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✍️ Written by Saket Suman There is a revealing gap between what Our Living Constitution  by Shashi Tharoor promises and what it delivers. The promise is commentary but the delivery is amateur recital. Over and over again, the book approaches moments of genuine constitutional consequence only to retreat into reverent summary, as though the mere act of repeating what the Constitution says were itself an act of interpretation. Image Source: Tharoorian on X Let us begin by considering the author’s handling of the Preamble. We are told, and correctly so, that it is “ the soul of the Constitution ,” followed by the full ceremonial recitation of “ JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY… EQUALITY… FRATERNITY .”  The words are allowed to do all the work but there is really no sustained inquiry into how fraternity was historically the most fragile of these promises, nor how Ambedkar himself warned that political equality without social e...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to New Delhi with a gesture of personal diplomacy that underscored the strength of India-UAE ties. Marking the visiting leader’s third official trip to India since assuming office, the two-hour visit was characterised by high symbolism, strategic continuity, and growing cultural affinity. Image Source: PM NaMo Modi personally received the UAE President at the airport, a rare protocol reserved for a handful of India’s closest international partners.  Referring to Sheikh Mohamed as “my brother” on social media, the Prime Minister said the visit reflected the importance the UAE attaches to its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India.  Images of the two leaders travelling together from the airport, exchanging greetings and sharing a private conversation, further underlined the close personal rapport between them. Following their arrival, Modi hosted Sheikh Mohamed and his...

✍️ Written by Saket Suman Kashi is unlike most other cities of India, even the religious ones, as it rarely impresses you at the first glance. It simply receives you, like an old river receives everything without pretending those things, like flowers and ash or meditation and commerce, are exact opposites. This is why every attempt to “fix” Kashi is bound to culminate into public anxiety. People are defending a feeling, they are defending the right of an ancient place to remain unflattened by modern categories. In the last few days, short videos of heavy redevelopment work around one of the most sacred burning grounds in Kashi have travelled faster than the truth that might explain them. Bulldozers, broken stones, disturbed idols and dust rising where centuries have settled.  Manikarnika Ghat, Kashi by James Prinsep 1832. Via: Yaduvam The images are blunt and therefore effective. They first invited panic, then outrage, then politics. The stat...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a sweeping infrastructure initiative from Malda, West Bengal, flagging off India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train and inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of multiple rail and road projects worth ₹3,250 crore. This comes as crucial assembly elections are approaching.  The projects are designed to significantly strengthen transport connectivity across Bengal and the broader northeastern region, while also reinforcing what he said is his government’s emphasis on modernization, employment generation, and regional development. Indian PM Modi flagging off the first Vande Bharat Sleeper train. Speaking at Malda Town Railway Station, Modi declared the day a milestone in India’s railway transformation journey, highlighting that the new Vande Bharat sleeper service between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) represents a breakthrough in domestic long-distance travel.  “This train reflects the aspirations of a developed India...

✍️ Written by Saket Suman Writing and journalism are always under pressure. Pressure is their natural habitat. The tragedy now is that comfort has begun to cunningly pass off as success. The cushioned chairs, the familiar faces and the reliable applause!  A profession that cannot tolerate discomfort will eventually lose the ability to describe reality. And reality, unlike these sponsored festivals, does not curate itself. Nuremberg Rallies weren’t just big speeches.  They were mass propaganda spectacles;Via: Amber Speaks Up What we are watching unfold before our eyes is both censorship and choreography. Writing has already learned its steps. Journalism now knows when to enter and when to exit. There is a colourful, orderly, well sponsored parade underway where everyone is encouraged to carry a banner that says dissent provided they do not wander off the designated route. The music swells at the right moments when the masters of the ring ...

✍️ Written by Saket Suman One of the most overlooked features of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar is that he does not begin the tragedy with conspiracy or bloodshed but with a festival. Rome is in motion, gathered in public ritual at the Feast of Lupercal, an ancient observance tied to fertility, purification, and the turning of the season.  Representational; Via: Shukri Hamk Mark Antony runs the sacred course. Julius Caesar watches, then calls out, asking that his wife Calpurnia be touched in the holy chase so that her barrenness may be lifted. It is a small moment that is easily overlooked but it is doing serious work. William Shakespeare places power inside a seasonal frame before politics hardens into violence. The play reminds us that societies once understood legitimacy, continuity and anxiety about the future through the language of the sun and the body.  That instinct, the urge to pause when the sun turns and to read meaning in...

Speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of St. Thomas English High School in Gudalur, Tamil Nadu, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi delivered a deeply personal and pointed address by weaving together themes of education, democracy, technological transformation, and the need for social and institutional humility. Framing the modern “information age” as both an opportunity and a threat, Rahul Gandhi cautioned against mistaking access to data for wisdom. He underscored the role of schools in fostering not just informed students, but wise and kind citizens.  Rahul Gandhi during Golden Jubilee celebrations of St. Thomas English High School in Gudalur, Tamil Nadu. Via: RakeshJeeINC “If in the information age we do not have wisdom… the world will become a very unpleasant place,” he warned, emphasizing that schools like St. Thomas must nurture empathy and discernment as the foundation for national development. In an interaction that saw him field questions fr...

India formally launched its BRICS 2026 Chairship in New Delhi on January 13, with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar unveiling the official logo, theme, and website.  Framed around the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” India’s tenure marks the 20th anniversary of the BRICS grouping and comes at a moment of expanding membership and heightened geopolitical complexity. EAM Jaishankar launched preparations for BRICS India 2026 The logo, which incorporates the national colors of all BRICS members and centers around the traditional "Namaste" gesture, was described as a symbol of unity, inclusivity and collaborative intent.  According to the External Affairs Minister, the design reflects India’s approach to blend tradition with modernity, while projecting BRICS as a forum of diverse but convergent interests. Unveiled alongside the logo, the BRICS 2026 website — brics2026.gov.in — will function as a central platform for information...

Sergio Gor formally assumed office as the United States Ambassador to India on Monday, pledging to deepen the strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi while strongly hinting at a potential visit by President Donald Trump in the near future. Speaking after taking charge, Gor struck a tone of personal diplomacy and strategic intent. He described Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump as “real friends,” noting that the bilateral relationship is rooted in mutual respect and sustained by direct ties at the highest political level.  Image Source: USAmbassadorIndia Gor’s remarks included repeated references to his proximity with Trump, whom he has accompanied across the world, and underlined the former president’s continued interest in India. “I spoke with President Trump just yesterday,” Gor said, “and I bring his warm wishes to all the people of India, especially his dear friend, the incredible Prime Minister Modi.”  He also suggested a visit by Trump could ...

India and Germany significantly upgraded their strategic partnership this week with a wide-ranging bilateral engagement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, resulting in 27 outcomes across defence, energy, technology, education and migration.  This marked Merz’s first official visit to India and Asia since taking office, and came as both nations confront an unstable global order that has prompted a recalibration of partnerships rooted in democratic resilience and technological sovereignty. Sabarmati Ashram stands as a powerful reminder of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals. Via: PM NaMo Chancellor Merz’s choice to begin his Asia diplomacy with India was framed by both governments as a signal of trust and alignment, with Modi describing the visit as “a strong testament” to the relationship.  The two leaders met in Ahmedabad on January 12, where they jointly participated in symbolic events such as a visit to Sabarmati Ashram and the International Kite ...

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Somnath today, the event was freighted with far more than religious symbolism. The timing, one thousand years after Mahmud of Ghazni's first sack of the shrine , and the choreography, drone shows, Om chanting, and a Shaurya Yatra honouring nameless defenders, served as a carefully constructed statement about how India sees itself in a world full of flux.  In Modi’s own telling, Somnath is a civilisational anchor in the midst of global fragmentation, a site where the ancient speaks to the modern without contradiction. Image Source: PM NaMo Unlike the memory politics common to many post-colonial states, where the past is often a burden to be managed or rewritten, Modi’s articulation is rooted in a different register that positions civilisational continuity as strength.  India, he suggests, does not move forward by severing its past, but by deepening its relationship with it. In this, Somnath is a statement that what survives, not desp...

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni projected a careful balance between major powers during her New Year’s press conference on 9 January 2026, positioning Italy as a pragmatic actor navigating intensifying US-Russia tensions.  While the US military action in Venezuela drew strong condemnation from much of the international community—including sharp statements from India and UN leadership—Meloni refrained from aligning unequivocally with Washington. Instead, she focused on protecting Italian national interests and reaffirmed a preference for multilateral diplomacy. Image Source: GreenpeaceItalia Responding to questions about the continued detention of Italian nationals in Venezuela, Meloni confirmed that her government had worked “daily” over the past 400 days using “political, diplomatic and intelligence channels.”  She welcomed the unilateral decision by Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez to release Biagio Pilieri and expressed “confidence” about further releases....

India has once again stated its strategic autonomy in sourc ing energy and dismissed external pressure to align its oil purchases with geopolitical expectations, as the Ministry of External Affairs addressed a broad spectrum of international issues during its weekly media briefing.       MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal; Via: Nayanima Basu In a direct response to mounting commentary from Western leaders, including U.S. lawmakers and the Polish foreign minister, India made clear that its decisions are guided by affordability, availability, and national interest. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing a wide range of questions, noted that India’s approach to energy sourcing is shaped by "the evolving dynamics in the global market" and the "imperative to provide affordable energy to 1.4 billion people."  He added, "Whatever we do will be guided by these two imperatives," firmly resisting assertions that recent reductions in Russian oil imports were aimed at...

✍️ Written by Saket Suman There are some words that a civilisation carries for centuries and in due course of time it becomes a part of our living memory. Karuna is one such word in India.  It does not translate cleanly into “compassion” because it asks much more of us than sympathy, charity, or even kindness. Karuna is an obligation. It is the unsettling recognition that somebody else’s suffering is not separate from our own and therefore cannot be ignored without cost to the self. In the Indian philosophical imagination, Karuna holds together ethics, community, and governance in ways that are both simple and righteous. To speak of Karuna, then, is not to speak of benevolence in the abstract but of the moral mechanics by which a society chooses to function or fail. Reprsentational Image of Aloka, the peace dog! Via: Bobby Devito Across India’s spiritual traditions, compassion has never been passive, or at least that is what I found in my ...