its oil from the potentially unstable Persian Gulf region, and so has been raising its military profile there.
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October 20, 2009Kolkata, India — India and the United States are conducting two ongoing joint military exercises in India this month. Apart from sharing expertise, the exercises also serve as a venue for the United States to showcase its defense technology to Indians looking to diversify their sources of military equipment.
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October 07, 2009Kolkata, India — Asia is witnessing a new game of swords and shields, which is taking players to ocean depths as well as outer space. China and India have taken the lead in this, with Japan seriously contemplating deploying systems it has been developing. The focus is on anti-access strategies and nuclear deterrence.
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September 29, 2009Kolkata, India — India last conducted underground nuclear tests in 1998. But the country’s strategic community continues to witness periodic fissions of its own, with the latest initiated by noted scientist K. Santhanam, who has questioned the capacity of India’s thermonuclear bombs.
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September 22, 2009Kolkata, India — Food prices in India have risen by 20 to 40 percent, yet newspapers are reporting that the economy is witnessing negative to low inflation. “Headline inflation” does not measure the impact of prices on consumers, and will do so even less after forthcoming changes in the way the indicator is determined.
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September 15, 2009Kolkata, India — The detention of a United Arab Emirates Air Force plane by Indian authorities at Kolkata airport on Sept. 6 has created another ripple in Sino-Indian relations as well as embarrassed the UAE. The aircraft, bound for China, was found to be carrying weapons that had not been declared to customs officials.
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September 10, 2009Kolkata, India — India has of late been significantly expanding its naval capabilities beyond the pale of maritime security. Its naval buildup is designed to give it significant leverage over its traditional foes and cement its position as an emergent player on the global stage.
