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Monday, October 21, 2024
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Book Excerpts

Our ‘smart devices’ know more about us than we do. Don’t put blind faith in companies making them

In 'The Third Way: India’s Revolutionary Approach to Data Governance', Rahul Matthan presents an original view of the role technology can play in data governance.

Nepal’s politicians are hiding a democratic deficit. Look beyond the elections.

In 'Nepal', Lok Raj Baral unpacks the idea and practice of democracy in the South Asian nation, disentangling the tensions and balances between representation and governance.

Kingfisher Airlines to Victoria’s Secret—How authority bias brings governance failures

The authority bias gets concretized due to long tenures of board members which erodes their actual independence from the owners or promoters.

Travelling storytellers from Bengal – How Patua artisans preserve oral histories

The practice of carrying patas, or scroll-paintings, and performing patua across villages on auspicious occasions was widespread in eastern India, particularly in Midnapore, Murshidabad, Birbhum and Purulia districts of Bengal.

Overdressed, deluded—how Brahmins viewed Buddhists in medieval India

In ‘Dust on the Throne: The Search for Buddhism in Modern India’, Douglas Ober provides a new perspective on India’s modern Buddhist revival.

Central Railways sent special train, museum gave statue for Ambedkar’s Buddhism conversion

In 'A Part Apart: The Life and Thought of B.R. Ambedkar', Ashok Gopal uncovers the unrelenting toil and struggle that went into the making of Ambedkar legend.

Ashoka edicts silent on caste order. Runs counter to what we’re taught about varna history

In 'Ashoka', Patrick Olivelle writes that the social groups encompassed by Ashoka's notion of dharma were mostly familial or broadly within the family orbit.

What led to Gandhi’s desire for sex into complete lockdown? It’s the sacral chakra

In 'Becoming Gandhi', Perry Garfinkel talks about Gandhi’s relationship with sex, and the controversy that has followed him since his days in South Africa.

MK Stalin’s politics began in a saloon. Hairdressers nurtured the Dravidian movement

The saloons subscribed to most Dravidian Movement publications. It was in these places that rationalism, ethnic solidarity and love for the language were inculcated.

Kailasanatha Temple’s rock-cut glory even attracted Aurangzeb–Gopurams to Ravana sculptures

Kailasanatha Temple's rock-cut glory even attracted Aurangzeb–Gopurams to Ravana sculptures

On Camera

R&AW must answer why it tolerates poor tradecraft, recruitment standards, officer oversight

The alleged plot to kill Khalistan propagandist and lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had all the comic elements of an old-fashioned Bollywood cop movie.

Even working remotely can lead to burnout. Here is how to prevent it

New ways of working have opened up the debate on how, where and when people work, which in turn has an impact on employees’ expectations, behaviour and wellbeing.

Indian Army helmets in spotlight. Upgrades over the yrs & how they stack up against US & China’s gear

The helmets of Indian soldiers have been a talking point in the past, and though a lot has changed over the years, the phasing out of older models is an ongoing process.

Sikh separatists & their gang wars in Canada are not India’s problem. Call the troops back

If Sikh separatists are a nuisance, it should worry their host countries. Should it bother India if they keep killing their own in gang rivalries and making their neighbourhoods unsafe?