Journalism of Courage
EXPLAINED CULTURE NEWS
Row over ‘Jana Gana Mana’: Why Tagore composed it and how it became the national anthem
November 12, 2025 19:27 IST
At an event to mark the 150th anniversary of India’s national song ‘Vande Mataram’, Karnataka BJP MP Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri called ‘Jana Gana Mana’ a 'welcome song for the British officials', drawing protests. Here’s demystifying a myth that has surrounded the song for a century.
Dulquer Salmaan’s ‘Kaantha’: Why film that is not a biopic of first Tamil superstar MKT Bhagavathar feels like one
November 9, 2025 12:30 IST
While the producers of 'Kaantha' have denied any connection to Bhagavathar, the speculation sheds light on the culture of stardom in Tamil cinema.
President Murmu presented with a Ramman mask: What is the festival, and how did it originate?
November 3, 2025 19:09 IST
Ramman is a festival celebrated annually in late April during Baisakhi at the twin villages of Saloor-Dungra in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli. It is dedicated to the tutelary god, Bhumiyal Devta, a local divinity whose temple houses most of the festivities
Explained: With Halloween around the corner, the many mysterious meanings of black cats
October 31, 2025 07:00 IST
Black cats have a long legacy in culture, with innumerable superstitions associated with them. As Halloween approaches, these creatures are popping up everywhere, appearing as decorations, in movies and on costumes.
Chhath Puja 2025: As lakhs worship setting sun, understanding the festival, its significanceSubscriber Only
October 29, 2025 12:10 IST
Chhath Puja 2025 History, Significance, Rituals: What is Chhath puja and why is it celebrated? Which deity is Chhathi maiya? What is it about Chhath that makes it so close to the Bihari heart?
Bhai Dooj: How is this festival different from RakshabandhanSubscriber Only
October 27, 2025 14:09 IST
Bhai Dooj vs Rakshabandhan, Rakhi festival difference: What's the difference between Raakhi and Bhai Dooj, and why is the brother-sister relationship celebrated through two different festivals? The answer lies in the origin mythology of both the festivals, and also their significance.
Holding chaos together by a comma: Understanding Nobel laureate László Krasznahorkai through his first novelSubscriber Only
October 21, 2025 00:17 IST
What is the genesis of László Krasznahorkai's writing? Why would anybody write a novel, their very first novel, that could potentially invite the ire of a communist dictatorship? In the answers to this lie the secret of the Hungarian's genius.
Harry Potter reboot: How JK Rowling’s continued anti-trans activism spurred boycott callSubscriber Only
October 18, 2025 09:33 IST
The boycott call, which extends to all properties affiliated with Rowling, aims to create financial consequences for the author who has lent her conviction and money to anti-transgender rights advocacy for years. Here is what to know.
The enduring impact of MTV, and why it’s shutting downSubscriber Only
October 17, 2025 11:33 IST
For a generation of listeners, MTV was the definition of cool and the ultimate vehicle for consuming popular cultural trends
Why UNESCO’s new Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects mattersSubscriber Only
October 12, 2025 12:08 IST
The ambitious project seeks to confront the illicit trafficking of stolen items, particularly as a result of colonialism
Private players to conserve heritage monuments: Govt plan, guardrailsSubscriber Only
October 8, 2025 16:07 IST
The government plans to empanel over a dozen conservation architects with established credentials, who will guide private donors in hiring agencies for the effective conservation of significant heritage sites across the country, some dating back thousands of years
Tilly Norwood, AI are coming for Hollywood. It’s not art, but a piece of codeSubscriber Only
October 7, 2025 02:54 IST
Calling AI avatars actors is an act of quiet deceit — a linguistic dodge designed to legitimise what is essentially an act of theft as innovation. These digital bodies are not born of imagination or creativity, but built on the extracted labour of real performers.
Jane Goodall dies at 91: Recalling the conservationist, known for her work on chimpanzeesSubscriber Only
October 2, 2025 12:40 IST
Jane Goodall Death: Credited with noticing human-like behaviours amongst chimpanzees, Goodall was also the UN Messenger of Peace and honorary member of the World Future Council.
Who is Thomas Pynchon – and why is everyone talking about ‘One Battle After Another’?Subscriber Only
October 3, 2025 20:03 IST
The reclusive American writer is having a cultural moment, thanks to Paul Thomas Anderson’s audacious new film
Rahman-Dagar court case: A Hindu devotional art form and its Muslim custodiansSubscriber Only
September 28, 2025 21:43 IST
Generations of Dagars, as practising Muslims, have continued to pray to Saraswati and chant hymns from the Vedas. Here's a brief history of Dhrupad, and its remarkable practitioners.
Why Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits sell for millionsSubscriber Only
September 24, 2025 16:31 IST
‘El sueño (La cama)’, or ‘The Dream (The Bed)’, by Kahlo is expected to go for an estimated $40 to $60 million at Sotheby’s upcoming New York sale on November 8. This could make it the most expensive artwork by a woman to be sold at an auction
Explained: ‘RaptureTok’, and why some in the US think the world is ending on TuesdaySubscriber Only
September 23, 2025 19:06 IST
The 'Rapture' rumour has captured a section of TikTok, with some users documenting their preparations in anticipation of their final journey to heaven. Here is what is going on.
From Aithihyamala to Lokah: Recasting Kerala’s FolkloreSubscriber Only
September 21, 2025 16:37 IST
By weaving Neeli, Kathanar, Chathan, and the Odiyan into a shared canvas, Lokah doesn’t close their tales. It reopens them, showing how folklore can be both an archive and a battlefield.
How Robert Redford changed cinema with the Sundance Film FestivalSubscriber Only
September 20, 2025 09:32 IST
Redford’s vision for independent creativity and his influence live on, stitched into the very fabric of Sundance — a film festival he founded to champion new voices and bold narratives
Charlie Kirk suspect’s texts to ‘trans’ roommate: Evolution of transgender rights in the USSubscriber Only
September 18, 2025 08:44 IST
In recent years, the issue of identity, specifically the rights of transgender or trans persons, has become a political flashpoint, despite less than 1 per cent of American adults identifying thus. Who are trans persons, and what has propelled transgender rights to the centre of political discourse?
Emmy Awards 2025: From 1949 to 2025, the journey of 76 yearsSubscriber Only
September 15, 2025 19:22 IST
77th Primetime Emmys Awards, Emmy Awards winners: Here's a breakdown of television’s top prize — its origin, who runs it, how the winners are chosen, and a look at major historic wins.
Subject of recent protests, what is Kolhan’s Manki-Munda system?Subscriber Only
September 15, 2025 12:23 IST
This is an age old system of self-governance among Jharkhand’s Ho adivasi community, which, since British times, has been a central feature of the state’s administrative apparatus.
The delicious story of the Amritsari Kulcha, for which Punjab wants a GI tagSubscriber Only
September 14, 2025 21:19 IST
The Amritsari or Ambarsari Kulcha is the iconic stuffed flatbread made from refined flour, baked in a tandoor until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. What gives the Amritsari Kulcha its legendary reputation?
Why the Jagannath temple in Puri is unhappy with ISKCON rath yatrasSubscriber Only
September 11, 2025 19:31 IST
The 12th-century temple in Puri is considered the main seat of Lord Jagannath. The annual rath yatra here attracts lakhs of devotees. ISKCON conducts its own yatras (ceremonial processions) separately. Here's what the dispute is.
Bhupen Hazarika at 100: Why ‘the voice of Assam’ still resonatesSubscriber Only
September 10, 2025 00:44 IST
A unique musician, writer and filmmaker with ideas deeply rooted in Assam and its culture, Bhupen Hazarika stood out as a voice that carried a people through decades of turbulence.
Advertisement
BEST OF EXPRESS
EntertainmentPriyanka Chopra turns fierce saree-clad sharpshooter Mandakini in Globetrotter; SS Rajamouli says, ‘Welcome back, Desi Girl’
TrendingAustralian man lists ‘top 5 things he can’t do’ in front of his Indian girlfriend, wins hearts on the Internet: ‘Bhai ki fielding set hai’
Trending‘7 days per week, 12 hours work’: IIT alumni-led AI startup Giga faces controversy as employee quits in a day, cites toxic workplace
SportsSri Lanka Cricket Board instructs scared cricketers to not abandon Pakistan series after Islamabad bombing
Opinion'Vande Mataram' and 'Amar sonar Bangla' share similar imagination of 'mother'. They don't deserve different treatment
Advertisement
Must Read
Advertisement
