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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘I have tried to be honest and frank including mistakes and regrets as well as triumphs' – Leo Varadkar set to publish memoir this September
He signed a six-figure book deal with Sandycove, an imprint of the publisher Penguin, last year following a bidding war for the rights to his autobiography that involved nine publishers. The former leader of Fine Gael, who resigned as both taoiseach and party leader in a shock announcement last April, said he has 'tried to be honest and frank' in his account. The book, which is titled Speaking My Mind, will be released on September 11. 'I served in government at one of the most interesting periods in history - the aftermath of the economic crash, Brexit, transformative referendums and the pandemic,' he said, sharing the cover of the book to social media earlier today. "The book is both personal and political and I hope it will give the reader new insights into that time. I have tried to be honest and frank including mistakes and regrets as well as triumphs.' Mr Varadkar was awarded the title of 'Hauser Leader' at Harvard University's Kennedy School's Centre for Public Leadership earlier this year, where he is currently guest lecturing. In a statement released by his publisher when he signed with them last year, Mr Varadkar said: 'I am really enjoying writing my story and I was keen to do so while it was still fresh in my head. It's as much a personal memoir as it is a book about political history. "There is so much people know already about my time at the top but there is almost as much that they don't. I have the freedom now to say things I could not while holding office and I have enough distance to reflect on the mistakes I made as much as what was achieved.' The former Fine Gael leader was elected to the Dáil in Dublin West in 2007 at the age of 28. He contested the party leadership election following the resignation of Enda Kenny in 2017 and was elected taoiseach that year at the age of 38. Mr Varadkar is one of a number of former taoisigh to publish his memoirs, including Brian Cowen and the late Albert Reynolds. In 2008, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern agreed a €400,000-plus publishing deal with Cornerstone Publishing, a subsidiary company of US publishers Random House.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Signed copies of book in London in Kannada, says Booker prize winner Banu Mushtaq
International Booker award recipient Banu Mushtaq was felicitated by the Karnataka Union of Working Journalists in Bengaluru on May 28. Banu Mushtaq, a writer, lawyer and activist, began writing about her people, their joys, sorrows and anxieties, over five decades ago. On May 20, Heart Lamp, a collection of 12 short stories selected from her work written between 1990 and 2023 and translated by Deepa Bhasthi, won the International Booker Prize for 2025. During the felicitation, among other things, she shared her experience of travelling to London. 'In London, whoever approached me to sign their copy of 'Heart Lamp', I signed them in Kannada. The other shortlisted writers were masters degree holders. I was the only one to be a grassroots writer.' Apart from being a renowned writer, she is an advocate by profession. However, she started her career as a journalist for the Lankesh Patrike, and had a four decade-long stint in journalism. 'Heart Lamp' was a major success in the field of literature earning a huge profit of ₹6 crore for Penguin publishers. Heart lamp will be translated to 35 languages. According to Banu Mushtaq, 'People, irrespective of caste, race and community, were celebrating my success. Following the success of the book, many filmmakers had approached me for film rights.' Girish Kasaravalli, a renowned director, made a film based on Kari Nagaragalu, one of the short stories in the book. The film was called Hasina, and won a national award for best actor. Banu Mushtaq will be felicitated by the government of Karnataka at Vidhana Soudha on June 2.
Time Business News
4 days ago
- Business
- Time Business News
Primal and the Evolution of Ethical SEO Practices
Search engines are evolving, as are the strategies people use to rank on them. In the past decade, businesses have changed the way they do SEO. It is now not just about ranking number one, but about doing it the right way, or ethical way. In this instance primal stands out. Being a leading SEO agency in Bangkok, primal has built a reputation over the past 9 years as a trusted provider for businesses looking for a long-term sustainable strategy built on ethical foundations. Let's take a look at how the SEO landscape has changed, and how primal has evolved with this change using white hat methods with a people first approach. In the early 2000s SEO was often a game of shortcuts. Keyword stuffing, cloaking and spammy links were some of the commonly implemented black hat techniques. While some of these black hat techniques may have generated a quick win, they have also resulted in penalties and a short life cycle of success. Over time search engines including Google caught on, with algorithm updates such as Panda, Penguin and Hummingbird the focus shifted towards rewarding websites that offered real value to the user. As a result ethical or 'white hat' SEO became the norm. Ethical SEO or 'white hat' SEO is the practice of optimizing your website in accordance with the guidelines set out by the search emphasizes the development of authentic content, the establishment of real backlinks, and a great user experience. In other words: it takes into account people, not algorithms. This shift towards what we can call 'ethical' SEO creates a far more sustainable, and meaningful, form of marketing. However, ensuring you do ethical SEO correctly has some important elements that require skill, and experience, and a deep understanding of how search engines work. That's where Primal has established a reputation. Located in Bangkok, primal's mission is to help businesses develop organic traffic ethically. Employing strategies that try to exploit trends or loopholes are simply not a Primal practice. Instead, they focus on ethical marketing strategies based on solid foundations. Here are several key concepts primal approaches ethical SEO: From day one, primal has committed to never providing marketing strategies based on unethical SEO. This is no backlink farms, no duplicate content, definitely no keyword stuffing — instead, they're working on genuine sites that improve your visibility over time. Good SEO begins with good content. Primal will help you develop important content with intent, audience relevant, well ranked, your website. Blog post, landing pages, FAQs, everything ranked with intent and quality. Technical SEO is more than metadata and site speed, it's about how people use your website as a real focus is around making websites fast, mobile-friendly and easy to use. The idea? A better user journey provides more engagement and organic conversions. Many agencies make SEO seem like a black box. But primal takes a different approach — Transparency. Clients receive regular updates, performance reports, and communication on what's being done and why. It's not just about ranking, it's about understanding the ranking. In a city as dynamic and competitive as Bangkok, standing out online is not easy. That why so many local businesses trust primal. The agency does not offer 'one-size-fits-all' packages as it takes the time to understand what each business is trying to achieve and tailors a good strategy to suit. Rather it being e-commerce stores or services providers, primal has helped many different brands grow their organic presence in a good way. Combining the local market and global SEO knowledge gets both experience. As search engines becomes more intelligent, ethical SEO will continue to grow in importance. AI, voice search, and machine learning have already begun the change but principles remain the same: be helpful, be relevant and be human. Primal is looking ahead towards future trends and rules while staying true to the ethical SEO rules. By putting long-term growth first rather than quick wins, the agency ensures their clients can be successful now and into the future. SEO is no longer just a technical strategy. Its part of how businesses communicate, connect and convert online, and that means ethics matter now, more than ever. With a commitment to white hat SEO, transparent communication and client-focused strategies, primal is helping to change the landscape of digital marketing — one ethical win at a time. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Interim justice: A study in contrasts
V. Raghunathan is a former Director of the Schulich School of Business (India Program), York University, Toronto, a former professor at IIM Ahmedabad and a former President of ING Vysya Bank. A prolific author, he has written over 15 books, including the national bestseller Games Indians Play (Penguin). With more than 600 published papers and articles, his latest books include The Lion, The Admiral, and A Cat Called B. Uma Vijaylakshmi (Westland, 2025) and To Every Parent; To Every Child (Penguin, 2025) and Irrationally Rational: 10 Nobel Laureates Script the Story of Behavioural Economics (Penguin 2022), among others. LESS ... MORE Justice HR Khanna, the eminent judge, jurist and advocate, renowned for his unwavering commitment to civil liberties and constitutional principles, firmly believed in the public's right to critique judicial decisions. Even in his autobiography, Neither Roses Nor Thorns, Justice Khanna emphasized the significance of dissent and open dialogue in a democratic society. He argued that the judiciary should not be immune to criticism and constructive scrutiny by the public, which serves to strengthen the legal system. His legacy, shaped indelibly by his historic dissent in the ADM Jabalpur case, has become a lodestar for those who seek to reconcile judicial authority with democratic accountability. Justice Sanjiv Khanna, during his recent tenure as Chief Justice of India—an office he vacated only last fortnight—also underscored these values. While reiterating the judiciary's accountability to the Constitution and the rule of law, he affirmed that the judiciary must remain answerable to the Constitution and the rule of law, while underscoring a crucial truth: 'Public trust has to be earned; it can't be commanded.' This underscores the fundamental principle of democracy, namely, that it is not merely the legal mandate by which judicial authority is served, but it is by public's trust in honesty, moral credibility and fairness of judiciary. In this broader constitutional context, two recent Supreme Court interventions—the cases of Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad and Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah—provide a compelling lens through which to examine the Court's application of constitutional protections and the principle of equal treatment before the law. Both cases related to the two individual's comments on 'Operation Sindoor'–– two women officers as spokespersons––and both causing public outrage, culminating in judicial oversight. Yet, how the two cases were treated by the highest judiciary reveals some stark inconsistencies. Professor Mahmudabad, a respected academic and historian at Ashoka University, was arrested for a social media post which made some critical comments on the Operations Sindoor, represented by two women officers, Col. Sofiya Qureshi and Wg. Cdr. Vyomika Singh. Though many interpreted his comments as thoughtful and critical, even if intellectually provocative, it reflected India's secular values, the state considered them inflammatory. He was detained under laws governing incitement and enmity. In the end, while the Supreme Court granted him interim bail, it did so with significant caveats. The Court reprimanded him, restricted further public commentary on the issue, and ordered the seizure of his passport. Additionally, the investigation was allowed to proceed under the supervision of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of three IPS officers. This dual response—procedural protection coupled with explicit disapproval—invites reflection. Was the Court performing a balancing act between protecting civil liberties on the one hand and appeasing public sentiment around national security on the other? Or was this simply a pandering to public sentiment, reinforcing the narrative that freedom of expression can be selectively applied or curtailed at whim, when it goes against majoritarian sensitivities? For many observers, including this author, Professor Mahmudabad's post hardly breached the boundaries of responsible public discourse. One may be pardoned for the perception that had the same post been made by any of the majority of the country's population, the matter would not have raised so much as a judicial eyebrow. That the Hon'ble Court considered it necessary to censure and restrict the Professor's freedom suggests a growing discomfort with dissent, even when couched in reasoned argument. In stark contrast, Vijay Shah, the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Welfare Minister, made openly communal and derogatory remarks targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, one of the officers associated with Operation Sindoor communications. His comments were widely condemned as unbecoming of a constitutional functionary and prompted the Madhya Pradesh high court to direct that an FIR be filed against him. When the matter reached the Supreme Court, it too criticised Shah's remarks in strong terms, noting that such language from a public official brought shame to the country. Yet, in contrast to its treatment of Mahmudabad, the Court stayed Shah's arrest pending investigation, while ordering the formation of another SIT to conduct the probe. The disparity here is not merely procedural but constitutional. An academic was arrested, censured, and effectively silenced and seemingly, a message sent out to the academic community at large, for a post that questioned political messaging; a politician was allowed to evade immediate legal consequences for blatantly divisive and communal speech. The implications for equality before the law are troubling. It seems that that the Professor's post was misinterpreted as his disloyalty to the nation due to his identity, background, and presumed ideological stance, while Shah's inflammatory pomposity was buffered by the institutional privileges and political patronage afforded to him as a minister. This raises a difficult question: are constitutional rights contingent on who exercises them? Constitutionally, secularism and freedom of expression are supposed to be universal guarantees; on the ground, these cases suggest they are not equitably treated. The perception of some tilt in judicial response risks undermining public perception and faith in legal impartiality and the integrity of democratic governance. Moreover, the public perception—which lies at the heart of the controversy surrounding Mahmudabad's reference to 'optics'—is hard to overlook, as the unfolding events appear to validate it in real time. His arrest, passport confiscation, and travel restrictions convey a chilling message to academics and dissenting voices. In contrast, the court's relatively restrained stance toward Shah, despite the explicitly communal tenor of his remarks (and a likely pattern of sexist commentary), risks sending an inadvertent signal: that political incivility is more tolerable when it comes from positions of power. How do these two cases measure up on the scales of our Lady Justice—now seemingly unblinded? If the lady were to be witness to how these two cases have been treated, would she not instinctively flinch? At least in the eyes of the public, if not in those of Lady Justice, perhaps the stark contrast between the two cases––a minority academic and a majority minister; between a critical intellectual and a provocative politician; between one whose language was dissected for intent and another whose video evidence was overlooked for arrest––only reinforces why the blindfold was essential: to ensure that justice is dispensed without regard to identity, status, or power. In conclusion, these contradicting rulings suggest the need for introspection within the judiciary. For India to honour its constitutional commitments to secularism, equality, and individual liberty, its institutions—above all, the judiciary—must uphold a uniform and impartial standard. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done—without fear, favour, or the shadow of political expediency. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
The Hindu On Books newsletter: Booker honour for Banu Mushtaq, Deepa Bhasthi, talking to Bhavika Govil and more
Welcome to this edition of The Hindu on Books Newsletter. Last week was special for Indian literature with Banu Mushtaq winning the International Booker Prize, 2025, for Heart Lamp (And Other Stories/Penguin), translated from the Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi. From the moment it was shortlisted, readers, especially in India, were rooting for Mushtaq and Bhasthi and their chronicle of Muslim women's lives. This was the first time a collection of short stories was shortlisted, surely that meant it could go all the way? It did, and how. Jury Chair Max Porter said the stories were 'profoundly exciting' and that the 'radical translation' hit 'viscerally.' In their impassioned speeches, both Mushtaq and Bhasthi heaped praises on the Kannada language, its 'resilience and nuance', talked about their belief that no story is small, and how literature is one of the last sacred spaces 'where we can view each other's minds if only for a few pages.' They hoped the win would lead to many more stories from unheard corners being written, and more translations from the magical languages of South Asia defying borders and barriers. Mushtaq and Bhasthi's win comes three years after Geetanjali Shree's Booker honour for Tomb of Sand, translated from the Hindi by Daisy Rockwell. In telling stories of women, and what they are up against — from patriarchal mindsets, religious oppression to gender inequality, suffocating homes and terrifying lack of choices — Mushtaq universalises the experiences faced by a majority of women, at least in the subcontinent. Read The Hindu's review of Heart Lamp; a profile of Banu Mushtaq; an interview with the writer and translator soon after their nomination was announced and The Hindu editorial on what the prize will mean for Indian writing in translation. In reviews, we read two cricket memoirs by Mohinder Amarnath and Syed Kirmani, Pat Cummins' philosophy of life, a book on birders. We also talk to Bhavika Govil about her new book. Books of the week What do athletes want to convey when they write memoirs? Is it often a careful extension of their image? Two recent books by Indian cricketing legends — Fearless (HarperCollins) by Mohinder Amarnath (with Rajender Amarnath) and Stumped (Penguin) by Syed Kirmani (with Debashish Sengupta and Dakshesh Pathak) — lend credence to the argument that they may be honest and forthright in their assessments of their own selves and the eras they played in and lived through, but all of it is bound by the persona the sportspersons want to project. In his review, N. Sudarshan writes that the stories flow from the cover images. Amarnath's is of him executing the pull without the protection of a helmet, a shot synonymous with the batter and considered among the most daring strokes. The overarching theme in the book is of his many pitched battles against deadly fast bowlers like Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Imran Khan, his many selection controversies, the machinations of the higher-ups and his multiple comebacks. The cover image of Kirmani's book, on the other hand, is a rather sedate and inexpressive photograph of him staidly waiting for the red cherry to nestle in his gloves. It seems like an ode to the book title, the tagline (Life Behind and Beyond the Twenty-Two Yards), and the sad fact that the great wicket-keeper's time in Test whites ended two shy of 200 dismissals. But says Sudarshan, what both books lack is a compelling picture of the eras Amarnath and Kirmani played their cricket in. 'While the volumes are no doubt windows into their respective sporting lives, they could have also shed more light on the culture of the sport back in the day.' The Australian spearhead and skipper Pat Cummins' Tested (HarperCollins) is a book on decisions, choices, thoughts and instinct, and the way they all combine to shape and impact lives. Cummins, with the aura he has, could have easily written about himself, writes the reviewer K.C. Vijaya Kumar, but instead he declares: 'I didn't want to focus on myself, as I might with a memoir.' Divided into 11 chapters, every part is an extended conversation with an expert in their relevant field. The array of luminaries are eclectic, be it former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, cancer researcher Richard Scolyer, producer Ronnie Screwvala, speedster and coach Dennis Lillee, or even the author's spouse Becky. 'The structure is woven around informal questions and the answers are then juxtaposed with how Cummins himself has approached a few critical points, both in his life and in cricket.' The 12 chapters in The Search for India's Rarest Birds (Indian Pitta/Juggernaut), edited by Shashank Dalvi and Anita Mani, have a selection of birds that have been chosen through different forms of observation: the Pink-headed duck chapter by Aasheesh Pittie talks about how the bird was formally described based on a painting of Indian specimens; art led to science. Ornithologist Pamela Rasmussen studied taxidermied forest owlets in the U.K. and the U.S.; she pursued the bird in the forests of Maharashtra; and a strange taxidermied model led to the rediscovery of the real bird. In her review, Neha Sinha says that when she opened this book, she expected to find historical records of white men and their shikar in South Asia. 'It is enriching to find instead a book that is modern. Most importantly, though the birds are coveted, they are not trophies — each piece wraps fondness and field work for the avian object of affection in a manner that suggests care, not conquest.' Spotlight In her debut novel, Hot Water (HarperCollins), Bhavika Govil narrates the story of a single mother and her two young children. Her aim, as she tells Vidhya Anand, is to highlight the lived experiences of different characters. She wanted to explore issues of gender, sexuality, and the inner world of children. 'For instance, can you be a good mother even if you're not a conventional mother?' Govil wanted to analyse how lonely mothers feel, especially single mothers. Asked about her thoughts on the novel with a complex theme, Govil said, 'I think we underestimate the smaller voices in the room, whether they're younger or different. It's important to me with this book to bring them to the fore.' She is also excited about this reaching the right reader, the person 'who's swimming in the dark and is looking for a little bit of light.' Browser Kamal Nayan Choubey traces the genesis, historical journey, and the functions of the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram or VKA, the tribal wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The VKA has been expanding its footprint in tribal areas, trying to bring about changes, he writes in Adivasi or Vanvasi: Tribal India & the Politics of Hindutva (Vintage). (Vintage). Three historians, Romila Thapar, Kumkum Roy, Preeti Gulati, from three generations reflect on their lives and why they decided to engage with a demanding discipline. From personal experience of Independence and Partition to fractured modern times, they explain the different ways in which women do history in Women Writing History (Zubaan Books). (Zubaan Books). Rafael Nadal had a mind-boggling 14 French Open titles when he announced his retirement from professional tennis last year. Roland Garros paid a wonderful tribute to the Spanish star with rivals on court and friends off it Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray attending the ceremony in Paris on Sunday (May 25, 2025). This is the perfect time to read about Nadal's journey and legacy in Christopher Clarey's new book, The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and his Kingdom of Clay (Hachette India). (Hachette India). The Cave of Echoes: Stories about Gods, Animals and Other Strangers (Speaking Tiger) by Wendy Doniger celebrates storytelling, and the rich diversity of myths that people live by. Drawing on Hindu and Greek mythology, Biblical parables, and modern mythologies, Doniger encourages readers to be interested in diverse cultures.
