Humans now serve the global food system
Rather than being served by it Hunger and obesity, bumper crops and environmental damage are simultaneous facts of our food system. This incredibly complex global network is hard to describe. How the...
View ArticleHats & Politics: More than just fashion!
From Trump’s cap to Gandhi’s topi! Long ago, kings wore crowns to show their power. Today, some leaders use hats instead! Donald Trump has his famous red MAGA baseball cap, and even billionaire Elon...
View ArticleHead-y politics
From Trump’s baseball cap to Gandhi topi Kings had crowns, Trump has a baseball cap, as does his billionaire sidekick Musk. When supporters put it on, with MAGA insignia, it’s like their own umbilical...
View ArticleServant leadership: True power lies in empathy
By Farida Khanam As the election euphoria settles and weight of governance lands on the shoulders of the new chief minister of Delhi, people of this state have renewed hope. Now begins the real test...
View ArticleThe changing face of comedy
When Ranveer Allahbadia cracked that vastly circulated joke on parents in that controversial show and laughed uproariously after saying it, it led to a national tsunami. People went berserk in...
View ArticleFascism arrives as a friend
English author Michael Rosen’s 2014 poem is pertinent to our times. It is worth quoting: “Fascism arrives as your friend. It will restore your honour, make you feel proud, protect your house, give you...
View ArticleLegal autonomy and the draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2025
The proposed amendments come at a time when democratic institutions are facing increasing regulatory oversight, eliciting substantial uncertainties about the balance of power between the state and the...
View ArticleRethinking professional development for teachers in India
In-service teacher development in India follows a one-size-fits-all approach that overlooks teachers’ needs and interests. How can it be overhauled? Since the enactment of the Right to Education Act...
View ArticleSinauli: Debunking the Aryan migration theory
The terms “Vedic period” and “Arya” have captured the attention of historians and the general public in India and around the world since the 19th century. After the British established their presence...
View ArticleSacred waters, shared souls: Why Maha Kumbh is a living example of...
Faith has been the greatest motivator for humanity and in the last five weeks Prayagraj has witnessed more than half a billion people bathing in the Maha Kumbh. The Kumbha Mela is more than just...
View ArticleKIIT suicide row: How ‘othering’ in university spaces impacts students
Universities are often heralded as liberal and progressive spaces which promote ideas of equality and social justice. But they do not exist in isolation, and are representative of the society that we...
View ArticleCancer
When discussing cancer, it is essential to understand that three distinct stages are involved: initiation, promotion, and progression. Cancer Initiation Cancer initiation is widely believed to stem...
View ArticleWhy affirmative action should move beyond Muslim quotas
The recently published report, ‘Rethinking Affirmative Action for Muslims in Contemporary India’, has attempted to revisit the question of Muslim marginalisation while recognising the contribution of...
View Article90-hour workweeks & 90-second meals: A recipe for disaster
During a college discussion, our teatime conversation drifted to the controversy sparked by a business tycoon’s suggestion that people in India should work ninety hours a week. Many of us saw this as a...
View ArticleTrump’s trap or India’s chance at defence modernisation?
PM Modi returned after fairly satisfactory parleys with President Trump earlier this month. There is considerable hype about Trump’s eulogies on our PM’s negotiating skills, but it will be prudent to...
View ArticlePani puri protocol
What’s gender got to do with it? Plenty You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to decode why pani puri aka golgappa tastes so delectable at roadside stalls but not fancy restaurants; even Dr Watson...
View ArticleState of nations
Idea of sovereignty is relatively new in human history. Impulse to change borders never really went away Ukraine marks three years of Russia’s full-scale invasion today with around 20% of its territory...
View ArticleSheikhing It Up
Gulf states become financial-cultural-sports hubs, but oil remains their trump card & Achilles heel That Indians and Pakistanis played their super-hyped Champions Trophy match in Dubai yesterday,...
View ArticleState of nations
The idea of countries having their own borders and control is pretty new in human history. People always wanted to change borders, and that idea didn’t just disappear. Today, Ukraine marks three years...
View ArticleSheikhing it up
The Gulf states, like Dubai, have become important centers for money, culture, and sports, but they still rely on oil to stay powerful – which can also be a problem. For years, many rich Indians...
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