CATEGORIES

SPOOKS STILL SPEAK

The world of spies today is full of technology, but human intelligence continues to play its crucial part

On the march

The good response to Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra has given the MVA hopes of putting up a decent fight in the Lok Sabha elections

Chance capital

Coimbatore turned into an AIADMK bastion in the 2010s, but the BJP has roots in the city and the DMK has precedent

THE FIFTH DIMENSION

Drafting Indonesia into the Quad and developing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands could help India deal with the long-term maritime threat posed by China

The thin end of the wedge

With the announcement of dates for the coming general elections, the ruling establishment has suddenly found the courage to notify rules for the implementation of the nearly five-year-old Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 [CAA], which had drawn the ire of the women of Shaheen Bagh and led to months-long demonstrations in Delhi, replicated all over the country, forcing the Modi government to back off from implementing it.

EC's view has been that there are grave problems in electoral bonds scheme

The Election Commission had on many occasions raised red flags to the government on the electoral bonds scheme, such as removal of the cap on donation by corporates, the possibility of shell companies being used to launder money and foreign funding making its way into the Indian political system, says O.P. Rawat, who was election commissioner from August 15, 2015 to January 22, 2018, and chief election commissioner from January 23, 2018 to December 1, 2018. The concerns were raised when the Finance Bill of 2017 was passed, which contained the amendments that paved way for the bonds, and also after the scheme was introduced in January 2018. Excerpts from an exclusive interview:

Your vote or their date?

The Ram Nath Kovind committee wasn’t asked to check if it was a good idea to hold polls to the Lok Sabha, the assemblies, the town councils and the village panchayats in one go. The government knew it already. The charter given to them was to suggest how to do it. Rulers these days are like that. They know what’s good for us; they need advice only on how to do the good.

This American rematch lacks punch

In March 1971, I spent several hours in a dentist’s waiting room, dreading the impending torture of the drill. The only compensation were the handy American magazines, full of arguably the most anticipated sporting event in history—the Big Fight between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.

Small is big

The last thing the luxury business needed was the winner of the best actress award at the Oscars to go up to receive her statuette and say, “I think my dress is broken.” Emma Stone’s sartorial snafu was caused by none other than the mega brand she was wearing, Louis Vuitton.

LORD OF THE FIRE

J. Robert Oppenheimer through the eyes of his biographer

Trump card: Musk

Match made in Hell!” That’s how liberal European media described the “political bromance” between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the erratic, outspoken billionaire. In ideology and in temperament, chaotic Trump and quixotic Musk have common traits. Both despise wokeism, feminism, and LGBTQ activism.

Parker Solar Probe, Solar Orbiter and Aditya-L1 together make a great team to study the sun

When Apollo 11, the American spaceflight, first landed humans on the moon, nine month-old Nicky stirred in her crib at her family home in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, in England.

Modi modifying India

Ten years ago, a resounding electoral mandate ushered in the BJP government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

THE ART OF ARITHMETIC

The target of 400-plus seats for the National Democratic Alliance has the BJP on an alliance-making spree

PINCER MOVEMENT

Facing an existential struggle, the AAP and the Congress join hands to take on the BJP

MAN OF MANOEUVRES

Chandrababu Naidu has, with tact and patience, stitched up an alliance to regain his lost influence

I DON'T WANT TO FORM A GOVERNMENT WITH THE BJP

Omar Abdullah is arguably one of the most articulate politicians in India. A scion of the Abdullah family in Kashmir and a leader of the National Conference (NC), he has played various roles in politics, including a ministerial stint at the Centre and as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

SAFFRON DREAMS IN PARADISE

If at least two of the three parties-the NC, the PDP and the Congress-are unable to stitch together an alliance, the BJP may get to implement its poll strategy in Kashmir

Parties on Hiroo Onoda's island

Heard of Hiroo Onoda? Hiroo was one of the several thousand soldiers of Japan’s Imperial Army who were sent to fight on the scores of islands in the Pacific against the Allies in World War II. Their orders were to fight till death, and never to surrender.

RISE OF THE PHOENIX

India's AWACS story is as thrilling and as mystifying as that of the mythical Greek bird that is believed to live a thousand years, burns itself into ashes, and is born again

Saviour stranded

After the demolition of his house, the hero of Silkyara refuses to budge

I'm not at a stage where people come to theatres for me alone

I saw an interview of Aamir Khan some time back where he said, ‘If you want to judge the stardom of an actor, you do not track his most popular film, you track his weakest film.’

A star is Sworn

From turning heads with impactful roles to playing heroes such as Udham Singh and Sam Manekshaw on screen, Vicky Kaushal has become one of the best actors of his generation. The next step, with bigger hits, could be stardom

A Nations Goes Only As Far As Its Women Go

Removing obstacles from women's path is the blueprint for the progress of any society

PUTTING THE WILL IN WILLOW

Amir Hussain Lone lost both arms in an accident at eight, but that couldn’t stop him from becoming captain of Jammu and Kashmir’s para-cricket team

NUMBER CRUNCHER

Madhabi Puri Buch, SEBI's first woman chair, has speeded up its approval and investor complaint redressal systems

ON TRACK

Jaya Varma Sinha, the first woman CEO and chair of the Railway Board, says skill sets, dedication and competence are gender-agnostic

BELLIE, FULL OF LOVE

V. Bellie, one half of the Oscar-winning The Elephant Whisperers, is the first woman cavady in Tamil Nadu

SEA IN A NEW LIGHT

How Commander Prerna Deosthalee became the first woman to be appointed commanding officer of an Indian naval ship

CARVING HER SPACE

Meet some of the minds behind India’s first women-only satellite payload