Noted Pakistani political scientist, Ayesha Siddiqa, is believed to have said that every time the Pakistani army loses a war, their generals pin on a medal. The recent four-day Indo Pak war can be summed up as this: India bombed terrorist targets in Pakistan, the Pakistani air force engaged the Indian air force, whereupon the…
The recent Union Cabinet decision to amend the Waqf Act, 1995 and repeal the outdated Waqf Act, 1923 has generated both interest and some manufactured outrage. While a few fringe voices attempt to build a narrative of fear and disenfranchisement, a closer look reveals a clear and much-needed reform: one that strengthens the management, transparency,…
They speak Malayalam, savour pathiri, and cheer for Mohanlal. They belong to Pakistan yet are tethered to Kerala by memory and longing. Amid the ebb and flow of India-Pakistan relations, the resilient Malayali Muslim community in Pakistan stands as a testament to enduring cultural ties. Descendants of migrants from Kerala, the Malayalis in Karachi have…
(Today is World No-Tobacco Day) The nature of the mind is to chase joy. It moves towards anything that seems to offer a moment of joy. In that search, it looks in places joy cannot be found in and often falls into the trap of habits that promise happiness but do not deliver on this…
India’s digital economy is booming, but so are deceptive online practices. To combat manipulative design tactics, the Indian government has issued a strong warning to e-commerce and digital service platforms: follow dark pattern guidelines or face legal action. This marks a major move by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to ensure fair trade practices and protect…
Over the years, I have come to a powerful realisation – there are broadly two kinds of people in this world. The first are those who are powered by a positive mental attitude. These individuals view life through the lens of possibility, not limitation. The second type is those who find themselves crippled at the…
David vs Goliath is a favoured metaphor for depicting rivalries. In the Indo-Pak scenario too, the metaphor fits perfectly – one of the Indian David facing off against the Pakistani Goliath. Counterintuitive framing? Not really. The basic datum is as follows. India has a lot more to lose – pace of growth, migration of nearly…
Women at the frontlines, men in the kitchen Indian women remain officially excluded from frontline combat roles. But led by Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari, half a dozen women BSF personnel deployed at the international border in Akhnoor, found themselves defending two forward posts during Op Sindoor. Seizing this opportunity, they battled heavy Pak fire for…
A few days ago, I stumbled upon two impassioned conversations on a popular social media platform which bore testament to the wildly unrealistic proportions an average client’s expectations from astrology have assumed. Even worse is how such expectations continue to be indulged and abetted by some astrologers who make promises that are way out of…
The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute at Harvard University is in the eye of the storm over the organization of the Pakistan Conference under its aegis, in which Pro-Pakistan speakers were invited, obviously to whitewash Pakistan’s image in the wake of the Pahalgam carnage of 26 tourists. To counter the media backlash in…
