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Tuesday, August 12, 2025
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Around Town

At Desi Oon Festival 2024, shepherds turn designers, weave culture and myth into rugs

The Desi Oon Festival 2024 is an initiative by the Centre of Pastoralism, which works with shepherds to support their livelihoods and preserve traditional practices.

Anand Hi Anand—an event celebrating Dev Anand and brothers is an opportunity half missed

Sohaila Kapur’s engaging reading combined professional highlights with personal anecdotes, but the accompanying visual presentation did not do justice to Dev Anand’s flamboyance.

What links Hampi to Indian movies—wet saris and the Queen’s Bath

Some habits like voyeurism and male gaze cut across cultures and the passage of time. The men in Hampi would lounge in the balconies to catch a glimpse of women in the Queen’s Bath.

John Lennon wrote a song full of expletives called ‘Maharishi’. Then he had to tone it down

At the screening of his documentary, ‘The Beatles and India’, Ajoy Bose showed how the band’s visit to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram helped export Indian classical music to the West.

Science fest platforms rural innovators—new crop varieties, crash-safe vehicles, EV bicycles

The People’s Festival of Innovation brought together over 100 inventors, many from rural India. It proved that there is no age limit on creativity.

Delhi spends an evening romancing the 80s. Prank calls, fan mail, Nirula’s

The launch of Seema Sethi’s coffee table book 'Romancing The 80s: Snapshots From A Cherished Decade' transported the participants back to the old era of Delhi.

Class changes how we see food. Dry fish, rice beer celebrated in restaurants, not at home

Food of economically disadvantaged groups is often ostracised. 'I’ve seen street vendors selling dried fish or fermented soybeans that are treated as though they’re dirty'.

Climate activists diss profit-driven COP29, say socialist action can bring change

‘Climate change is treated as a business opportunity rather than an urgent crisis,’ said environment secretary Leena Nandan at IIC, implicating the richer nations.

Strategic thinkers ignored India’s foreign relations pre-1947. Dhruva Jaishankar fills the gap

Rather than an all-encompassing treatise, Dhruva Jaishankar considers his book, ‘Vishwa Shastra’, a jump-off point for those interested in India’s strategic thinking.

Nawabs to temples & vada curry—Chennai walk traces hidden histories of Saidapet

Saidapet is usually off Chennai’s tourist map, but a 2-hour walk by Madras Inherited uncovers its temples, mosques, and traditional weavers' homes.

On Camera

Hrithik Roshan & Jr NTR in Janaab-e-Aali is exactly what a dance-off should not be

Forget comparing it with classics like Hrithik’s Ek Pal Ka Jeena or the slick title track of Dhoom 2, Janaab-e-Aali does not even come close to Ghungroo.

How mining, manufacturing & power sectors weighed on India’s industrial output since January 2024

India’s industrial output growth saw a 10-month low in June, with Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growing by mere 1.5% as against 1.9% in May 2025.

India expands Southeast Asia defence footprint with new joint venture in Philippines

Memorandum of understanding between SMPP and ADFC was signed during state visit of Philippines’ President to India earlier this month.

Modi’s ready to risk it all for farmers. Farm reform can answer Trump with new Green Revolution

Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.