Knowing when and how to seek comfort at the end of life  

Serious illness often brings a quiet but profound turning point—one that unfolds gradually rather than all at once. Patients and families begin to sense that continuing aggressive treatment may no longer provide meaningful benefit. Instead, it may prolong discomfort, uncertainty, and emotional strain. In these moments, the questions become deeper and more human: What truly matters…

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India can be Denmark. Pakistan can be Norway. Iran can be Sweden. So what’s stopping them?

Denmark’s recent general election offers a nuanced and instructive outcome that extends far beyond a mere electoral setback for Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Although the Social Democrats emerged as the largest party, the broader left-leaning red bloc did not secure a parliamentary majority. This has ushered in a period of complex coalition negotiations and prompted…

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Stop pretending the song is the problem

Every few months, India crowns a new cultural villain—almost predictably, almost on cue. Last week, it was schoolgirls dancing in towels. Before that, a Kannada poem declared “too bold.” Now, it’s a song. The trigger changes. The script doesn’t. This time, it’s a viral track—suggestive lyrics, choreographed provocation, and just enough calculated ambiguity to keep…

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The price we attach to greatness

I once encountered the claim that “madness is the price of greatness”, and it has stayed with me. It suggests a bargain—inner fracture is redeemed by external brilliance. Pain is treated as a prerequisite for insight, and achievement as justification for instability. The true artist, in this imagination, must first know true anguish in order…

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Deal, Baby, Deal

Most people alive today were born after 1990. By then, Iran and Israel were already enemies. But their fight didn’t affect the whole world—until now. A few weeks ago, the US and Israel attacked Iran’s top leadership. Iran hit back by blocking a very important sea route called the Strait of Hormuz. A lot of…

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When empathy is swept under the carpet

Empathy and sympathy, those elegant words we casually toss around between a motivational quote and a cup of tea, are supposed to be natural. Like breathing. Or judging relatives at weddings. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: empathy is not always inborn, environmental conditioning matters a lot in moulding a person into an empath. Sometimes, it…

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Ishani: Devi of inner awakening

By Ullhas Pagey In the ethereal tapestry of ancient wisdom, where veils of illusion part to reveal the luminous core of existence, Ishani emerges as goddess of inner awakening, a radiant embodiment of divine feminine essence that whispers secrets of the cosmos to the seeking soul. Rooted in the sacred soil of Sanskrit, her name…

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The Thar’s trickster

Raghav Gupta Mr Raghav Gupta is an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of 2012 batch who has served in various capacities in the Income-tax Department such as investigation, assessment and administration. He is currently on deputation to ministry of home affairs and is the only Indian officer on the expert panel of instructors in the…

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Mayhem out there, so manage

War, US & China acting like predatory hegemons, dependence on key inputs…India has options to navigate this global disorder. But, work on developing them must begin now This is a dangerous time in the world economy. Hopefully, mounting costs of the Iran conflict will bring it to an end soon. However, the short-sighted, self-interested behaviour…

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