SCIENCE FACTION

Meet the 12 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awardees for 2022, who, apart from scientific rigour, share an undying passion for their work and the determination to never give up

A smile and a kind ear

From that tender age when memories first begin to take shape, Jiji Mary, 35, had a deep connection with the story of Veronica, the woman who, moved by seeing Jesus carrying the cross, gave him her veil to wipe his forehead. Little did Jiji know that, when she grew up, she would become a Veronica-like figure, empathetically listening to and changing the perspectives of many convicted humans.

Mrs fingerprints

If anyone dare suggest that your seventies are meant to be a time to relax, Rukmani Krishnamurthy would burst out laughing. At 74, the sari-clad forensic investigator, with a red bindi and silver hair, is busy learning new skills to lead a team of experts that helps the police and the public alike.

FOR THE POLICE, FOR THE PEOPLE

Meet some of the men and women who work away from the spotlight, but play a crucial role in how the Indian policing system operates

MARITIME INSTITUTES MUST ADDRESS INDIA'S SHORTAGE IN COMMERCIAL EXPERTISE

S. SHANTHAKUMAR, who serves as provost of the Gujarat Maritime University, spoke exclusively with THE WEEK about the importance of maritime education and what set apart the pedagogy and curriculum at the GMU.

MUSEUMS AND NAVAL HERITAGE

Ship museums are important not just for preservation of naval history, but also for education of the general public

DEMYSTIFYING SUBMARINES

The type and number of submarines we make or acquire should depend on affordability and threat perception

EASTERN PROMISES

India's overtures in the Indo-Pacific are complemented with the use of the Navy as a diplomatic tool

KEEPING THE COAST CLEAR

India needs a proactive coastal security mechanism to ensure that the 26/11 attack is never repeated

INDIA'S COLLISION BULKHEAD

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands must become the Hawaii of India

THE MAKING OF A MARITIME NATION

India is an ocean power by geography, but not yet in thought, deed and spirit. Its transition into the big league requires an abiding interest in the surrounding waters and a conviction that its future greatness lies on the sea

When costume is a character

I have just returned from an important exhibition in Goa. ‘Bharat Through The Lens of Bhanu Athaiya’ is among the first exhibitions put together by Prinseps auction house, at Goa’s Aguada Jail Museum, a gorgeous little fort and deck which has now turned into a chic hangout space.

Quiet eating, fewer partners...

So I went looking for fresh insights into the heads of Gen Z through Meta’s Instagram Trend Talk 2024. Of course, I could have saved myself the read and looked into the heads of my own children, but they are not talking to me.

From zero to heroes

Ancient India invented the zero and changed the world. Modern India's track record is equally impressive

The Constitution in action

How many times have the policies of the Narendra Modi government been called unconstitutional? We have lost count.

The year of elections

2024 is the biggest election year in history. Voting takes place in 40 countries, representing over 40 per cent of global GDP and population.

Modi-Shah BJP and the surprise factor

Let us admit. No political pundit, whether on the left, right or centre, was able to predict who would be the new chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

The Girl Effect evening

I was intrigued when media personality Alex Kuruvilla sent a tempting invitation to an evening of cocktails, connections, and conversations about the ‘Power of Girl Effect’, hosted in the Zenith at the St Regis Hotel.

The song goes on...

With her latest music video, shot posthumously, Kalyani Menon cements her place in the pantheon of Indian music legends

ANGELS vs DEMONS

Two movies Animal and Sam Bahadurwith radically different male leads make one ask: What does heroism mean to us anymore?

Slow fashion and the Italians

I am quite certain I was the first person in India to interview Valentino Garavani.

RAGA AMID RAVAGE

The nadaswaram has been a constant note in Yazhpanam P.S. Balamurugan's life, even when the Sri Lankan civil war raged on

LAUNCHES ONLY PART OF THE JOB; OUR CORE IS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

A man waited outside a hall in Kochi. Inside, members of The Institution of Engineers were listening to ISRO Chairman S. Somanath deliver a keynote address.

THE SOMANATH EFFECT

FROM GROWING UP IN A HOME WITHOUT ELECTRICITY TO OVERSEEING THE CREATION OF INDIA'S MOST POWERFUL ROCKET AND LEADING ISRO, S. SOMANATH HAS POWERED PAST OBSTACLES THANKS TO HIS RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF DREAMS. THE WEEK'S MAN OF THE YEAR IS NOW EMPOWERING INDIA'S DREAMS

Hindutva and Zionism

Attending a conference in Johannesburg on solidarity with Palestine, I said, “Let me begin by clarifying that I am not here on behalf of my government….” Thunderous applause greeted that opening line.

Frail and fractured

Out of power, the future looks bleak for KCR and his party as the Congress and the BJP could poach his MLAs

Caste consensus

The new chief ministers tick all of the BJP’s boxes, but only their performance would guarantee their survival

Coal and all the talk

Dubai climate change summit's final document pleases participants, but experts see red

2023: A Love Story

With its first same-sex marriage, Nepal’s queer community expects it to be a beacon of hope for sexual minorities from across the world