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Thursday, August 14, 2025
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Around Town

When ‘Jai Shri Ram’ met ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’—Delhi book launch unpacks India of the past decade

"I reject this notion of Hindu nation. India must forge a new identity," P. Chidambaram said at the launch of Maria Shakil and Narendra Nath Mishra's book 'India on the Move'.

At Desi Oon Festival 2024, shepherds turn designers, weave culture and myth into rugs

The Desi Oon Festival 2024 is an initiative by the Centre of Pastoralism, which works with shepherds to support their livelihoods and preserve traditional practices.

Anand Hi Anand—an event celebrating Dev Anand and brothers is an opportunity half missed

Sohaila Kapur’s engaging reading combined professional highlights with personal anecdotes, but the accompanying visual presentation did not do justice to Dev Anand’s flamboyance.

What links Hampi to Indian movies—wet saris and the Queen’s Bath

Some habits like voyeurism and male gaze cut across cultures and the passage of time. The men in Hampi would lounge in the balconies to catch a glimpse of women in the Queen’s Bath.

John Lennon wrote a song full of expletives called ‘Maharishi’. Then he had to tone it down

At the screening of his documentary, ‘The Beatles and India’, Ajoy Bose showed how the band’s visit to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram helped export Indian classical music to the West.

Science fest platforms rural innovators—new crop varieties, crash-safe vehicles, EV bicycles

The People’s Festival of Innovation brought together over 100 inventors, many from rural India. It proved that there is no age limit on creativity.

Delhi spends an evening romancing the 80s. Prank calls, fan mail, Nirula’s

The launch of Seema Sethi’s coffee table book 'Romancing The 80s: Snapshots From A Cherished Decade' transported the participants back to the old era of Delhi.

Class changes how we see food. Dry fish, rice beer celebrated in restaurants, not at home

Food of economically disadvantaged groups is often ostracised. 'I’ve seen street vendors selling dried fish or fermented soybeans that are treated as though they’re dirty'.

Climate activists diss profit-driven COP29, say socialist action can bring change

‘Climate change is treated as a business opportunity rather than an urgent crisis,’ said environment secretary Leena Nandan at IIC, implicating the richer nations.

Strategic thinkers ignored India’s foreign relations pre-1947. Dhruva Jaishankar fills the gap

Rather than an all-encompassing treatise, Dhruva Jaishankar considers his book, ‘Vishwa Shastra’, a jump-off point for those interested in India’s strategic thinking.

On Camera

Asim Munir wants to be guardian of the Middle East. He’s fated to fail at home

Countering insurgency needs the Pakistan Army to demonstrate a political will that ties leaders at the centre with those in the borderlands. But it may not have the imagination.

Slashing GST on waste can unlock Rs 1.8 lakh crore, high tax hurting circular economy goals—CSE

Centre for Science and Environment in new report makes case for rationalising GST on waste material, saying most informal operators can’t afford high tax & it also hinders recycling.

India, US troops to undertake joint military exercise next month, first after Op Sindoor

21st edition of annual joint military exercise will be held from 1 to 16 September, aimed at sharing military tech, operational best practices & disaster relief coordination methods.

Modi’s ready to risk it all for farmers. Farm reform can answer Trump with new Green Revolution

Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.