Opinion & Edits

Homeopathic knowledge about viral diseases can be harnessed to combat COVID-19

In six years, relationships with other South Asian countries have frayed, providing Beijing with an opening

Nepotism is a symptom of the inequality and entrenched privilege in our society

Ebrahim Alkazi’s legacy bears testimony to cultural links between Saudi Arabia, India

The layers of Hagia Sophia

Turkish government’s decision to turn the museum into a mosque stems from layered, historical issues

The low carbon path

The science on climate change has never been clearer, but so are the solutions

Omar’s choice

NC leader acknowledges constraints August 5 decision casts on mainstream politics in Kashmir — and challenge ahead

A home for tiger

Survey shows a third of India’s tiger reserves are nearing peak capacity. Creative solutions can reduce human-animal conflict

Forty Years Ago, July 30, 1980: Assam Formula

After the proposals are given concrete shape they will be placed before the Prime Minister for her approval.

You have no mail

COVID-19 claims an ageing victim — the railway dak carrier who bore sensitive letters from the burra sahibs

Reputation of scientists will be further muddied by our role in this pandemic

While science-informed policies are an aspiration, we also need to appreciate their limitations and assumptions to ensure that such policies do not lead to avoidable harms and promise unrealistic results.

India needs a new political culture, not a presidential system

Misplaced, indeed highly distorted, public priorities and the ingrained venality of the political class are the root causes of the malaise in the Indian polity.

Hardik Patel’s appointment as Gujarat Congress working chief announces new form of old politics

The Congress has gradually realised that its old understanding of caste politics, which was devoid of caste-class interaction, would not take it far in a post-liberalisation environment.

If we can coexist with animals, we will benefit far more than them

Each animal thinks, dreams and wants the same nurturing that we do. Let us be humane and kind to each other and the world around us. India will benefit.

A gendered gaze of justice

The stereotype of a ‘distressed victim’ has influenced the judgment of courts in many rape trials.

COVID-19 pandemic should trigger introspection about creating a healthcare system based on empathy

COVID-19 has given us great grief and trauma, but also presents an opportunity to reset our outlook, whether in healthcare or climate change

Forty Years Ago, July 29, 1980: Assam accord

According to official sources, Dorendra Singh who had been negotiating with the agitation leaders as an “emissary” of the Prime Minister had an hour-long meeting with Rao Saheb when he reported on the “accord” and his talks with the agitation leaders.

IPL in the desert

Amid the pandemic, a long lost romance could be recreated, a new chapter could begin

Rajbhavan dharma

Rajasthan Governor’s role in current crisis reinforces impression that office takes cue from Centre, not Constitution

Running dry

GST Council must decide on how to protect states’ GST revenues, reduce uncertainty

Regulations proposed by draft report on non-personal data need a relook

State regulation must identify concrete problems, not create interventionist bureaucracies based on potential ones. These lessons have made India one of the world’s largest economies and enabled the present government to seek “atmanirbharta”.

President Xi’s long game: World is dealing with a leader who believes he will shape a Chinese Century

Xi Jinping intends to be the Leader of the “Second Hundred” just as Mao Zedong is regarded as the Leader of the “First Hundred”. This means the world will be dealing with President Xi Jinping for some time. It is, therefore, important to get a proper measure of the person.

Rajasthan High Court must take into account SC verdict, Speaker’s powers

The high courts and the Supreme Court routinely refuse to interfere in matters where the concerned authority has merely issued a show cause notice or granted an opportunity of being heard. This is an inviolable tenet of natural justice.

Olivia de Havilland was the last of the greats of Hollywood’s Golden Age

Yes, we will always have the films. But the stars are mostly gone — with due respect to the few who remain, de Havilland was our strongest surviving link to the Golden Age. The era has truly ended.

A little less certainty, a little more empathy

If anything, the debate over cancel culture has shown us that it’s imperative to introspect on who we are when we are not performing to an audience.

Geographical spread of virus poses new policy challenges

As private investment and consumption settle at far lower levels than earlier anticipated, the government’s role in the economy over the next two years or so would need to be much larger than it has been in the last three decades.

Let’s not forget the epidemic during the pandemic

While we must grapple with Covid-19, the country cannot afford to lose focus on its targets to eliminate neglected tropical diseases.

Erdogan’s hour of shame

Conversion of the Hagia Sophia to a mosque has handed right-wingers in non-Muslim nations an excuse and impetus to demonise Islam