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
Election aid allegations The truth about U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement, about a $21 million USAID grant in a bid to “get someone else elected”, citing the ostensible reason of ‘boosting voter turnout’ in India, is shrouded in obscurity and opacity. As ordinary people, we do not understand the correlation between voter turnout and election … Read more
A sentence in the first paragraph of an article, “Manipur is in need of `greater common good’ politics” (Editorial page, February 20, 2025), should have said: “The State Assembly, however, has not been dissolved but kept in suspended animation’…”, and not ‘animated suspension’. Published – February 22, 2025 12:32 am IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brief and official working visit to the United States last week was significant in many ways, reiterating the strong bonds between the two nations and igniting a new momentum in the economic relationship. The visit was replete with productive outcomes for industry of both sides, with major announcements across trade, defence, … Read more
With less than a week for the UGC’s deadline to submit feedback on its draft regulations on the appointment and promotion of university teachers and Vice-Chancellors (V-C), States ruled by parties other than the BJP have ratcheted up their opposition. At a conclave in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Karnataka challenged the regulations, saying … Read more