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Monday, August 11, 2025
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Book Excerpts

Afghan police thought I was a Pakistani spy. Shah Rukh Khan helped me escape arrest

In ‘The Fall of Kabul’, journalist Nayanima Basu writes about her first hand experience of being in Afghanistan when the Taliban took over.

Sarojini Naidu was once ‘enviably close’ to Jinnah – Asaf Ali

In 'Circles of Freedom', historian TCA Raghavan focuses on the incredible lives of Asaf Ali and his companions to tell the story of the Indian freedom struggle.

Ebrahim Alkazi gave up a acting career in England for promise of Nehruvian modernity

In ‘Ebrahim Alkazi’, Amal Allana writes about her father’s life. It’s the first full-length account of the theatre personality's life and work.

How Xi Jinping went from China’s Gorbachev to a combination of Mao and Stalin

In ‘The Indian Reality’, Ram Madhav writes about how Xi Jinping rose to power on the back of his father’s clout.

Sheeshnag to Banihal—young Kashmiris are making trekking locations popular on YouTube

In ‘Travels in Paradise on Earth’, Romesh Bhattacharji writes about a region he’s been exploring since the 1960s. With hand-drawn maps, he illustrates the beauty of the nooks and crannies of Kashmir.

How ‘portable’ Kavad shrines of Rajasthan tell stories of gods & epics

The tradition of kavad banchana involves carrying the kavad to different places, mostly homes of the patrons, and narrating stories from epics such as the Mahabharata or Ramayana.

How a Kannada actress’ confession kicked off legal battle for Sabarimala in Kerala

In 'The Battle for Sabarimala', Deepa Das Acevedo details one of contemporary India's most contentious disputes.

Gujaratis dominated Malaysia trade in 16th century. Cambay & Malacca were interdependent

Radhika Seshan's 'Empires of the Sea: A Human History of the Indian Ocean World' sets out to map our age-old connections with the seas, tracing maritime linkages from the Harappan period all the way to the long colonial era.

Negative thoughts can increase bodily pain. Regulate your emotions to truly heal

In 'Managing Chronic Pain', experienced clinicians Dr Vandana V. Prakash and Dr Mary Abraham uncover the mind-body connection of chronic pain and show us how its mental and social processes cannot be separated from the physical.

JC Bose didn’t invent the radio. But Bengalis think he did way before Marconi

In 'Jagadish Chandra Bose', Sudipto Sen delves into the life of a reluctant, forgotten physicist.

On Camera

Rahul’s ‘vote chori’ attack on EC is a political dead-end. He still has a point

The ECI needs to respond to Rahul Gandhi’s accusations professionally and transparently. Else, it will end up giving him the ammunition he is desperately seeking.

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.