2019: The Year of Urdu
byThe publication of the first Urdu novel 150 years ago gave us a language of reason & reform besides that of love & passion.
Books & Films
Wizards: The Story of Indian Spin Bowling
byAnindya Dutta’s book, encyclopaedic & well-written, presents an in-depth account of India’s greatest spinners.
How Indian Cinema Helped Fight Fascism During World War II
byAs World War II raged on, the Indian film industry filtered the stories of war through the prism of cinema.
Gumnaami: Did Subhas Chandra Bose Die In A Plane Crash?
byGumnaami raises important questions about the death of one of India’s most controversial leaders – Subhas Chandra Bose.
Caste Matters In A Global World
byThe corpus of literature published recently helps understand how caste manifests itself in a globalised world.
Rajatarangini: A Chronicle Of The Kings Of Kashmir
byDoes Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, the 12th-century chronicle of the kings of Kashmir, establish a glorious Hindu past?
Ismat Chughtai & The Making Of Secular Cinema
byIsmat Chughthai’s words have travelled long. The ‘Uncivil woman’s’ poems, plays & films continue to provoke thought.
The Cosmopolitanism Of Indian Cinema
byIndian cinema represents India’s cosmopolitan & plural mores. At the same time, it connects us to the wider world.
Allahakbarries CC: When Peter Pan’s Author Invented ‘Celebrity Cricket’
byJ M Barrie–the celebrated Scottish author, Peter Pan’s creator–founded an amateur cricket team called ‘Allahakbarries.’
The Discovery Of India
byDecades after its publication, The Discovery Of India, Nehru’s treatise on India, remains more relevant than ever.
Suleiman Charitra: The 15th-Century Sanskrit Biblical Text
byThe Suleiman Charitra is a Sanskrit retelling of a Biblical tale by a Hindu poet for his Muslim Patron.
Sculpting The Elephant: A Review
bySylvia Vetta’s book tells a fascinating love story that transcends the boundaries of race & religion.
Why Emotional Intelligence Is More Important Than IQ
byDaniel Goleman’s book Emotional Intelligence is fascinating. Please don’t read it on a busy bus.
The Zafarnama: When Aurangzeb Broke The Oath Sworn Upon The Qur’an
byThe Zafarnama, a letter sent by Guru Gobind Singh, rebukes Aurangzeb for breaking the oath sworn upon the Qur’an.
Censoring Cinema In India: A Brief History
byThe history of film censorship in India — both official and unofficial— denotes a sense of casual arbitrariness.