menu_open Columnists

National Herald

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Human rights in India in 2025: ‘Highlights’ of the year so far

Human rights in India in 2025: ‘Highlights’ of the year so far

At the end of every year, the organisation I represent puts out a report on human rights in India. This is part of Amnesty International’s global...

sunday 2

National Herald

Aakar Patel

How the mighty have fallen again

How the mighty have fallen again

The heat and dust in Karur that Saturday was merciless, the kind that parched throats and blinded eyes. By noon on 27 September, the textile town...

04.10.2025 2

National Herald

K.a. Shaji

A peace plan that is anything but

A peace plan that is anything but

Even as the death toll in Gaza mounts daily and the Gaza health ministry keeps that grim ledger, even as we realise that the official statistics...

04.10.2025 2

National Herald

K.a. Shaji

More brinkmanship on our borders

More brinkmanship on our borders

The Himalaya has come to us with a question — in the form of Sonam Wangchuk. Old by our standards, it’s still young in mountain-years — a mere 50...

04.10.2025 2

National Herald

Yogendra Yadav

Anatomy of a partly wasted life

Anatomy of a partly wasted life

Most of us seek wisdom by reading tomes by wise men and Shashi Tharoor, but once in a while, going through a book for some entertainment and fun,...

04.10.2025 1

National Herald

Yogendra Yadav

Gandhi Jayanti meets RSS centenary: Of inclusive harmony, exclusive nationalism

Gandhi Jayanti meets RSS centenary: Of inclusive harmony, exclusive nationalism

This day of 2 October 2025 marks a confluence of milestones: the 156th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the festival of Vijayadashami, and the...

02.10.2025 20

National Herald

Hasnain Naqvi

Regaining the Mahatma’s legacy

Regaining the Mahatma’s legacy

The United Nations has declared 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence. The world has recognised Gandhi as an apostle of peace. A total...

02.10.2025 10

National Herald

Meenakshi Natarajan

The idea, and the fear, of Swaraj

The idea, and the fear, of Swaraj

An organisation has just marked a hundred years of existence, celebrating its centenary with great pomp. Conveniently, it is their ideological...

02.10.2025 3

National Herald

Meenakshi Natarajan

Gandhi's religion, and his Ram

Gandhi's religion, and his Ram

"Hey Ram!" As the world knows, these were Mahatma Gandhi's last words. But what is perhaps less widely known is that, long before his death, Bapu...

02.10.2025 2

National Herald

Meenakshi Natarajan

International relations in the New New India

International relations in the New New India

‘God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform’ — so goes a hymn I read in school. Or perhaps it was a line in P.G. Wodehouse… I forget...

28.09.2025 5

National Herald

Aakar Patel

Of watering holes and silent heart attacks

Of watering holes and silent heart attacks

Watering holes are essential retreats for all species, in the real jungle or the urban one. They provide much needed R R and the chance to rub noses...

28.09.2025 20

National Herald

Avay Shukla

The sophistry and selective courage of retired CJI Justice D.Y. Chandrachud

The sophistry and selective courage of retired CJI Justice D.Y. Chandrachud

In a recent interview with journalist Sreenivasan Jain on Newslaundry, former chief justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud stirred up a familiar storm....

28.09.2025 6

National Herald

Avay Shukla

RSS at 100: Foundational flaws and fear of freedom

RSS at 100: Foundational flaws and fear of freedom

As the right-wing ecosystem commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), founded on 27 September 1925 in Nagpur by...

27.09.2025 9

National Herald

Hasnain Naqvi

The charade of ‘recognition’ for Palestine

The charade of ‘recognition’ for Palestine

After years of silence, Western capitals are once again speaking of Palestine. The United Kingdom, France, Belgium and several other European...

27.09.2025 20

National Herald

Arvind Mohan

The H-1B noose tightens on Indian IT

The H-1B noose tightens on Indian IT

On 19 September, US President Donald Trump made a startling announcement: the H-1B visa fee would now be $100,000 per entry, with effect from 21...

27.09.2025 2

National Herald

Jagdish Rattanani

Can UP crush caste assertion?

Can UP crush caste assertion?

The speed with which the state government in Uttar Pradesh acted on a court order to ban caste rallies would have surprised even the Allahabad High...

27.09.2025 9

National Herald

Arvind Mohan

The thrill of war, with not even a scratch

The thrill of war, with not even a scratch

Like most Indians, I too am a cricket buff. Even in the midst of the daily grind, I’m tempted to catch snatches, maybe just a few overs, of an...

27.09.2025 2

National Herald

Arvind Mohan