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Wednesday, September 18, 2024
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Book Excerpts

Gandhi is a Mahatma, I am not, said Sardar Patel

Sardar Patel was far more direct and clear than Mahatma Gandhi when it came to assuring prosperity to the industrial class, says a new book about India's 'Iron Man'. 

In the lead up to Partition, Gandhi’s own prayer meetings were becoming polarised

This excerpt from ‘Gandhi: The years that changed the world 1914-1948’ by Ramachandra Guha tells the story of the Mahatma in the months leading up to Partition.

Disseminating information, not more of it, is need of the hour: Yuval Noah Harari

In 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, Harari argues that if this generation lacks a comprehensive view of the work, it could imperil the future of life.

Where in India the new jobs will come from over the next 5 years

In this excerpt from Raghavan Jagannathan's book, the world is moving increasingly towards a gig-economy and offering jobs on a contract basis.

Asians living in Britain are quite ignorant about each other’s rich religious diversity

In this witty excerpt, Sardar informs his readers of a radio show that reflects the evident reality of a divide in the British Asian community. 

I felt very strongly that Rajiv Gandhi was not corrupt: B. Raman on the Bofors scandal

In his memoir, B. Raman writes about his impressions of Rajiv Gandhi, and why the Bofors scandal turned into such a messy affair. 

My family abandoned Indian food when Americans said it smelled like ‘armpits’

In her new book, Sharmila Sen remembers the strangeness of encountering a new cuisine full of processed foods.

Why Ruskin Bond never wrote about Indian politicians

In this excerpt from his book 'Beauty of All My Days', Bond recalls memories of him having seen and heard Nehru as well as his conversations with Morarji Desai, Acharya Kripalani. 

When Lt Col Adi Tarapore showed rare courage and Army ate Pakistani sugarcane in 1965 war

On the 52nd anniversary of the 1965 war, here’s an excerpt from Amarinder Singh and Tajinder Shergill’s book ‘The Monsoon War: Young Officers Reminisce’.

How Mughal Empire’s most powerful woman tried to keep man behind Taj Mahal from his throne

Ruby Lal's new book chronicles the life of Nur Jahan, India's most celebrated empress about whom shockingly little is known.

On Camera

China can resolve border dispute with India. It has done so with 12 other countries

S Jaishankar is often depicted in Mandarin-language media and social media platforms as an anti-China elite and a key architect of India’s assertive stance toward China.

Five debt defaults, two NPAs & 100% value erosion. MTNL barrels towards a major financial crisis

Since 2019, govt has pumped Rs 3.22 lakh crore into MTNL & BSNL. Both remain in losses. MTNL has begun to default on loans & bond payments, possibly the first large PSU to become NPA.

Did Captain & fiancée ‘attack’ cops or were they ‘manhandled’? Army to take up case with Odisha authorities

While police are quoted as saying that officer & fiancée created fracas & injured four police personnel, Army’s situational reports and his statement present a different picture.

BJP’s Northeast policy has lit new fires & reopened old wounds. And it still won’t blink

Manipur represents BJP’s unique ideological approach to governing Northeast by playing identity politics jiu-jitsu. It hasn’t gone well yet, is getting worse, but the party insists on continuing.