The legacy they created together, collaborating in 94 iconic songs in 25 films, remains long after both have departed this world.
Snowfall in Kashmir: Beauty, Burden And The Test Of Our Humanity
The biggest victims of heavy snowfall are often invisible in public conversations.They are the daily wage workers. laborers, construction workers, street vendors, load carriers, and small service providers who depend on daily earnings to feed their families.When snow blocks roads and markets shut down, their income stops immediately. There is no work from home for a daily wager. No paid leave. No savings cushion for many. Each snowbound day means an empty kitchen, anxious parents, and children who may go to bed hungry. Winter for them is not scenic; it is a season of survival.
India’s 77th Republic Day Parade: Blend Of Tradition And Modernisation
Breaking from the tradition of only marching columns, the Indian Army showcased a "phased battle array" for the first time, mirroring real combat-zone deployment. This included a sequence of new military, technological, and specialized units, highlighting the country's defence self-reliance and modernization.
Capturing The South Asian Reality: The Shelter And Storm Of Arundhati Roy’s ‘Mother Mary’
In a world that often tries to simplify what’s complicated, Mother Mary Comes to Me captures the South Asian reality where a woman’s power is often carved out of the very detachment that causes pain. Arundhati Roy’s latest work maps a difficult legacy where a mother’s refusal to be a vessel for others, however costly to those around her, unwittingly clears the path for a daughter to reclaim herself.
Ikkis: An Ode To A Valiant Indian Soldier
The story of Arun’s role in the Battle of Basantar did not end on that day, or even after the cease fire of this two weeks war, resulting in the demise of East Pakistan and the announcement of the newly liberated Bangladesh. Major Khwaja Mohammad Nasir, then a Squadron Commander of 13th Lancers, the regiment pitched against Poona Horse, who came bandaged the next day to collect the dead bodies of his fallen comrades, wanted to know more about “ the officer, who stood like an insurmountable rock” and whose troop of three British World War II vintage Centurion tanks was responsible for decimation of his entire squadron of fourteen American Patton tanks.
More on Medley
A Malayali journalist's discovery of Cuba
Castro, like many Malayalis, loved moringa, a key ingredient for sambar, a south Indian staple. The 2010 Haiti earthquake prompted Castro to accelerate his goal of providing nutritious food for the poor. Dr. Concepcion Campa Huergo, founder of Cuba's Finlay Institute, visited Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, leading India to ship tons of moringa seeds to Cuba for cultivation.
Ven. Ananda Mangala: The Sri Lankan monk who became an Indian citizen and was revered by Gandhi and Nehru
From Ananda Meemanage he became Ven. Ananda Mangala, when he donned the yellow robes of a Buddhist monk at the age of 40. Nehru sent him on a private mission to Missamari and Buxaduar to keep track of the fleeing Tibetan refugees. His mission was akin to espionage as the Chinese military buildup was already on and Nehru wanted to have a realistic picture of the border situation.
A daughter's emotional cross-border journey
It is unbearable to even imagine being forced to leave your hometown or risk being slaughtered simply because you belong to a different religion. But I did not find any bitterness in Bani Singh's eyes for Lahore or my country, Pakistan.
How a Boston museum inspired Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animation film
The connection between Isabella Stewart Gardner and two Pakistani filmmakers highlights the universal power of art. As Gardner's museum inspires visitors, The Glassworker seeks to expand Pakistani cinema and animation, globally presenting the country’s artistic heritage.
Bollywood’s Islamophobic turn: Hindu mythology with Muslim villains
The excessive demonisation of Muslims in Bollywood in the last decade is quite well documented. The heightening of communal tensions in recent times has been cashed in by Hindi filmmakers who have developed an incessant need for Muslim villains in their films. Whether the script allows it or not, filmmakers like Vanga Reddy and Rohit Shetty have proven that the plot can be bent over and around to make sure that the antagonist is a Muslim.
The enduring magic of MT, a master storyteller
Such a scene would likely face significant resistance in contemporary Kerala. The prevailing climate of communalism and sectarian divisions within Malayalee society would likely lead to demands for a ban on the film, with critics citing it as blasphemous. This highlights the increasing intolerance towards artistic expression that challenges religious sensibilities.
India should recognize Allama Mashriqi for his contribution to mathematics
As India celebrates Mathematics Day, it is crucial to recognize figures like Allama Mashriqi, whose contributions to mathematics and society continue to resonate. While Ramanujan’s genius is rightly celebrated, the exclusion of Mashriqi—a Muslim mathematician of extraordinary talent—is both unjustified and a missed opportunity for inclusivity.
Tsunami 2004: A survivor's tale of grit, determination and resilience
Discussions with various senior Pakistani diplomats in Colombo as well as Sri Lankan diplomats in Pakistan led to my first visit to Pakistan in September 2023 to participate in the people-centered initiative ‘Enduring Friendship’ events in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka-Pakistan diplomatic relations.
Shyam Benegal: A maker of pathbreaking movies
Benegal came across as a man of refined sensibilities and great empathy for the human condition, which clearly reflected in his cinema.
From Pakistan to China for a network of English language teachers - in Beijing
Singaporean, Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Arabic – in fact all varieties of English are acceptable as part of ‘World Englishes’ as long as they serve the communicative purpose of language.
Overcoming the fear of pain and death
Fear of death has also been drastically reduced in people who have experienced near death experience (NDE). NDE seems to happen when a person is declared clinically dead but after some time returns to life. Quite a number of people during the NDE episode have also reported that their whole life flashes by and almost all their past actions become visible.
Sufism's ethos can be instrumental in healing societal rifts, fostering a culture of coexistence
Sufism’s relationship with other religions is characterized by respect and recognition of shared values. Sufi leaders often participate in interfaith initiatives, promoting cooperation and understanding. This engagement not only builds bridges between communities but also fosters a sense of secularism, where religious authority does not dominate public life.
When festivals become tools of hatred not harmony
What needs to be understood for prevention is that most of the time these processions, which are well armed, deliberately decide to pass through Muslim majority areas, with loud music and provocative and abusive slogans. It has become a pattern that someone will climb over the mosque and replace the green flag with saffron flag and the crowds down below dance and give a big applause.
'Blasphemy' fears threaten centuries-old interfaith harmony in historic Pakistan district on India border
"Hindus and Muslims are one Sindhi nation. No extremist can divide us. We Hindus do not show disrespect towards the Kaaba," said Hindu teacher Khushal Premee. “We do not even sleep with our feet pointed in that direction,” he said, listing other ways in which his community shows respect to their Muslim neighbours in Umerkot
