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Saturday, January 3, 2026
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Writings on the wall

Yogi’s cows, Modi’s houses, Akhilesh’s jobs: Why this is a more ‘normal’ Uttar Pradesh election

Caste is back, after 2014, 2017 and 2019. Joblessness is the new nationalism and religion. Too many poor people are hurting as they pay for cow protection.

Stirrings in a Hopeless Land

Finally, there's a new idea in Bihar: ink-in-the-pen vs oil-in-the-lathi.

Bengal stands up to ask for more

And the CPM can't understand why - while Mamata says she is ready to deliver.

Welcome to Pakistan, a full-fledged national security state which suspects everyone, most of all its own.

Welcome to Pakistan, a full-fledged national security state which suspects everyone, most of all its own.

Modi’s Hindutva 2.0 written on Varanasi walls: Temple restoration, not mosque demolition

Modi has boldly ventured to redevelop Varanasi’s messy, filthy inner city. It’s a restoration project that can delight his large Hindu constituency.

Bengal stands up to ask for more

And the CPM can't understand why - while Mamata says she is ready to deliver.

From Soviet Union in Alimuddin Street to a watch repair shop in Singur

The Revolution stands still while people yearn for change.

Varanasi, 2014: Why I’d said, before the secular dip, hold your nose

When a thug wanted for murder joins the fight against communalism, a firebrand secular isn’t pleased they threw eggs at his rudraksh.

Welcome to Freebiestan, also known as KCR’s Telangana

We aren’t being funny. Just reading the ‘Writings on the Wall’ in Telangana, where KCR has redefined handouts and welfare. Yet, it’ll take him more to win.

Writings on the wall: Stumbling on Sonianomics in the land of angrezi dreams

Writings on the Wall is a metaphor that emerged from travels across India, particularly but not necessarily during election campaigns. Writings on the Wall,...

On Camera

The Supreme Court is losing its credibility. It should frighten us all—Maneka Gandhi

The dogs will survive whatever orders are passed. But institutions are more fragile than we imagine. Once lost, the trust they embody takes generations to rebuild.

India’s urban co-op banks are turning the page—crisis to cautious revival, one metric at a time

With bad loans shrinking & capital buffers stronger, urban co-op banks’ new umbrella body NUCFDC is now prioritising rollout of digital transformation.

Greece looking at TATA’s WhAP infantry combat vehicle for army procurement

If deal goes through, Greece will be 2nd foreign country to procure vehicle. Morocco was first; TATA Group has set up manufacturing unit there with minimum 30 percent indigenous content.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.