Opposition-led State governments are fighting back against the fiscal siege imposed on them by a hostile Centre.

In this issue

08-03-202428 STORIES

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Science & Technology

Malaria vaccine trials in Africa confirm high efficacy

Also, Russia and India sign a new protocol for the Kudankulam plant, and the alarming news that the earth may have already crossed the 1.5°C warming l

R. Ramachandran

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Letters

Readers respond to Frontline’s coverage.

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New books on the shelves

A “pandemic novel” in translation, a biography of colonial India’s first practising lady doctor, and much more.

How to write novels? Just do it!

Writing is as much an art as a craft, much like carpentry or plumbing. Here is how I learnt it, from gurus like Stephen King and Margaret Atwood.

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Third book in Anita Nair’s Inspector Gowda series is disappointing on several counts

Gowda possesses the charisma of a captivating detective, but it’s unfortunate that Nair underutilises his potential in this novel.

K.V. Aditya Bharadwaj

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A worthy sequel to Animal Farm?

In Orwellian fashion, Adam Biles’ Beasts of England highlights the arduous task of protecting democracy, necessitating stiff resistance against those

Abhinav Chakraborty

Ayatollah Khomeini’s supporters at a demonstration in support of the spiritual leader, in Tehran in 1979. The Freedom Tower, a landmark of the city, is in the background.

Is Sufism the solution?

The book calls for reviving Sufism-influenced traditions in Muslim societies as an antidote to Wahhabism’s perceived Islamic fundamentalism.

Prabir Purkayastha: Voice of resistance

Blending memoir with political history, Purkayastha chronicles his media career from the Emergency to the present “undeclared emergency” in this book.

T.K. Rajalakshmi

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Mahatma Gandhi, in his own words

A new two-volume “autobiography” serves as a second act that Gandhi himself might have written if circumstances had allowed him to do so.

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The power of the banal

Is the only difference between art and commerce that of glamour and replicability?

Prathyush Parasuraman

The Indian village isn’t going anywhere!

To engage rural India effectively, recognise the village as a diverse entity capable of engaging with the world on its own terms.

Surinder S. Jodhka

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Coal chronicles

As India strides towards green energy, Angul’s miners, dispossessed of land and now livelihood, grapple with the bitter legacy of progress.

Jennifer Kishan

Finding home in the act: How Aagaaz theatre trust empowers young lives through art

The arts-based community empowers children, teens, and working-class women to dream, challenge, and build a future where everyone belongs.

Beyond borders: Unhoming in Lahore’s magical world

Reimagine Pakistan and embark on a transformative journey. Lahore awaits with its flavours, history, and friendships that transcend borders.

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Mizoram’s Dampa: A tiger reserve without tigers

Tiger-less for two years, this biodiversity hotspot faces poaching from both sides of the border, but village guards offer hope.

Is India attempting to restore its political equations in Sri Lanka?

The country’s recent overtures to the left-leaning Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and the Ceylon Workers Congress suggests so.

R.K. Radhakrishnan

Shakti: Still jamming with joy, still making history

The legendary band’s 2024 Grammy win for Best Global Music Album proves the power and popularity of its own unique brand of fusion music.

Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay

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Rise in crimes involving politicians and criminals in Maharashtra is a direct result of political instability

As general election approaches, influence of muscle power on the ground could play a worrying role in determining the outcomes in the crucial State.

Can Congress, weakened by recent losses, hold its ground against resurgent BJP?

With its nationwide reach, Congress remains pivotal within the INDIA bloc, yet it faces a critical test in 152 seats where it contests BJP head-on.

Centre versus West Bengal: Can Mamata Banerjee stay defiant?

West Bengal government says a whopping Rs.1.16 lakh crore is due from the Centre, of which MGNREGA scheme dues amount to Rs.6,911 crore.

Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay

Is India’s fiscal federalism breaking apart?

Seven States cry foul over unfair tax sharing, forced dependence on Central schemes, and GST woes, raising fears of a fractured federation.

C.P. Chandrasekhar

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Editor’s Note: India’s federal experiment is facing an existential crisis

As general election approaches, Centre-State tussle over funds exposes cracks in fiscal federalism, imperiling the future of democratic bargaining.

When Karnataka Cabinet goes to Delhi

The issue is whether Karnataka has been getting rightful share in the devolution of funds between the Union and States, not how it spends the fund.

Kerala vs Centre: A battle of finances and federalism

As Kerala Chief Minister leads nationwide protest against Centre’s “economic sanctions”, Modi government accuses the State of financial mismanagement.

M.G. Radhakrishnan

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The loud drone of farmers’ protest

This clash symbolises a deeper conflict between a regime tethered to corporate interests and a populace demanding fundamental rights.

List of political figures under scrutiny by central agencies reveals attempt to corner opposition

The exclusive focus of central agencies on leaders from opposition parties raises concerns about institutional bias.

Ashutosh Sharma

How Karnataka was born

A commendable intellectual history that traces the origins and development of the movement for a united Karnataka in 1956.

Vikhar Ahmed Sayeed

Has Uttar Pradesh’s economy surpassed Tamil Nadu’s?

Not even close. Data reveal gaping disparities, indicating Uttar Pradesh may take 64 years to catch up with Tamil Nadu’s per capita NSDP.

Palanivel Thiaga Rajan

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