Posted inPeople
My Life as an Intel Agent in Pakistan
Recruiting a spy is a heart-in-mouth moment. Often, a spy turns out to be a double agent. Mahesh’s job was making sure that this did not happen.
Posted inFirst Person
Not All PoWs Return Safe Like Abhinandan Varthaman: The Case of Captain Gurung
Captain Vijender Singh Gurung was captured by Pakistan during the 1971 war. He spent nearly 13 months in captivity. This is his story.
Posted inPOV
A Shimon Peres Recipe for Mr Modi
Israel's Shimon Peres represented a combination of the Machiavellian ideology and Gandhian philosophy that India sorely needs in the aftermath of surgical strikes across the LoC.
Posted inCulture
Manto: The Seer Who Knew Every Prostitute and Pimp in Town
Manto’s stories can broadly be divided into two sections: the ones about Partition, and the ones about Mumbai. The latter are the ones I admire the most, when he wrote about the dingy alleys of the city, where prostitutes, pimps, and decent men met, their dreams and desires in tow and humanity intact.
Posted inPOV
Did Gandhism Come with an Expiry Date?
Is Gandhism outdated for the very country it helped create? Of course not. But if you’re up against someone as powerful as you, Gandhism is a no-no.
Posted inBollywood
Five Years of Haider: In the Current Political Climate, Will Any Film Honestly Examine the Kashmir Situation?
Five years ago, when Haider released in theatres, the ruling government was still in its early days and the mood of the nation was nowhere close to what it is today. It is practically impossible to see the film make it past the censors in the current political climate.
Posted inPOV
Why the Neighbourhood Men’s Salon is My Favourite Place to Watch a World Cup Game
If I’m expecting a good game of cricket, I head to the men’s salon in my gully. These gatherings are simple affairs – there’s no one flaunting an expensive jersey; there are no stands named after cricketing greats. It’s just a musty shop, where emotions run high and complaints that someone is stepping on your toes are not welcome.