The Eternal Valentine: Remembering Madhubala, the Venus of Indian Cinema
On February 14, while the world celebrates the ephemeral nature of modern romance, cinema lovers pause to honor a more enduring flame. Today marks the 93rd birth anniversary of Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi, known to the world as Madhubala. That she was born on Valentine’s Day is no mere coincidence of the calendar; it feels, […]
Parliament’s Sovereign Space: Modi’s Abdication of Duty A Prime Minister Too ‘Unsafe’ for His Own House
In a parliamentary democracy, the floor of the House is not merely a stage for rhetoric; it is the altar of accountability. The Prime Minister is not a sovereign ruler but the first among equals, tethered to the legislature by an umbilical cord of constitutional responsibility. When that bond is frayed by absenteeism or bypassed […]
Controversy Over Retired General M.M. Naravane’s Book & Its Political Fallout
Has a General Been Silenced to Shield the Prime Minister?The Real Scandal Lies Beyond the BookHussain Naqvi The controversy surrounding General M.M. Naravane’s unpublished memoir is not about whether a book should see the light of day. It is about the Modi government’s palpable alarm at the mere emergence of its excerpts—and the general’s conspicuous refusal […]
Nida Fazli Poets Of His Stature Do Not Disappear Into Memory
Safar mein dhoop to hogi jo chal sako to chalo* (The sun will scorch the journey—walk on, if you have the courage to walk.) On his tenth death anniversary, 8 February, Nida Fazli’s voice continues to move through our fractured times like a stubborn beam of light. A poet who chose to stay back when […]
The Erosion of Pluralism: India’s Descent into State-Sanctioned Majoritarianism
The foundational promise of the Indian Republic—a pluralistic sanctuary for all faiths—is currently weathering its most severe storm since Independence. What was once a series of isolated communal skirmishes has evolved into a systematic, widespread campaign of intimidation against religious minorities. As the world watches, the “world’s largest democracy” is increasingly being defined not by […]
Blood on Friday Prayers: The Islamabad Mosque Massacre
Blood on Friday Prayers: The Islamabad Mosque Massacre Another Chapter in Pakistan’s Sectarian Shame In the shadow of Pakistan’s gleaming capital, where diplomats convene and power brokers plot, a suicide bomber shattered the sanctity of Friday prayers on February 6, 2026. The blast at Khadijah al Kubra mosque-cum-Imambargah in Islamabad’s Tarlai area claimed at least 31 […]
The Erosion of Pluralism: India’s Descent into State-Sanctioned Majoritarianism
The foundational promise of the Indian Republic—a pluralistic sanctuary for all faiths—is currently weathering its most severe storm since Independence. What was once a series of isolated communal skirmishes has evolved into a systematic, widespread campaign of intimidation against religious minorities. As the world watches, the “world’s largest democracy” is increasingly being defined not by […]
America’s Bargain, India’s Burden: The Modi-Trump Trade Pact Under Scrutiny
In a surprise announcement that bypassed conventional diplomacy, US President Donald Trump declared a “trade deal” with India on February 2, 2026, following a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Trump framed it as a personal triumph, crediting Modi’s “request” and “friendship.” Modi responded with measured praise, highlighting the reduction in US tariffs on […]
Teacher, thinker and scholar
The Sage of Sripuram: A Tribute to Andre Béteille, the Architect of Modern Indian Sociology With the passing of Professor Andre Béteille (1934–2026), India has lost more than a scholar; it has lost its most refined analytical lens. A founding father of sociology in independent India, Béteille was the bridge between European Enlightenment and Indian […]
Revisiting the 1986 Verdict That Reshaped India’s Future
Ayodhya Unlocked: The 1986 Blunder That Ignited India’s Polarized Inferno On February 1, 1986, Faizabad District Judge Krishna Mohan Pandey brazenly ordered the gates of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site flung open, greenlighting Hindu worship after 37 years of lockdown. This unchallenged judicial overreach didn’t just spark a fire—it unleashed a conflagration that scorched India’s […]
