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Monday, August 11, 2025
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Book Excerpts

Yashwant Sinha: My problems with Sangh Parivar increased when I became BJP finance minister

Discussions with RSS on economic issues under Vajpayee government led to misunderstandings and Yashwant Sinha soon became a villain in their eyes.

When Chandra Shekhar’s Young Turks beat Congress old guard with Indira Gandhi’s support

After a confrontation with Morarji Desai, Indira Gandhi asked Chandra Shekhar to apologise because she felt senior leaders would expel him from Congress.

How the golden era of Kathak began during the Mughal rule under Akbar

The devotional Kathak dancers of temples became the entertainers in Mughal courts with lavish costumes, refined movement and rhythmic vocabulary, and technical genius.

How Ranbaxy faked manufacturing data for all drugs not only in India, but in US, Europe too

Ranbaxy was treating data as an entirely fungible marketing tool, apparently without consideration of impact on patients. It was an outright fraud.

Why Sabarimala devotees go to this 16th century church & pray to Saint Sebastian

St. Andrew’s Basilica is an example of religious harmony, a characteristic common to many churches and temples in Kerala.

Jai Singh wanted Jaipur to be a thriving commercial city, not military retreat of warlords

As Walled City of Jaipur makes it to UNESCO World Heritage Site list, Giles Tillotson’s Jaipur Nama offers a historical account of how the city was built.

Climate change created breeding ground for ISIS in Syria. India is making similar mistakes

The problem began as Syria’s population skyrocketed. This meant less water to go around for each person.

From disdain to heroes — the journey of two Dalit brothers in India’s first cricket team

Palwankar brothers were guests of honour at an event by ‘Depressed Classes’ in 1911. A young man named Bhimrao Ambedkar presented the address.

Defence minister has gone mad: Gen Manekshaw on Jagjivan Ram demanding more Dalits in Army

Sam Manekshaw was the hero of the 1971 war, and Jagjivan Ram could do little if the General had put his foot down.

As Chennai water woes mount, here’s the audit report Tamil Nadu govt wanted buried

The word ‘failed’ appears 38 times and ‘failure(s)’ 41 times in the CAG report on 2015 Chennai floods – it was a manmade catastrophe.

On Camera

Rahul’s ‘vote chori’ attack on EC is a political dead-end. He still has a point

The ECI needs to respond to Rahul Gandhi’s accusations professionally and transparently. Else, it will end up giving him the ammunition he is desperately seeking.

How mining, manufacturing & power sectors weighed on India’s industrial output since January 2024

India’s industrial output growth saw a 10-month low in June, with Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growing by mere 1.5% as against 1.9% in May 2025.

‘Next war may come sooner than expected, will require whole-of-nation approach’—Army chief

Gen Dwivedi framed Op Sindoor not just as retaliation to Pahalgam, but as demonstration of India’s capability to fight multi-domain conflicts with integration between services & agencies.

Modi’s ready to risk it all for farmers. Farm reform can answer Trump with new Green Revolution

Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.