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Friday, September 27, 2024
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Book Excerpts

East India Company sent a diplomat to Jahangir & all the Mughal Emperor cared about was beer

Jahangir had four million armed men under him and a vast empire, talking about trade with an English diplomat bored him greatly.

How Indian Navy operated a secret commando group and spooked Pakistan in 1971

Operation Jackpot’s success on 15 August 1971 gave a huge boost to Mukti Bahini forces in Bangladesh.

How Manmohan Singh played a key role in India signing its first bilateral investment treaty

In 1993 budget speech in Parliament, Manmohan Singh signalled the role of BITs as an important means of attracting foreign investment in India.

Why a typical Bollywood hero is Gandhian on the streets, but sings lustfully in the sheets

In every Bollywood film, songs express the desires that the heroes sacrifice or reject in the actual story.

15 August is special for Assam and it’s not just about Independence Day

While Assam was asleep, a historic pact was signed past midnight on 15 August.

You can’t change your boss, but you can change yourself: How to prevent workplace burnout

Being cynical about work, coming to office tired in the morning, and not being fully ‘present’ during discussions. Are you one of those people?

In 1947, Gandhi told Lt Gen Sen that wars were inhuman, but to fight for Kashmir with all means

In his book, Slender Was The Thread, Lt Gen. L.P. Sen wrote about being airlifted to Srinagar in 1947 and taking over the Indian defence of Kashmir.

What Nehru wrote to Sardar Patel on Kashmir & its ‘oblivious’ Hindu Maharaja

In a letter written in 1948, Nehru complained that Kashmir's then Maharaja behaved in an inexplicable manner and irritated the people of the Valley.

As Brig Nisar passes away, read how he led Pak artillery to break Indian attack in Chawinda

India ignored an elementary principle – it is not enough to neutralise defenders on the objective without, at the same time, rendering impotent the guns supporting them.

How liberals lost Gandhi as they lost their own intellectual moorings

Some liberals lost Gandhi because he was a democrat, who refused to surrender the individual to the mob in the name of majority rule.

On Camera

Nuclear submarine will be a leapfrog for India-France ties, bring New Delhi into exclusive club

France’s offer could catapult India into yet another exclusive club of a select few countries that possess a whole range of submarines.

10 yrs ago, battery leasing failed to boost demand for EV cars in India. Now, it’s making a comeback

Under this model, battery is provided to EV owners on a subscription basis or lease. With more people open to buying EV cars, the lower upfront cost could likely drive wider acceptance.

Azerbaijan inducts JF-17 fighters from Pakistan as Armenia looks to India to beef up

While Azerbaijan is moving away from traditional arms supplier Russia and growing closer to Turkey & Pakistan, rival Armenia is depening defence ties with India, already a major supplier.

Lesson from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan: if you have no patience, you don’t deserve democracy

Sri Lankan transition was smoothly managed. Check Bangladesh for contrast. They forced their incumbent into exile, installed a mostly unelectable govt of non-political people.