The guilt no one warned you about

Setting boundaries with parents is one of the most emotionally loaded things an adult can do, particularly when you were raised in a culture where devotion to family is not merely a value but a measure of your character. The guilt that follows is not weakness; it is the residue of decades of conditioning. In…

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Crude Neglect

Every monsoon, many whites and beaches along India’s west coast are encrusted in black by waves of oil and tar balls. This year, the pollution arrived unusually early: Normally washing ashore in June first week, it was already defacing beaches along the Konkan coast by May 9. Of all the environmental crises along India’s coastline,…

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Embracing the season’s sweetest treasure

Mangoes, fondly revered as the king of fruits, are more than just a seasonal delight — they are a celebration of flavour, culture, and tradition. Across the world, mangoes are cherished for their luscious sweetness, golden hue, and unmistakable aroma, but nowhere are they loved more deeply than in India. With the arrival of summer…

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AI will not save banks that cannot decide

Artificial intelligence is being treated as the next great transformation in banking. In some ways, it is. AI can reduce manual work, improve fraud detection, personalise financial guidance, accelerate underwriting, strengthen customer service, and help frontline staff serve customers better. But there is a dangerous misconception underneath the excitement: that AI will fix institutions that…

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The Long Walk to Cannes

In 1987, in a remote village in Kollam district, people arrived carrying mats and pillows for an experience many had never had before—a free film screening i n their own neighbourhood. Some expected a conventional superstar-led film. Instead, they encountered a deeply political work that often reflected their own realities. Actor Joy Mathew still remembers…

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Trump dives in

Commercial mining on the ocean floor? Terrible idea Washington’s nod to commercial deep-sea mining, the boat pushed out Friday, has prospectors diving in, to loot the ocean floor. UN-backed International Seabed Authority has called Trump’s move “unlawful”. Commercial seabed mining in international waters is off-limits. For anyone. That’s why there aren’t even regulations in place…

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Nanny state

The wisdom, or otherwise, of college uniforms. It’s touching when govt loves citizens so much, it even lays out the clothes they should wear to college – like UP has just done. “Nanny,” you cry, seeing the white shirt, blue trousers, black shoes, or whatever’s struck nanny’s fancy this time. Gratitude brims over when you…

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Light of unity can illuminate the world

By AK Merchant In the 19th century, Shiraz, Iran, a 25-year-old youth took the title ‘The Báb’, meaning ‘The Gate’. He announced that he was the prophet-herald of a new era, sent to pave the way for a global spiritual revolution. Though his ministry lasted a brief six years, the Báb attracted thousands of followers…

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