Celebrating diversity and inclusivity

As Indians battle it out in our nation's 18th general election, it is again time for voters to reflect on the \"Idea of India\"-or rather, on two duelling ideas of India that are now before us and between which the nation must choose at the ballot box.

Defendant: an Hermès handbag

When Hermès was hit with a class-action lawsuit last month for \"antitrust\" activities, it didn't see it coming. Most of the luxury world has all eyes on this suit, filed by two interested consumers who claim they were denied a purchase, and whether it would go to trial.

A legacy, bound

Amal Allana's biography of her father, Ebrahim Alkazi, is as much personal as it is historical

Cutting-edge chronicle

In his new book, Salman Rushdie's pen is mightier than the knife

Sunak's lustre has dimmed

The British are polarised on taxes, welfare, T politics and the Israel-Gaza war. But they agree Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party will be mauled in the May 2 local elections in England and Wales.

Get personal

THE WEEK-Jaslok Hospital reader awareness seminar on Parkinson's stressed the need to personalise treatment

Pillars of freedom

A temple in Karnataka has placed leaders of the independence struggle alongside divinity

Want to be in top 10 by 2032 Olympics

INTERVIEW - P.T. Usha, president, Indian Olympic Association

Greatest accomplishment by any of the current Indian talents

INTERVIEW - Viswanathan Anand, five-time world champion

The Chennai candidate

Patience and calmness are the hallmarks of Gukesh's game

Order and chaos

Even the opposition may not be safe from the backlash of the recent Calcutta High Court order that cost more than 25,000 jobs

Gandhi's India is being converted into Godse's India

INTERVIEW - MEHBOOBA MUFTI PRESIDENT, PDP

THE OPPOSITION DOES NOT HAVE A FACE, POLICY OR PRINCIPLE

INTERVIEW - SAMRAT CHOUDHARY, BIHAR DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER

GRIPPING CONTEST

The fight between the NDA and the INDIA bloc is the most intense in Bihar

BJP WILL SWEEP CHHATTISGARH

INTERVIEW - VISHNU DEO SAI, CHHATTISGARH CHIEF MINISTER

BAGHEL VS BJP

With five of 11 seats in Chhattisgarh expecting a close contest, Congress is once again relying on Bhupesh Baghel and his record as chief minister

SAFFRON CITADEL

Shivraj Singh Chouhan's popularity and the infighting in the Congress leave no room for change in Madhya Pradesh

CONGRESS NOT WEAKENED BY DESERTIONS

INTERVIEW - GOVIND SINGH DOTASRA, RAJASTHAN CONGRESS PRESIDENT

PEOPLE CAN SEE THROUGH BJP'S DIVISIVE POLITICS

INTERVIEW - ASHOK GEHLOT, FORMER RAJASTHAN CHIEF MINISTER

FIGHTING CHANCE

A united Congress eyes a few seats, hoping to exploit divisions within the BJP and discontent against its new government

Divide and win

I am blown by the amount of research the BJP's speechwriters have put in. They have gone way back in time to dig out and wilfully misquote something Manmohan Singh said in 2006 at a meeting of the National Development Council (NDC), which is \"Our collective priorities are clear.

HEART OF THE MATTER

While the socio-political polarisation gives BJP the edge, there is as much of a caste divide, which could help the opposition

LORD ON THE BALLOT

The BJP has its task cut out in the Hindi heartland: raise its tally in Uttar Pradesh, while maintaining its score in other states. The Ram Temple campaign could well help the party pull it off

CONGRESS GUARANTEES HAVE EATEN INTO OTHER DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES

INTERVIEW - B.Y. VIJAYENDRA, KARNATAKA BJP PRESIDENT

Votes, notes and prison terms

There is a sympathy vote in this election, too. No cause for alarm. No big leader has been assassinated. Perish the thought.

BIOPIC AND BEYOND

Randeep Hooda may have proved his acting credentials with biopics, but typecast him at your own peril

Flutter of flimsy wings

Butterfly Research Centre in Bhimtal boasts 3,500 butterfly and moth specimens

SIMILAR STATES, DIFFERENT BATTLES

The Congress seems to have the edge in Telangana while in Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu and Jagan Mohan Reddy are locked in a bitter battle

A RIDE TO REMEMBER

On board Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s bus as he was attacked

Winning 14 of 17 seats is my target

Anumula Revanth Reddy is on a mission to demonstrate a democratic and egalitarian facet of power and leadership.