The Nehru whom today’s India does not know

Unlike most of India’s political leaders, Jawaharlal was not a one-dimensional man.

Aakar Patel

· Jul 23, 2015 · 08:30 am

If Muslim groups are opposing Surya Namaskar, the government is partly to blame

Many groups feel under siege due to the words and actions of the BJP. If they feel provoked by the International Yoga Day, we should not be surprised.

Aakar Patel

· Jun 15, 2015 · 09:15 am

Podcast: Aakar Patel on whether Bollywood actors are overpaid and Modi's challenges

Also featuring Wendy Doniger, Yogendra Yadav and movie critic Kamal R Khan.

Aakar Patel

· Jun 12, 2015 · 01:00 pm

Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman: BCCI keeps its players close but its possible critics closer

Why did the Indian cricket board ask the three recently retired batting greats to act as ‘advisors’? One guess: it’s not to take suggestions on reforms.

Aakar Patel

· Jun 08, 2015 · 09:00 am

Aakar Patel on why Baroda is boring, the failure of Abhishek Bachchan and more

Smart cities, the virtues of mutton vs beef, thoughts on Kyoto and Banaras.

Aakar Patel

· Jun 04, 2015 · 01:30 pm

Instead of resorting to bluster, Manohar Parrikar should get Indian military a big stick

The defence minister broke his oath as minister when he bragged, as it were, about officially using terrorists to neutralise terrorists.

Aakar Patel

· Jun 01, 2015 · 09:00 am

Modi doesn’t understand what Gandhi did: cultural change can’t come only through legislation

To empower Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the government has introduced spot fines for littering. Will this work? Experience says not.

Aakar Patel

· May 25, 2015 · 09:05 am

Podcast: Aakar Patel on whether Anurag Kashyap is a tormented genius or an insufferable bore

Also featuring Julius Ceasar, Kumar Gandharva and, as always, Narendra Modi.

Aakar Patel

· May 22, 2015 · 01:00 pm

Why did the Supreme Court place restrictions on government ads?

The court largely didn't have any problem with the ads. Why then did it limit the individuals whose photographs can be carried in them?

Aakar Patel

· May 18, 2015 · 09:05 am

One year on, Modi government has proved its critics wrong

Modi hasn't brought about the dramatic change his ardent supporters hoped he would. But he didn't commit the dark deeds many had predicted. For his voters, he's been a success.

Aakar Patel

· May 16, 2015 · 09:15 am

Podcast: Aakar Patel on dowry calculators, the films of Shashi Kapoor and more

Also featuring meditations on Narendra Modi, the frailties of great people and why Dalit parties have blue flags.

Aakar Patel

· May 15, 2015 · 01:25 pm

Bollywood supported Salman because its parasitic star system demands absolute loyalty

A few men’s box office clout has accorded them disproportionate power in the Hindi film industry.

Aakar Patel

· May 11, 2015 · 09:15 am