INDIA
‘We, the People’: Pride, helplessness and the dharma of democracy
India today is both a source of pride and a sense of disorientation. Our democracy survives, but the absence of accountability, fairness, and civic discipline raises a blunt question: are we truly living up to the promise of our republic?
LIFESTYLE
Gen Z and the gift economy: Practicality with a dash of sass
Gen Z has no patience for dusty showpieces and recycled candles. For them, the best gift is one that sparks a memory, sends a UPI ping, or makes it to Instagram.
LIFESTYLE
Cost of lending money to friends: How power flips when money enters a friendship
When money tests friendship: When money mixes with friendship, excuses and delays expose deeper attitudes to trust. The debt that lingers longest is rarely financial.
BUSINESS
The new geo-economics India must prepare to compete in
India’s rising share of global GDP signals opportunity but not inevitability. Converting scale into lasting influence will demand human capital, institutional strength, innovation, and deeper but tougher reforms
LIFESTYLE
Boredom is allowing yourself to be still, so that the mind can form connections, memories
We groan when rain interrupts cricket, fidget if the wedding buffet is delayed, and sip overpriced airport coffee just to keep busy. Our boredom-phobia says more about us than we realise.
BUSINESS
OPINION | Corporate Transparency Cannot Be Optional: Why diluting disclosure harms investors
Donald Trump’s call to reduce frequency of corporate reporting echoes a flawed belief that less disclosure fosters long-term vision. Invoking China to peg his argument is unpersuasive as over 250 Chinese companies are listed in the three major US stock exchanges. In reality, transparency and rigorous governance remain the true foundations of investor trust
ENTERTAINMENT
50 years of Ilaiyaraaja’s music: What the songs of Ilaiyaraaja capture, and why they remain relevant
For 50 years, the music of Ilaiyaraaja has been a witness to our changing lives, the quiet companion to our various moods. From the earthy notes to the sweeping grandeur of orchestras, his music has enthralled generations, every time a familiar tune begins.
INDIA
Broken health insurance shows regulatory health is weak
If fine print and failed oversight define our health insurance, can we really call it protection and assurance? If you have ever experienced a hospital mediclaim process, you will know
TECHNOLOGY
Perplexity’s Chrome Tones: Is this the boldest AI ‘land’ grab yet?
Perplexity’s audacious bid for Chrome is less about buying a browser than seizing the gateway to the internet itself. If it succeeds, the startup could leap decades ahead in influence, data, and AI capability - but the risks, from regulators to rivals, are as immense as the prize
LIFESTYLE
When old films and songs become timeless companions
On the 50th anniversary of Sholay, a re-look at what it is about Hindi film classics that holds our memories, makes us laugh and cry, offers hope, and connects us across generations.
INDIA
Kal, Aaj, Kal: An Independence Day reflection
From childhood optimism to middle-class restlessness, daily lived-experiences in an India still becoming. A reflective call to look beyond pride, confront contradictions, and invest in equitable growth, justice, and meaningful governance
LIFESTYLE
How India speaks: Beyond meaning, into mood
India’s new tongue: From start‑up slogans to Bhojpuri beats and K‑pop catchphrases, India’s new conversation is less about grammar and more about vibe. Turns out, you don’t always need subtitles to belong.
INDIA
Food safety cannot be a one-sided fight
Selective enforcement undermines consumer trust and fails to address the real risks across India’s food supply chain
LIFESTYLE
Friendship Day 2025: The (mostly) pointless seduction of nostalgia
Friendships built on the echoes of who we once were often struggle to survive the reality of who we are today. To remain meaningful, even the oldest bonds need to find their footing in the present.
INDIA
Middle class by memory, not by money
We still call ourselves middle class even when we’re not, passing on thrift as virtue, annoying our children with nostalgia, and forgetting that mindful abundance can honour our past better than self-denial ever could
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
Menopause changed her—and him too
Menopause may be her biological journey, but its emotional aftershocks reshape both partners—revealing the silent struggles of men who love, support, and quietly endure the change alongside her.
SPORTS
Djokovic and the grace of knowing when
Even the strongest will and finest craft can’t outrun time — and that’s what makes Djokovic’s twilight both human and heroic. At some stage, greatness becomes not about staying in the fight at any cost, but about recognising which battles are no longer worth waging
BUSINESS
Air India’s Real Turbulence: where is the passenger-first intent?
The Ahmedabad plane crash has raised many questions -- Is Air India missing a TrueNorth. Not just for crisis response, but for its purpose of existence
LIFESTYLE
Coming full circle: The quiet beauty of becoming our parents
The less we want to be like our parents, the more we turn out to be like them as we age.
BUSINESS
The RBI has acted. Now the emotional economics must kick in.
When the central bank does its bit, the rest of the system must respond. So far, the response has been cautious, patchy and uncertain
INDIA
What Nestlé India’s choice of an ‘outsider’ as chief tells us
Despite its century-old presence in India and a global Indian talent pool, Nestlé has turned to an ‘outsider’ to lead its India business. It has triggered critical questions about internal talent pipelines, governance priorities, and how even MNCs can fall short on succession depth
BUSINESS
The power and pitfalls of India’s ascent to the fourth-largest economy
India’s rise to the fourth-largest economy is a milestone worth celebrating, but real prosperity lies in lifting per capita incomes. Sustained, inclusive growth demands tough reforms, value creation, and a shift from populism to productivity
BUSINESS
The High Cost of Living on the Edge: Another terror flashpoint, same economic toll
We are living in what economists might call a permanent low-grade war economy. It does not show up in the form of large-scale mobilisations or daily missile exchanges. But it is deeply present. India is not at war. But it is never fully at peace. This in-between state demands readiness without relief, expenditure without the decisive resolution of conflict
BUSINESS
Keep UPI free, keep it fair
India’s UPI, a public digital payment system, thrives on zero-cost, trust, and inclusion. Reintroducing fees or enabling market concentration risks undoing progress. This article talks about why India must resist UPI fees and rein in market power
