What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1 : Express View on Indians’ deported by Trump: Journey’s end

• Deportation of illegal migrants, including Indians, is not a new phenomenon.
• Every year, hundreds of Indians are sent back for being in the US illegally.

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the issue in Parliament.
• His task was challenging due to increasing political pressures in both India and the US.
• Foreign policy is being influenced by performative patriotism.

• 104 Indians were deported from the US on a military aircraft.
• They were restrained and shackled, which was disturbing but part of standard ICE procedure since 2012.

• While sympathy for deportees is natural, their situation highlights broader global inequalities.
• Addressing these inequalities requires deeper conversations rather than political rhetoric.

• No nation allows unrestricted immigration; illegal immigration has been a key US political issue for decades.
• Donald Trump has been particularly vocal about it, often with racial undertones.
• The recent deportation spectacle aligns with Trump’s political strategy to appease his voter base.
• However, similar deportations have occurred under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

• Migration is only one aspect of India-US ties.
• Other key issues include protectionism, tariffs, and trade barriers, affecting bilateral relations.

Conclusion

Deportations, though distressing, are a longstanding reality in US immigration policy. While their political and humanitarian implications must be acknowledged, they should not overshadow broader India-US relations. Addressing global inequalities and immigration challenges requires constructive engagement rather than political point-scoring.

Editorial 2 : The Third Edit: A publisher plans to ditch book blurbs. It’s about time

• The concept of the book blurb began with Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass (1856).
• A private endorsement by Ralph Waldo Emerson—“I greet you at the beginning of a great career”—was used without his consent.
• This marked the beginning of blurbs as marketing tools rather than organic literary praise.

• The term blurb was coined in 1907 by American satirist Gelett Burgess.
• Initially referred to exaggerated, often insincere praise used for promotional purposes.
• Over time, blurbs became an industry standard, sometimes more about networking than genuine literary merit.

• Sean Manning, publisher at Simon & Schuster’s flagship imprint, has spoken against the practice.
• Argues that blurbs create an “incestuous and unmeritocratic literary ecosystem.”
• Believes they reward connections over talent, fostering a culture of obligation and favoritism.

• Often function as a quid pro quo arrangement between established writers, publishers, and industry insiders.
• Create opaque power structures and insular literary cliques.
• Favoritism in blurbing undermines genuine literary evaluation.

Conclusion

While book blurbs started as organic endorsements, they have evolved into marketing tools driven by networking rather than merit. Critics argue that they perpetuate exclusivity in publishing. Manning’s move to eliminate mandatory blurbs is an attempt to break away from these entrenched practices, but whether the industry follows suit remains to be seen.