scorecardresearch
Add as a preferred source on Google
Sunday, October 5, 2025
HomePageTurnerBook Excerpts

Book Excerpts

A neo-Gothic cathedral bears the last vestiges of early Christianity in India

In the late 19th century, British authorities found the church in need of rebuilding. They demolished it in 1893 and planned for it to be rebuilt in a neo-Gothic style.

What Amit Shah told me: ‘Not good work, sentiments win elections’

In his book, 'I, Witness', Shahid Siddiqui recalls encounters with the titans of Indian politics, presenting them not as distant icons, but as fallible beings.

Becoming Hindu is not the same as being Hindu. It’s not fashionable

In 'Hindutva and Hind Swaraj', Makarand Paranjape argues that the ideological clash between MK Gandhi and VD Savarkar continues to influence national life.

When a CIA agent recruited a Sufi mystic to spy

‘The Mission: The CIA in the 21st Century’ by Tim Weiner is a gripping history of the modern CIA, reaching from 9/11 through its covert operations in Afghanistan and Iraq to today’s secret battles with Russia and China.

Farooq Abdullah sent me a saffron shawl. I gifted it to Balasaheb Thackeray

In 'Stitching Stardom', Madhav Agasti shares candid stories about the film stars and politicians he met during his five-decade-long career as a renowned men’s dress designer.

Labour movement didn’t produce Indian Marxism. It came from migrants in Europe, Russia

In 'Comrades and Comebacks', Saira Shah Halim offers a rich historical narrative that foregrounds Left politics in world history, locates its relevance in India, and charts a future of its revival.

How Kejriwal lost Delhi’s middle class

In 'The Aam Aadmi Party', Sayantan Ghosh traces AAP’s journey from its origins in street activism to its defeat in the 2025 Delhi elections.

When a Delhi lawyer wasn’t recommended as a judge because his nickname was ‘Boozer’

In his book, '[In]Complete Justice?', editor S Muralidhar discusses the Supreme Court’s challenges in retaining its legitimacy while striving to fulfil the constitutional promise of equal and fair justice.

When Shubhanshu Shukla’s teenage rebellion turned into his first triumph

In 'Sky Was Never the Limit', Narayan R follows the journey of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from the lanes of Lucknow to the International Space Station.

A Tamil Brahmin woman, a Muslim man and a bus called India. How Aparna Sen responded to Godhra

In 'Aparna Sen: A Life in Cinema', Devapriya Sanyal delves into the filmmaker's cinematic world, tracing the evolution of her women protagonists.

On Camera

Is modern dating about instant relief or delayed gratification?

A lot of straight women doing the modern dating dance want to be disappointed on the first date itself—no need to waste five outfits for the same letdown.

Nodal officers to fast-tracking NOCs, Kerala govt’s heeding investor concerns, and it means business

As many as 21 policy reforms are under implementation following Invest Kerala Global Summit, as LDF govt works to change perception that the state is not conducive to businesses.

Army chief’s big warning to Pakistan: Stop sponsoring terrorism if you want to exist geographically

Amid continued concerns over cross-border terrorism, General Upendra Dwivedi further warned the neighbour that India will not show restraint if there is an Op Sindoor 2.0.

How Pakistan thinks: Army for hire, ideology of convenience

Pakistan’s army has been a rentier force available to a reasonable bidder. It has never come to the aid of any Muslims including Palestinians or the Gazans, except making noises here and there.