INDIA
Lord Swraj Paul, an irrepressible personality with a chequered career
The founder of UK’s Caparo Group was not just a successful businessman; he also became the first person of Indian heritage to be appointed deputy speaker of the House of Lords. A journalist, acquainted with him for four decades, shares his memories of the man, including Paul’s version of what happened in one of the most talked about corporate takeover attempts in Indian business history.
WORLD
Keeping foreign policy hostage to domestic political optics hurts India
Pakistan is a “phenomenal partner” to the US in countering terrorism, a US military general told the country’s legislators this week. It’s an observation Indians will find perverse, particularly from a country which partners India in multiple areas. This, in turn, begs the question on whether India’s diplomatic outreach has been futile. The answer may actually lie in the government’s domestic political priorities which often overwhelm everything else
BOOKS
Chetan Bhagat of Bengali literature Smaranjit Chakraborty: 'Sense of being successful is the death knell for any writer'
Winner of the million-rupee Ananda Purashkar 2025, Bengali author Smaranjit Chakraborty on the secret of his success, the storyline of 'Shunyo Pother Mallika', translating Jhumpa Lahiri, and his desire to 'tell stories that convey the message of love and harmony'.
BOOKS
Book Review | The Trial That Shook Britain: How a Court Martial Hastened Acceptance of Indian Independence
According to Ray, the British retreat in the INA case set off the process in London of granting complete independence to India which materialized in record time, so to say.
POLITICS
Speculation about Mamata Banerjee skipping delimitation meet is much ado about nothing
West Bengal, which has recorded a sharp decline in fertility rate, has a stake in the contours of a future delimitation of parliamentary constituencies. So, why did the state’s CM skip the Stalin-anchored meeting on delimitation in Chennai? It’s only because it overlapped with Mamata’s trip to the UK. If anything, Mamata and Stalin are on the same page of federalism
POLITICS
The ugly aftermath of West Bengal’s ‘Dalit emancipation’
State administration and judiciary helped Dalits overcome barriers to worship in temples in Gidhagram and Debogram, leading to praise. The story didn’t end there. Subsequent economic boycotts and harassment of Dalits there show West Bengal’s long invisibilisation of caste stems from deep-rooted prejudice. Socially, it’s no different from other states
POLITICS
President’s Rule in Manipur gives BJP a chance to retrieve the situation
The “free movement” day announced by the Centre this month backfired, highlighting how deep the animosity is between Meiteis and Kukis. Notwithstanding the reversal, direct administration of the state by the Centre should be underpinned by a determined effort to recover looted weapons by militias. Time’s short for Governor Bhalla as the next assembly election is due in 2027
BUSINESS
‘Churnings’ in South Asia
The expansion of Indian influence in Afghanistan is as troubling for Pakistan as the latter’s wooing and courting of Bangladesh is for India. But as the two nuclear-armed military powers jockey for influence to undercut the other, the key question is: can they overcome the limitations of geography to rewrite history?
POLITICS
In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee’s fortress seems impregnable
RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat is camping in West Bengal for 10 days, an indication of the electoral importance of the state for the BJP. TMC, however, is sitting pretty, thanks to the significant backing of Muslims who comprise 27 percent of the population. The magnitude of this support gives TMC the cushion to withstand problems that have come in the wake of three successive terms
INDIA
Pritish Nandy: An editor who had your back
Pritish Nandy was a man of parts. It was as an editor that he displayed leadership qualities which set him apart. A journalist who worked with him narrates an incident which encapsulates the man, one who embodied raw courage, high journalistic principles and unimpeachable integrity.
POLITICS
Sheikh Hasina’s stay here should be only on India’s terms
Indian government is within its rights to take its time in assessing the formal extradition notice received from Bangladesh for the country’s deposed prime minister. Hasina, however, is abusing India’s hospitality by constantly making political statements which harm efforts to improve bilateral ties. This should not be allowed to go on
WORLD
India shouldn’t let bilateral ties with Bangladesh become hostage to domestic politics
BJP in West Bengal is hunting for an issue to undermine the Mamata Banerjee government after successive electoral setbacks. The party has latched on to the goings-on in Bangladesh to call for a boycott of the country’s citizens. This is self-defeating as Bangladeshis, among other things, bring in significant business to India’s healthcare industry, particularly in Kolkata. India’s strategic interests need to be insulated from the ebb and flow domestic political campaigns
POLITICS
Why TMC is pushing for Mamata Banerjee to head INDIA
Mamata’s stocks have suddenly risen after her Trinamool Congress trounced the Bharatiya Janata Party by record margins in all the six assembly seats in West Bengal where bye-elections were held – in sheer contrast to the Congress Party’s rout in Maharashtra preceded by its shocking defeat in Haryana. TMC’s contention is that Rahul is a serial loser and Mamata a serial winner
POLITICS
Jharkhand election campaigning hit a new low in religious polarisation
BJP’s leadership at all levels used religion as a key campaigning tool. While no political party is innocent when it comes to using religion, politicians holding constitutional positions need to refrain from going down this road as it undermines the office they hold. Moreover, it makes it much harder to carry conviction when appealing to neighbours to protect their religious minorities
POLITICS
Everybody loves a good ‘Revdi’
In 2022, Revdi made its way into India’s political-electoral lexicon, thanks to PM Modi, as an example of harmful welfarism. Two years on, political parties are competing to top up revdis. Revdis today are the most-high profile tool to woo voters and its critics have gone silent
POLITICS
Mamata Banerjee’s TMC remains in pole position for bypolls
Civil disobedience movement led by junior doctors rattled the state government. However, it won’t impact the election outcome significantly for three reasons. The movement refused to let political parties piggyback on them. It’s largely an urban middle class protest which expects the chief minister to deliver on their demands, indicating its aim is not to politically damage the government. Finally, most by-elections are in constituencies which are predominantly rural that were unaffected by the long drawn protest
INDIA
Jharkhand heads into the Sorens versus BJP battle
The assembly election will be influenced by an unforeseen political star, Kalpana Soren, tribal anger against imprisonment of Hemant Soren and BJP’s formidable poll machinery. The party’s Lok Sabha performance shows that it continues to be in pole position even in an assembly poll where the dynamics are different
POLITICS
West Bengal’s political pecking order remains unchanged after a successful mass agitation for justice
The civil society’s 41-day protest against the state government had one clear winner, the people. TMC had a close call but hasn’t ceded political ground. That’s because the BJP, yet again, showed that it hasn’t got its finger on the pulse of the state’s electorate
WORLD
India must address Bangladesh’s challenges directly amid diplomatic tensions
Relations between India and Bangladesh are tense and PM Modi is yet to confirm a meeting with Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus. This reluctance highlights ongoing bilateral issues, including extradition concerns and political engagement, as well as a need for diplomatic outreach to ensure a functional relationship
POLITICS
Beleaguered Mamata Banerjee gets a lifeline from BJP
Popular anger against Mamata Banerjee over mishandling of the RG Kar Hospital tragedy was dissipated by two days of mayhem unleashed by BJP bandh and protest march. But TMC is not yet out of the woods
WORLD
‘New Bangladesh’ in the grip of retributive justice as mobs send Hasina’s accomplices packing
The counterblast is felling one heavyweight after another. The biggest gun to have been thrown out so far is the Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Obaidul Hassan. The severity of reprisal attacks on security forces after Hasina fled forced the police to go on a strike
WORLD
Bangladesh’s chaos leaves India with security issues because there was no Plan B
Sheikh Hasina may have been a good ally. But opportunities to build bridges with Khaleda Zia and Mohammad Yunus were missed, leading to strategic challenges following a regime collapse
WORLD
India must play peacemaker in bloodied Bangladesh
The deadly turmoil in Bangladesh is far from over and India must intervene to quell the matter. Bangladesh is too important an ally for New Delhi to pursue a hands-off policy at this critical juncture
POLITICS
Looking for a chink in Mamata’s armour, BJP tilts towards a woman to lead West Bengal charge
In a bid to put a dent on TMC supremo's popularity among women, the BJP is now looking for a woman leader to take charge of the state unit. Who is best suited for the job? Will BJP finally manage to oust Mamata Banerjee?
