The next century question

Kerala’s Muslims have come far since 1921. The harder task is deciding where they go next The Muslim community in Kerala stands at a pivotal historical threshold. It has just navigated a century of organised social resurgence—an odyssey that began in the shadow of the 1921 Mappila resistance and the crushing weight of colonial repression….

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Bhajan Lal Sharma’s 2-year report card

The more one examines the governance of the Rajasthan government since it unseated the Congress administration more than two years ago, the more it appears that the five-year rule of Ashok Gehlot (2018–2023) was a wasted period for the state. Internal rifts within the party, particularly between the chief minister and the deputy chief minister,…

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The weekend a village saved its pond

A small hamlet in Thrissur comes together to reclaim a dying temple pond It was the sight of an old man tucking up his mundu and wading into the slime that chang ed everything. Until that moment, the crowd on the bank of the thodukulam— the pond beside the Peruvanam Mahadeva temple in Cherpu panchayat,…

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One weaves memory, one paints loss

A couple’s art dwells in the world of coir workers and landscapes in retreat They say coir once left Neeravil, a remote village in Kollam beside Ashtamudi Lake, by water—bundles of fibre loaded onto country boats bound for Aspinwall & Co. in Kochi. There is something quietly circular about what has followed: The coir that…

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Celebrating Eid in a time of war

By Farida Khanam Eid is a celebration of harmony, gratitude, and peace, marked by prayer, charity, and goodwill. It is a day when families unite, and believers thank God. The festival begins with the sighting of the new moon. As soon as the crescent appears, believers say a prayer: “O God, let this moon come…

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Trump’s finding out why bibi’s a problem

The idea of ‘regime change’ is prominently associated with US-led invasions in Iraq and Afghanistan. But most regime changes – meaning transition from one political system to another – happen internally.Succession crises can trigger a regime change, or splits within ruling elites, or military coups, major protest movements, etc. Bombing a country to try and…

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Iran is smart? No, desperate

War coverage would have us believe, US and Israel are almost evenly locked in battle with Iran. Iran is matching – even outsmarting – US through “strategic cleverness”, and “asymmetric warfare”. US appears impulsive, Iran, smart, defiant, and resilient. But, this, simply, isn’t true. Read full story on TOI+   Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer…

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