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Sunday, August 17, 2025
TopicOperation Blue Star

Topic: Operation Blue Star

A bloody miscalculation called Blue Star

Operation Blue Star was as much a story of incompetence as it was about incredible military courage. The Indian Army generals misread and miscalculated. As did Bhindranwale.

Since 1984

From Operation Blue Star to the anti-Sikh riots to India's ascent to Siachen, 1984 was a pivotal year in India's post-Independence history. And I was there to report it.

The audacity of incompetence

The greatest mystery of these 30 years, however, is how and why, with such elaborate planning, the army brass miscalculated on Blue Star so horribly.

Once upon a bloody time

Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale did not run a parliament or panchayat in the Golden Temple. His was a medieval court with sub-medieval instant justice.

The rich and the ostrich

Absolute truths do not matter. Which is why, even in landslide election verdicts in India, voter swings are rarely in double digits.

The idea of Indira

Mrs Gandhi was no doctrinaire figure, with all her wisdom or ideas inherited from her father. She changed and evolved, often for the better, sometimes not quite so

On Camera

Mahindra is gearing up for future buyers. Unveils limited edition ‘Bat’ BE6, 4 new concepts

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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.

War of IAF, PAF doctrines: As Pakistan obsesses over numbers, India embraces risk, wins

Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?