For decades, Indian cinema—arguably the most powerful cultural instrument in the country—did not merely entertain; it was subtly, and at times overtly, curated to serve a narrative. Not a national narrative rooted in civilisational pride, but one shaped by ideological gatekeeping that often diminished India’s past, glorified invaders, and tiptoed around uncomfortable truths. Filmmakers were…
For years, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was the favourite punching bag of armchair critics, self-styled defence experts, and a section of the political class that seemed more comfortable importing power than building it at home. The “doubting Thomases” spared no opportunity to label India’s premier aerospace PSU as inefficient, outdated, and incapable of delivering world-class…
In the theatre of global morality, the United Nations increasingly risks being seen not as an impartial arbiter of justice, but as a selective commentator—loud when convenient, muted when uncomfortable. Take two recent tragedies. In Kabul, a Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation centre has triggered global outrage. Civilian casualties are staggering—Afghan authorities claim over…
In the theatre of global power politics, few spectacles are as dangerous as a war without a clear objective. What we are witnessing today is not just one reckless conflict, but a disturbing convergence of two—one driven by ambition, the other by opportunism. On one side stands Donald Trump, escalating tensions with Iran under the…
When the Election Commission of India announced the schedule for elections to 242 assembly seats in West Bengal—this time in just two phases instead of the prolonged five-phase exercise seen earlier—it triggered a wave of predictable political theatrics from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. But few expected the Trinamool Congress supremo to clutch at something as…
When António Guterres publicly admits that the global system has a “problem with the Security Council,” it is not merely a bureaucratic observation—it is an indictment of a world order frozen in 1945. His remarks in Beirut once again validate what India has been saying for decades: meaningful reform of the United Nations and especially…
At a time when geopolitical tensions in West Asia are indeed unsettling global energy markets, a curious and telling pattern has emerged within India: the loudest cries of an alleged LPG shortage are emanating almost exclusively from Opposition-ruled states. The question therefore arises—if there is truly a nationwide crisis, why is it geographically selective? The…
India’s long and often uncomfortable debate over the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has once again returned to centre stage, and this time the nudge has come from none other than the nation’s highest court. While hearing a petition challenging discriminatory inheritance provisions under Muslim personal law, the bench of Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices…
In a democracy governed by the rule of law, the judiciary commands respect not merely because of its constitutional authority but because of the moral legitimacy it enjoys in the public mind. That legitimacy, however, thrives on transparency and accountability. It is precisely this delicate balance that appears to have come under scrutiny following the…
When our e-paper published the Special Edit titled “Verdict or Intermission?” on the very day a Delhi trial court acquitted Arvind Kejriwal and 23 others in the controversial Delhi excise policy case, some critics were quick to dismiss the questions raised in these columns. Political camps loyal to the Aam Aadmi Party and supporters of…
