Opinion
Pawan K. Verma's column: Why should literature be evaluated through the prism of the West?
Among the writers nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature this year was India's 94-year-old veteran Gulzar. Gulzar, who crafts words neatly, is recognized in every household in India. Through translations, he is also respected all over the world. The breadth of his writing is astounding. Poetry, film songs, children's literature, dramas, stories, prose works and screenplays – his writings have enriched all these genres. Given his age and lifelong dedication to literature, it would have been fitting that his literary contribution would have been honoured. But the judges chose Canadian wr
Pt. Vijay Shankar Mehta's column: 'Growth' and 'Giving' go together this Diwali
This year, a thought should be given to the festival of light. We worship lamps. Lamps never make noise. But the people who light that lamp give a lot of noise and smoke to nature on this night. We are the people who light those lamps. Now think about which light we are talking about? The most beautiful light in the world is the one given by the Sun God in the morning. Throughout the year, we do not worship the sun, we do not respect its light. Most people are getting up after sunrise. This is an insult to the light of the sun. We also reject this capital that is getting free and think of ligh
N. Raghuraman's column: Diya continues to maintain the importance of Indian culture
A picture in my memories never faded. My mother was decorating lamps along the walkway one by one. A big lamp was placed in the middle of the rangoli. The slowly setting sun was giving way to the darkness. As evening fell, the mother started lighting the lamps. A faint light was falling on one part of the mother's face, which clearly showed her half-dot, light smile and the happiness on her face. A few strands of her freshly washed hair were scattered between the forehead and ears. I was almost lost staring at her silently. She looked and asked, 'What are you looking at?' I said, 'You look exa
Sachin Kalbag's column: Focus on 2 things: Increasing exports and inviting investors
India's policy response during the fall in the value of the rupee has been focused on managing the flow of capital rather than addressing the problems in the economy. But schemes like Foreign Currency Non-Resident Deposits (FCNR) can only provide temporary relief. They may create some cash flow for some time, but the price will have to be paid by the RBI. The solution is to attract foreign direct investment and increase exports. Countries like Vietnam and Mexico have attracted billions of dollars of FDI in 2026. If India also wants to retain foreign investment, then clear rules at the level of
Meghna Pant's column: What will happen to our bright future if cruelty starts to fill even children?
There are some videos that, after watching, one wishes they had not been seen. Not because they contain gruesome scenes, but because they reveal a disturbing truth. To what extent we have come to accept cruelty as normal. The attack on a poor, innocent, six-year-old girl – who was also specially-abled – by an eight-year-old boy is one such horrific incident. It shook the entire country. This has raised many questions. What was the surveillance system like in the school in Panchkula, where the girl was attacked so fearlessly? Where were the teachers? How did the child get into such an unsaf
Jean Drez's column: "The proportion of 'missing voters' varies from state to state.
The number of people aged 18 years or above in India is around 100 crore. How many of these people will have their names in the electoral roll after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)? A rough answer to this question can be given. The final electoral rolls of the SIRs of 13 large states have been released. According to the estimates of the National Commission on Population (NPC), the total number of people aged 18 years or above in these 13 states on March 1, 2026, was around 72 crore. On the other hand, the final voter list of the SIR of these states has the names of a tot
India’s steel market heads for a supply squeeze
India’s steel sector is poised for a tightening supply-demand balance, with inventories expected to decline and prices to find support. Aditya Birla Money estimates steel consumption will rise to 229.2 million tonnes by FY30, outpacing production of 218.6 million tonnes. The resulting deficit could draw down inventories despite expanding capacity. Historically, domestic HRC prices have moved in tandem with inventory cycles, and recent stock depletion alongside price recovery points to firmer market conditions. Meanwhile, trade barriers across the US, Europe and UK are curbing import while In
Neeraj Kaushal's column: Western culture is not to blame for our waist girth.
The problem of obesity has increased rapidly in India. Almost one in every three women in the age group of 15 to 49 years and more than one in every four men are overweight or they are obese. In line with our tendency to blame the West for all their problems, many people blame globalization, fast food and western lifestyle. While there are already enough ingredients in the Indian diet to increase our waist circumference; We do not need globalization for this. Chole-bhature has more calories than an Angus burger. We also like to eat jalebis after chole-bhatura. But despite being crispy and deli
N. Raghuraman's column: Electricity; a service or a license to know?
Even before Diwali lamps illuminate our homes and streets, the decorative lights on shops, markets and buildings have started to shine across the country. Colorful lights announce the arrival of this 'Festival of Light' even before the festival. The credit for this magic goes to electricity. But did we become so accustomed to this wonderful service that we even forgot how dangerous it can be if used carelessly? Two recent incidents forced me to ask this question. Two foreign nationals died and two others were injured after a suspected electric current in the swimming pool of a five-star hotel
N. Raghuraman's column: Great ideas need an open mind, not millions of dollars of labs.
In 2017, when the world was struggling with the problem of single-use plastic and restaurants were looking for alternatives to its absurdity, Professor Saji Varghese was taking a walk as usual in the lush green campus of Christ University, Bengaluru. His eyes fell on a dry coconut leaf lying on the grass. In India, these leaves are found everywhere and are usually burnt thinking they are agricultural waste. Picking up a leaf and moving it between his fingers, he felt something strange. Its surface was smooth and shiny. Despite breaking from the tree, it was neither rotten nor damp. He pondered
RECENT NEWS
- Petrol poured on minor girl in Kolkata: 3 arrested for setting fire to make reels
- Petrol poured on minor girl in Kolkata: 3 arrested for setting fire to make reels
- Pawan K. Verma's column: Why should literature be evaluated through the prism of the West?
- Pt. Vijay Shankar Mehta's column: 'Growth' and 'Giving' go together this Diwali
- W, W, W, W... Indian bowler created history with 4 consecutive wickets, 'double hat-trick'.
