A viral Facebook video has been making the rounds in recent weeks, leaving many viewers stunned. It presents a side of Mughal emperor Akbar rarely encountered in school textbooks. For generations of Bharatiya taught to remember him almost exclusively as ‘Akbar the Great’, the video comes as a surprise, even a shock. Whether every assertion…
When every controversy becomes a reason to sack Modi Every Opposition has the right – even the duty – to hold the government accountable. It must question, protest and expose wrongdoing wherever it finds it. But accountability and resignation are not synonymous. For LOO (Leader of the Opposition) Rahul Gandhi, however, they increasingly seem to…
Judging by the breathless coverage in sections of the media, we would think the Narendra Modi government is on the verge of collapse after the Cockroach Janta Party’s show at Jantar Mantar. Throw in the customary endorsements from a few familiar celebrity activists, and the impression sought to be created is that India is witnessing…
For millions of people born in Bharat after Independence, Jawaharlal Nehru was simply ‘Chacha Nehru ’-the benevolent architect of modern India whose vision shaped a young nation. School textbooks left us with little reason to think otherwise. They celebrated his achievements, his ideals, and his affection for children. Rarely did they encourage us to examine…
The Telangana High Court has raised uncomfortable but necessary questions over the constitutional validity of the state’s marriage assistance schemes. While hearing petitions challenging the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes, Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar questioned the legal authority under which public funds were being disbursed through executive orders and directed the government to explain…
The title of the new Telugu film Idupu Kayitam (ఇడుపు కాయితం) has triggered an entirely avoidable controversy. For many in Telangana, the title is perfectly ordinary. Idupu Kayitam means exactly what vidakulu (విడాకులు) means elsewhere – divorce. Yet, social media has predictably split into camps. One insists the title is ‘wrong Telugu’. The other is…
July has arrived, but summer seems to have forgotten to check the calendar. In Hyderabad, mornings have become slightly kinder after a few spells of rain. Across parts of India too, the monsoon has begun to make its presence felt. Yet the larger picture remains disturbing. The heat refuses to retreat. Scientists warn that a…
The latest social media darling is Vijay Sethupathi. He reportedly declined to perform romantic scenes with Krithi Shetty, telling the makers that she looked like his daughter. Neither the actor nor the film’s team has confirmed the story. But that small detail has not prevented social media from breaking into spontaneous applause. We have reached…
Election season in India comes with many familiar sights – helicopter landings in dusty maidans, impossible promises, sudden displays of religiosity, and Rahul Gandhi discovering yet another explosive scandal involving his political opponents. The routine rarely changes. An accusation is launched with great flourish from a public platform. Television channels amplify it, party workers circulate…
The latest meme doing the rounds on social media deserves preservation in the British Library, right next to the Magna Carta. It carries an image of the famous black door at 10 Downing Street and the caption: ‘Sponsored by Airbnb – Perfect for short stays.’ One cannot disagree with the description. For generations, occupying No….
