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Mira Patel
Mira Patel has an academic background in international affairs and has worked in research and public policy. You can follow her on Twitter @patelsmira
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More From Mira Patel - Page 5
What happened in Bhutan’s elections — and are the results a win for India?Subscriber Only
January 12, 2024 14:04 IST
How does democracy work in Bhutan? What were the concerns leading up to this year’s elections? And what do the results mean for India?
Fri, Jan 12, 2024
Ramayana ‘lives in the mind of every Indian’, but across the world the epic has many narrations Subscriber Only
January 12, 2024 13:11 IST
The enduring tale of the Ramayana is known to most children across Asia. However, different countries and regions interpret the text in different ways, with Ravana as the central character in some and Ram or Sita in others.
Thu, Jan 18, 2024
Taiwan votes on January 13: Amid tensions with China, why these polls are significantSubscriber Only
January 11, 2024 19:24 IST
Taiwan elections: Given Taiwan's fraught relationship with China and the escalating global tensions, the outcome of these polls might be historic for the island. Here's the complete backgrounder.
Fri, Jan 12, 2024
India and the two wars that dominated 2023Subscriber Only
December 29, 2023 16:04 IST
2023 has been a busy year for India globally as New Delhi positions itself as a potential mediator in the two biggest conflicts gripping the world. For the second consecutive year, Russia continues to lay siege on Ukraine and after decades of simmering hostilities, in October, Hamas attacked Israel, sparking a deadly response that has transformed the Middle East.
Fri, Dec 29, 2023
Why US is willing to relax its weapons ban on Saudi ArabiaSubscriber Only
December 27, 2023 14:32 IST
US President Joe Biden once referred to Saudi Arabia as a pariah, and reintroduced the US weapons ban in the first few months of his term. What has changed now?
Thu, Dec 28, 2023
How an AI tool can make weather forecasts more accurate and help tackle climate changeSubscriber Only
December 22, 2023 08:00 IST
Watsonx.ai, an AI tool jointly built by IBM and NASA, might make it possible for us to anticipate hurricanes, droughts, and other catastrophic weather occurrences with greater accuracy. How does it work?
Thu, Dec 21, 2023
How over millenia the Indus flowed into its present contested position between India and Pakistan Subscriber Only
November 20, 2023 08:00 IST
The Indus river is synonymous with the concept of India, flowing through its northwestern borders into the Arabian Sea. The history of the Indus includes tales of empires, conflict, civilisation and trade.
Mon, Nov 20, 2023
From Hashomer to NILI, the history of Israeli intelligence, its successes and failuresSubscriber Only
November 03, 2023 12:52 IST
Israel's intelligence community is one of the best funded, most connected, and highly effective operators internationally. It's foreign intelligence, Mossad, is particularly lauded for a series of successful operations conducted during the 20th century. However, after the October 2023 attack by Hamas, the reputation of Israeli intelligence has taken a significant hit.
Sat, Nov 04, 2023
Why the West supports IsraelSubscriber Only
October 27, 2023 13:35 IST
Since its inception in 1948, Israel, against seemingly insurmountable odds, has evolved into the premier military force in the Middle East. Israel's success in a series of wars against its Arab neighbours, and later, against Palestinian liberation organisations, can be attributed in part to the strong friendships it has formed with Western powers. Chief amongst those allies were Britain and France, and now, the United States.
Sat, Oct 28, 2023
The fabric that connected East to West and wove the myth of the Silk RoadSubscriber Only
October 19, 2023 11:51 IST
The Silk Road is one of the most important trade routes in world history, predicated on the trade of silk between China and Rome. Its legacy spans continents and centuries, bringing together empires, religions, technology and philosophy.
Wed, Oct 25, 2023
The bloody history behind how Israel, and Palestine, came into existence Subscriber Only
October 13, 2023 11:26 IST
The Israel-Palestine conflict, a century-old struggle over a tiny but historically significant region, remains steeped in religion, politics, and shifting borders. Covering Biblical times, Ottoman rule, British occupation, Arab-Israeli wars and decades of conflict, the ever fluid boundaries of Israel reflect the shifting tides of power politics in the Middle East.
Thu, Apr 25, 2024
How Russia’s imagination of its history shapes its presentSubscriber Only
September 25, 2023 11:43 IST
The symbol for the immense county of Russia, and, one that its President is often seen embracing, is the mighty brown bear. Like its animal counterpart, Russia has spent periods in international hibernation but even when it is seemingly out of view, its ferocity lingers, a reminder to all that if provoked, the bear will fight back.
Tue, Sep 26, 2023
The dark story of oil, the lubricant of the global economy Subscriber Only
September 01, 2023 12:07 IST
Oil propelled the world into the industrial revolution but its origins and current use is stained by the adverse impact it has on our environment
Mon, Sep 04, 2023
Forgotten Independence revolt: Why Congress and League did not back the Royal Indian Navy’s 1946 mutiny but Communists did Subscriber Only
August 14, 2023 16:03 IST
There are many plausible theories as to why Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and fellow Congress leaders rejected the strike, including the reasons that drove the naval mutiny to life in the first place.
Sat, Aug 19, 2023
Pepper: The magic spice from Kerala that triggered global trade, drained the Romans and spawned new empiresSubscriber Only
August 04, 2023 10:39 IST
Pepper, considered the King of Spices, has been traded around the world since antiquity, prized for its flavour, scarcity and supernatural origins.At one point, the spice became so coveted that it facilitated the Age of Discovery, as European colonial powers battled each other for dominance over the commodity
Sat, Dec 30, 2023
‘Little girls could be anything they wanted to be’: How Ruth Handler invented BarbieSubscriber Only
July 26, 2023 13:42 IST
Ruth Handler came up with the idea of Barbie after she was inspired by her daughter’s fascination with paper dolls that looked like adults. Here’s how she scripted Barbie’s success story.
Wed, Jul 26, 2023
How Gold caused the migration rush to America and brought the global financial system togetherSubscriber Only
July 15, 2023 11:40 IST
One of the most recognisable statuses of good fortune, gold is used to celebrate births and marriages, is given to celebrate promotions and achievements. Its discovery in California had precipitated one of the largest migration in American history and shaped the global economy.
Sat, Jul 15, 2023
Sugar is sweet but its history says otherwiseSubscriber Only
June 17, 2023 11:22 IST
The history of the world is inextricably linked to the history of trade, in particular, the widespread trade of goods obtained on the back of atrocities and those capable of shaping our entire monetary system. In Tracking the Trade Winds, we look at the seismic importance of gold, sugar, silk, oil and more in connecting civilisations, enriching empires and facilitating the migration of people and resources.
Wed, Jun 21, 2023
‘The nail that sticks out gets hammered down’: the phenomenon of social isolation in JapanSubscriber Only
May 18, 2023 16:43 IST
There are more than one million people in Japan who live as hikikomori, or social outcasts. They spend the vast majority of their time locked in their rooms, shutting off all sunlight and outside communications. The problem has become so exacerbated within Japan that officials are beginning to study why Japanese youth in particular are prone to this phenomenon
Sat, May 20, 2023
When Nehru was criticised for attending Queen Elizabeth’s coronationSubscriber Only
May 06, 2023 13:43 IST
The last coronation of an English sovereign took place in 1953, just a few years after India gained independence from the British. Amongst the many dignitaries that attended the function was India's Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru who expressed his awe of the proceedings in a televised interview with the BBC. However, Nehru's attendance elicited criticism at home, with many Indians questioning why he would legitimise the occasion.
Sat, May 06, 2023
How Denmark became the first country to allow same-sex unions over 30 years agoSubscriber Only
April 20, 2023 17:00 IST
Although the majority of the Danish public were supportive of the change in legislation, the decision to allow civil partnerships was not without criticism.
Thu, Apr 20, 2023
More than an asset on the wrist: The fascinating economy of luxury watchesSubscriber Only
April 17, 2023 12:31 IST
‘To own a stainless-steel Rolex Sky Dweller, I paid Rs 12 lakh in cheque, another 10 lakh in cash to retailer to jump queue’.
Mon, May 19, 2025
The many readings of Ramayana across India, over centuriesSubscriber Only
March 30, 2023 15:05 IST
The story of Ram and Sita has been retold hundreds if not thousands of times, with its interpretations subject to the historical and political contexts in which they were conceived.
Sun, Apr 02, 2023
How Akbar and Aurangzeb have contrasting images in India and PakistanSubscriber Only
March 24, 2023 16:06 IST
Akbar and Aurangzeb were both great Mughal rulers, but their legacies have been shaped not only by their achievements but also religious and nationalist politics that swept across India in the centuries to follow. Akbar, a secular Muslim is glorified in India and denigrated in Pakistan, whereas Aurangzeb, known for his piety has been resigned to the opposite fate
Sat, Jun 10, 2023
Behind St Patrick’s Day celebrations in the USA, a history of Irish Catholic discriminationSubscriber Only
March 17, 2023 14:20 IST
The history of St. Parick's Day celebration in the UK draws its roots from religious and nationalist sentiments, with the day often representing a display of Irish pride and nationalism for the millions of Irish Catholic immigrants who came to the United States to escape famine and were faced with discrimination and religious persecution upon their arrival
Sun, Mar 17, 2024Journalism of Courage
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