Blogs

ASEAN enters 2026 confronting a convergence of strategic challenges that threaten to test both its cohesion and its relevance. At the centre of these challenges lies the South China Sea (SCS), where China’s increasingly assertive behaviour continues to undermine regional stability, international law, and ASEAN’s capacity to act collectively.  The most immediate challenge stems from…

Can we normalise harassment and toxic behaviour under any circumstances? I began to ponder this deeply, the way one ponders existential questions, while chopping onions and crying for reasons unrelated to the onions. Normalisation is a fascinating word. It’s like Dettol for the soul, except instead of killing germs, it politely disinfects outrage. Once something…

It is generally accepted that the 9th house in the horoscope is the house of the Guru and also of Dharma. In the Kalapurusha Kundali, this belongs to Jupiter—the other Guru, as mentioned in Part 5. The question is: what is the job of the Guru? In astrology, we see the job of a person…

India’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070 is one of the most consequential transitions the country has ever embarked upon. But ambition alone is not enough. According to a recent report, NITI Aayog estimates India will need $21 trillion in cumulative investments to meet its target. Of this, nearly $7 trillion is still unaccounted…

5(c) Clear proof that isolation was the remedy There are a number of proofs (apart from Haygarth’s experiment and Leicester) that it was isolation, not ring vaccination, that eradicated smallpox. First, we know from the experience of the hospital in Meschede that vaccinating contacts after failure of isolation, i.e. after they have been exposed, can’t…

There is a kind of leader I meet often. Highly competent. Sharp mind. Good education. Impressive résumé. They can solve complex problems quickly, and they usually become the person everyone relies on. And yet, behind the competence, there is fatigue. Behind the performance, a quiet loneliness. Behind the success, a brittle edge that shows up…

Dental care is undergoing a quiet but significant transformation. Patients are no longer viewing oral health as an occasional, appointment-driven interaction. Increasingly, they expect care to be continuous, responsive, and easy to access, like banking, travel or e-commerce industries today. This expectation shift isn’t about “more technology.” It’s about a new definition of reliability. This…

Built on decades of discipline, ingenuity and an enviable record of launch success, ISRO has earned  global trust the hard way – which is precisely why the C-62 failure should be read not as a dent in  capability, but as a moment that highlights the inherent risks of spaceflight. Yet, as India steps onto the …

8am I have an investment meeting this afternoon, and I find myself standing in front of the cupboard as though it is about to conduct the meeting on my behalf. My first choice is an orange jumpsuit that, in the wrong light, makes me resemble a prison inmate from an American series. I put it back…

Human space flight is usually clubbed with all other space activities and hence allotted to government space agencies, who tackle it with a rigid procedural approach. They usually possess large budgets and are less concerned about issues like cost overruns or a delayed program. Some tasks are outsourced, while most are performed in-house, by employees,…