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Friday, April 19, 2024
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Book Excerpts

‘Tirunelveli riots’ was a high point of the Swadeshi movement. A shipping rivalry caused it

In ‘Swadeshi Steam’, AR Venkatachalapathy traces the journey of India’s first indigenous shipping company Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company and its founder VO Chidambaram Pillai.

Why Manmohan Singh was late to his swearing-in ceremony in 1991

In ‘India’s Finance Ministers: Volume 2’, AK Bhattacharya looks at how the 12 finance ministers in the period between 1977 to 1998 took the country from a closed, agrarian economy to a liberal one.

MNCs know that global strategies don’t work in India. But they are still not ready to adapt

India’s mega consumption story is the most exciting in the world. Unlike most markets of its size, it is and for a long time will be, driven by lots and lots of small consumers.

Savarkar accepted intercaste marriages for one reason—it kept Hindus within the community.

In ‘Savarkar And The Making Of Hindutva’, Janaki Bakhle examines the full range of the Hindutva idealogue’s writings in Marathi—from politics and history to poetry.

Babur fell hopelessly in love with a boy called Baburi. Roamed love-sick like a madman

In 'Babur: The Chessboard King', Aabhas Maldahiyar brings to life the many faces of Mughal emperor Babur, challenging his typical depictions.

World’s first plague vaccine was made with ghee. It appalled high-caste Hindus, Parsis

In 'The Moral Contagion', Julia Hauser and Sarnath Banerjee document how civilisations over hundreds of years dealt with plagues.

India couldn’t afford an independent Hyderabad. It would’ve become a cancer in nation’s belly

In 'Conquering the Maharajas', Harrison Akins delves into the crucial history of princely India from the end of the British empire in South Asia to the intial years of India & Pakistan's independence.

Advani’s wife told him she won’t marry him if he came wearing dhoti-kurta

Advani gained prominence in Jan Sangh politics because of his good command of English. He was, perhaps, the only senior party leader in those days who could expertly handle the English media.

Begram ivories – artistic marvels of ancient Afghanistan that travelled the Silk Road

Since their excavation, most of the Begram ivory statuettes have been housed in the National Museum of Afghanistan in Kabul. But many of these objects were lost, stolen or irreparably damaged in the civil war of 1992.

Story of Rukhmabai, the teen bride from colonial Bombay who picked prison over husband

From overcoming trials to inscribing her name in the annals of women's liberation, Rukhmabai's journey is marked by quiet, unyielding strength.

On Camera

Stop asking fans to explain why they like Taylor Swift. Belittling Swifties reeks of sexism

She’s perhaps the only artist that one still has to offer a ‘reason’ for liking. No one bats an eye if you like Harry Styles or Beyonce. But god forbid you express your love for Swift publicly.

CBDT signs record 125 Advance Pricing Agreements, 31% more than last year

The 125 APAs include 86 Unilateral APAs (UAPAs) and 39 Bilateral APAs (BAPAs). The total number of APAs since the start of the APA programme has risen to 641, with 506 UAPAs and 135 BAPAs.

Agniveer applicants in Army up nearly 10% compared to last year

This year, the Army has scheduled an online combined examination that will span 174 locations across the country. The examination window is from April 22 to May 7.

44 years on, two things that have changed in Modi’s BJP, and one that hasn’t

As the BJP heads for a likely third successive term in power, it's fascinating to debate how true it looks to the original proposition: a party with a difference.