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Thursday, August 7, 2025

Afterword

A breath of fresh air in studying Indo-Pak nuclear crisis management

Modern conflict cannot be viewed in a bipolar framework. International relations expert Moeed Yusuf’s new book provides a much-needed alternative.

India played US-versus-Soviets to get development aid, but gave up state power

The Price of Aid by David C. Engerman is a fascinating account of how the economic cold war shaped the first 25 years of independent India.

Arshia Sattar takes Hindu mythology beyond an Amar Chitra Katha-type narrative

Her wonderful writing and Ishan Trivedi’s colourful illustrations make ‘Garuda & the Serpents’ come alive for children as well as adults.

Madeleine Albright’s warning about fascism draws on simplistic analogies 

Former US Secy of State sidesteps historically rooted definition and examination of fascism in her book, which doesn’t offer compelling arguments. In 1939, Madeleine Albright the...

How the nexus of business and state gave birth to the East India Company

Rupali Mishra’s new book describes how licencing, permits, rights etc. fetched gains for people close to power.

From Mao to Xi, a peep into the minds of China’s great strategists

Sulmaan Wasif Khan’s ‘Haunted by Chaos’ tells the story of how China’s leaders shaped its destiny through their distinct ideologies, traumatic pasts and disparate visions.

For espionage buffs, ex-Raw chief Vikram Sood’s ‘The Unending Game’ is a fascinating read

The book is neither a memoir nor an insider’s account of the organisation. It's more of a primer, written by that rare intellectual among...

Young Muslim women fight to control their own stories in Ghazala Jamil’s new book

In 'Muslim Women Speak: Of Dreams and Shackles', activist-scholar Jamil tries to find these women's real voices, instead of just presenting them as victims.

Devil’s advocate Karan Thapar fails to acquit himself

In his rather salacious memoir, the journalist doesn't offer a nuanced perspective about the personalities and events that shaped India. 

Chidanand Rajghatta’s book combines memories of Gauri Lankesh with cultural controversies

‘Illiberal India’ is an eminently readable narrative, and is as close to a biography of Gauri as there is likely to be in English.

On Camera

AI integration for military is risky business. Combat monopoly must remain with soldiers

The Army has plans for a technology thrust in the near term, including the use of AI to support decision-making. While well-intentioned, this may have unintended consequences.

Web of spoof sites, scam call centres. Crypto theft racket modus operandi in focus amid ED crackdown

As part of the crypto theft racket, businessman Chirag Tomar and his aides targeted 542 victims and managed to steal a total of Rs 19.9 million.

Pakistan army chief Asim Munir to attend CENTCOM chief’s farewell, second visit to US in two months

Munir was earlier in America in June when he had a two-hour luncheon meeting with the US president at the White House.

Pakistan, Dhaka have played Washington well. Back home, Modi ecosystem has an inner conflict

To protect ourselves from Trumpian diplomacy, first we must introspect the bipolarity within our establishment discourse.