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Friday, September 27, 2024
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Opinion

First US, now UK, democracies giving up on strongman leaders. Why it’s unthinkable in India

Democracies are restoring the dull but democratic powers of rules and institutions by dousing the passions that led to the rise of strongman leaders. India isn't there yet.

Don’t be surprised by China ignoring LAC at G20 meet. It’s a feature, not a bug

China's 5G rollout along LAC disrupting Indian Army plans. And Chinese social media is full of posts 'celebrating' ex-Japanese PM Shinzo Abe’s assassination.

Saint Devasahayam’s anti-caste struggle angered Brahmins and Nairs, not his conversion

Devasahayam Pillai's new life became a cause of serious concern among high caste Hindus. They accused him of betrayal, and of insulting Brahmins and the royal throne.

India is in a ‘red state blue state’ mindset. But it’s different from the American one

Indian politicians are split along an anti-BJP axis, and the emerging divide is between states controlled by the BJP and other parties.

Palaniswami-led AIADMK is bad news for BJP in Tamil Nadu but it opens up opportunities too

While OPS has been courting the BJP in Tamil Nadu enthusiastically, the latter isn't inclined to take any side in AIADMK’s internal warfare yet.

Why YSR Vijayamma-Sharmila combo in Telangana can prove disastrous for KCR, good for BJP

After two terms, KCR has started to earn brickbats for his performance in Telangana, and a large portion of the electorate is itching for change.

Remember Skoda’s Laura? Car names can go horribly wrong and no one wants to be bold anymore

Not just lawyers, in order to avoid a repeat of the ‘Laura incident’, most car companies employ teams of linguists across the world.

Devdas at 20: It’s time Bollywood stopped showing alcoholism as romance and rebellion

20 years ago, Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Devdas renewed the old toxic Indian problem of looking at alcoholism through the lens of romantic loss, and not for the problem that it is.

Rocketry to Rocket Boys — India has finally entered era of science films and series

How many of us know the name of the current head of ISRO? What do we know about India’s recent space triumphs? OTT and films are trying to fill that gap.

What Rishi Sunak, Sajid Javid and Nadhim Zahawi don’t have in race to become British PM

Can Tories accept an Asian as Boris Johnson’s successor? English nationalism stands in the way.

On Camera

Dear Bengal govt, don’t steal our memories, land, and clean air by removing trams

Nostalgia, romance, and a love of heritage alone cannot make the beloved trams of Kolkata sustainable. Simple science can. Transport Minister, are you with us still?

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.

Army gets high-altitude artillery firing range in Arunachal, 2 more to come up in the north

The artillery regiment has incorporated simulators in a big way for various functions like driving & weapons training, especially for Agniveers to get realistic training.

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.