CATEGORIES
فئات
A Tool for COVID-safety
GOOD NEWS for a Better Planet
ME & MY SHELF
Mumbai-based journalist and author Taran N. Khan has written for Guernica, Al Jazeera, The Caravan and Himal Southasian. Her debut book Shadow City: A Woman Walks Kabul won the 2021 Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year prize.
Books
Languages of Truth: Essays 2003-2020 by Salman Rushdie, Penguin Hamish Hamilton
How To Eat Better For The Planet
You’re environmentally conscious—and hungry. Here are answers to all your eco-friendly food questions
He Created an Eye Saving App
Like almost every set of new parents, Bryan and Elizabeth Shaw started snapping pictures of their son, Noah, practically from the moment he was born.
The Costs of Narrow Nationalism
After taking charge in August 1947 as India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, began writing fortnightly letters to the chief ministers of the Indian Union. In these communiqués—at times persuasive, at others brimming with command—Nehru discusses the emerging blueprint for a young republic. Here is an edited excerpt of one such missive dated 20 September 1953.
The Old Man Versus the Mountain
It wasn’t the first time Bill McDonnell had blazed his own trail in the wilderness. But at 92, he had slowed a bit. And this time, he was really lost
HOW TO LIVE 100 AND LOVE IT!
We’re living longer than ever before, thanks to healthier lifestyles and medical advancements such as vaccines and antibiotics.
Nothing to Sneeze At
Adult-onset allergies are on the rise. Here are some theories why
Life After Death
By sacrificing restraint for sentimentality, Pagglait squanders its promise
He Fixed His Own Heart
When Tal Goles worthy (above) was told he needed life-saving heart surgery in 1993, he said no.
Can I Become Funnier?
We ask comedian Deborah Kimmett
GOSPEL TRUTHS
With his new novel, the increasingly prolific Jeet Thayil brings to the fore women who were once relegated to the peripheries of the Bible
Two Words to Avoid, Two to Remember
A thumbnail lesson in how to bypass the roadblock of regret
THE YEAR I Won THE WAR Against Cigarettes
A pack and a half a day veteran of 36 years’ standing tells of the agony and the ecstasy
The Remarkable Life and Work of Salim Ali
The story of the great scientist, who inspired three generations of Indian naturalists
THE FAIRY-TALE WRITER WHO CHALLENGED A GOVERNMENT
Just like her creation, Pippi Longstocking, Astrid Lindgren wasn’t afraid to upset the apple cart
The DOCTOR of Lennox
This memorable pen-portrait was the very first of the Reader’s Digest series titled ‘The Most Unforgettable Character I Ever Met’
The Best Advice I Ever Had
THIS COUNSEL RANG constantly in my ears when I was a boy: “Go the last mile—and enjoy it.” It has stayed with me ever since, comforted me in difficult times and brought me moments of deep contentment.
Stowaway in the Landing Gear
The thrilling story of a teen who made a daring escape from Cuba—in the frigid belly of a transatlantic DC-8 jet
Has Anybody Seen Me Lately?
A noted humorist describes a predicament in which most of us find ourselves at times
Forever Dev
An interview with a Bollywood legend we lost a decade ago this year
ANDY GOOSE Steps Out
A kind-hearted inventor meets a goose with a special problem
The Road To Recovery
The pandemic did more than attack our health—it hit our wallets too. But smart, sensible investments can bring personal finances back on track in 2021
A Valentine's Day Lesson
As a child, I had a humiliating experience on 14 February. Now that I’m a teacher, my students celebrate the day with love
Three stories to remind us that LOVE CONQUERS ALL
Stories of ending love and partnerships that beat the odds
REUNITED BY SCIENCE
The first time Jay called King Kpodegbe Toyi Djigla, the traditional ruler of the kingdom of Allada in southern Benin, the king hung up. The second time, the king handed the phone to his English-speaking wife, Queen Djehami Kpodegbe Kwin-Epo. She and Jay started messaging each other online. She told him he was a descendant of King Deka, who had ruled Allada centuries earlier. “We would be delighted to welcome you to your home, dear prince,” she wrote.
Politically Incorrect
Much like the politics it depicts, Tandav is messy, clumsy and avoidable
GO AHEAD, DO NOTHING
We push ourselves to work harder, but taking a break can often fuel a burst in productivity and creativity
Department of Wit - I'M NOT SUPERSTITIOUS! (Touch Wood)
No rational, scientific, knowledgable person would bother with lucky colours or ‘slate magic’ ... would they?