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Saturday, August 16, 2025
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Book Excerpts

An Assamese can never be fully vegetarian—Even temple ‘praxad’ is often incomplete without meat

In ‘The Assamese’, author and journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty details the diverse cultures and peoples of Assam.

What Gandhi wanted from students—avoid politics, strikes

This first critical edition, with a comprehensive contextual introduction by Dhananjay Rai, sets the backdrop for readers to understand Gandhi’s thoughts on making an ideal society.

‘Leave Rogan Josh alone’— Why Kashmiris & Palestinians are protective of their recipes

‘Forgotten Foods’, edited by Siobhan Lambert-Hurley, Tarana Husain Khan and Claire Chambers is a collection of essays and recipes. It documents the cuisine of Muslims in South Asia.

Caste, cash, compromise – What Tamil Nadu’s Dalit party VCK gives up to win elections

'Dalits in the New Millennium', edited by D Shyam Babu, Rahul Verma and Sudha Pai, analyses the political and economic shifts that influenced Dalit lives.

This is why Nehru dismissed CPI rule in Kerala

In 'Violence of Democracy', Ruchi Chaturvedi tracks the rise of India’s divisive politics through close examination of decades-long confrontations in Kerala between members of the CPI (Marxist) and supporters of the RSS and the BJP.

ECI got away with many mistakes. Problem lies in appointment of CECs, says former chief

In 'India's Experiment With Democracy', SY Quraishi talks about the de-politicisation of the appointment of election commissioners.

KCS Paniker’s paintings moved between metaphysical & abstract. They redefined Modern Indian Art

Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Paniker travelled to Europe, where he held exhibitions in Paris and London, while also meeting artists such as Henry Moore and Pablo Picasso.

This Indian woman fled to Kabul for love in 1989. The sex life there repulsed her

In ‘The Taliban and I’, Sushmita Bandyopadhyay recounts how her life changed when she married an Afghan man and went to Kabul.

Women and Mughal jali architecture—where the body couldn’t go, the eyes could gaze

Navina Najat Haidar's 'Jali: Lattice of Divine Light in Mughal Architecture' explores the delicate beauty of centuries-old jalis across India.

God put ball in Bishan Singh Bedi’s hand, said ‘Go spin for India’—That’s not how it happened

Bedi’s smooth action was such that, unusually for a spinner, he never had any injuries of the fingers, shoulder, thighs or ankles.

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.