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Friday, September 27, 2024
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Book Excerpts

When Chandra Shekhar’s Young Turks beat Congress old guard with Indira Gandhi’s support

After a confrontation with Morarji Desai, Indira Gandhi asked Chandra Shekhar to apologise because she felt senior leaders would expel him from Congress.

How the golden era of Kathak began during the Mughal rule under Akbar

The devotional Kathak dancers of temples became the entertainers in Mughal courts with lavish costumes, refined movement and rhythmic vocabulary, and technical genius.

How Ranbaxy faked manufacturing data for all drugs not only in India, but in US, Europe too

Ranbaxy was treating data as an entirely fungible marketing tool, apparently without consideration of impact on patients. It was an outright fraud.

Why Sabarimala devotees go to this 16th century church & pray to Saint Sebastian

St. Andrew’s Basilica is an example of religious harmony, a characteristic common to many churches and temples in Kerala.

Jai Singh wanted Jaipur to be a thriving commercial city, not military retreat of warlords

As Walled City of Jaipur makes it to UNESCO World Heritage Site list, Giles Tillotson’s Jaipur Nama offers a historical account of how the city was built.

Climate change created breeding ground for ISIS in Syria. India is making similar mistakes

The problem began as Syria’s population skyrocketed. This meant less water to go around for each person.

From disdain to heroes — the journey of two Dalit brothers in India’s first cricket team

Palwankar brothers were guests of honour at an event by ‘Depressed Classes’ in 1911. A young man named Bhimrao Ambedkar presented the address.

Defence minister has gone mad: Gen Manekshaw on Jagjivan Ram demanding more Dalits in Army

Sam Manekshaw was the hero of the 1971 war, and Jagjivan Ram could do little if the General had put his foot down.

As Chennai water woes mount, here’s the audit report Tamil Nadu govt wanted buried

The word ‘failed’ appears 38 times and ‘failure(s)’ 41 times in the CAG report on 2015 Chennai floods – it was a manmade catastrophe.

Praying for rain won’t help India. Problem is man-made, why pray to god asked Dabholkar

Maharashtra’s governor in 1992 asked citizens to pray for rain. Rationalist Narendra Dabholkar wrote why we must be scientific not superstitious.

On Camera

Army vs police case in Odisha shows urgent need for police reform. Accountability is key

The police station is the soul of policing and enough time and effort must be dedicated to it to improve its functioning.

10 yrs ago, battery leasing failed to boost demand for EV cars in India. Now, it’s making a comeback

Under this model, battery is provided to EV owners on a subscription basis or lease. With more people open to buying EV cars, the lower upfront cost could likely drive wider acceptance.

A fitness & fighter aircraft enthusiast, who is Air Marshal AP Singh, the next Chief of Air Force

Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh will take over as chief on 30 September. During his service of nearly 40 yrs, he has served in variety of command, staff, instructional & foreign appointments.

Lesson from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan: if you have no patience, you don’t deserve democracy

Sri Lankan transition was smoothly managed. Check Bangladesh for contrast. They forced their incumbent into exile, installed a mostly unelectable govt of non-political people.