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By Swami Sukhabodhananda Life is not determined by what happens to us; it is determined by how we respond to what happens. The quality of our life depends on the quality of our mind. A positive mind creates opportunities, joy and growth, while a negative mind creates suffering even in the midst of abundance. To…

Filching divine wealth is as old as organised religion Gods have watched humans divert sacred funds towards earthly ends from the time organised religion struck gold, and the first place of worship was built, across faiths. The dip & nip ‘tradition’, or devoted hustle, of keepers of faith is almost par for the course. The…

After the ride on April 11, 2026, to the windmills near Kalpavalli, I have been infected by the Quixotic virus. Thankfully, I’ve skipped the “tilting-at-giants” phase and gone straight to the “sit under the windmills, admire the view, and pretend I understand aerodynamics” stage. The view is magnificent, the ride exhilarating, and my judgment questionable—so,…

Perks and perils of being a VIP’s food-taster Anyone else would call it a working holiday, but staff at Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration is hard to please. As TOI reported on Friday, officials tasked with tasting food at VIP events are cribbing they feel like guinea pigs. Whoever heard of guinea pigs sampling 10 dishes at…

For the past few years, the characterisation of Mahatma Gandhi as a spy of the British empire has been gaining traction, especially on social media. One of the popular arguments thrust forward for this view is the British choice of the Aga Khan Palace in Pune for his two-year detention. This thinking has acquired currency…

Humans are built to be in union – whether divine, devotional, or shared between two people. The peculiar cruelty of our moment is that we are both the most alone and most connected generation in history Picture a Sunday evening in a crowded flat. The cooker is on its third whistle, a cousin is shouting…

Viju B Viju B is the Resident Editor of The Times of India, Kerala. He writes on a range of issues, including environment, civic infrastructure, insurance and right to information. He believes that his views are not sacrosanct – nor are yours. The truth is somewhere in the middle, smiling beatifically at us. He feels…

The good and bad sides of being a VIP’s food taster Most people would think tasting delicious food at VIP weddings is a dream job. But officials from Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration don’t agree. As TOI reported on Friday, the officers chosen to taste food before VIPs eat it say they feel like guinea…

Stealing money from temples is almost as old as temples themselves. For thousands of years, people have donated money, gold and silver to places of worship. Sadly, some of the people trusted to protect these gifts have been tempted to keep a little for themselves. Everyone seems to know it happens — the devotees, the…

India’s education ecosystem stands at a critical crossroads. While conversations around access, infrastructure, employability, and academic outcomes continue to dominate public discourse, there is a growing recognition that the deeper crisis in education is not merelystructural, it is narrative. Today, the narratives about success, intelligence, learning, achievement, and the purpose of education continue to shape…