‘We thought we would die’

Meet Jyoti Kumari, the Bihar girl who cycled 1,200 km to get father home. She, who has made international headlines, is focused on her studies, but is willing to take up Kiren Rijiju’s offer of a cycling trial “Say she is not here,” Jyoti Kumari said when her father, Mohan Paswan, approached with a ringing […]

Racial slurs may be unlocked

Discrimination against the North-eastern community might worsen once the lockdown is over, as people who don’t know their geography think they come from the land of the Wuhan virus With people locked indoors, there were fewer opportunities for racial discrimination against persons from the North-east in Delhi over the last two months. But when people […]

Some pros, some cons

If Metro allows only 50 passengers per coach, the ride may become more pleasant. But the risk of infection may push Delhi commuters to prefer their own vehicles, whether it is two-wheelers, three-wheelers or second-hand cars What is the everyday commute for Delhi’s workforce going to look like after lockdown is completely lifted? This conundrum […]

We’re poor? That’s rich!

If urban professionals earning above Rs 50,000 a month are lower middle class, how should we categorise those below this level? The finance minister would perhaps call themselves poor It was quite a shocker when Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman called those in the income bracket Rs 6-18 lakh per year as those in […]

Over 11,000 and counting

Delhi continues to be one of the metropolises of India which have a high rate of contamination. Lifting of restrictions, though necessary, may lead to further spikes The Coronavirus is continuing its rampage in Delhi. The number of new positive cases in India’s capital, according to the Delhi State Health Bulletin, was 660 on 22 May. […]

Living heritage to go under the hammer

Almost every aspect of the Central Vista redevelopment plan – its very need, cost, clearances, public consultation – is contentious. But the government is pressing ahead with it even as the Coronavirus pandemic ravages the world On 20 March, a few days before Narendra Modi put India on lockdown to contain the Coronavirus outbreak, his […]

Vibing via virtual virtuosity

This is the story of exceptional women who converted adversity into online opportunities — one for tarot card readings, the other to teach Bharat Natyam Social distancing and being forced to stay indoors for long periods of time has had a profound impact on peoples’ psyches. Now we have to gravitate towards a ‘new normal’ […]

Sounds of silence in a bustling city 

The lockdown has turned my city Kolkata into a literal ghost town with barricades and not a soul in sight in even the busiest parts Kolkata, the city of joy. It is the city I have spent the first 23 years of my life. I have grown up here, used to the hustle and bustle. […]