Rice holds a unique place in India, not just as a staple but as a symbol of life and abundance. In the Rig Veda, it is mentioned as vrihi, revered and often offered to the gods during festivals and rituals. Across households, rice takes the form of kheer or payasam, sweet dishes that remain sacred…
Let’s start with a quick question: When you picture India’s maritime future, what comes to mind; ships and ports, or thriving coastal communities powered by clean energy and inclusive growth? If it’s the latter, you’re already thinking “blue.” The blue economy is not just about the ocean; it’s about how we use its resources wisely; for jobs,…
In the hills of Shivamogga, where mist drifts over the old Sharavathi river basin, a new debate is taking shape. One that goes far beyond local boundaries. At the heart of it lies the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project (PSP), a 2,000-megawatt hydro-based energy storage facility that, if seen through to completion, could redefine how India…
Two years have passed since the devastating Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) from South Lhonak Lake struck the Teesta Valley in Sikkim on the night of October 3–4, 2023. Triggered by a massive landslide into the lake at 5,200 meters above sea level, the chain of events surged over 385 km downstream, reaching as far…
Let’s learn from common Indians at Work – Ideas for Reflection1. Look at the common Indians at work in the huge unorganized sectors; they have the inbuilt potential to imbibe the knowledge and skills needed without going to any training institutes and can take full direct responsibility and leadership for delivery of results and customer…
By A K Merchant What makes us human, and why is there a systemic breakdown at all levels of present-day society? Multiple narratives provide plausible answers, but none appear to be satisfactory, given the health of our planet. The Golden Rule states that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto…
Risdiplam is the life-saving drug for a rare disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Costing Rs 6L per bottle, it will now be available for less than Rs 16,000 per bottle. Because the Supreme Court has refused to intervene in a high court judgment, which upheld Indian generic manufacturer Natco’s challenge to the validity of the…
A strange twist is playing out in global markets. Gold is partying like it’s 1979, and stocks are partying like it’s 1999. But those two eras could not have been more different, the first marked by rampant inflation and geopolitical turmoil, the second by the dotcom mania and relative calm. Read full story on TOI+…
Nah, now it’s more motorcycle diarrhea Mobikes to left of us, Mobikes to right of us, Mobikes massed in front of us Volley and thunder. Charge out like bats from hell Boldly they ride in a swell, Into the jaws of pothole Death Ride the three million. – Charge of the Blight Brigade (Sorry, Tennyson)…
Our soldiers face the enemy at dawn, in snow that cracks bones and in deserts that burn flesh. They patrol minefields, scale ridges, and carry their dead on their shoulders. They defend India with blood, grit, and silence. And back home, from air-conditioned rooms and glowing screens, the selective outrage brigade tears them apart with…
