Manjula Lal
Posts by: Manjula Lal
An ode to a Non-Gharanedaar: Rhythm of the past
United by their passion for dance but limited by Covid restrictions, three authors set out to pay tribute to late Kathak maestro Mohanroa Kallianpurkar. The result is a unique book that acts as a record of India’s rich cultural heritage
Structures that thrill: celebrating CP Kukreja Architects
This book stands testimony to a talented architect’s passion for building India’s institutions, malls and residences that have transformed the landscape of modern India
Judicial system, reform thyself
Indian jails are obviously no place for hope – yet this book tells us there are committed activists, especially among retired police officers, who are paving the way for a better future for prisoners. It is surprising for the lay readers to learn from this book that the Supreme Court has applied its mind […]
Old is not gold any longer
The number of women being abandoned by their sons is increasing at an alarming rate while daughters are seen making huge sacrifices to provide care to their old mothers when they become old and helpless As I was giving a coin to a young woman pleading with folded hands at the car window, my […]
Discoverers of India
In the 19th century, the Brits came to serve the East India Company and in the 20th century the Crown. Fifteen of them did path-breaking research that future generations need to know about. A lot of sound and fury is being expended these days on the destruction of monuments, especially temples, during the Mughal […]
Single but can’t mingle
Those who live alone in Delhi, whether too young to marry or single by choice, have a particularly tough time when the pandemic leads to restrictions on movement and lockdown. Spare a thought for them. The year has begun with night curfew, then weekend lockdowns. Now, the possibility of lockdowns stretching from weeks into months […]
Do not marry in haste, girl!
Soon, a Bill will be tabled in Parliament to raise the legal age of marriage for girls to 21, at par with boys. It is a false equivalence to say that if they can vote at 18, they can marry. Voting is not a life-changing experience like marriage. It seemed one of those topics on […]
Man from Manda, of Mandal
VP Singh believed that historically, any real change comes through an element of ruthlessness or not at all. Whether it was his firm stand on corruption, Raid Raj or the implementation of the Mandal Commission report, he wanted to be a disruptor rather than gain power for power’s sake Thirteen years after his death […]