Nani Palkhivala: Eternal Sentinel of India’s Constitutional Soul
In the hallowed corridors of the Indian judiciary, certain names do not merely represent legal expertise; they evoke the very spirit of liberty and the sanctity of the Constitution. Nanabhoy “Nani” Ardeshir Palkhivala was one such rare luminary. As we mark his 106th birth anniversary this January 16, we remember a man who was far […]
The Maverick Of Melody: Celebrating O.P. Nayyar’s Unstoppable Rhythm
The history of Hindi cinema is often divided by eras of legendary composers, but few occupied a space as distinct, as rhythmic, and as unabashedly spirited as Omkar Prasad Nayyar. On the occasion of his birth centenary this January 16, we look back at a man who did more than just compose songs; he bottled […]
Democracy by Confusion: How Maharashtra’s New Ward System Turned Voting into an Ordeal
When electoral innovation ignores the voter, participation becomes punishment. An Election Long Delayed, Then Poorly Delivered After more than three years of administrator rule in Maharashtra’s major municipal corporations, the 2026 civic elections were expected to restore grassroots democracy. The Supreme Court’s intervention in late 2025 finally cleared the logjam caused by prolonged disputes over […]
Shakti Samanta: The Master Craftsman of Romance, Mystery & Melody
January 13, 2026, marked the birth centenary of Shakti Samanta, one of the most successful and influential filmmakers in Hindi and Bengali cinema.Shakti Samanta: The Master Craftsman of Romance, Mystery & Melody Marking the Birth Centenary of a Filmmaker Who Defined an Era in Hindi and Bengali Cinema Here is a portrait of the legendary director, […]
Abrupt Closure Of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute Of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME)
Celebrating Educational Sabotage: The Communal Hijacking of Vaishno Devi Medical College In a bizarre spectacle that underscores the perilous intersection of politics and education in contemporary India, members of the Shri Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti in Jammu distributed sweets and blared triumphant music to hail the cancellation of the MBBS course at the Shri Mata […]
The Legendary Urdu Poet Kaifi Azmi
Echoes of Revolution: Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam (What a beautiful tyranny time has wrought) On this January 14, as the world marks the 107th birth anniversary of Kaifi Azmi, the air seems laced with the quiet rebellion of his words.Born in 1919 amid the rustic folds of Mijwan village in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, […]
Ahmad Faraz A Voice That Refused To Bow Before Power, Orthodoxy Or Cruelty
“ab ke ham bichhḌe to shāyad kabhī ḳhvāboñ meñ mileñ”“If we part now, perhaps we will meet again in dreams.” On 12 January 2026, the Urdu-speaking world marks the 95th birth anniversary of Ahmad Faraz, the poet who made love sound like defiance and resistance feel like tenderness. Nearly two decades after his passing, Faraz […]
Somnath & The Uses Of History: What The Prime Minister’s Narrative Leaves Out
Mumbai,9Jan26: When Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently invoked the Somnath temple as a symbol of India’s civilisational endurance, marking a millennium since Mahmud of Ghazni’s raid, he was not merely recalling a historical event. He was articulating a particular way of remembering the past — one that treats Somnath as an emblem of uninterrupted Hindu […]
The Illusion of Autonomy :Why the VBSA Bill Risks Shackling Higher Education
Mumbai,9Jan26:My critique of Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan : The Illusion of Autonomy: Why the VBSA Bill Risks Shackling Higher Education .The recently introduced Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025, has been presented by its proponents as a landmark move to “free” Indian universities. Writing in th Indian Express, Delhi University Vice Chancellor Prof. Yogesh […]
The Illusion of Autonomy: Why the VBSA Bill Risks Shackling Higher Education
The recently introduced Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill, 2025, has been presented by its proponents as a landmark move to “free” Indian universities. Writing in th Indian Express, Delhi University Vice Chancellor Prof. Yogesh Singh argues that the Bill will usher in an era of “minimal structural encumbrance” and “maximum governance.” However, a closer […]
