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Tuesday, July 22, 2025

PoV

I saw a Maha Kumbh stampede in the making during the first Shahi Snan

Reaching the Sangam waters was a challenge in itself—everyone was jostling for space, making it difficult to even catch a breath.

Paatal Lok season 2 gets Nagaland right. Doesn’t spoon-feed Northeast to Hindi viewers

Naga characters speak in Nagamese instead of accented Hindi. In one fell swoop, Paatal Lok demolishes the idea that Hindi is the norm.

Bollywood has hijacked the fashion ramp. What we are getting are awkward walks

Modelling was once a stepping stone to a film career. Now, the tables have turned. Bollywood actors have hijacked the platform and kicked out the professionals from the ramp.

OYO is telling young lovers you are ‘On Your Own’. It’s a betrayal

By bringing smaller hotels under OYO banner and establishing SOPs for basic amenities, Ritesh Agarwal revolutionised India's budget hospitality industry and became a billionaire in the process.

‘Loveyapa Ho Gaya’ is this year’s Valentine’s Day anthem. It’s not cringy

If you’re a die-hard Mohammed Rafi fan, you might roll your eyes and label the song “senseless.” But, ‘Loveyapa Ho Gaya’ mirrors the unfiltered energy of today’s dating culture.

Alia Bhatt to Malaika Arora—Everybody’s flaunting bows. Finally, a fashion trend for all ages

Wearing a bow is also about tapping into your inner child and celebrating cuteness—something that truly has no age.

Yoga won’t cure my ADHD, nor will hiding it. Ableism is just like patriarchy or racism

ADHD and autism are not illnesses to be cured or concealed. So what if it is our identity? Do we not have the right to demand humane treatment and live without unfair hassles?

Tourists keep their cars clean, use hills as dustbins. Can anyone say atithi devo bhava?

The Nainital littering incident shows that many tourists can’t manage the simple act of putting their rubbish where it belongs. Their trash is a signature that reads—‘tourists were here’

Indian concerts are a masterclass in mismanagement—ticket mafia, overpriced water, bad network

People who travelled to Bangkok for Coldplay concert had no complaints. In contrast, India’s concert infrastructure has a lot of room for growth—even Bryan Adams agrees.

Luigi Mangione changed how we view murder suspects. It’s all about his digital footprint

Luigi became a folk hero overnight, across the political spectrum. But his personality being deciphered from his online presence left me feeling disconcerted.

On Camera

Bihar mimics 19th-century American South. Citizenship is now weaponised to exclude voters

Disenfranchisement by institutional fiat is profoundly undemocratic. The effect of the ECI's new documentary process in Bihar will tilt the scales in favour of the BJP.

India-US set to ink mini trade deal soon, reach understanding on agricultural & dairy products

Mini deal will likely see no cut in 10% baseline tariff on Indian exports announced by Trump on 2 April, it is learnt, but additional 26% tariffs are set to be reduced.

Not just AK-203, India & Russia to jointly manufacture AK-19 and PPK-20 for domestic use and export 

India-Russia JV is also racing to deliver 7,000 more AK-203 assault rifles by 15 Aug. These are currently being made with 50% indigenisation and this will surge to 100% by 31 December.

Strategic partner one day, tactical nightmare the next: India’s learning Trumplomacy the hard way

Public, loud, upfront, filled with impropriety and high praise sometimes laced with insults. This is what we call Trumplomacy. But the larger objective is the same: American supremacy.