Gara Met Gala: How a Parsi heirloom went from auntywear to blue carpet
Once tucked away in family trunks, the intricately embroidered sari is finding a second life on global red carpets, courtesy a new generation of revivalists
Who me?
Co-ordinating Editor, Features at The Times of India, Mumbai | Chevening SAJP Fellow | Formerly with The Telegraph, Calcutta
Couldn’t believe what the newspapers said and so I became a journalist! It's been 19 years since and quite the life-coach as I wake up to its power and purpose every day. A good story is as much about everyday people and places as it is about the president or popstar. Those are the stories I hope to tell, make them relevant and compelling through compassionate, informed narratives that's cliche-free. And, given the age of scrolling and snap judgments, we live in today I still believe in sitting with a story. There is no substitute for a thoughtfully researched piece. That’s the kind of journalism I try to practice. And protect.
Why this alien weed is the 'terminator' of India's water worlds
Introduced centuries back as an ornamental import from Brazil, water hyacinth is now the country’s most relentless aquatic weed, thriving on sewage, fertiliser runoff and civic neglect
Celebrating 100 years of Art Deco: India's unique architectural legacy
A hundred years ago, Paris hosted the 1925 Exposition that gave Art Deco its name. Its language—sunbursts, zigzags, a blend of lavish curves with sharp symmetry, ancient motifs with modern materials — turned architecture into theatre. Unlike past styles that clung to tradition, Deco was restless. It travelled fast and shapeshifted easily. On its centenary, a look at those who are trying to save these treasures
As child witnesses shape verdicts, Indian justice system is slowly changing
It’s not easy for a minor to testify, especially against their kin. To help them speak up, some courts have introduced child-friendly steps like taking video testimonies in playrooms, but there’s a long way to go
Inspiration or imitation? Copyright battles rage in the copy-paste age
The Aamir Aziz-Anita Dube controversy isn’t a one-off. Creative work is easily ‘borrowed’ in this digital age but few have the stomach for long courtroom battles
It’s houseful at Mumbai’s Prithvi theatre for these juvenile home kids
A drama-based intervention that begins with weekly sessions and builds up to one full production a year with professional direction, public shows, and paying audiences is a first of its kind initiative to support ‘children in conflict with the law’, a term that tries to humanise their status but rarely alters their path
Dancing without daaru: Sober raves are redefining fun
Tired of the club scene, young people are moving parties to kitchens, stores and even the Mumbai local. Who needs tequila and strobe lights when you have matcha shots and daytime dancing?
When smog meets satire
Climate change can be a a depressing topic, but a bunch of creative folks are using pop culture to create awareness
City’s futsal players reach nationals, but their bigger win is off-field
Futsal, a fast-paced, indoor version of football played on a smaller, hard court with five players per team is about skill, quick passing, and close ball control. Recognised by FIFA, soccer legends like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Ronaldinho have credited the game for sharpening their technique. And for boys from Mumbai’s red-light areas, slums, and street communities who are playing this sport, the real win isn’t just on the court but against their tough realities
The not-so-rocking side of the great Indian gig rush
Organisers of live music events say pressure to give free passes, red tape for licences and lack of good venues is preventing the concert economy from really taking off
The Tibetan gully boys who have found a new groove
Young rappers who grew up in refugee colonies find new connections with their lost homeland through a gritty genre
How Jodhpur's restored stepwells are becoming cultural hubs
On a typical afternoon at Jodhpur’s Toorji ka Jhalra, an ancient stepwell within the walled part of the old city, one can spot local teens flinging themselves off its intricately carved ledges before vanishing into the cool, green water below only to surface seconds later, grinning. Watching them, it’s almost impossible to believe that this 18th-century relic was a dumping ground, buried under decades of stagnant water, not too long ago. Across the city, multipronged efforts are on to reclaim these subterranean marvels.
In a 1st, 140 Indian artisans weave history for Vatican Library show
For centuries, the Vatican Library has been a vault of historical records housing some of the world’s most treasured texts including ancient Hindu scriptures. This year, history gets a fresh spin—told not through ink and paper but needle and thread—stitched, woven, and embroidered by Indian artisans.
Why music icons come knocking on this Beyonce collaborator’s door
The last time Robert Randolph set foot in Mumbai, a monkey stole his lunch. “At the Elephanta Islands,” he laughs. “Man, I had a great time. The food, the people… I bought a suitcase full of linen shirts and pants.” That was over a decade ago, when he first played at the Mahindra Blues Festival—guesting with Buddy Guy in 2012, then closing the festival in 2013. Returning for his third stint at the blues fest, “It’s gonna be a high-energy bluesy, rock and roll show,” he promises. “People should come ready to dance!”
Rs 20,000 loan to luxe legend: Sabyasachi marks 25-year milestone
At 50 and on the cusp of celebrating 25 years in the fashion industry with a grand show in Mumbai on Jan 25, couturier Sabyasachi Mukherjee is refreshingly unromantic about his achievements. “A lot of people think I’m a big deal but for me, it’s like running any other business. I’m not an engineer nor a doctor. I don’t save lives or build bridges. I make clothes and get an undue amount of attention for that.”
When giving is a way of life
You don’t need a billionaire’s bank balance to make a world of impact. And that’s what a community called Living My Promise (LMP) is proving, by making philanthropy accessible by encouraging Indians with a net worth of Rs 1 crore or more to pledge at least 50% of their wealth to causes close to their hearts.
Wonder drug or worrying fad? Inside the year of Ozempic
Several celebrities, including Elon Musk, Amy Schumer, and Sharon Osbourne, have publicly discussed their use of the drug. Though it’s not legally available in India, 2024 saw Indians stashing boxes of the drug in their carry-on luggage during trips to the US or even jetting off to wellness clinics in the Middle East to shed the pounds.
Drips after sips: IV therapy is the new hangover hack
From aspirin to avocado, hair of dog to hot baths—the tried and failed list of hangover cures is long. This year, a new hero has entered the ring. To undo the aftershocks of a party, people are getting bespoke IV drips instead of a greasy breakfast. But it's not withour risks, warn experts
Can we be the first generation that doesn’t die, asks age-reversal guru Bryan Johnson
A chat with the fascinating techie-turned-age reversal guru Bryan Johnson who’s on a mission to “defeat death” with his intriguing ‘Blueprint’ to slow ageing and a ‘Don’t Die’ community that he’s now bringing to India with the hashtag #MarnaMat
Global Team Including TIFR Confirms Einstein's Gravity Across the Universe
TIFR is part of global team to come up with exciting new study that confirms Einstein’s theory of gravity works the same way across the entire universe. The breakthrough is important because of its precision that could solve new cosmic mysteries
Maharashtra Women Voter Aid Schemes: Promises, Skepticism, and Choices
Political parties are in a bidding war, each upping the stakes to woo women voters. But can a few extra thousands really sway a vote? Some find the handouts meaningful. Others question the timing & if these are enough when other issues need attention
Death by black magic: Why an 11-year-old was sacrificed inside his own school
Last month, an 11-year-old boy died in a ritual murder. Blind faith, lack of awareness and inadequate legal mechanisms allow these practices to continue
TIFR study uses psychedelic drug to trace neuron that can reduce anxiety
The word psychedelic may evoke wild, mind-bending trips out of the ‘60s. But what if the same trippy substances used in LSD & magic mushrooms could be harnessed to treat mental health issues? A TIFRScience
team may have unlocked that
team may have unlocked that
Black is back but guess who is scalping your Coldplay tickets?
Remember dus-ka-tees outside cinemas? Black is back—online. Ticket scalping that crushed Coldplay fans isn’t just for concerts anymore. Tech experts weigh in on how bots skip queues for gigs, matches & train tickets and what event sites could do to prevent it
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