Bon Mots And Title Deeds
Good, middling, disappointing—some of the busiest Indians sift through their reads
Profitera’s Box
Journalistus, a Titan, was given the task of moulding the intellect of mankind out of the clay of ignorance...
Murugan Morgan Mandela
As the saying goes, we are like that only. Quirky tales from all corners of India.
“The Media Magnifies Ruptures Of Everyday Pluralism”
Harvard's professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies on various aspects of her latest book
The Unsung
The unhailed celluloid memories of 2013: Two festivals, some good films and a few stray thoughts
New York Diary
Rules: 1. Don’t F*ck with Kids 2. Don’t F*ck with Cops. 3. Don’t F*ck with Bar Staff. 4. Don’t F*ck with NYC.
The Soul’s Aarohan
Maihar Devi Temple: In the heart of India, the goddess of learning is the presiding deity
Gentle Charms Of Syncretism
Sai Samadhi: Little is known about the early years of Sai Baba. His ‘miracles’ are well-documented.
The Crimson Tied
Ajmer Sharif: No shrine is more popular, and no wish is too big at this Sufi saint’s tomb
Bibi And Ghulams Against The King
Bon Bibi: In the Sunderbans runs the writ of Bon Bibi, the goddess who looks the tiger god in the eye and arrests his fearful lunge
At The Embassy Of Lord Balaji
Visa Temple: The engineering student’s port of call for a passage to America
The Mental Menageries
Nirgun Paduka: Where the ‘possessed’ come to get deliverance from Lord Dattatreya
Will It Be Filter Or Non-Filter?
Gora Baba: A Brit officer from 1857 offers a helping hand in return for a smoke
Love, Pray, Tie The Knot
Ishqiya Ganesh Mandir: Buried in the city’s old quarters, a temple of love rides its frothy popularity
Looking Ahead, Looking Back
What the experts said about inflation in 2013 and what is in store for the economy as a whole in 2014
Year of the Dark Horse
For long it seemed a RaGa-NaMo race. Till Arvind Kejriwal and his AAP changed equations and perceptions in Delhi.
On Blessed Grounds
From the four corners of India, the faithful flock, each to his altar, each to his wish
Broken Song Of Bernadette
From Lourdes to Velankanni, God is beseiged with demands for miracles. But a moral choice confronts Him.
Stardust In The Havan
Before the temples of the gods, the rich, bent low with offerings, genuflect. But they stand privileged still.
Touched By Sacral Fire
Iran Shah Atash Behram Temple: Sacred to the Parsis, it has wrought miracles for others too
Of Man And Mannat
Dewa Sharif: The dargah of Haji Waris Ali Shah provides salve for many a wounded soul
The Soul, Stirred
Bhairavnath Temple: Scotch only, please. Bhairavnath likes a tipple for favours rendered.
Boat’s Harvest: The Waters Will Part Here
Vallarpadam Church: Miracles happen everyday here, Vallarpadathamma looks out for the islanders