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Saturday, July 19, 2025
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Book Excerpts

The British loved their meat, but some were fascinated by Hindu-Brahminical vegetarianism

In ‘Meat, Mercy, and Morality’, Samiparna Samanta writes that the British in India thrived on an elaborate diet of meat, but some preferred vegetarianism in the tropical climate.

A+++ to D – How China rates its citizens. Drunk driving can take you way down

In ‘How Should A Government Be’, Jaideep Prabhu writes China's ominous Social Credit system is a vision of what’s in store for us. Whether you are Left or Right, it matters whether your government does.

This chaiwala in Gujarat knew the success mantra, ditched MBA. Then Harvard came knocking

In ‘All you need is Josh’, Supriya Paul brings together stories of unique individuals and their inspiring journeys.

A young man from Meerut helped ‘made in China’ Xiaomi sweep India’s smartphone market

In 'Xiaomi', Jayadevan P.K. chronicles how the company built a cult following & went from a Chinese start-up to a global player in the smartphone market.

Dalit Veda Vyasa was India’s first nation builder. He was the child of an inter-caste union

In ‘Makers of Modern Dalit History’, Sudarshan Ramabadran and Guru Prakash Paswan write Veda Vyasa’s achievements show how Dalit communities have helped Hinduism revolutionise and reform.

Operation Eagle — The 1971 mission by RAW and Tibetan SFF that has no official record

In ‘The War That Made R&AW’, Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket write that with the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, spymaster R.N. Kao put India’s RAW on the world intelligence map.

British Empire’s sun hasn’t set on Indian officers’ clubs — centre of civil-military tussle

In ‘India’s Power Elite’, Sanjaya Baru writes that BJP’s greater political prominence to military heroes has not always raised their profile within the power elite.

How this Travancore King sparked off temple entry reforms for Dalit citizens

In ‘History Liberated’, Princess Aswathi Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi writes about reforms & policies undertaken during the Travancore royal family’s last phase.

Working at Google wasn’t cutting it, that’s how The Bohri Kitchen was born

Munaf Kapadia worked at Wrigley and then Google before leaving it all to start The Bohri Kitchen with his mother from their home in Colaba. Read an excerpt from his book.

Dyer’s rage didn’t end with Jallianwala Bagh. Don’t forget Khoo Korian

In a new edition of V.N. Datta’s 1969 classic ’Jallianwala Bagh’, Nonica Datta writes that Gen. Dyer ‘wanted to punish Amritsar more’.

On Camera

Fauja Singh’s death shows Indian roads remain a national emergency—474 lives lost every day

Fauja Singh, 114, died after being hit by a speeding car. His death renews questions about India’s deadly roads, rising accidents, and poor traffic discipline.

India-US set to ink mini trade deal soon, reach understanding on agricultural & dairy products

Mini deal will likely see no cut in 10% baseline tariff on Indian exports announced by Trump on 2 April, it is learnt, but additional 26% tariffs are set to be reduced.

Not just AK-203, India & Russia to jointly manufacture AK-19 and PPK-20 for domestic use and export 

India-Russia JV is also racing to deliver 7,000 more AK-203 assault rifles by 15 Aug. These are currently being made with 50% indigenisation and this will surge to 100% by 31 December.

Joys of Trumplomacy: India & the world are learning US President’s 99 moods and 1 goal

Public, loud, upfront, filled with impropriety and high praise sometimes laced with insults. This is what we call Trumplomacy. But the larger objective is the same: American supremacy.