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The controversy over USAID’s presence in India reflects an increasingly unhinged public discourse, undermining the nation’s confidence and global standing. The BJP and the Congress have been engaged in a political tug-of-war, attempting to corner each other over USAID-funded projects and foreign connections. However, much of this cacophony that passes for debate is fuelled by … Read more
A 10-year-old boy in front of his destroyed home at Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip. | Photo Credit: AFP Over the last year, I remained outraged at the heart-rending images streaming in of children buried alive under rubble, mothers screaming over their dead babies and thousands starving. The dreams of the young are sadly buried … Read more
Crows can sometimes surprise humans with their behaviour. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto This is the story of a friend who has never ceased to be astonished at the memory of the way a murder of crows behaved in her backyard. She has recounted it more than once, exclaiming that the noun “birdbrain” should have … Read more
Wroclaw gnomes on the Penitents Bridge between towers of St. Mary Magdalene’s Church. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Wroclaw’s dwarfs offer a unique way to explore this fascinating city while showcasing the power of peaceful and humorous protest in shaping its narrative. Last November, I had the opportunity to travel to the Polish city. Over … Read more
Bored by a bore, | Photo Credit: Getty Images Frankly, few can stand a bore, especially the egotistical type who monopolises a conversation with little consideration for others. Blissfully unaware that his listeners are virtually squirming in discomfort (even as they tactfully try to mask it), he persists with his monologue usually on a topic … Read more
In theatre, the story as narrated and played out in front of the eyes leads to the world building process | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto Theatre, in all its versions, is a celebration of the grand, the austere and the mundane in our lives. The dedication of the artists, the stage director, the technician and … Read more
Baldness, once a sign of wisdom, is now treated as a cosmetic catastrophe. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Meerut recently witnessed a hair-raising spectacle, literally. Hundreds of hopefuls, with shiny heads, lined the streets, each clutching dreams of thick, flowing locks. Their destination? A group of apparent quacks peddling a “miracle oil” that promised to … Read more
Paris n’ attend plus que vous (Paris is waiting for you). This phrase greeted me in the arrivals area as I stepped into the City of Light for a fleeting yet transformative visit. With only an 11-hour layover, my journey began at the Charles de Gaulle Airport at 10 p.m. and concluded in the early … Read more
The Lokpal’s ruling that High Court judges are amenable to its jurisdiction and the Supreme Court order staying it on its own motion raise more than a mere question of law. The issue concerns both the independence of the judiciary and its accountability. That the Court, government law officers and senior advocates found the Lokpal’s … Read more
