Punchlines over punches – The Hindu

While some desperately try to scrub away the so-called bad influence of violent films, they do yearn for the very thing they claim to despise.  | Photo Credit: Getty Images Keralites have had a complicated relationship with violence in films, adoring the adrenaline rush of edge-of-the-seat action sequences but screaming blue murder the moment someone … Read more

When discrimination becomes a habit

When oppression lasts for centuries, it transforms into an invisible force, dictating behaviour without explicit rules. | Photo Credit: Getty Images A video recently surfaced showing an IAS officer receiving a petition from a woman. Before accepting it, the officer insisted, “You wear your slippers first, only then I will take it.” Though a small … Read more

Agentic AI and the stock market

AI lacks human intuition and it is very important not to discard the traditional methods of analysis when it comes to securities trading. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Imagine a world where artificial intelligence could predict stock market movements with accuracy. It sounds like a dream come true for investors and traders. But, what if … Read more

The girl on the flight

A short and unforgettable interaction. | Photo Credit: Getty Images It was one of those routine domestic flights of about two hours’ duration, only it was in the U.S., a country with which I am not too familiar. I had a window seat and settled down in it, hoping to catch up with some reading. … Read more

A to do list for the incoming UGC chairman

After an eventful tenure of M. Jagadesh Kumar, the incoming UGC chairman has a few immediate pending issues that he or she needs to focus on. | Photo: Official X handle of UGC The University Grants Commission (UGC), as the name suggests, was initially conceived to provide grants to higher education institutions in 1953. It evolved … Read more

Stories of the nation, in films and life

(This is the latest edition of the Political Line newsletter curated by Varghese K. George. The Political Line newsletter is India’s political landscape explained every week. You can subscribe here to get the newsletter in your inbox every Friday.) The changing face of Indian nationalism is now reflected in the country’s movies Manoj Kumar’s passing and Phule’s film … Read more

Teaching children to eat well must begin in school

Last month, world leaders gathered in Paris for the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit. It was also a time for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to announce the extension of the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition, from its original timeframe of 2016-25, to 2030. This extension seeks to sustain the global momentum … Read more

​A gathering storm: On India’s diplomatic actions against Pakistan

The diplomatic actions against Pakistan taken on Wednesday (April 23, 2025) by India’s Cabinet Committee on Security in reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack are a measured set of responses that indicate a larger escalation could follow. The decisions such as to cancel visas given to Pakistani nationals, suspend consular operations, and to close the … Read more