
Ramesh Venkataraman
The writer, a former partner with McKinsey & Company, is a private equity investor based in London.
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In Chennai, two concerts showed Carnatic music has a place for T M Krishna and his right-wing criticsSubscriber Only
January 02,2025 07:12:38 AM
For two-and-a-half hours in the morning, rasikas were rewarded by Krishna's trademark unconventional music. In the evening, the RaGa sisters gave a performance steeped in tradition, their content as political as Krishna's
Thu, Jan 02, 2025
Underlying the T M Krishna controversy, the politics of HindutvaSubscriber Only
March 25,2024 12:00:10 PM
It is sad that the clash with Carnatic’s strong progressive tradition, rather than giving rise to a mature debate, has descended to a vituperative wrangle between equally brilliant musicians
Sat, Mar 30, 2024
Tale of two temples: The uncomfortable contrast between UAE and IndiaSubscriber Only
February 17,2024 10:00:30 AM
As PM Modi inaugurated the BAPS temple at Abu Dhabi amid increasing secularisation in that country, politics, blurring of constitutional boundaries, chipping away at minority rights back home strikes an awkward note
Mon, Feb 19, 2024
Ram Mandir consecration: Will it get sacred status for Hindus or remain a political project?Subscriber Only
January 18,2024 07:07:30 AM
Like the imperial temples of yore, it is a monument to the Modi regime’s power and burnishes its Hindu credentials. It also promises to be a major tourist attraction
Fri, Jan 19, 2024
Want toehold in the south? BJP needs to listen to some Chennai musicSubscriber Only
January 02,2024 07:35:26 AM
While its roots lie in the freedom struggle (specifically in the music conference and concerts organised in 1927 to coincide with the annual session of the Indian National Congress in Madras), the Chennai Music Festival has become as much a social as a cultural event for the city and the diaspora.
Tue, Jan 02, 2024
Message from Istanbul: How not to challenge ModiSubscriber Only
June 07,2023 19:09:15 PM
Unless India’s Opposition can unite behind a compelling programme to deliver jobs and growth, they face an uphill battle to dislodge the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Fri, Jun 09, 2023
In diversity of candidates for UK’s next PM, a soft power lesson for IndiaSubscriber Only
July 13,2022 16:17:15 PM
Ramesh Venkataraman writes: The increasingly relaxed attitude towards identity has emerged as a key source of the UK’s soft power. India's move away from its heritage of inclusiveness could hurt it on the global stage.
Thu, Jul 14, 2022
A Refresher Guide to Pandemic GlossarySubscriber Only
April 19,2020 07:11:52 AM
COVID-19 pandemic is giving rise to new feelings and experiences. Here’s a list of proposed words for new coinages to articulate them
Sat, Apr 18, 2020
India needs its secularists to engage in open, self-critical debate — rather than polarising polemicSubscriber Only
January 06,2020 04:00:09 AM
India’s secularists must wake up to the fact that the discourse on the ground has profoundly altered. More and more, mainstream Hindus feel that they are being taken for a ride under the banner of secularism.
Mon, Jan 06, 2020
Don’t fire from Supreme Court’s shoulderSubscriber Only
January 26,2019 00:10:05 AM
Fighting social ills needs engagement with communities, throwing the Constitution at them won’t help.
Sat, Jan 26, 2019
Undoing injustice against Dalits requires upper caste supportSubscriber Only
January 09,2019 00:59:54 AM
Moral responsibility and amplified sensitivity will amount to little without tangible support for Dalit economic advancement.
Wed, Jan 09, 2019
A shrinking flockSubscriber Only
December 15,2018 00:10:37 AM
A confused economic agenda and misjudgement on how to get things done at the Centre may have cost PM Modi his non-Hindutva supporters and the opportunity to be a transformational leader.
Sat, Dec 15, 2018
An unethical place: Waning ethics in India’s private sectorSubscriber Only
February 10,2018 01:10:18 AM
Waning ethics in India's private sector is not just a moral problem. No economy can perform at a high level without integrity.
Sat, Feb 10, 2018
Let’s talk to the BookSubscriber Only
July 15,2017 00:50:29 AM
Ramanuja and Martin Luther underline how religion evolves by debating with scriptures, not by being beholden to them.
Sat, Jul 15, 2017
Happy DiwalisSubscriber Only
October 28,2016 00:05:48 AM
Diverse myths around the festival underpin Hinduism’s openness, pluralism and historically tolerant ‘live and let live’ ethos
Fri, Oct 28, 2016
Hindu way to resist HindutvaSubscriber Only
December 31,2015 00:02:50 AM
India’s secular, liberal Hindus need to engage with their religion if they are to fight intolerance.
Thu, Dec 31, 2015
Bihar Polls: Paging the real Mr ModiSubscriber Only
November 09,2015 00:00:54 AM
If PM Modi needed a reminder of why he was voted to power, Bihar election results may have provided one.
Mon, Nov 09, 2015
What Bihars done today…Subscriber Only
December 01,2005 00:00:00 AM
Is Indian politics becoming ‘middle class’? Nitish Kumar’s thumping victory in Bihar suggests that even in the darkest reache...
Thu, Dec 01, 2005
The problem with reforms…Subscriber Only
September 12,2005 00:00:00 AM
Over the last few weeks, votaries of economic liberalisation (including this newspaper) have been wringing their hands at the inability of t...
Mon, Sep 12, 2005a better experience