Editor's Picks
The best of Magazine
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Why a celebrated Russian artist chose to become an Indian citizen
Svetoslav Roerich remained ‘stateless’ in India for decades before taking an oath of allegiance to the Indian constitution.
Ajay Kamalakaran
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How camels from Punjab ended up joining a police force in southern Africa
In the early 20th century, an infectious disease killed thousands of cattle in Southern Rhodesia, creating an unlikely demand.
Ajay Kamalakaran
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In the poetry of Amir Khusrau, food is served with style and flourish
Through food references, the great poet shone indirect light on the society and culture of India in the 13th and 14th century.
Priyadarshini Chatterjee
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Bombay is better than Calcutta: Impressions of a US novelist in early 20th-century India
The witty EW Howe seemed particularly fascinated with Rajasthani landscapes and Bombay’s affluence.
Ajay Kamalakaran
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How the Chakhesang Naga community weaves a world of meaning into a shawl
Members of the tribe are allowed to wear the apparel only when they have acquired enough social status.
Kamayani Sharma
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Who was William Borden, the American who helped take libraries to every corner of Baroda?
Borden’s cataloguing system gave readers across the state – including in towns and villages – access to 10 lakh books.
Anu Kumar
Food
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In the poetry of Amir Khusrau, food is served with style and flourish
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The story of how Hindus stopped distrusting biscuits and began eating them
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Carrots and sticks: How food was used to oppress Indian sailors on colonial ships
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Dongmo, charoti, saikala: The ingenuity of India’s little-known cookware
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How food came to the rescue of the British in India
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The story of how Hindus stopped distrusting biscuits and began eating them
By yielding to caste rules at the turn of the 19th century, the ‘Hindu biscuit’ ended up subverting them.
Priyadarshini Chatterjee
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In Diwan Singh, an unsung instrument of Indian classical music found an unsung champion
Singh went to Delhi to become a domestic worker but somehow became a sought-after tanpuriya. He is among the last few who haven’t abandoned the manual tanpura.
Malini Nair
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After suppressing an Egyptian revolution, the British wanted to exile its leader to India
Ahmed Urabi and others were first sent to Ceylon. Years later, when they complained, the British seriously considered transferring them to Bangalore.
Ajay Kamalakaran
Internet Culture
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From Jaipur to Kochi, these Instagram projects are archiving a snapshot of Indian architecture
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Ukraine’s official Twitter handle is processing the nation’s trauma in real time with memes
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Small is beautiful: An artist in Tamil Nadu is carving miniature sculptures on pencil tips
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An artist looks at Grimms’ fairy tales and finds sexist stereotypes that are common in India
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An engineer in Canada is urging South Asians to post their family photos and memories on Instagram
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How Sumatra became a popular destination for Sikh immigrants in the 19th century
The story of how the large island in the Indonesian archipelago became home to Sikh policemen, security guards, traders and farmers.
Ajay Kamalakaran
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‘Our talks will be of lasting value to me’: When Kwame Nkrumah visited Nehru’s India
Ghana’s first prime minister spent a fortnight in India in 1958-’59, packing in a series of official engagements and a vacation in Bangalore.
Ajay Kamalakaran
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How exactly does India count its tigers?
Although the camera trap technology used for tiger estimation exercises has come a long way, it has its critics.
Kamayani Sharma
Cityscapes
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When reimagining its streets, Mumbai should go beyond mere beautification
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Interview: Mumbai has forsaken Deonar and its communities, although both are critical for the city
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Edward Glaeser on the future of cities: I am more hopeful about India than I am about the US
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How can India meet its ambitious climate targets? With a little help from its cities
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Interview: India is disregarding its traditional water systems in favour of big infrastructure