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Tuesday, August 12, 2025
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Book Excerpts

Nathu La battle hero didn’t recognise Talat Mahmood. Then he heard him sing ‘Hokey majboor’

In her book, 'Talat Mahmood', author Sahar Zaman writes about the singer dedication toward entertaining troops of the Indian army.

Corruption a blot on democracy. It’s fuelled by high price of elections—Sam Pitroda

In ‘The Idea of Democracy’, Sam Pitroda look at the paradox of so-called democratic success coupled with its liberal decline.

D Subbarao’s advice to Raghuram Rajan—concentrate on lunch menus not interest rates

In ‘Just A Mercenary?’, D Subbarao, looks back on a career spanning 35 years. From his time as an IAS officer to his roles as lead economist for the World Bank and RBI governor.

‘Mama will protect you’—Shivraj Singh Chouhan had positioned himself as the un-Modi BJP CM

'Democracy on the Road' takes readers on a ride with Ruchir Sharma and others as they talk to farmers, shopkeepers and CEOs from Rajasthan to Tamil Nadu, and interview leaders from Narendra Modi to Rahul Gandhi.

Langda, Kesar to Alphonso—how mangoes shaped art, politics & culture in India

Babur, who pined for the melons, peaches, apricots and walnuts of Central Asia, came to admire the flavours of mango quite immediately. Akbar, Shah Jahan and Jahangir, too, remained steadfast in their commitment to maintaining orchards.

Rajasthan’s Bhantus saw themselves as contemporary Robin Hoods—history didn’t

Bhantus were one of the 150 tribes the colonial British government had notified as ‘criminal tribes’, writes Nusrat F Jafri in 'This Land We Call Home'.

Rukmini Devi Arundale could have been India’s President. She turned it down for Bharatanatyam

'Rising 2.0' has stories of 20 exceptional Indian women, who tackled the tough circumstances of their time head on—whether through protest or perseverance—and rose to have a lasting impact on the world.

What are ‘gram negative bacteria’? They know multiple different ways to thwart antibiotics

Superbugs are bacteria that are not susceptible to at least a few antibiotics, writes Anirban Mahapatra in 'When The Drugs Don’t Work: The Hidden Pandemic That Could End Modern Medicine'.

How a Mayur Vihar girl built an internet empire called Miss Malini—ICQ to Instagram

Founder of the popular lifestyle blog MissMalini, Malini Aggarwal has experienced the Internet at its best and worst.

Social media supermoms are adding to the mothers’ guilt. ‘Having it all’ is a con

In 'How Not To Be A Superwoman', Nilanjana Bhowmick confronts and rejects society's unrealistic expectations while advocating for a life of fulfilment, self-compassion and genuine empowerment.

On Camera

With nuke lunacy, Asim Munir joins Pakistan’s Hall of Generals who swapped brains for bluster

Munir indicates that he’s willing to go for broke, even if it risks taking his country “and half the world” down with him. It’s important to understand where he is coming from.

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.