How Modi’s lack of federalism led to failure of farm laws and three other weekend reads

Four must-read pieces for the weekend.

Shoaib Daniyal

· Yesterday · 09:30 am

Pilgrimages, conflicts and naked women: A Russian merchant’s impressions of 15th-century India

Over three years, Afanasy Nikitin travelled from India’s west coast to the Deccan Plateau. His notes gave Russia its first glimpse of life in the country.

Ajay Kamalakaran

· Nov 27, 2021 · 11:30 am

‘Qawwali can teach us the lesson of unity’: A photo exhibition goes beyond the music

Manjari Chaturvedi, curator of the exhibition, speaks to Scroll.in about the need to document the history of the art form.

Priyali Prakash

· Nov 26, 2021 · 11:30 am

Edward Glaeser on the future of cities: I am more hopeful about India than I am about the US

The Harvard economist looks at a post-pandemic world.

Aaran Patel

· Nov 25, 2021 · 05:30 pm

Bhagat Singh Thind: The soldier whose fight for US citizenship reverberated for decades

His pursuit to become a naturalised citizen led to an influential Supreme Court judgement, which ruled that Indians aren’t legally white.

Anu Kumar

· Nov 23, 2021 · 12:30 pm

The legend of the Indian prince who is the forefather of all Cambodians

The love story of prince Preah Thong and Naga princess Neang Neak is intrinsic to Cambodian culture, passed on to every child at a young age.

Ajay Kamalakaran

· Nov 21, 2021 · 11:30 am

I looked closely at two famous portraits of Tipu Sultan – and found that one isn’t actually of him

A history enthusiast goes beyond the captions at the museum at the 18th-century ruler’s summer palace in Srirangapatna.

Harshavardhana Yadumurthy

· Nov 20, 2021 · 11:30 am

How can India meet its ambitious climate targets? With a little help from its cities

Here’s what the cities need to do.

Aaran Patel

· Nov 18, 2021 · 11:30 am

Will India’s digital push in agriculture help farmers or help exploit them?

Agritech is touted as a remedy for the perennial problems ailing the Indian farmer. But what about the challenges it might create?

Karishma Mehrotra

· Nov 16, 2021 · 11:30 am

Roshani Begum: A dancer from Tipu Sultan’s court who rebelled against the British

Women like Roshani Begum used their influence as court performers and story tellers to foment an uprising.

Jennifer Howes

· Nov 14, 2021 · 01:30 pm

Meet the women who have made the cello an ‘Indian instrument’

Saskia Rao-de Haas and Nancy Lesh have, in their own ways, brought the instrument to the Hindustani concert stage.

Malini Nair

· Nov 13, 2021 · 11:30 am

Sophie Zhang interview: Facebook prioritises Indian power players, not Indian people

The Facebook whistleblower on the social giant’s pernicious relationship with the establishment and the uniqueness of IT cells.

Karishma Mehrotra

· Nov 11, 2021 · 11:30 am