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Friday, August 15, 2025
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Book Excerpts

‘My helpless mother stood watching me being raped’—A Kaur recalls 1984 anti-Sikh violence

In ‘The Kaurs of 1984’, Sanam Sutirath Wazir explores the events of 1984, including Operation Blue Star and the anti-Sikh violence.

MGR fanclubs were DMK’s backbone. It made Karunanidhi uneasy

In ‘The DMK Years: Ascent, Descent, Survival’, R Kannan draws on multiple first-hand accounts to chronicle the story of the DMK party and Tamil Nadu politics.

How feminism shaped Indian art

Mid-1900s' women artists were often exceptional presences in artist collectives with mostly male members - providing counterpoints to prevalent narratives.

Ladakh’s ancient rock art is being demolished for development. Few hidden trails remain

In ‘Speaking Stones’, Ahtushi Deshpande brings Ladakh’s rock art to life with 260 photographs.

A ‘tight slap’ only exists in Indian English. Everywhere else, they hit ‘hard’

In his book 'Mind it!: A Tongue-in-Cheek Look at How Indian English Can Amuse and Even Confuse', Sandeep Nulkar chronicles the uniqueness of Indian English words and phrases and the amusing reasons they came to be.

Tibet has little chance to get help from UN against its powerful occupier

In his book 'Imperial Games in Tibet: The Struggle for Statehood and Sovereignty', Dilip Sinha unravels Tibet's complex geopolitical entanglements and the Chinese occupation.

Manipur schools are also sites of violence. Kids want guns for Christmas

In The Smart and the Dumb, Vishal Vasanthakumar argues that in conflict zones, like Manipur schools become sites of violence rather than sanctuaries of peace and learning.

Islam didn’t originate in India but reached it in various ways—before nation-states existed

In 'A Brief History of the Present: Muslims in New India', Hilal Ahmed rethinks the role of minorities in 'New India' and provides an accurate picture of Indian Muslims.

Modi has turned power into spiritual. National is personal to him

'Indian Renaissance: The Modi Decade', edited by Aishwarya Pandit, covers a range of social, political, and cultural changes across India during PM Modi's last 10-year rule.

Stop this North-South divide over mangoes. The real match is playing out in Bihar and Bengal

In 'Magnifera Indica', Sopan Joshi presents a rich synthesis of reportage, history, biology, economics, and culture to chronicle India's favourite fruit - mango.

On Camera

Nobel committee, note how Trump allowed Munir to make nuclear threat against India from US soil

So far, India has responded to his threats with a measured, diplomatic, strategic, and multi-dimensional approach. Now, it needs to react firmly.

Modi’s ‘Diwali bonanza’ for the common man—next-gen GST reforms, lower tax on daily-use items soon

Finance ministry says the proposed revamp will focus on structural reforms, rate rationalisation & ease of living, & will be deliberated upon in the coming weeks.

What is Project Sudarshan Chakra, announced by Modi from ramparts of Red Fort

The project is meant to be a ‘protective shield that will keep expanding’, the PM said. It is on the lines of the ‘Golden Dome’ announced by Trump, it is learnt.

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.