CATEGORIES

Government and scientific establishment have failed

As early as April 2020, molecular biologist Partho Sarothi Ray had warned India of mutant variants and of a deadlier second wave of the coronavirus. Ray is an associate professor in the department of biological sciences at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, and is now abroad on a research project. In a new interview with THE WEEK, Ray discusses India’s response to the second wave. Excerpts:

The Conception Crisis

The sperm count is down, and egg quality low. Men and women in India are struggling to conceive. While lifestyle issues do contribute to infertility, researchers are more worried about hormone-altering chemicals that surround us. THE WEEK investigates how these are impacting our reproductive health

PRESSING ON

Power, Press and Politics By Alok Mehta Published by Bloomsbury Price ₹799; pages 421

Fungus Follows Virus

Pandemic has led to an increase in the incidence of mucormycosis, which can be life-threatening

THE MILLENNIAL MESSENGER

With his pen spitting fire against issues like caste and politicking, Tamil rapper Arivu wants to influence the lives of people around him

I HAVE JUST STARTED OUT

INTERVIEW Anupam Kher, actor

The resilient city

When faced with a looming oxygen crisis, Mumbai responded by changing its supply-based system to a storage-based one

Loss and profit

With his challengers failing to deliver West Bengal for the BJP, Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s chair appears to be safe for now

Court off-balance

While courts have had to step in to fill the vacuum left by the executive, not every order has helped pandemic management

Scripting a flop

After drawing a blank in the polls and facing a revolt in his party, Kamal Haasan has a dim political future

Low sperm count is an indicator of the presence of disease

Dr Shanna Swan, professor of environmental medicine and public health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City

Bedlam in Bengaluru

Amid a political slugfest triggered by Tejasvi Surya, Karnataka desperately tries to shore up its creaky Covid response system

A Better Study On Breakthrough Infection Will Help Our Understanding Of The Virus

A better study on breakthrough infection will help our understanding of the wily virus

INDIA AND ASIAN GEOPOLITICS

INDIA AND ASIAN GEOPOLITICS: THE PAST, PRESENT Penguin Random House India Pages 420; price ₹1699

Narendra Modi Miscalculates On Bengal And Covid Fightback

Narendra Modi’s governance model has been put to test over the handling of the second wave of Covid-19, while the political pressure on him is set to mount after the BJP’s dismal show in the assembly elections

Left proves right

Pinarayi Vijayan’s focus on welfare schemes, infra projects and good governance reaped rich dividends

Vaccination should be free for all citizens

Dr T. Jacob John, clinical virologist

Summit challenge

In his first term as chief minister, M.K. Stalin will have to deal with a strong opposition, an unfriendly Central government and an economy ravaged by the pandemic

Prolonged peril

A growing number of Indians who have recovered from Covid-19 are falling prey to a silent pandemic—the long-Covid syndrome

Withered hand

Assembly poll results show that the Congress is facing an existential crisis and is fast losing national relevance, but the party claims that only it has the national perspective required to hold the country together

The fairer force

Women voters in Kerala powered LDF to victory

Queenmakers

A section of the left supporters and Muslims gave Mamata a historic win

Foothold to stronghold

The BJP managed better chemistry with the Assam electorate, trumping the grand alliance's arithmetic

Spoiler alert

Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchi sprung a surprise this time, hurting the prospects of both the DMK and the AIADMK

Half bloom

Over-reliance on Trinamool turncoats and Modi's charm cost the BJP in Bengal

CROWNING GLORY

A new book takes an empathetic look at the legacy of a mother and son from one of India’s preeminent royal families

Taliban Has Reached Out To India 24 Times

Mohammed Umer Daudzai has been entrusted with the task of attempting political reconciliation with its eastern neighbour. In the past, he has served as President Ashraf Ghani’s special envoy for regional consensus-building on peace and as the head of the High Peace Council secretariat.

Taliban Will Not Allow Afghan Territory To Be Used Against India

Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef was one of the founding members of the Taliban. He was the Taliban’s ambassador to Pakistan when the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, after the 9/11 terror attacks.

Origin story

Claims that Hanuman was born in Tirupati cause a stir in Karnataka, which has for years held that he was born near Hampi

Income generation and industrialisation are key for Bengal to survive

HAVING SERVED PRIME ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh as chief economic adviser, Ashok Lahiri has now taken the political plunge.