Issue 5

Found in translation: 100 Sanskrit verses

The recently released translation of 1,300-year-old Sanskrit erotic poetry offers us an opportunity to transcend our ‘pale moralising’

The Jaish-e-Mohammad’s fidayeen factory: How Masood Azhar set up his industry of terror in Kashmir

Feeding the fidayeen factory in Kashmir is a much larger army: the infrastructure which organises the hundreds of young south Punjab men who head to the Jaish’s military camps each year

In nuclear standoff, becoming captive to one view of reality is dangerous, caution and constructive criticism is needed

In the nuclear realm, a series of weapons were deployed which the Soviets believed were designed to eliminate the USSR’s leadership and ability to retaliate.

Pulwama: No easy options for India; diplomacy, international isolation of Pakistan key to strategic policy

Should our military options be directed more specifically at the Pakistan army? The ISI and Pakistan military leadership is the real driving force behind terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and unless they feel real pain, they will have no reason or incentive to change their ways.

‘Chuck de India’ is our policy on hockey coaches

In the caliphate of Hockey India, ego and false pride hold sway over long-term planning and structured vision. Parochialism is mistaken for patriotism.

A phenomenon called Mulayam: In praising BJP, SP patriarch fights last battle to save his legacy

Mulayam Singh Yadav, who praised his adversary Modi in the Lok Sabha and wished him victory in the 2019 polls, is fighting one last battle to protect his legacy without even getting into the ring

Opening up stump mics not a sound idea

The open cricket field with thousands watching is a public place. But it was still in many ways a private space for the players, where they could chat freely. Also, there is a certain kind of language that’s spoken on the field.

The roots of a cult classic

Gully Boy has its soul in Pyaasa, spirit in Deewar and is executed with the gritty style of Satya. Beyond its shining performances, taut dialogue, catchy music and slick production values, the film holds the promise of timeless appeal

India’s rusted fangs need urgent repair

Modi has to address arguably the toughest strategic problem any leader of a nuclear-armed state has faced: hit another nuclear-weapon state to deter it from patronising terrorism.

Ritesh Batra: Photograph is about corners of our hearts only others can find

Rajeev Masand caught up with the globally-feted director of The Lunchbox at the recent Berlinale 2019, where the filmmaker screened his upcoming Hindi film, Photograph