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Monday, April 20, 2026

Afterword

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.

Evil in the Mahabharata deserves a book. This one is not it

US-based professor Meena Arora Nayak’s take on the epic seems to push an agenda. Readers ought to rather read the original text.

On Camera

India’s close encounters with Pakistan on Siachen

Pakistan's SSG team was not adequately provisioned for the inclement weather. If it managed to consolidate its position, the story of Siachen would have been different. 

Recovery of energy flows will be ‘gradual rather than immediate’ as Hormuz re-opens post ceasefire

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz eases supply fears, but controlled shipping, slow output recovery, and high costs may delay oil flow normalisation for months.

Why Siliguri Corridor is strategically important for India & how it is being secured | Cut The Clutter

This special edition of Cut The Clutter, straight from the Siliguri corridor, details the strategic importance of the narrow strip of land in West Bengal, and how it’s a vital link connecting the Northeast to the rest of India.

Trump, Netanyahu’s Iran gamble: The regime change rebound

American objectives are unmet. They neither have muscle nor motivation to resume the war. As for Iran, the regime didn’t just survive, it’s now led by more radical individuals.