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Friday, August 15, 2025
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Book Excerpts

Java to Iceland, ancient India’s Panchatantra stories had 200 versions in over 50 languages

In 'The Indian Cat', BN Goswamy explores how the cat was represented in stories, paintings, poetry, and proverbs in India.

Pakistan businesses soared in early 1950s compared to India. Gujarati Muslims were the reason

In 'No Birds of Passage', Michael O'Sullivan explores the history of Gujarati Muslim business communities like Bohras, Khojas and Memons.

Electric crematorium won’t give moksha, caste Hindus won’t touch dead. Dom jobs in Banaras safe

In 'Fire on the Ganges: Life among the Dead in Banaras', author Radhika Iyengar writes how no ‘upper-caste’ Hindu will be willing to perform the task of burning corpses, even if the said work has been ‘glorified’ for centuries as the only way of ‘providing moksha’.

Our ‘smart devices’ know more about us than we do. Don’t put blind faith in companies making them

In 'The Third Way: India’s Revolutionary Approach to Data Governance', Rahul Matthan presents an original view of the role technology can play in data governance.

Nepal’s politicians are hiding a democratic deficit. Look beyond the elections.

In 'Nepal', Lok Raj Baral unpacks the idea and practice of democracy in the South Asian nation, disentangling the tensions and balances between representation and governance.

Kingfisher Airlines to Victoria’s Secret—How authority bias brings governance failures

The authority bias gets concretized due to long tenures of board members which erodes their actual independence from the owners or promoters.

Travelling storytellers from Bengal – How Patua artisans preserve oral histories

The practice of carrying patas, or scroll-paintings, and performing patua across villages on auspicious occasions was widespread in eastern India, particularly in Midnapore, Murshidabad, Birbhum and Purulia districts of Bengal.

Overdressed, deluded—how Brahmins viewed Buddhists in medieval India

In ‘Dust on the Throne: The Search for Buddhism in Modern India’, Douglas Ober provides a new perspective on India’s modern Buddhist revival.

Central Railways sent special train, museum gave statue for Ambedkar’s Buddhism conversion

In 'A Part Apart: The Life and Thought of B.R. Ambedkar', Ashok Gopal uncovers the unrelenting toil and struggle that went into the making of Ambedkar legend.

Ashoka edicts silent on caste order. Runs counter to what we’re taught about varna history

In 'Ashoka', Patrick Olivelle writes that the social groups encompassed by Ashoka's notion of dharma were mostly familial or broadly within the family orbit.

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.