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Monday, November 24, 2025
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Book Excerpts

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.

What led to Gandhi’s desire for sex into complete lockdown? It’s the sacral chakra

In 'Becoming Gandhi', Perry Garfinkel talks about Gandhi’s relationship with sex, and the controversy that has followed him since his days in South Africa.

MK Stalin’s politics began in a saloon. Hairdressers nurtured the Dravidian movement

The saloons subscribed to most Dravidian Movement publications. It was in these places that rationalism, ethnic solidarity and love for the language were inculcated.

Kailasanatha Temple’s rock-cut glory even attracted Aurangzeb–Gopurams to Ravana sculptures

Kailasanatha Temple's rock-cut glory even attracted Aurangzeb–Gopurams to Ravana sculptures

How docile, pliable silkworms became ‘war animals’ under Hitler

In Silk: A History in Three Metamorphoses, Aarathi Prasad weaves together the complex history of the queen of fabrics.

How Kannadigas justify adding jaggery in Sambar—Sea level, idli-fermentation speed

In Tamilian style, sambhar, chutneys and podi, etc. are all dumped on an idli or dosai. In Karnataka, dosey and idli with chutney is the authentic combination.

Savitribai Phule carried an extra saree to school. Brahmins regularly threw ‘filth’ at her

In ‘Savitribai Phule’, Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta traces the life of the revolutionary and places her in historical context.

Influencers are using their make-or-break power to blackmail companies

In 'The Pursuit of Reputation', Amith Prabhu and Sujit Patil attempt to reveal about the workings of the public relations machinery working behind every brand at present and its potential in the future.

Intellectual dishonesty has survived in The Economist’s editorial room—since 1862

In 'Modi: The Challenge of 2024', author Minhaz Merchant writes how The Economist marked its 175th anniversary in 2018 with an eight-page essay spelling out a 'manifesto for renewing liberalism for the 21st century'.

On Camera

Worker exploitation powers the firework industry in Tamil Nadu’s Sivakasi

For an industry globally classified as hazardous, protections such as health insurance and a provident fund for workers are necessities. In Sivakasi, they remain elusive.

172 countries & counting, India looks to hit new record in rice exports. But there’s a flip side

The industry forecasts exports are set to grow 16% in 2025-26, boosted by surplus domestic production and a drive to push into 26 underserved global markets with strong potential.

India and France to jointly manufacture HAMMER air-to-surface missile

Indigenisation level will progressively increase up to 60 percent with key sub-assemblies, electronics and mechanical parts being manufactured locally.

A tribute to Tejas. India’s delay culture is the real enemy in the skies

It is a brilliant, reasonably priced, and mostly homemade aircraft with a stellar safety record; only two crashes in 24 years since its first flight. But its crash is a moment of introspection.