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Tuesday, August 12, 2025
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Book Excerpts

Ex-ISI chief on why terrorism is as hard to define as pornography

Asad Durrani served as a three-star general in the Pakistani army and headed the ISI between 1990 and 1992.

Vikram Sarabhai, India’s space-man torn apart by the loss of Indira Gandhi’s trust

On the death anniversary of Vikram Sarabhai, one of the minds behind India's space programme, we take a look back at his life through his biography by Amrita Shah.

Naveen Patnaik’s political eye is so sharp he spotted Dharmendra Pradhan’s talent 18 yrs ago

Odisha CM Patnaik, who has never lost an election, is known to have a strong gut feeling and 'X-ray' eyes ‘Oh! I’ve got a problem,’...

Osho Rajneesh used sex and promiscuity to keep his cult loyal only to him

Attempts to enforce sexual participation at the Pune ashram did not always stop at psychological pressure. Sometimes it allegedly extended to use of violence.

Poet Neeraj said his ‘fattest royalty cheques’ came from Dev Anand songs

Gopaldas Neeraj passed away Thursday. This excerpt from 'S.D. Burman: The Prince Musician', tells how Neeraj wrote 'Rangeela Re' for Dev Anand's Prem Pujari.

Jairam Ramesh recounts what really happened behind the scenes of the Simla agreement

Former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh in his new book ‘Intertwined Lives’, drawing on P. N. Haksar’s archives, presents a compelling chronicle of the people...

When a Bihar policeman’s decision to nab a local don set off a chain of deadly events

Amit Lodha in his book, published by Penguin India writes on how a Bihar don played a crucial role in leaking question papers of...

Book on Priyanka Chopra shows why ethnicity of Quantico’s protagonist was not a big deal

Many Indians were waiting for Priyanka Chopra to fail in Quantico and they found her failure in her accent.

Karan Thapar on how his childhood friend Sanjay Gandhi took him on a daredevil jeep ride

Sanjay Gandhi was a daredevil in contrast to his shy & quiet character, writes Karan Thapar in his book 'Devil's Advocate'.

Essential to distinguish religion from practices for Muslim women to progress

Substantive gender equality is a prerequisite for women to become active and equal partners in the creation of a humane society.

On Camera

The speech PM Modi should deliver this Independence Day

For the last 11 years, Nehru has been constantly blocking my efforts and causing the fiascos that are my many yojanas and abhiyans. He is the reason most of my initiatives turn into disasters.

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.

Can’t restrict ‘extent of induction’—why SC struck down gender quotas in Army’s JAG recruitment

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has ruled that the Indian Army cannot cap the number of women in its Judge Advocate General (JAG) branch...

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.