Special Reports
Girja Shankar Dixit Hockey, long regarded as India’s national sport, has a storied legacy filled with iconic players who have etched their names in the annals of history. Among these legends stands Prithipal Singh, a name that commands respect and reverence in Indian hockey circles. Known for his powerful drag flicks and fierce determination, Prithipal…
Shubman Gill inherits a legacy, not just a team Maheshwar Singh A new World Test Championship cycle is upon us, and with it, Indian cricket is entering uncharted waters. The retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma — two modern-day stalwarts who carried Indian cricket through a transformative era — has created a leadership vacuum….
U Lakshman Rao In the age of Dwapara, when the weight of unrighteousness pressed heavily upon the earth and the tyrant Kamsa ruled Mathura with fear and blood, a prophecy resounded through the heavens—that the eighth child of Devaki would be his doom. In terror, Kamsa chained his sister and slew her newborns, one after…
By all appearances, a quiet storm is brewing at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali — and it deserves immediate public scrutiny. Nearly two dozen faculty appointments, long overdue in a premier institution battling talent gaps, have now raised eyebrows not for their merit, but for how they were pushed through….
N. Nagarajan Whenever I hear about the death of a good human being, young or old, it leaves a deep ache in my heart. I often wonder why God calls such souls away, and at times, in such cruel and senseless ways. This week brought one such heartbreaking moment from Trichy, where we lost a…
Justice or Just a Farce? How a Supreme Court-Appointed Ombudsman Deepened the Rot in HCA In last week’s instalment, I resumed this series with renewed urgency—not out of nostalgia, but necessity. As the rot in Hyderabad cricket deepens, what was once whispered in club corridors is now being shouted aloud. My inbox is overflowing—former players,…
Tich Freeman: England’s Master Leg Spinner Alfred Percy “Tich” Freeman stands as one of cricket’s most prolific and distinctive leg spinners, his legacy etched into the fabric of English and world cricket. Despite his diminutive stature—standing just 5 ft 2 in—Freeman’s impact on the game was monumental, making him a legend for Kent and England…
Sandhyaa Bombay How loyal are we to our country—and to one another? We proudly proclaim that we do not target Pakistani civilian populations, air bases, or the regular army. Yet it is our own civilians who continue to bleed at the hands of terrorists. And even worse, some among us, lured by money or ideology,…
Noel David Speaks: Lost Glory, Dirty Politics, and the Last Hope for Revival In this latest instalment of our deep dive into the decline of Hyderabad cricket, we bring you a candid, if cautious, conversation with a man who lived the glory days and has silently witnessed its unravelling — former India allrounder Noel David….
Dr. Buragadda Srinath Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu remain shackled under government control—micromanaged by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, stripped of autonomy, and systematically drained of their resources. While temple revenues rise steadily year after year, the basic infrastructure surrounding these sacred spaces languishes. Devotees stand in long queues under the scorching…
