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Book Excerpts

How the Charkha became a symbol of India’s freedom struggle

Specimens of twisted cotton thread found from Indus Valley sites in the early twentieth century were initially used as evidence to date the charkha to the third millennium BCE.

Traditional Baniya banquets had no paneer. The most exotic dish was raswali matar

In ‘From the King’s Table to Street Food’, Pushpesh Pant traces the history of Delhi through its food. From the royal Mughal kitchens and British delicacies to Baniya staples and other immigrant cuisines.

Karma in Jainism is a subtle form of matter. It clings to the soul

In 'The Essentials of World Religions', Trilochan Sastry reveals how the human quest for meaning, truth, and God is common to all religions.

Aryans got the ‘nakshatra’ system from Harappans in 3000 BC

Devdutt Pattanaik's 'Ahimsa : 100 Reflections on the Harappan Civilization' draws attention to how much Harappan memory persists in our lives today.

AMU’s struggle for minority status dates back to 1965. Ex-CJI Ahmadi was rooting for it

In 'The Fearless Judge', author Insiyah Vahanvaty recalls the life and times of Justice AM Ahmadi, who was Chief Justice of India from 1994 to 1997, and was celebrated for being a ‘Citizen’s Judge’.

How Nehru’s hostility pushed Jinnah closer to the Pakistan cause

Tahir Kamran's 'Chequered Past, Uncertain Future' describes the post-1947 shift – following the partition of India and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Hyderabad’s CCMB was called Sheraton of science labs. MF Husain was its artist-in-residence

In ‘Beyond Biryani’, Dinesh C Sharma captures Hyderabad’s transformation into a globalised city.

The Mughal Emperor was a networked individual. Personal bonds formed the base of his power

In 'Akbar the Great CEO', Shazi Zaman compiles defining episodes of the Mughal emperor's life, distilling from them leadership lessons for modern institutions.

Rajputana was shaped by warrior ethic. It was a barrier to becoming great statesmen

In ‘Krishna Kumari’, Rahul Sagar introduces and contextualises the first English play written by an Indian. English Subba Rao wrote the play about the Rajput princess to critique the rule of the East India Company.

How Narada used Sanskrit grammar to turn Valmiki’s curse into a blessing

In 'Ramayanam: Volume 1', Dushyanth Sridhar presents Ramayana as a dialogue between Narada and Valmiki.

On Camera

Skin cancer is no more an ‘old person’s disease’

The sun isn’t acting alone—it has an accomplice in pollution. Environmental toxins weaken our skin’s natural barrier.

Market regulator SEBI clears Adani Group of impropriety alleged by Hindenburg Research

SEBI probe concluded that purported loans and fund transfers were paid back in full and did not amount to deceptive market practices or unreported related party transactions.

60 yrs on, veterans recall lessons from 1965 India-Pakistan war. ‘Equipment alone doesn’t win battles’

A common thread runs through the memories of soldiers of the 1965 war—ingenuity, courage and camaraderie that withstood an apparently technologically superior foe.

India doesn’t give walkovers to Pakistan in war. Here’s why it shouldn’t do it in cricket either

Many really smart people now share the position that playing cricket with Pakistan is politically, strategically and morally wrong. It is just a poor appreciation of competitive sport.