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- Politics
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June nonfiction: Six recently published books that try to make sense of India's past and present
The Dismantling of India's Democracy: 1947 to 2025, Prem Shankar Jha India's democracy, once celebrated as an unprecedented experiment in pluralism and participatory nation-building, now faces a grave crisis. In this urgent and penetrating work, veteran journalist Prem Shankar Jha traces how the country's hard-won democracy – rooted in diversity and tolerance – has been steadily hollowed out since Independence – slowly at first, and since 2014, with determined ferocity. Structural flaws in our Constitution, like the lack of state-funded elections, Jha argues, were made substantially worse by Indira Gandhi's ban on company donations to political parties. As parties increasingly turned to clandestine donors for election financing, politics became a near-criminal enterprise, facilitating the rise of a predatory state long before 2014. And now, under the Modi regime, the weaponisation of state agencies, the serious undermining of electoral processes and the transformation of governance into a tool of political vendetta threaten to tear down the last remnants of India's democracy. Jha further argues that the erosion of democratic institutions, the rise of Hindu majoritarian politics and the normalisation of state repression are not isolated events but symptoms of a deeper transformation. Drawing on Indian history and global parallels, he makes the bold case that what India is witnessing is not simply a drift towards authoritarianism but the emergence of a distinctively Indian form of fascism. Our only hope cannot be, he says, an electoral victory for the opposition; it must be grounded in a commitment to both political accountability and cultural inclusivity. A Man for All Seasons: The Life of KM Panikkar, Narayani Basu KM Panikkar was a multifaceted man, one of India's first public intellectuals when India won its independence. His imprint is all over India's colonial and post-colonial history: from constitutional reform in the princely states, where he was a strong advocate for India's current federal model to charting India's maritime policy as a free country. He believed in an essential Hindu culture that held his land together, yet he was a committed secularist. He was Gandhi's emissary and the founder of the Hindustan Times. He was independent India's first and most controversial ambassador to both Nationalist China and the People's Republic of China. He was Nehru's man in Cairo and France and a member of the States Reorganisation Commission. He had enemies in the CIA as well as in India's own Ministry of External Affairs. He frustrated his admirers as much as he provoked their reluctant respect. From the British Raj to the Constituent Assembly, across two world wars and an ensuing Cold War, KM Panikkar was India's go-to man in all seasons. Through it all, he never stopped writing – on Indian identity, nationalism, history and foreign policy – material that remains as relevant today as it was seven decades ago. Yet, about the man himself, strangely little is known. In A Man for All Seasons, Narayani Basu bridges that gap. Drawing on Panikkar's formidable body of work, as well as on archival material from India to England, from Paris to China, and from Israel to the United Nations, as well as on first-time interviews with Panikkar's family, Basu presents a vivid, irresistibly engaging portrait of this most enigmatic of India's founding fathers. Featuring a formidable cast of characters – from Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel to Zhou Enlai, Chairman Mao and Gamal Abdel Nasser. Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia, Sam Dalrymple As recently as 1928, a vast swathe of Asia – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait – were bound together under a single imperial banner, an entity known officially as the 'Indian Empire', or more simply as the Raj. It was the British Empire's crown jewel, a vast dominion stretching from the Red Sea to the jungles of Southeast Asia, home to a quarter of the world's population and encompassing the largest Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities on the planet. Its people used the Indian rupee, were issued passports stamped 'Indian Empire', and were guarded by armies garrisoned in forts from the Bab el-Mandab to the Himalayas. And then, in the space of just fifty years, the Indian Empire shattered. Five partitions tore it apart, carving out new nations, redrawing maps, and leaving behind a legacy of war, exile and division. Shattered Lands presents the whole story of how the Indian Empire was unmade. How a single, sprawling dominion became twelve modern nations. How maps were redrawn in boardrooms and on battlefields, by politicians in London and revolutionaries in Delhi, by kings in remote palaces and soldiers in trenches. Its legacies include civil wars in Burma and Sri Lanka, ongoing insurgencies in Kashmir, Baluchistan, Northeast India, and the Rohingya genocide. It is a history of ambition and betrayal, of forgotten wars and unlikely alliances, of borders carved with ink and fire. And, above all, it is the story of how the map of modern Asia was made. Tagore in Tripura: An Enduring Connection, Khagesh Burman A part of Rabindranath Tagore's life that remains largely unknown is his connection to the state of Tripura. Tagore had close ties with four generations of the Tripura royal family, especially Maharaja Radhakishore, who helped set up and fund the Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan. Tagore's relationship with the Tripura royal family began in 1882, when Maharaja Birchandra was so moved by his poetry that he sent his minister to congratulate the poet. During Birchandra's son Radhakishore's reign, Tagore was involved in Tripura's administration, advising the king on all state matters. He visited the state several times too. Later generations of the royal family continue to patronise Tagore and Visva-Bharati, sending several students with stipends to the university. This book, written by a member of the Tripura royal family, explores their connection with Tagore, including the friendships and associations the poet formed and the ways in which Tripura appeared in his writings. The Outsider: A Memoir for Misfits, Vir Das When comedian and actor Vir Das found himself stranded on a pier in Cozumel, Mexico, watching his cruise ship sail away without him due to visa issues, it became a metaphor for his life: he's always been, and will always be, an outsider. Standing on that beach, he took in the absurdity of it all-broke, hungover, dumped, jobless, trousers full of sand. He knew the best way to deal with the situation wasn't to retreat. It was to laugh. Vir's story is one of cultural dissonance and identity exploration. As a child, he bounced from India to Lagos, Nigeria, and back again. He navigated life between worlds, never quite fitting in. In Africa, he was the kid from India, and back in India, he was the kid from Africa. As the only Indian kid costarring in War and Peace on stage at Knox College in Illinois, his outsider status was undeniable. Whether he's washing dishes at a Grand Lux Cafe in Chicago, navigating Bollywood, getting cancelled by an entire country and then embraced by that country all over again, or performing on stages from New York to Mumbai to Stavanger, Norway, Vir has learned to lean way into his place as an outsider, and to find humor and meaning on the fringes. Meet the Savarnas: Indian Millennials Whose Mediocrity Broke Everything, Ravikant Kisana In the early 2000s, India was expected to 'shine' and emerge as a rising superpower. It was the post-1990s golden generation – professionals fresh out of B-schools and engineering programmes – who were supposed to take us there. The Great Indian Dream was ready to lift off. Except we never left the ground. No one could really explain what went wrong. Some blamed politicians, some corruption, some capitalism and some communal polarisation. Most people missed the giant elephant in the room – caste. Caste in India is mostly researched and reported from the experience of the oppressed. Caste as a privilege is not well understood. How do caste elites respond to modernity? How do they understand culture, intimacy, love and tradition? Were their ideas, institutions and imaginations ever even capable of delivering upon the Great Indian Dream?
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Time of India
Around the bay in 51 days: Olive Ridley turtle almost completes 1,000-km Bay of Bengal roundtrip, scientists stunned by route
It sounds like the plot of a marine odyssey—an Olive Ridley sea turtle , tagged on the beaches of Odisha , has astonished scientists by pulling off what can only be described as a mini circumnavigation of the Bay of Bengal . In just 51 days, this resilient navigator covered a staggering 1,000 kilometers through the vast expanse of sea, touching the maritime boundaries of Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, before finally making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast. What began as a routine tagging exercise by the Odisha Forest Department has transformed into a story of scientific wonder and marine mystery. The Wildlife Institute of India's satellite map lit up recently with the surprise path of one such turtle, proving yet again that these seemingly unassuming creatures hold more secrets than we think. — OrissaPOSTLive (@OrissaPOSTLive) The Turtle Trail: From Odisha to Andhra The turtle in question had been tagged on the famed Gahirmatha beach , nestled in Odisha's Kendrapara district, a sanctuary of global importance for Olive Ridleys. From this nesting paradise, the turtle ventured southward—its journey tracing a semi-circular arc that flirted with the shores of Sri Lanka, brushed past Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and ended on the Andhra coast. It wasn't just the distance that amazed scientists, but the precision and pace with which this marine pilgrim moved, averaging nearly 20 kilometers a day through choppy currents and unpredictable weather. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo 'We could hardly believe it at first,' Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Prem Shankar Jha told PTI. 'This kind of extensive travel within such a short span is rare. It redefines our understanding of their migratory behavior.' — supriyasahuias (@supriyasahuias) Not the First, But Still Unbelievable While this turtle's journey is remarkable, it isn't entirely without precedent. A few years ago, another Olive Ridley, tagged in Odisha, shocked researchers by clocking an even longer distance—3,500 kilometers—before arriving on the sands of Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district to nest. You Might Also Like: Olive Ridley turtle lays eggs in Maharashtra after Odisha; experts say feat recorded for first time These aquatic marvels seem to possess a natural GPS that continues to baffle marine scientists. And yet, despite such feats, the Olive Ridley's migratory mysteries remain largely uncharted. Every tagged turtle uncovers new patterns, fueling more questions than answers. iStock A few years ago, another Olive Ridley, tagged in Odisha, shocked researchers by clocking an even longer distance—3,500 kilometers—before arriving on the sands of Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district to nest. The Great Homecoming: An Annual Marine Spectacle Odisha's coastline, especially Gahirmatha, isn't just another beach—it's a global beacon for marine biologists and conservationists. Each year, millions of Olive Ridleys return here as if drawn by ancestral memory. Gahirmatha, along with the river mouths of Rushikulya in Ganjam and Devi in Puri, host one of nature's most moving spectacles: the arribada, or mass nesting. Earlier this year, Rushikulya rookery saw a record-breaking 7 lakh Olive Ridleys laying eggs between February 16 and 25, bouncing back spectacularly after a nesting dry spell in 2023. Such massive gatherings are not just awe-inspiring; they also underline the urgency to protect these endangered creatures. Tagging the Mystery The turtle that completed the 51-day journey is among thousands that are part of India's tagging efforts. Since the first such exercise began in 1999, turtles from Odisha have turned up in distant corners of the Bay of Bengal. Two of those early wanderers were even spotted off the Sri Lankan coast, offering tantalizing evidence of their far-reaching migrations. You Might Also Like: What's the perfect way to spend a Sunday? Cuddle with elephants, suggests Anand Mahindra After a temporary pause, tagging resumed in 2021 under the Zoological Survey of India, and since then over 12,000 turtles have been fitted with satellite trackers at Gahirmatha and Rushikulya. But experts say that number is far too small. For a comprehensive understanding of their breeding biology, foraging grounds, and migratory routes, at least one lakh turtles would need to be tagged. Turtles of Tenacity Olive Ridleys may be the smallest of all sea turtles, but they are by no means the least extraordinary. Their name comes from the olive hue of their heart-shaped shells, and they prefer the warm tropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Measuring about two feet and weighing up to 50 kilograms, these turtles are believed to be long-lived, reaching maturity around the age of 14. Their feeding habits are just as varied as their travels—they snack on crabs, jellyfish, starfish, shrimp, and occasionally even algae. They're carnivores with a curious palate, adapting their diets based on what the ocean offers. And, intriguingly, there are documented instances of cannibalism under captive conditions. A Vulnerable Wonder in Peril Despite their resilience, Olive Ridleys face immense threats. Coastal development, fishing nets, and pollution have led to mass mortality events in recent years. They are protected under India's Wildlife Protection Act and are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their inclusion in global treaties like CITES underscores their ecological importance and the need for multinational conservation efforts. But it's their unique homing instinct—their biological pull to return to the very beach where they were born—that makes them especially vulnerable. The same navigation skill that allowed one turtle to pull off a near Bay of Bengal roundtrip is also what draws them into danger, time and again.
The Print
16-05-2025
- General
- The Print
Turtle, tagged with tracking device in Odisha, travels 1000 kms in 51 days to reach Andhra coast
'The turtle navigated through the sea waters of Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and reached the Andhra Pradesh coast in 51 days. It covered around 1,000 kms,' the official said. The turtle traversed the waters of Sri Lanka, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu before reaching the coast of the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, he said. Kendrapara (Odisha), May 16 (PTI) An Olive Ridley turtle, which was earlier tagged with a satellite-linked tracking device at Gahirmatha beach in Odisha's Kendrapara district, has travelled around 1,000 kilometres in the sea in 51 days to reach the Andhra Pradesh coast, an official said on Friday. The latest satellite tracking map of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has located one of the tagged turtles moving in the sea waters in Andhra Pradesh, and found that it has navigated around 1,000 km, said Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Prem Shankar Jha. A turtle, tagged with a tracking device in Odisha four years back, had earlier covered 3,500 kilometres to lay eggs at a beach in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra recently. The Olive Ridley turtles turn up in millions for mass nesting along the Odisha coast every year. Gahirmatha beach, off the Bay of Bengal, in Kendrapara district is acclaimed as the World's largest known nesting ground of these marine species. The aquatic animals also turn up at the Rushikulya river mouth in Ganjam district and the Devi river mouth in Puri for mass nesting. According to officials, around 3,000 turtles are tagged with a tracking device annually. Experts believed that at least 1 lakh turtles are required to be tagged for obtaining better information on their reproductive biology, movements and growth rates, migratory route and areas of foraging. The Odisha Forest Department had taken up the tagging exercise in 1999, and at least two tagged turtles then were sighted on the Sri Lanka coast. Later, the tagging exercise was suspended, and the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) resumed the exercise in 2021. Between 2021 and 2024, around 12,000 turtles were tagged in Gahirmatha and Rushikulya river mouth nesting grounds, the officials said. PTI CORR AAM AAM BDC This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Satellite-tagged turtle completes 1,000-km journey from Odisha to Andhra coast
1 2 3 4 5 6 Kendrapada: A satellite-tagged Olive Ridley turtle has successfully completed a remarkable 1,000-km journey from Gahirmatha, Odisha to the Andhra Pradesh coast in 51 days, traversing the waters of Sri Lanka, Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu. The turtle was one of two female Olive Ridleys fitted with platform transmitter terminals (PTT) by scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with the forest department. The turtles were released on March 17 during the mass-nesting period at Gahirmatha beach. "While one turtle lost its transmitter at sea, the other reached Andhra Pradesh waters on May 8, as confirmed by WII's satellite tracking data," said Prem Shankar Jha, principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF). The transmitter sends location data each time the turtle surfaces, helping researchers map migration routes, foraging areas, and nesting grounds. This tracking success follows another remarkable journey recorded in Jan 2025, when a tagged turtle (no. 03233) travelled around 3,500 km from Gahirmatha to Maharashtra's Guhagar beach. Dr. Basudev Tripathy, wildlife biologist and officer-in-charge at the Zoological Survey of India's western regional centre, Pune, explained that while satellite GPS transmitters cost around Rs 10 lakh each, researchers also use more economical flipper tags costing Rs 100 per unit. "Between 2021 and 2024, we tagged around 12,000 turtles at Rushikulya and Gahirmatha rookeries," he said. The tracking efforts have yielded significant results, with five tagged Odisha turtles being spotted in Sri Lanka in 2022 and two more along the Tamil Nadu coast in 2024. A new proposal to tag 100,000 turtles at Gahirmatha and Rushikulya between 2026 and 2031 is currently awaiting approval from the forest department. This year, Odisha witnessed record-breaking nesting numbers, with over 6 lakh turtles nesting at Gahirmatha marine sanctuary and nearly 9 lakh at Rushikulya beach in two phases.
