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ThePrint Profile

Shakuntala Devi’s literary legacy went beyond numbers—homosexuality, caste, murder, astrology

The ‘human computer’ dazzled everyone with her ability to calculate faster than machines. But Shakuntala Devi wasn't all about mathematical wizardry or stage tricks.

Aditya L-1 success won’t stop project director Nigar Shaji. Next mission Chandrayaan-4 & Venus

Shaji has been the Aditya mission’s director since 2016, bringing together instruments like coronographs, spectrometers, and magnetometers from various academic institutes and other ISRO centres.

Liaquat Ali Khan – Jinnah’s ‘right hand’ who paved the way for a sectarian Pakistan

Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan’s first PM, was assassinated on 16 October 1951. Fifty-six years later, Benazir Bhutto was killed under similar circumstances on the same grounds.

Kishore Kumar had 30 dogs of all pedigrees. ‘Trained to bite only Income Tax officials’

The singer's love for the canine was such that he would sometimes compensate for its lack in eccentric, often rib-tickling ways.

Meghnad Saha—polymath, politician, pioneer scientist who is called ‘Darwin of astronomy’

Saha opened the scientific community’s eyes to the world of plasma, was the chief architect of river planning in India, and even inspired Harvard to shed conventional wisdom.

Jogendranath Mandal hoped for Dalit-Muslim unity in Pakistan. He’s remembered as a ‘villain’

Mandal thought Dalits & Muslims would behave like brothers in the newly-created Pakistan. As communal tension rose, Hindus left East Pakistan for India in large numbers. Mandal followed.

Who was the Gujarati poet praised by Tennyson? The man behind India’s age of consent law

Behramji Malabari got support from the government to translate the Hibbert Lectures to Sanskrit, Bengali, Marathi, Hindi and Tamil.

Shankar Nag—the ‘working class hero’ who is remembered as Auto Raja

Autorickshow drivers see Shankar Nag as a 'rebel, saviour and their alter-ego', director Sushma Veerappa said. 

Mihir Sen was the first Indian to swim the English Channel. It began with a letter to Nehru

When the full impact of his achievement was understood, Mihir Sen was widely feted. His crossing of the Channel, became a symbol of what the newly independent nation could achieve.

Pritilata Waddedar, revolutionary who attacked club with sign ‘Dogs and Indians not allowed’

Waddedarwho was only 21 years old when she led the attack against the symbol of colonial dominance on the night of 23 September 1932.

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.

Vice Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi to take over as Chief of the Naval Staff

He has been the chief of personnel and the flag officer commanding-in-chief, Western Naval Command, in the rank of vice admiral.

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.