Why the Taj Mahal Should Not Be Reduced to a Temple Theory
The latest judicial stir over the Taj Mahal is not an archaeological breakthrough; it is another reminder of how easily India’s public square can be hijacked by assertion masquerading as inquiry. The Allahabad High Court’s notice on a plea seeking a survey of the monument has revived a long-discredited “Tejo Mahalaya” story, even though the […]
Neecha Nagar Forgotten Indian Classic That Conquered Cannes Before World Knew Cinema
A cinematic milestone that history almost misplaced Every year, Indian cinema celebrates its box-office triumphs, iconic stars and globally recognised filmmakers. Yet, hidden beneath the glitter of commercial success lies a remarkable achievement that remains curiously absent from popular memory. Long before Indian films became regular participants at international festivals, a young filmmaker named Chetan […]
The Sovereign of the Silver Screen: Five Years Without Dilip Kumar
“Hamare baad mehfil mein afsaane bayaan honge,Baharein humko dhoondhegi na jaane hum kahaan honge…”(In our absence, stories will be told in the gathering; spring will search for us, knowing not where we have gone…) Five years ago, on July 7, India lost its true cinematic Kohinoor. The passing of Mohammed Yusuf Khan—immortalized forever as Dilip […]
The Architecture of Paradox: Unmasking the Selective Memory Behind Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s Iconography
In the contemporary theatre of Indian politics, history is rarely left to rest; it is continuously excavated, weaponized, and remodeled to serve modern ideological projects. The recent state-sponsored hagiography surrounding Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee—marked by newly declared public holidays and the fervent elevation of his stature to that of a flawless founding father—is a classic […]
Mani Kaul: The Quiet Radical Who Remade Indian Cinema
On the 15th anniversary of his death, we remember a filmmaker who treated cinema as a language of thought — austere, demanding, and endlessly generative. Mani Kaul belonged to that rare lineage of artists who treated film not as entertainment but as an instrument for rethinking perception. Born Rabindranath Kaul in Jodhpur in 1944, he […]
An American Pope’s Call: Rediscovering Unity on the Eve of America’s 250th Anniversary of Independence
As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its independence, Pope Leo XIV—the first American to lead the Catholic Church—has delivered a poignant reminder of the nation’s foundational ideals. Accepting the Liberty Medal at a ceremony hosted by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the pontiff spoke virtually from the Vatican, urging his fellow […]
America’s 250th Birthday: The Bloody Farce of “Epic Fury” and the Death Rattle of Empire
As fireworks explode over Washington this July 4, 2026, marking the United States’ semiquincentennial, a darker blaze rages half a world away. The Middle East is engulfed in the flames of “Operation Epic Fury”—Washington’s reckless war on Iran, launched in the arrogant belief that American bombs can dictate the future of nations. What should have […]
The Birth of a Republic; USA at 250: The American Revolution and the Burden of Global Power
From Discovery to Colonisation The story of American independence did not begin on 4 July 1776. Its roots lie in the great maritime explorations of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, when advances in navigation enabled European powers to venture beyond familiar seas. Portuguese explorers opened the sea route around Africa to India, while […]
The Grand Old Man Who Taught India to Count Its Losses
On Dadabhai Naoroji’s death anniversary, we remember the economist‑politician who turned numbers into a national argument On 30 June 1917, Bombay (now Mumbai) lost a son who had taught a colony how to measure its own subjugation. Dadabhai Naoroji—teacher, parliamentarian, president of the Indian National Congress, and the first Asian to sit in the British […]
The Legend of Asal Uttar: Honouring Veer Abdul Hamid, India’s Tank Destroyer
On July 1st, India pauses to honor one of its finest sons, a soldier whose unmatched bravery redefined the capabilities of foot soldiers against heavy armor. Today marks the birth anniversary of Company Quartermaster Havildar (CQMH) Abdul Hamid, a man who transformed from a humble tailor’s son into an immortal symbol of Indian military lore. […]
