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Thursday, January 22, 2026
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Book Excerpts

The fantastical Buraq—the Prophet’s ride to heaven

While the Buraq is not explicitly mentioned in the Quran, descriptions of it can be found in Ibn Ishaq’s 18th-century biography of the Prophet.

Anthony Hopkins only read 15 pages of The Silence of the Lambs script. ‘Best part I’ve ever read’

In his memoir, 'We Did Ok, Kid', Anthony Hopkins discusses his difficult childhood, film and theatre career, struggles with addiction, and path to sobriety.

How India built a bridge in Nepal, one Bollywood blockbuster at a time

Edited by Ranjit Rae, 'Shared Bonds, Strategic Interests' explores the ups and downs of the complex relationship between India and Nepal.

I cried during my research years because I struggled with my Sanskrit texts: Ananya Vajpeyi

In ‘Place' by Ananya Vajpeyi discusses her time studying the ancient Indian language in Bengaluru in 1999 and the struggles she faced.

Govt doesn’t name tribal lands on maps for megaprojects

In ‘Island on Edge: The Great Nicobar Crisis,' Pankaj Sekhsaria explores the plight of the indigenous Nicobarese and how mega-development projects threaten their existence.

Why I still have an Indian passport—there is love and loyalty, but also guilt

In 'Travels in the Other Place', Pallavi Aiyar explores the pros and cons of having an Indian passport, and why it remains a symbol of its multiplicities and contradictions.

How Hindu polytheism survived Islamic invasion and colonial conquest

In 'The Decline of the Hindu Civilization', Shashi Ranjan Kumar explores how and why Hindu civilisation faltered across culture, politics, and thought.

84% of Indian IT employees have fatty liver disease. Cutting calories won’t fix it

In 'Sick Nation', Karan Sarin offers a proactive, preventative protocol for metabolic health—designed to detect and address insulin resistance in Indians.

‘Deadline’ originally meant a line in a US prison yard. Cross it and you’d be shot dead

In 'Stories of Words and Phrases', Sumanto Chattopadhyay peels back the layers of language and takes us on a rollicking ride to demystify the origins and meanings of common words and quirky idiomatic expressions.

Salman Khan didn’t like how ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ ended. He wanted Nandini to choose Sameer

In her book, 'Salman Khan', Mohar Basu traces the actor's journey through controversies and comebacks, blockbusters and hard-learnt lessons of life.

On Camera

MSME sector must go green to stay competitive, says NITI Aayog report

Govt think tank says MSMEs transition to green electricity could reduce emissions by 30-35 million tonnes over next 10 years.

Rafale saga: 25 yrs of detours, deadlocks & political hesitation. Now IAF getting what it always wanted

Instead of buying more Mirages outright in early 2000s, the requirement was tweaked in favour of a medium-weight, multi-role fighter with Mirage-like performance. 

Pakistan se azaadi. Grow up India, stop giving it prime real estate in your psyche

Pakistan not only has zero chance of catching up with India in most areas, but will inevitably see the gap rising. Its leaders will offer its people the same snake oil in different bottles.