Blogs

Few regions in India evoke the kind of affection, awe and nostalgia that the Dooars inspires. Stretching between the mighty Himalayan foothills and the fertile plains of North Bengal, the Dooars is not merely a geographical expanse—it is an emotion, a living cultural mosaic, a story of harmony between nature and people, and a testament…

In August 2003, my husband, our baby daughter, and I went on a weekend break to our company guest house at Nagothane, along the river Amba, 86 km from Mumbai on the Goa highway. On our return journey, we decided to take a new route, driving through Tamhini Ghat via Mulshi and Pune. After just a few kilometres, I was astounded by the…

René Descartes, the French philosopher (all French men are philosophers, if they are not romantics or snobbish chefs) had once said “I think therefore I am”. It’s remarkable that he managed it without a 50-slide deck, festooned with graphics or an agenda. Descartes’ manager today would have made him do a 30-slide deck, which after…

The India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) – widely celebrated as the “Mother of All Partnerships” and the “”mother of all deals” – will mark one of the most significant milestones in the bilateral relationship between India and the EU. Under the determined leadership of commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, India has transformed its global…

There has been a suggestion in Uttarakhand to stop non-Hindus from entering two very important Hindu temples: Kedarnath and Badrinath. This idea came from the committee that manages these temples. But this is a bad and dangerous idea. Here’s why. First, some background.In India, many temples are managed by the government, not just priests. This…

Indian tourists mistake bad weather forecast for a welcome sign Kamala is upset with me because we were the only ones without holiday plans. “Everyone is going somewhere – you don’t have any get-up-and-go!” I got up to go – because I knew one of those Trump-type rambling rants was about to begin – a…

European Union (EU) and India might finally be close to a big trade deal. That’s surprising, because they have been talking about it for 18 years! What changed? One big reason is Donald Trump, who has made Europe feel unsure about depending too much on the US. Recently, the EU’s top official, Ursula von der…

By The XIV Dalai Lama Among the emotions that disturb our peace of mind, few are as harmful as anger and hatred. These powerful feelings not only cause suffering within but often hurt those around us. They cloud our judgement, damage relationships, and strip away the calm and clarity needed to respond wisely to life’s…

Among things that budget can fix, are rules for capital gains tax & withholding tax. FM must make these simple & predictable. Foreign investors, who have been taking their money out, value clarity Dear finance minister, I know you are drowning in advice from a billion Indians on what to do in the budget. I…

Bharat’s ancient epics also spell out what Mark Carney’s speech at Davos did. If India operates without illusions and keeps its options open today, that’s not fence-sitting, but management of uncertainty The Mark Carney speech at Davos hit like a bombshell. In what felt like a rare moment of straight talk from a Western leader,…