New perch

Outraged by its alleged bias, users are abandoning Twitter India to sign onto alternative platform Mastodon NISCHAI VATS @nischaivats   It hasn’t been a smooth ride for Twitter in India in November, as hundreds of users are abandoning the micro-blogging website over its alleged discriminatory policy against the minorities and those who oppose the Hindutva […]

Footloose at Fort

While the day is all about business, the evenings in Mumbai’s commercial area are about the setting sun, rays dancing over the colonial buildings, enjoying a cuppa with vada pav I read the notification on my phone — 97-year-old Boman Rashid Kohinoor, senior partner of Britannia & Co Restaurant, passed away. Oh God! A loud […]

Babus can write!

Many police officers and bureaucrats have taken to writing, some after retirement. Their books give an insider’s perspective on issues and events that shaped our nation Much of the power that bureaucrats enjoy is because they are custodians of information. Though the Right to Information Act made a dent in the steel frame, secrecy remains […]

Jewelry for all ages

No need for precious gold when you can have silver Bob Marley is famous for many of his quotes and one of those is, “don’t gain the world and lose your soul; wisdom is better than silver or gold.” His words may be valuable than any precious metal but a collection of teensy tiny trinkets […]

“It is important for the corporate to nurture art”

Jay Shah, Vice-President, Head – Cultural Outreach, Mahindra Group shares the vision behind the Mahindra Kabira Festival MURTAZA ALI KHAN @patriot_talks   Mahindra Kabira Festival, known for offering an immersive experience inspired by Kabir’s teachings, is back with its fourth edition. This year the festival will run from 22 – 24 November, 2019 in the […]

Celebrating craft

India Craft Week was born out of an intense desire to narrate the ‘untold stories’ of India’s very own artisans and their craft, and to give the world a view to their stories From the beautiful valleys of Kashmir to the quaint villages of Andhra, from the pictorial hills of Manipur to the starkly beautiful […]

Harmless beauty

Choosing cruelty-free, vegan products is not just happy news for animals but for your skin too! Cosmetic brands have for the longest cashed upon the insecurity of women around the world. But is it really just insecurity? Some say it makes them feel confident and is a way to express themselves, while others enjoy the […]

Musical cheers

Wearing makeup for a gay party is just another of the exhilarating experiences that are part of coming out to the world “Okay what vibe do you need?” asks my friend Nayna, as we prepare for my first gay party in the Capital city. A city where I hid my sexuality for a long time, […]