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Thursday, December 4, 2025
HomeOpinionWritings on the wall

Writings on the wall

Education, aspiration & 3 de-hyphenations: A changing Kashmir votes and vents

In Kashmir Valley, 3 de-hyphenations stand out. Youth have de-hyphenated from radicalism; de-hyphenation with Pakistan; and security agencies’ success in de-hyphenating weapons and people.

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.

On Camera

This is how cash transfers are being discussed by global scholars

Dismissing unconditional cash transfers through the parochial logic of ‘unearned assistance is undeserving’ narrows the space for policy innovation and restricts possibilities for social mobility.

India’s Russian oil imports are showing up in cryptic new places. The crude map stands redrawn

December oil imports from Russia may drop nearly 50%, but Indian buyers already shifting to non-designated Russian entities and opaque trading channels to keep Russian oil flowing.

India to commission new squadron of submarine-hunting Romeo choppers in Goa later this month

The helicopters produced by Lockheed Martin are known as ‘submarine hunters’. India ordered 24 of these aircraft in 2020 to replace the Sea King helicopters. 15 have been delivered till date.

Gaali cricket: Bavuma stands tall, India’s Test ego cut to size

The India-South Africa series-defining fact is the catastrophic decline of Indian red ball cricket where a visiting team can mock us with the 'grovel' word.