business 
Ilaiyaraaja was learning western music from Dhanraj Master while the latter was staying in a lodge in Chennai’s Luz Corner. I belong to the generation that grew up listening to the songs of Ilaiyaraaja, probably the first music director whose fame overshadowed even actors with a mass fan following. This was evident in any cinema … Read more
United States President Donald Trump’s move to impose reciprocal tariffs on many countries, including India, has caused significant uncertainty in the global economy. Indian policymakers have tried to placate Mr. Trump by reducing tariffs on a number of U.S. goods, and they have also been in talks with U.S. trade negotiators about a possible bilateral … Read more
India still has regions where fiber optic cables have never reached and cellular towers remain sparse. SpaceX’s recent partnerships with Airtel and Jio to expand Starlink services across India could be looked at as a fundamental shift in the conceptions of connectivity, national sovereignty, and economic power in the digital age. It is not a … Read more
Arbitrariness and brazen bias in law enforcement have undermined the rule of law in India for decades. Despite the spread of education and growing awareness of rights among the masses, high-handedness by the state often threatens the fundamental rights and dignity of citizens. Custodial torture and extrajudicial killings are reported with alarming frequency. Police and … Read more
Democracy is alive The marathon debate in the Lok Sabha, on the Waqf Bill, which went on late into the night and was passed with a comfortable majority after voting, shows that India is the largest democratic country with democratic norms as a part of its soul and body, whoever is in governance (Page 1, … Read more
‘India must recalibrate its connection with the populace of Bangladesh and its democratic entities’ | Photo Credit: REUTERS The political developments in Bangladesh, particularly violence against Hindus, since the deposition of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, have again raised apprehensions regarding the status of religious minorities in the country. In the broader perspective … Read more
This week, NITI Aayog, in partnership with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), launched the NITI NCAER States Economic Forum — a portal aggregating data and analysis on State finances. It presents State-wise reports covering macroeconomic indicators including tax and non-tax revenues, as well as human development statistics such as school dropout rates, … Read more
Published – April 03, 2025 03:12 am IST Read Comments Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit
In 2021, I watched the comedian Varun Grover perform in New Delhi. As per usual, he had the audience in the palm of his hand. About 10 minutes in, Grover said (in Hindi), “Please understand the chronology. First, I tell the joke, then you laugh and finally, I go to jail.” The laughter was muted, … Read more
Ever since the Union government began discussing the delimitation exercise, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has made it clear that he supports the process, unlike his southern counterparts, led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. Supporting the NDA government’s move, Mr. Naidu — who had earlier promoted family planning and spoken about … Read more