Jiya was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of two. Jiya’s parents, Indian Navy MC at Arms II Madan Rai and her mother, Rachna Rai, a teacher, took her swimming to overcome taunts for her disorder by other children and even adults.
When the Machinery of Terror Becomes Television Spectacle: Taliban's War Museum Reporting Needs Broader Contextualisation
The Taliban may curate the museum. The newsroom must curate the context. Without that context, international television risks giving an extremist movement something it has always sought, not necessarily agreement, but attention; not necessarily legitimacy, but spectacle.
Three Young Karachi Rappers: And a Working-Class Neighborhood Becomes its Own Historian
For an Indian audience, the most meaningful response to W.R.A.P. is not the comforting declaration that Indians and Pakistanis are identical. Such a claim can erase real histories and differences as readily as nationalism exaggerates them.
Erasing Colonial Symbols Won't Feed India's Families: A Call for Economic Pragmatism
But tearing down a clubhouse will not lower a family's grocery bill or write a line of exportable code. India's chance to close the gap with the economies that outran it will not wait for a hearing date in September, and neither should the country's attention.
Taslima Nasrin’s Return and the Politics of Selective Protection
Taslima Nasrin’s homecoming deserves to be welcomed. A writer should be able to return to a city she considers home without fearing violence. The harder test will come when the symbolism fades. Will the government protect her if her criticism becomes inconvenient to the people now celebrating her return?
More on Soft Power, Culture and Society
South Asian peace activists gear up to converge at India-Pakistan border
The friendship of javelin throwers Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and Neeraj Chopra of India and the large-heartedness and nobility of their mothers has already warmed hearts around the region and the world. Another young athlete also holding up flags of both countries expressed similar sentiments.
Sigma Huda: Bangladeshi lawyer who was a passionate fighter for justice and a fairer world
In 2007, she was awarded Pope John Paul II Wellspring of Freedom Award for dedicating her life to upholding human rights and combating injustice.
Sri Lankan vignette: Grassroots education thrives amid rural poverty
With free education for all between five to 16 years instituted since 1945, Sri Lanka boasts the highest literacy rate, nearly 99 per cent , in the South Asian region.
What is the purpose of life?
It is the nature of the human brain that when we go deeper into anything then we all discover the truth and beauty in this world, and this process helps us understand the purpose of our existence and life.
Ravindra Randeniya: Thespian of a bygone era of Sri Lankan cinema
As I heard Ravindra’s colleagues reflect on his life, his work, and his character over time, I couldn’t help reflecting on where Sri Lankan cinema had been and what it could be. In the 1980s and 1990s, and even earlier, Sri Lanka had been a top destination for international productions. Steven Spielberg had come here with Harrison Ford. So had Gregory Peck, William Holden, Elizabeth Taylor, and Bo Derek.
Remembering a Pakistani peace activist, a staunch proponent of friendship in South Asia
My grandfather’s journey across Wagah is a story I have heard Karamat Sahib narrate many times. As I write, I can hear his raspy voice recount it to me, as he did when I joined him for the immersion of Kuldip Nayar’s ashes.
A deep understanding of the economic behaviours of the poor
"Poor Economics" serves as a call to action for policymakers, development practitioners, and researchers. By demonstrating the power of small, well-designed interventions, Banerjee and Duflo inspire a more humble and patient approach to fighting poverty.
Are solar rooftop installations in India and Pakistan an answer to the climate crisis?
The high cost of living in capitals like Islamabad and Delhi and the rising summer temperatures due to climate change is increasing alternative energy expenditures. “Who said that renewable energy has to be in the form of big power plants like an elephant?” asks India’s ‘Solar Man’ , Prof. Chetan Solanki.
Noam Chomsky: A legend who provides a moral compass to global causes
He was unfailingly generous in lending his name in support of the causes I and others reached out to him for, endorsing resolutions ranging from human rights and democracy to peace between India and Pakistan. In 2018 he joined many public intellectuals in urging Bangladesh to release the photojournalist Shahidul Alam. He was also among the public intellectuals including Amartya Sen who endorsed a letter calling on Pakistan to release the jailed publisher-editor of the Jang Group Shakilur Rahman, in 2020.
Nehru's risky gamble on China that spectacularly backfired
Yet, despite Nehru’s disenchantment with his Afro-Asian partners, there is no denying that China did its best to undermine India’s ascendancy in the developing world and that Indian frustration with its northern neighbour grew all the more resentful because of New Delhi’s role in helping Beijing develop its links with other Afro-Asian nations.
Indian entrepreneurs make a breakthrough in rocketry: A milestone for private space ventures
The vision of Agnikul is to bring space within everyone’s reach, aiming to enable launches from anywhere, anytime and affordably.
Preserving the richness of Urdu: A unique quest to keep the language alive and thriving
The Joy of Urdu’s focus on linguistic preservation, cultural enrichment, plus promotion of social justice, and positive change through bilingual presentations and discussions helps ensure that the richness of Urdu remains alive in modern times.
The importance of India's sacred tree groves to climate change
The preservation of sacred trees and tree groves is paramount in the fight against rampant deforestation in India. This is a unique practice that sadly is in decline; in the interest of cleaner air and healthy communities, it needs to be promoted and preserved, not only amongst the Indian population but worldwide.
Subcontinental kinetics: Vignettes of a South Asian watcher's journalistic chronicle
The new influencing geopolitical factor, Ved observes, is the emergence of China as the regional, even global player, in the “Heart of Asia” in what can become the new avatar of the 19th century “Great Game”. The contexts have changed, but not the strategic interests of the players, old and new.
