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Home / Columns / Smruti Koppikar

Smruti Koppikar

Smruti Koppikar

Smruti Koppikar is an award-winning Mumbai-based journalist and currently the Founder Editor of Question of Cities, an online journal on cities and ecology.

Articles by Smruti Koppikar

Maharashtra votes 2024: Dynasties abound, but who speaks for the Maharashtrian?

Sunetra Pawar, Praful Patel, Ajit Pawar, Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis at a political rally. Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray's portrait is seen at the back. (HT)

Updated on May 3, 2024 05:58 IST

Maharashtra votes 2024: For state choking on pollution, eco-governance only cure

Polluting fumes emitted by industries in Mahul, Chembur. (Photo by Vijayanand Gupta/Hindustan Times) (Vijayanand Gupta/HT Photo)

Updated on May 2, 2024 08:34 IST

Maharashtra votes 2024: How co-ops, RDBs became lynchpins of state politics

Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana activists pour milk at the memorial of Maharashtra's first chief minister late YB Chavan during a protest to demand direct <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>5 subsidy per litre.

Updated on May 1, 2024 05:47 IST

Maharashtra votes 2024: Why is the state losing big projects to Gujarat?

So far, Maharashtra has ridden on its old reputation as the preferred address for Foreign Direct Investment and location of industries and services. (Shutterstock)

Updated on Apr 30, 2024 12:30 IST

Maharashtra votes 2024: How urbanisation hinders the idea of a sustainable city

Kurla in Mumbai is densely packed with slums. HT Photo by Raju Shinde

Updated on Apr 29, 2024 05:36 IST

Maharashtra votes 2024: Why do the powerful Marathas want to be tagged backward?

Marathas march in Pune. HT photo Raju Shinde

Updated on Apr 27, 2024 05:46 IST

Maharashtra votes 2024: Why unemployment dogs governments past and present

Job seekers register at a job fair in Chinchwad. (Danish Siddiqui / REUTERS)

Updated on Apr 26, 2024 06:21 IST

Maharashtra votes 2024: Farmers across state plough through pain of bleak future

A grape farmer in Maharashtra's Nashik district. HT Photo Raju Shinde

Updated on Apr 26, 2024 04:13 IST

Lockdown is painful but may be Mumbai’s best chance at tackling Coronavirus

If Mumbai is completely locked down, it will resemble a ghost town not unlike Wuhan from where photographs and videos were shared in late January.

Updated on Mar 19, 2020 11:00 IST

Epidemic of fear and panic about CoVID-19

Cities, after all, are potential hotbeds of epidemics given their large populations, public transit systems, and uncontrollable person-to-person interactions.

Updated on Mar 11, 2020 18:17 IST

Mumbai’s story: Vicious riot and elusive justice

Police stand guard in a riot affected area following clashes in northeast part Delhi

Updated on Mar 4, 2020 19:33 IST

Communal riot and inter-ethnic tapestry of cities

There was violence from both sides but reports show that the scale, intensity and viciousness against Muslims were spine-chilling.

Updated on Feb 26, 2020 18:43 IST

The malice in making protests and protesters invisible

Updated on Feb 19, 2020 20:02 IST

A Mumbai cabbie and Kejriwal’s free pass to hate ideology | Opinion

Kejrwal who advocated full statehood for Delhi had voted with the BJP to nullify Article 370

Updated on Feb 13, 2020 04:04 IST

Civic budget talk: Coastal Road a misplaced priority?

Municipal commissioner Praveen Pardeshi set aside Rs 2,000 crore in the budget for Coastal Road

Updated on Feb 5, 2020 17:40 IST

Shiv Bhojan could be game-changer if Uddhav is watchful

Thackeray’s government was able to start the Shiv Bhojan programme within two months

Updated on Jan 29, 2020 18:20 IST

How to redefine nightlife in a city that never sleeps

Malls, restaurants, commercial establishments in gated communities and non-residential areas will be allowed to stay open all night to boost local economy

Updated on Jan 22, 2020 18:33 IST

Mumbai Police must refine the art of policing

Once spoken of as the Scotland Yard of the East, Mumbai Police now faces new and different policing challenges.

Updated on Jan 15, 2020 18:33 IST

Make no mistake, Mumbai is mostly political and non-silent

People protest against CAA-NRC at Shivaji Chowk, Vashi on Wednesday.

Updated on Jan 8, 2020 18:37 IST

2020 brings hope that Indians will reclaim a composite nation

The resistance to the CAA-NRC in the months to come would need to be sustained beyond the predictable protest-fatigue

Updated on Jan 1, 2020 18:34 IST

2019: When city streets became protest sites

Hong Kong witnessed massive protests this year

Updated on Dec 25, 2019 18:59 IST

De-citizenisation by CAA-NRC drills through India’s soul

Protests against CAA and NRC have broken out across several parts of India.

Updated on Dec 19, 2019 13:54 IST

Gender equality: Global concern, Mumbai’s ignominy

Efforts need to be made to foster gender equality in Mumbai.

Updated on Dec 11, 2019 19:11 IST

Dear parties, ignore women and urban voters, face NOTA

The continued abysmal percentage of women in the political fray is disappointing.

Updated on Dec 4, 2019 19:46 IST

Some takeaways from Maharashtra government formation

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is set to be sworn in as the CM on Thursday.

Updated on Nov 27, 2019 21:54 IST

Uddhav’s ambition, Gandhi’s dilemma, and Pawar’s pattern

President of NCP Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray

Updated on Nov 21, 2019 01:05 IST

Why Mumbai can’t honestly say ‘Let’s move on’

Police personnel deployed outside the mosque at Bandra ahead of the Supreme Court's historic verdict on the Ayodhya land case.

Updated on Nov 13, 2019 17:43 IST

Mumbai Story: From sea unto sea?

Flooding along with unseasonal storms are a clear indication of the impact of climate change in Mumbai.

Updated on Nov 6, 2019 18:39 IST

The meaning of the 2019 mandate

Updated on Oct 30, 2019 19:19 IST

Why Mumbai’s voter disinterest is a disgrace

Voters queue up to cast their votes at a school in Ghansoli in Navi Mumbai.

Updated on Oct 23, 2019 18:38 IST

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