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The discourse surrounding India's electoral process is perpetually fraught with controversy. On one side, there are allegations of vote theft and accusations against EVMs; on the other, opposition members are welcomed with open arms into the ruling fold and sanctified. In this climate, the rural storyteller B. G. Keskar offers a sharp, clear-eyed commentary on the reforms needed to bring our electoral process in tune with the times. In Summary: Eliminate the influence of bla

Water pollution, air pollution, and noise pollution—all forms are unequivocally harmful. They are an assault on the very existence of humanity and, indeed, all life. They deplete our biological and geological resources. For sentient beings capable of emotion, particularly fear, the long-term psychological consequences of such pollution are profound. In humans, the most evolved species with a sophisticated brain and a rich tapestry of emotions, the adverse physical and psychol

A man was spending his day begging. Sitting on the street, he held out his hand for money. Passersby would drop loose change into the bowl he held. He looked at each person with immense hope. If someone gave him five rupees, he was delighted. Even if someone gave him a single rupee, his face would light up with happiness and contentment. If just one rupee could bring such satisfaction, one might wonder how much happier those with millions must be. But are they truly happy? An

Part 1 Lokmanya Tilak was the one who established the city of Pune as the political capital of Hindustan. Until India achieved independence, Pune remained at the epicentre of the freedom struggle. The role of the extremist revolutionaries in the Indian independence movement was exceptionally significant and inspiring. To dismantle the formidable power of the British, these revolutionaries orchestrated numerous armed uprisings, uniting the people and igniting the blazing flame

I never had the ambition to become a writer, so the fact that I began writing owes a great deal to serendipity. My journey into film criticism started when the evening daily Aapla Mahanagar unexpectedly gave me an opportunity to write. From 1997, for the next four or five years, I wrote reviews of foreign films for them. In those days, "foreign" primarily meant "English," as reviews were typically written for films released in theatres, and most of our imports were in that la

I was on my way home from my morning swim. As I passed under the railway bridge, I saw the same two transgender individuals begging. A little further on, the same tea stalls stood in a row, with the same men sitting at the counters, selling the same tea from dawn till night. The same daily routine. Don't they ever get bored? Not them, nor most other people, it seems. Sometimes I think they are the ones who have understood life. They have realized that a large part of it is bo

A Tribute to Her Enduring Legacy in a New Era of Music One never needs an occasion to write about Lata. However, looking at the books on film music released over the past year, I've noticed one thing: the songs of Lata Mangeshkar from the post-1965 era are seldom revisited. For my generation, born in the sixties, these songs are just as beloved as those from the so-called golden age. These are our memories... The mythological tale of the tree, involving Shri Krishna, Satyabh

The Moment Expression Becomes a Necessity Waves surge toward the shore, carrying secrets hidden in the ocean’s heart. Occasionally, they leave a thing or two on the sand and recede, holding the rest within their depths. The roar of aching sorrow and pain resounds ceaselessly in their minds. A similar roar constantly echoes within our own minds. No matter which shore we sit upon, that sound and its attendant unease never leave us. It hums like background music through our dail

To the editor's question, "Why do I write poetry...?", I could have given the simple and elegant answer, "Because I can write poetry..." Or, had I wished to be mischievous, I might have said, "I write poetry because I can do nothing else...!" But the true answer is one I heard countless times from my mother's lips, and I believe it to be the fundamental definition of true literature. Every mother often says, "What the heart cannot contain, the lips reveal!" What a genuine and

We have witnessed airplanes being hijacked, and we are familiar with pirates of the sea, but the hijacking of a train must be considered a rare event. However, this astonishing incident occurred in Pakistan's Balochistan, once again bringing the Balochistan issue to the world's forefront. The problem of Balochistan, which has become severe today, did not just begin with the creation of Pakistan but has roots stretching back long before. The historical roots of Balochistan ca

India is known to the world as a land of scholars. Since antiquity, foreign cultures have been captivated by Indian art, knowledge, science, society, and traditions. The Harappan Civilisation, one of the four great ancient civilisations of the world, stands even today as a prime example of India's sophisticated societal structure. From ancient to modern times, Indian society has undergone numerous transformations. Many great thinkers have walked this land, guiding the nation

If someone were to ask me who feels the greatest joy at the first rain, I would say it is the people of a drought-stricken village. A peacock may dance with its plumage unfurled, a poet's soul may sprout new leaves, and city dwellers may savour tea and fritters on their balconies, but when the first drop of rain touches the face of a person parched by drought, words themselves fall short of describing their ecstasy. The word ‘village’ conjures an idyllic image: lush green hi

A Meeting of Icons, a Union of Hearts, a Surrender of Egos Last year, on the 8th of November, P.L. Deshpande’s birth anniversary, I posted an unpublished account and a photograph on social media—a moment I had been urged never to reveal. It was the story of a meeting between Shiv Sena Chief Balasaheb Thackeray and the literary giant P.L. Deshpande. Balasaheb himself had forbidden me from publishing it, but the profound lesson in civility that these two titans of the Marathi w

Jaisā dīpe dipu lāvije Tetha koṇa ādila oḷakhije Taisā sarvasve maja bhaje To mīcī hoūna ṭhāke (When one lamp is lit from another, who can tell which was the first? In the same way, one who worships me with their entire being, themselves becomes Me.) These lines by the revered poet-saint Dnyaneshwar Mauli come to my mind on this auspicious occasion of Deepavali. My guru, the Bhavagandharva Padma Shri Pandit Hridaynathji Mangeshkar, always says, "Padmaja, when your notes find

Let him leap, let him posture! It is I who will bring him to his knees. I once mistook him for an eagle, but he turned out to be nothing more than a frog. I remember when he first appeared at my door, wearing a cap of pristine white. He stood with folded hands, a servile smile plastered on his face. His words, when he spoke, were reassuring. His professed secularism felt like a creed, and I saw in him a man of principle, of unwavering conviction. This, I thought, is a man wh

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At any happy occasion in our home, amidst a crowd of relatives, the moment someone would say, “Tara, it’s your turn to take an ,” my Aai (Mother)—Tara by her maiden name, Shanta after marriage—would instantly recite a witty traditional couplet. The moment anyone asked, “Who’s up for a game of cards?” she would be the first to say, “Let’s play rummy!” This enthusiasm remained undiminished even after she turned sixty. And more often than not, she was the one who would win the g

The Sage on the Throne: Modi's Twelve-Year Culmination On September 17th of this year, the Prime Minister of the nation and the paramount leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Narendra Damodardas Modi , completes his 75th year. In another eight months, on May 22, 2026, he will complete twelve years in the office of Prime Minister. In our nation’s ancient tradition, a period of twelve years is known as a —a cycle of intense ascetic devotion—and it holds a profound significance

I’ve begun to suspect that a new literary genre is taking root these days: the ‘autobiographical obituary.’ When an individual, particularly a writer, passes away, articles are written ostensibly to discuss their work, their contributions, and their literature. But in the process, the author of the tribute ends up writing a great deal about themselves. “He was so appreciative of my work,” they will write, or “He held me in such high regard,” or “He always used to tell me how

Song and life, for me, have been a beautiful journey on two parallel tracks. In truth, this is likely the case for all of you, but from my perspective, this synergy has been paramount. Whenever I reminisce about the events, the moments, the paths, and the turning points of my life, the songs that accompanied them inevitably come to mind. Whether I heard them at the time of the event or long after, they resurface, and I find myself floating on their melodies, living my subseq