CATEGORIES

What Next For Anil Ambani?

From being one of India’s star businessmen to a defaulter facing a jail term, Anil Ambani’s business debacle is a textbook case of unbridled ambition and risky business ventures gone wrong. Where does he go from here?

RBI's $5 Billion Surprise

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sprang a surprise last week when it announced a $5 billion (around Rs 35,000 crore) rupee-dollar swap window for the first time, a move widely seen as helping lower interest rates as banks get flush with funds.

Satirical Spirit

“It is a strange case of life imitating art and art imitating life,” says director Anik Dutta, 58. The adman turned film-maker says he almost predicted the reaction to his recently released film Bhobishyoter Bhoot.

The Art Of Time

From charcoal drawings on the walls of his childhood home to videos on the fog of fake news, artist Ranbir Kaleka creates what is around him.

Exclusive! Rajinikanth: 'Politics Is A Dangerous Game'

Will he, won’t he? Southern superstar Rajinikanth has exhibited Hamletian indecision about pursuing a political career ever since he announced he was joining the fray in December 2017. So far, he has not even announced the name of his political party, choosing instead to deploy his massive fan following under the umbrella of his Rajini Makkal Mandrams and using them to build a cadre of party workers across Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, the ageing star (he is 67) continues to do what he knows best—make iconic films. His latest—2.0, releasing November 29—has a monster Rs 540 crore budget, possibly the costliest Indian film ever made. A sci-fi thriller, it is a sequel to the blockbuster Enthiran (Robot), where Rajini played a double role, one as a robot replica of himself.His political fortunes now ride on the success of 2.0. If it proves to be another superhit, it will put his entry into Tamil Nadu’s political arena on the fast track. The star has always been cagey about his political plans. But in an in-depth interview at his home in Poes Garden (close to former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa’s), Rajinikanth spoke candidly to India today not only about his life and films but also his political vision for Tamil Nadu, and a range of burning public issues. Excerpts:

Amit Shah's Big Test

From chief strategist to mass campaigner, the assembly polls have seen Amit Shah emerge as a crowd-puller in his own right. What does this mean in the BJP’s battle for the heartland?

A Prelude To 2019?

How a faction-ridden Congress got its act together to pose a serious challenge to the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. But has it done enough?

A Harvest Of Discontent

Some carrying skulls of their dead friends, others braving the November cold bare-chested, widows of cotton farmers from Telangana’s Nalgonda district holding photographs of their dead husbands, tribals from Bastar demanding forest rights—thousands of farmers, representing 206 organisations from across the country, assembled at Delhi’s Ramlila ground under the aegis of the Kisan Mukti March and marched towards Parliament on November 30.

Cow Klux Klan

If the ideological opponents of Hindutva had put forward the events in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, on December 3 as a hypothetical worst-case scenario, a product of the official indulgence of ‘cow-protecting’ vigilantes, they’d be accused of fear-mongering.

Politics By Numbers

The decision to give Marathas 16 per cent quota may brighten the BJP’s prospects in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, but will it stand legal scrutiny?

The Assam Discord

Fears that the Citizenship Amendment Bill will enfranchise Bengali migrants in Assam stoke a backlash that could damage the BJP’s electoral prospects in the state.

The Invincible Naveen Babu

The BJD chief’s aura remains undiminished in the state, but his party has ceded massive ground to the saffron party in the Lok Sabha

Alliance Math Runs Into Modi

Modi’s charisma seals the gathbandhan’s fate as the BJP wrests the state with some losses

BJP Holds The Centre

Congress euphoria in the state proved short-lived. With the saffron party swamping the Lok Sabha stakes, the state government seems in peril

“E-learning Caters To Today's Demands”

Education is the passport to the future, and e-learning is the wave of tomorrow. And as the needs of the job market and industry continue to evolve, education and technology need to collaborate to teach digital skills and prepare graduates for the jobs of tomorrow. Rumi Mallick Mitra, Head, IBM Corporate Social Responsibility, India and South Asia, speaks to Shelly Anand about why smart education is the future in India.

The Duffers' Guide To Streaming Success

The Duffer brothers, creators of Stranger Things, say the show will go on, but only till its natural breaking point

How The Congress Can Rediscover Itself

A cult of personality has taken over politics in recent times.

Turbulence Ahead

It has been scarcely a couple of months since the shuttering of Jet Airways, and now a fresh controversy is roiling the aviation industry.

An Ode To Ugliness

Shapeless clothing, bulky sneakers and bold statements... Indian designers are using ‘ugly fashion’ to rebel against received notions of beauty

Sustainbility Begins At Home

It’s as lush outside as it is plush inside. In this bespoke bungalow in Bangalore, traditional, green architectural practices coupled with contemporary design and aesthetics make the space stand out.

The Dream Catcher

Age has nothing to do with talent. Tanay Narendra Bothara, a design student, winner of the Asia Young Designer Award 2019, is a perfect example.

Home Away From Home

While hostels have always been around, the trend is to move into fancier, co-living spaces that come with state-of-the-art facilities

The Big Rural Push

The KCR government is pulling out all the stops to beef up rural infrastructure ahead of the 2019 assembly election

The Hullabaloo Over Hindutva

Political Hindutva fails to articulate the rich cultural diversity of India and inevitably distorts its history

Dance Away The Flab

Ditch the boring gym routine and sign up for these Bhangra fitness classes in your city.

BJP's Big Push In East, South

An expansionist BJP looks south and east ahead of Lok Sabha 2019

In Troubled Waters

Why Koli fishermen, among Mumbai’s original inhabitants, are so vehemently opposed to the proposed Shivaji memorial and coastal road projects

The Natural Politician

In his new book, Indira Gandhi: A Life in Nature, Jairam Ramesh displays some deft footwork in walking the line between hagiography and candour.

The Game Changer

NIIT Chairman Rajendra Pawar talks about India’s position in the knowledge economy and creating a new model of learning

Farmers vs The State

UP’s farm loan waiver triggers similar demands and fierce violence in two BJP-ruled states.