Special Reports
MS Shanker In my ongoing mission to uncover the reasons behind the decline of cricket in Telangana, particularly under the mismanagement of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), it is becoming disturbingly clear that the rot has gone from bad to worse. At the heart of this decay lies the infiltration of political opportunists into positions…
Lasse Artturi Virén, born on July 22, 1949, is a Finnish former long-distance runner and politician, best known for his unprecedented feat of winning gold medals in both the 5,000 and 10,000-meter events at two consecutive Olympic Games—Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976. With his trademark endurance, tactical brilliance, and sheer willpower, Virén carried forward the…
Vanka Pratap: A Voice from the Inside MS Shanker In the continuing series on resurrecting Hyderabad cricket, we turn the spotlight this week on former Ranji all-rounder and one of the more vocal figures in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) ecosystem—Vanka Pratap. A gritty cricketer-turned-administrator, Pratap is no stranger to the political undercurrents of Hyderabad…
Across centuries and continents, history proves one brutal truth: timid nations get conquered; strong ones survive. Invaders don’t stop out of conscience. They stop when the cost of conquest is too high. Here are concrete historical examples from around the world—cases where strength deterred aggression, and where weakness brought disaster. Weakness doesn’t earn mercy. It…
In theory, the Right to Information (RTI) Act is a powerful tool to promote transparency and accountability in public institutions. But what happens when this instrument of good governance is weaponised for personal vendetta and institutional sabotage? My experience at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, illustrates how RTIs can be…
Girja Shankar Dixit Prakash Padukone, born on June 10, 1955, in Bangalore, is a name synonymous with Indian badminton. His journey began at a young age, inspired by his father’s involvement with the Mysore Badminton Association. Prakash’s passion for the sport was evident early on, as he began participating in tournaments as a child. He…
There’s no greater test of temperament and technique in modern cricket than a Test series in England. Swinging Dukes, capricious skies, and relentless media scrutiny—this is the full package. Into this cauldron walks Shubman Gill, not merely as a batsman with a point to prove, but as India’s newest red-ball captain. And make no mistake—he’s…
Chetan Pratap Singh Chauhan was born on July 21, 1947, in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, just before India’s independence. His father’s posting in the army took the family to Pune, where Chauhan’s cricketing journey began. At Wadia College, under the guidance of coach Kamal Bhandarkar, Chauhan honed his skills and soon represented Pune University and West…
N. Nagarajan Despite growing awareness and an increasing number of adoptions in India, serious gaps remain, especially when orphanages are linked to certain religious sects or self-styled spiritual gurus. These grey areas often go unexamined, even as vulnerable families and children face lasting consequences. Take the case of a family influenced by a spiritual leader…
There was a time—not too long ago—when journalism was a calling. A mission. A noble pursuit of truth. Today, I struggle to even call it a profession. It has degenerated into an enterprise of power-brokering, sycophancy, caste calculus, and ideological hopscotch. If morality had an obituary column, modern Indian journalism would feature on top. My…
