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Monday, August 11, 2025
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Around Town

Badass Begums — A new heritage walk of Old Delhi is all about Kothas & courtesans

Mughal princesses and princes were sent to kothas to learn elite etiquette or train in music and dancing. They were the ‘etiquette institutions’ of the Mughal era, said the tour leader Anoushka Jain.

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.

On Camera

MBBS guidelines for students with disabilities reduce a life to a limb

The guidelines ask whether a student can climb stairs, but not whether the college has a ramp. They ask whether a student can bear weight, but not whether the system can bear the weight of its own prejudice.

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.

Legacy of Air Chief Marshal LM Katre, the man who flew Spitfires & ushered IAF into a modern era

ACM Katre was 2nd IAF chief to die in harness. It was at a memorial lecture in his honour where IAF chief AP Singh revealed that India shot down 6 Pakistani aircraft in Op Sindoor.

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.