Designer Anand Kabra on his journey, latest collection, and designing for Aditi Rao Hydari: ‘Her connection to Deccan…’

Russia-Ukraine, West Asia and why the energy crisis is moving from oilfields to refineries time is different

The energy crisis from the conflicts in West Asia and Russia-Ukraine is taking unprecedented forms. The present crunch isn’t just about crude oil. Brent prices, at about $102 per barrel, are nearly…

The Koran and politics of purdah

Recently, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama issued a circular directing public halls and madrasas not to permit women to share public spaces with unrelated men during religious…

Persistent antagonism towards Urdu

In June 2026, a group of approximately 10-15 men entered Bharat Chandra High School in Armoor, Nizamabad district, Telangana, and allegedly manhandled its 37-year-old Principal, Aamir Khan. The incident reportedly arose from…

Before voting, students must be taught to question their social media feed

Over 50 years ago, American fighter pilot and military strategist John Boyd invented the OODA loop—Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. Warfare inspired the idea, which is unexpectedly relevant to social media politics…

How ‘kaata wash’ helps preserve the delicate Dhakai jamdani sari

Dhakai jamdani sari is celebrated for its fine cotton fabric and intricate motifs woven directly into the textile. However, you must take care to preserve its quality and charm. In a recent…

Letters to The Editor — September 22, 2026

A tussle that distresses The challenge to the reappointment of N. Chandrasekaran as Chairman of Tata Sons on September 17 is distressing to the company’s stakeholders in particular and to thousands of…

A Malacca-Singapore model for resolving Hormuz

As the siege warfare continues in the Strait of Hormuz and the world suffers, it may be instructive to revisit the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. The Strait of Malacca runs for…

The arithmetic of Tamil Nadu’s growth ambition

At the NITI Aayog meeting on June 11, 2026, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced the goal of transforming Tamil Nadu into a $1.5 trillion economy by 2035-36. A similar…

Unsafe space: on the U.S. and ‘on-orbit space control weapons‘

Although the U.S. military doctrine was openly considering offensive and defensive space control by 2025, the admission on September 14 by U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, and confirmed by Space Force…