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The Wire
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Wire
In Photos: Vietnam and Its Politics Today
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Top Stories In Photos: Vietnam and Its Politics Today Shome Basu 41 minutes ago Today, the modern Hanoi carries a sense of discipline. Priority is given to farmers and workers, holding firm to the bastion of Marx's economic policies. Photo: Shome Basu. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now Growing up in Calcutta, I remember the slogans: 'Amar Naam, Tomar Naam – Vietnam (your name, my name, Vietnam).' The Communist regime in Calcutta cleverly renamed the street where the US Consulate is located 'Ho Chi Minh Sarani'. This has remained unchanged by the subsequent government. Ho Chi Minh is seen as a victim of American supremacy – something some Bengalis can relate to – and as a rebellious leader from Asia who could take on the West. Fifty years is a long time, but not long enough to forget. Sun, a communist and an ardent party worker in Hanoi, told me, 'We call it an American war. Vietnam fought for its defence.' The city is always bathed in red in the evenings, as communist symbolism decks the streets. With nearly 3.7 million deaths over 20 years, American exploits took a toll on both sides during the infamous war. The driving force was the US's fear of communism. But surprisingly, one sees many American tourists, and cafés displaying American brands and music. Sun said, 'We forgave but never forgot.' Today, as business booms and Vietnam becomes a market for the world, it still struggles with China over the South China Sea and, more recently, Trump's tariffs – since the country's economy is heavily based on US exports and forms part of the global supply chain economy. The shadow of communism, with imagery involving Uncle Ho (Ho Chi Minh) and Lenin, is still seen and felt. Today, the modern city carries a sense of discipline, with speed limits on highways and priority given to farmers and workers, holding firm to the bastion of Marx's economic policies. My images are a showcase of what modern Vietnam looks like today – especially the capital, Hanoi, and the rural areas that dominate its largely captive economy. The rice fields alone are enough to understand how the US Army lost the war. It is impossible to fight in the sultry weather, through vast swaths of rice fields, with snakes and inhospitable rains, conditions only the Viet Cong could endure, trapping numerous American GIs to their deaths. Today, the city reflects its past, but its modern look may cause one to forget that seventy years ago, a war began that only ended in 1975—creating the space to shape a modern Vietnam. All photos by Shome Basu. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News The Vanquished West: 50 Years After the End of Vietnam War, a Memoir of Resistance by the Global South Vietnam War 50 Years On: How It Changed Perception of War The Many Meanings of Vietnam China, Vietnam Sign Dozens of Deals Amidst Trump's Tariff Threats By Declaring Economic World War, Trump is Pursuing an Imperial Expansion Strategy Bangladesh Cites Violation Of International Law After Mob Vandalises Diplomatic Mission in Agartala New Refugee Shelter in Austria Set on Fire as Support For Far Right Grows Toxic VX Nerve Agent Used To Murder Kim Jong Nam, Says Malaysia How the Pentagon Tried to Cure the US of Its 'Vietnam Syndrome' About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
The Wire
12-05-2025
- The Wire
In Photos: A Weary Lake in Srinagar
Two girls cross the Dal Lake in Srinagar. Photo: Shome Basu. The Dal Lake in Kashmir's Srinagar is more than a natural marvel, it is a site of paradise itself. For centuries, poets have described its beauty, framed by the majestic Zabarwan Mountains. Conflict has now taken centre stage. The valley has witnessed unimaginable violence, with countless lives lost, and now new political turmoil continues. Still, the lake remains, a shimmering body of water along the picturesque Boulevard Road, bearing silent testimony to the time that passes. In recent years, reports have noted how the Dal Lake has fallen into distress. Pollution chokes its shallow waters which are overgrown with weeds. The lake is dotted with houseboats and shikaras (small wooden boats) that still aim to give tourists a taste of its former glory. But careless and insensitive behaviour – littering with cola cans, plastic bottles, and food wrappers – has marred its beauty. Years of neglect and the absence of strict enforcement have clogged the lake, threatening the lotus plants that once thrived in it. Although a law has been introduced to fine violators, enforcement remains weak. Today, the Dal Lake which was once synonymous with Kashmir, struggles to maintain its identity. Militancy too has cast a dark shadow. Blasts have rocked the lake's shores, and in 2013, the murder of Sarah Elizabeth, a Dutch tourist on a houseboat, left a scar on its history. More recently, tensions between India and Pakistan, especially after the Pahalgam massacre in which 26 civilians were killed, have brought fresh instability. Retaliatory strikes, drone incursions, and air skirmishes have stirred fears once again. Tourism has come to a halt. Altaf Chapri, owner of the houseboat called 'Sukoon' (meaning 'peace'), told The Wire: 'The recent conflict has cast a heavy shadow over this delicate ecosystem. The people of the lake including houseboat owners, shikara-wallahs, artisans, and farmers, who have long stood as ambassadors of peace and warmth, now find themselves pushed to the edge again. For many, the months of May and June are not just seasons, they're lifelines. It's during these weeks that most of the year's sustenance is earned.' Chapri, whose father witnessed years of conflict and who himself grew up during Kashmir's most violent years, adds: 'What makes it all the more heartbreaking is that I know people who've poured their savings, their borrowed hopes, and their silent prayers into preparing for this season. Loans taken on high interest, houseboats lovingly restored, shikaras painted anew – all in anticipation of guests who may never arrive. There's pain in these waters, yes, but also resilience.' The spirit of Dal Lake is not easily broken. Love for the land and for those who visit it endures. Javed Dar, a boatman who has been rowing for over 40 years, believes Kashmiri hospitality will bring back the tourists. 'I've seen the valley in its worst days,' he says. 'This feels like a temporary phase. Things will get better.' My photographs are a visual chronicle of this weary lake, scarred by conflict and strangled by pollution. Even in its tired state, Dal continues to reflect both suffering and strength. All photographs are by Shome Basu.
