In this issue

THE WEEK-Hansa Research Best Colleges survey 2021: Indian colleges better prepared for online education this year

ALSO READ

Exclusive interview: India's role in Afghanistan has not been good, says Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid

Dividing with deadlines

Union Home Minister Amit Shah thunders at the Chinese that India will not yield them “an inch” of Indian territory. His acolyte, Himanta Biswa Sarma, the spanking new chief minister of Assam, echoes him: “Not an inch of Assam will be conceded…. People have sacrificed their lives, but boundary has been protected, which we will continue to do at any cost.” No, he is not warning the Chinese. He is threatening his neighbouring state of Mizoram. This is his version of faithfully implementing Amit Shah’s impassioned call on July 25, at a meeting of northeast chief ministers in Shillong, to “amicably” resolve their border issues before the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.

2 mins

India's role in Afghanistan has not been good

For the Taliban, peace is the first option, says Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the group. The 40-something Mujahid is in an undisclosed location, from where he spoke to THE WEEK. In a 45-minute-long interaction, Mujahid spoke with elegance and courtesy, expressing the Taliban's desire for a progressive Afghanistan. He said the group welcomes every initiative towards a peaceful solution, as long as there was no meddling in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. As Mujahid prefers to remain faceless, he did not share his photos. Excerpts from the interview:

7 mins

Tightrope to Kabul

India’s aim should be to ensure that while the Taliban becomes part of Afghanistan’s legitimate future, it does not become the absolute power in Kabul

4 mins

GOING, GOING... WAIT!

India and the US have only a month to resolve the deadlock over the ₹750-crore Lincoln House in Mumbai. Failure could result in the Poonawallas walking out of the deal

7 mins

Bitten by the spy bug

Phone tapping and bugging used to be dirty games. Snoopers used to leave bugs in target offices, and cover them up with chewing-gum blobs. Janitors in high offices often spotted disgusting gum blobs over grooves and cavities on chairs, tables, shelves, sides of air-conditioners, corners of skeleton-containing cupboards, and over dead ‘flies on the walls’. Governments spent huge sums to get offices ‘swept’, phones debugged, floors scrubbed, furniture replaced, and walls painted periodically.

2 mins

Changing gear

Will K. Annamalai help the BJP reverse its flagging fortunes in Tamil Nadu?

4 mins

Booster shot

REGARDLESS OF THE RESULT, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WOMEN’S TEAM WILL GIVE A HUGE FILLIP TO HOCKEY IN INDIA

4 mins

It was harder to win medal in Tokyo

Having the entire nation’s eyes on her is nothing new for P.V. Sindhu. She was 21 when she won her first Olympic medal—a silver at Rio 2016. In the next five years, she added more medals to her collection, including the World Championships gold and an Olympic bronze. If anything, the latest medal needed more work, sweat and strength. Work on the court aside, she had to navigate several controversies, including a spat between her father P.V. Ramana and national coach Pullela Gopichand, and questions about her changing her coach. But Sindhu kept her head down and focused on her game.

3 mins

Mind, Games

SIMONE BILES’S DECISION TO STEP AWAY COULD BE A WATERSHED MOMENT IN SPORTS

7 mins

The horse whisperer

Imitiaz Anees’s memoir is an ode to his horses and mentors, and a call to arms for the dreamer

3 mins

Read all stories from THE WEEK India

THE WEEK India Magazine Description:

THE WEEK is an Indian English-language news magazine published by The Malayala Manorama Co. Pvt. Ltd. It was founded in 1982 and is the largest circulated English news magazine in India.

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