Karan Thapar is a super-looking genius who’s young, friendly, chatty and great fun to be with. He’s also very enjoyable to read.
Articles by Karan Thapar
Quirks and oddities of past monarchs
Fascinating anecdotes of the foibles and scandals of Pakistan's erstwhile royals
Published on Aug 12, 2023 08:54 PM IST
Politicians can’t stomp on constitutional rights
Gujarat CM suggests making parental consent mandatory in love marriages, potentially breaching constitutional guarantees.
Published on Aug 05, 2023 11:07 PM IST
The intriguing twists of Ambedkar’s career
A book reveals lesser-known aspects of BR Ambedkar, including his role in the freedom struggle and his struggle to be part of the Constituent Assembly.
Published on Jul 29, 2023 08:54 PM IST
Troubling questions on a wrenching video
A horrific incident of rape and sexual assault in Manipur has raised questions about the official response, including the police's role and lack of action.
Published on Jul 22, 2023 11:59 PM IST
A reckoning with the brutality of caste
In "Caste Pride: Battles for Equality in Hindu India," Manoj Mitta explores how caste prejudices persist in India, even in the face of caste atrocities.
Published on Jul 16, 2023 01:21 PM IST
3 troubling questions about Manipur crisis
Beyond duty and constitutional requirements, there’s a moral demand for a head of government to articulate the nation’s concern.
Published on Jul 09, 2023 09:54 AM IST
Frost, Nehru, Modi and a book of poems
During his recent US trip, PM Narendra Modi was gifted Robert Frost’s book of poems by the Bidens. Frost was also Nehru’s favourite poet
Published on Jul 02, 2023 03:43 AM IST
Three lessons from an unforgettable teacher
Guru was the moniker by which Doon School boys knew Gurdial Singh. It was a very apt nickname. It’s also how he’ll be remembered after his death last month.
Published on Jun 24, 2023 08:24 PM IST
Tracing the long arc of tennis broadcasts
Football and cricket, unlike tennis, are not individual games. Thus, to understand and appreciate what one player does, you need to know where the others are.
Published on Jun 17, 2023 08:42 PM IST
How to hold India’s leaders accountable
PM Modi, for nine long years, has failed to hold a press conference and many people have concluded he’s evading accountability. Let's examine this
Published on Jun 10, 2023 10:37 PM IST
An unfamiliar portrait of Vajpayee
We all think we knew Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but did we know the man behind the image?
Published on Jun 04, 2023 10:47 AM IST
A memoir sketches a rare portrait of Indira
In his new book, Chinmaya Gharekhan reveals Indira Gandhi was superstitious, loved to amend the drafts of letters, and could spend hours discussing the menu
Published on May 27, 2023 08:31 PM IST
A few warnings for BJP and Opposition
“Our democracy is in crisis, our social fabric is torn, our economy is in peril and we are being dragged back to the dark ages.”
Updated on May 20, 2023 07:44 PM IST
Take some time off from the poll heat
This morning let me offer you something rather different. It’s a selection of gems culled from the internet and shared by friends.
Updated on May 06, 2023 07:41 PM IST
A nation in conversation: A fresh outlook on India
A nation is a people in conversation is Rajeev Bhargava’s answer to the question “What is a nation?”. It’s very different from what you would expect.
Published on Apr 29, 2023 08:44 PM IST
Atiq’s killing raises troubling questions
We have to ensure this never happens again or our boast of being the world’s largest democracy. This is why justice Lokur’s questions matter.
Updated on Apr 22, 2023 06:53 PM IST
A disquieting string of disclosures on politics
By his own account, KC Singh proves he’s betrayed the high ethical standards of his profession and also endangered India’s democracy in his new memoir
Published on Apr 16, 2023 11:47 AM IST
An unexpected lesson on diversity from the UK
Three of the most important jobs in Britain are held by people of Indian or Pakistani origin. Five years ago, that would have been impossible to conceive of.
Published on Apr 09, 2023 03:38 PM IST
The politician who does not know how to say sorry
Speaking grandiosely, if not pompously, he declared at a press conference, “My name is Gandhi and Gandhis never apologise to anyone.”
Published on Apr 01, 2023 05:31 PM IST
On criticism, important advice from PM Modi
In an interview to Network18 in September 2016, by when he had been PM for over two years, Narendra Modi spoke about the need for analysis and criticism of governments and their work.
Published on Mar 25, 2023 07:27 PM IST
A liberal visa regime for Pakistani visitors to India
When a Pakistani with dual citizenship applies for an Indian visa, the application has to be on their Pakistani passport. Once submitted, the Indian embassy will forward it to Delhi. It can take months. Often, there is no response. Is this how we wish to treat people who once were fellow countrymen?
Published on Mar 18, 2023 07:19 PM IST
For a Congress revival, a two-fold approach
professor Suhas Palshikar believes the Congress must act on two fronts, organisationally and in terms of its political mobilisation
Published on Mar 11, 2023 06:40 PM IST
When India and Pakistan came close to inking a pact
Satinder Lambah’s book, In Pursuit of Peace confirms: “By the end of the second term of the UPA government and of Dr Manmohan Singh’s 10-year term, the draft agreement had been approved and was ready for signature.”
Published on Mar 04, 2023 06:57 PM IST
When Fazl Karim became Chunni Lal
This is a story that’s worth remembering. It’s a powerful illustration of how times have changed. Seventy-five years later, I also hope it might speak to our conscience.
Updated on Feb 25, 2023 05:06 PM IST
New revelations on the long history of our nation
I was struck by the things that Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Shobita Punja, and Toby Sinclair's A New History of India reveals and its interpretations
Updated on Feb 18, 2023 05:52 PM IST
Musharraf, a man of many contradictions
Last week the focus was on the political and, therefore, disturbing contradictions in his character. And rightly so. But let’s not forget the delightful ones. They’re also part of the truth.
Updated on Feb 11, 2023 07:45 PM IST
Why R-Day’s Beating Retreat saddened me
What is fixed in my memory are the retreating bands, climbing Raisina Hill. As they reached the crest, the sun would start to set. It made everyone gasp with delight. Alas, much of that is history.
Updated on Feb 06, 2023 10:45 AM IST
Three old books, but fine vacation reads
Two of them are biographies, a genre I find most enjoyable. The first is Zareer Masani’s slim but revealing and insightful work on Thomas Macaulay
Updated on Jan 28, 2023 09:17 PM IST
Prince Harry’s book is both curious and embarrassing
The style of the book is taut, tense, and staccato. Like a thriller. But the language lacks depth, and when the content flags, it can pall, even irritate.
Published on Jan 21, 2023 07:42 PM IST
Move forward, but cherish the past too
Carols at Christmas seem as natural as the aarti and fireworks at Diwali or semiya ki kheer at Eid. But will religion now determine what we can sing and partake of?
Updated on Jan 14, 2023 07:55 PM IST