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Around Town

A new ‘Train to Pakistan’ play asks—freedom for whom and from what?

The play, based on Khushwant Singh’s novel ‘Train to Pakistan’, is directed by Amar Sah and staged by the Bela Theatre Karwaan group.

New play captures Meena Kumari’s great love affair. It wasn’t Kamal Amrohi

Musical play Chalte Chalte, written and directed by M Sayeed Alam, focuses on Meena Kumari’s final moments.

Play about Bengal Renaissance has an unlikely hero—man who sculpted Bengali typeface

After 20 performances in two years, the play is headed for the 24th edition of the National School of Drama’s upcoming Bharat Rang Mahotsav theatre festival.

Bengal Biennale was long overdue. It fuses Shantiniketan & Kolkata art schools

‘Biennale is such a loaded word. There is a certain expectation and responsibility,’ said festival director Siddharth Sivakumar. He wants to bring back focus on art in West Bengal.

Why West Bengal’s photography didn’t get the same global fame as Bangladesh’s images

In West Bengal, photography flourished as a dynamic art form painting a rich picture of urban life. But in Bangladesh, the 1971 Liberation War was the heart of its photographic story.

Kashmir Shaivism has its own Shastras. ‘It doesn’t accept Upanishads as ultimate truth’

Raj Nehru's new book, ‘I am Shiva’, explores the philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism, offering practical pathways toward attaining universal consciousness.

Is Chennai’s Margazhi Carnatic fest losing sheen? Empty halls, ageing fans, unpaid artists

"We are failing to pay for the performances. Like everything else in Tamil Nadu, Carnatic music is becoming a freebie,” historian V Sriram said.

Five iconic songs by lyricist Shailendra and backstories. Chakke Mein Chakka to Suhana Safar

At the launch of 'Shailendra: A Lyric in Print', author and Shailendra's daughter Amla Shailendra Mazumdar shared stories about his life and his iconic songs.

Bad politics, low GDP, rise of religion—What would Supercop KPS Gill say about today’s Punjab

On KPS Gill's 90th birth anniversary, his former colleagues, top IAS officers and others spoke of Punjab’s past, present and its social and political fabric.

Biba founder Meena Bindra was told to quit business, and enjoy being an officer’s wife

Meena Bindra launched her memoir, A Stitch in Time: The Biba Story, published by Rupa Books in Gurugram's DLF Camellias. It was attended by Smriti Irani among others.

On Camera

Tariffs, chips, and China — how Trump’s trade playbook affects India

Trump’s OBBB is framed to augment domestic semiconductor production and enhance trade protection, even at the expense of certain social programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, and student loans, as well as a projected ballooning federal deficit from US$2.8 to 3.3 trillion

New insolvency frameworks to shorter timelines, how 2025 amendment bill proposes to transform IBC

New bill aims to fix key issues with IBC 2016, including delays & patchy implementation, and protect creditors, with window for genuine promoters to retain control of their companies.

First-of-its kind tri-services conference Ran Samvad to take place in Army War College next week

Billed as the military’s own version of Raisina Dialogue, the event will spotlight on tech-driven warfighting, lessons from Operation Sindoor and release of three new doctrines.

War of IAF, PAF doctrines: As Pakistan obsesses over numbers, India embraces risk, wins

Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?