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Around Town

Jai Shri Ram chants, mantras, garlands—what happened when JNU screened 72 Hoorain

After screening Kashmir Files & Kerala Story in the past, JNU's Vivekananda Vichar Manch attracted the biggest audience for 72 Hoorain. The aim is to battle the dominant narrative.

Jungle life is wilder than you know. Ex-IFS officer’s new book reveals politics of forest

Former forest officer Sunayan Sharma said that people don’t know much about what forest life actually looks like, especially the challenges faced foresters who deal its complexities.

IAS officers on how they deal with politicians’ pressure. Sheila Dikshit to Mamata Banerjee

Retired IAS officer Sanjeev Chopra said working with Mamata Banerjee was difficult for him. That's generally the case with CM-driven parties, he said.

Queer entrepreneurs are claiming a new public place — Indian malls 

Queer Made Weekend, organised by Gaysi Family and Tinder India, showcased queer entrepreneurs, performers.

Abolishing drugs a romantic notion. Legalisation is a better shot at combating addiction

At the launch of psychiatrist Dr Anirudh Kala’s book Most of What You Know About Addiction is Wrong, panellists wanted the audience to change their view of addicts as criminals.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee has just been gift-wrapped, returned to the RSS in a new book

Vajpayee: The Ascent of the Hindu Right 1924–1977 shatters BJP poet-politician’s reputation as a liberal hero. “I recognise more of Vajpayee in this book," said BJP's Swapan Dasgupta.

Magnus Carlsen to Viswanathan Anand—India now has a Global Chess League. It’s a game-changer

Chess prodigy Raunak Sidhwani is not intimidated to play with the best of the best of the sport. He has Russian Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi on his team.

An old Delhi heritage walk that’s not about Jama Masjid, Red Fort. It tells queer histories

Iqbal Ali who leads the walk observes that within the current political climate that’s hostile to the LGBTQ+ community, these walks are a source of resistance.

Momos to gin & tonic—a new Indian ‘food bible’ offers trivia, history. But no politics

From memories of railway chicken curry to anecdotes on Kolkata chilli sauce Sing Cheung, panellists at The Bloomsbury Handbook of Indian Cuisine launch bonded over their deep love for food.

Chef in Delhi adding Korean twist to paratha, paneer, tikka. He’s an Instagram star

Kim Jiyeol has expertly created new dishes such as Momo Guk, Kimchi Kathi Roll, and Kimchi Paratha in his small Delhi kitchen. And his list is only growing.

On Camera

US has misread India. New Delhi will hedge, push back, and assert

India’s foreign policy today is driven less by Western alignment or global liberalism and more by domestic political imperatives — economic, ideological, and electoral.

Smartphones, gems, pharma: Which Indian exports will be worst hit by Trump tariffs, which will be spared

Electronics—specifically smartphones—& energy & pharma products make up 30% of Indian exports to US. 25% tariff on India came into effect Thursday, extra 25% to kick in by August-end.

Pakistan army chief Asim Munir to attend CENTCOM chief’s farewell, second visit to US in two months

Munir was earlier in America in June when he had a two-hour luncheon meeting with the US president at the White House.

Pakistan, Dhaka have played Washington well. Back home, Modi ecosystem has an inner conflict

To protect ourselves from Trumpian diplomacy, first we must introspect the bipolarity within our establishment discourse.