Karan Thapar is a super-looking genius who’s young, friendly, chatty and great fun to be with. He’s also very enjoyable to read.
Articles by Karan Thapar
A liberal visa regime for Pakistani visitors to India
When a Pakistani with dual citizenship applies for an Indian visa, the application has to be on their Pakistani passport. Once submitted, the Indian embassy will forward it to Delhi. It can take months. Often, there is no response. Is this how we wish to treat people who once were fellow countrymen?
Published on Mar 18, 2023 07:19 PM IST
For a Congress revival, a two-fold approach
professor Suhas Palshikar believes the Congress must act on two fronts, organisationally and in terms of its political mobilisation
Published on Mar 11, 2023 06:40 PM IST
When India and Pakistan came close to inking a pact
Satinder Lambah’s book, In Pursuit of Peace confirms: “By the end of the second term of the UPA government and of Dr Manmohan Singh’s 10-year term, the draft agreement had been approved and was ready for signature.”
Published on Mar 04, 2023 06:57 PM IST
When Fazl Karim became Chunni Lal
This is a story that’s worth remembering. It’s a powerful illustration of how times have changed. Seventy-five years later, I also hope it might speak to our conscience.
Updated on Feb 25, 2023 05:06 PM IST
New revelations on the long history of our nation
I was struck by the things that Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Shobita Punja, and Toby Sinclair's A New History of India reveals and its interpretations
Updated on Feb 18, 2023 05:52 PM IST
Musharraf, a man of many contradictions
Last week the focus was on the political and, therefore, disturbing contradictions in his character. And rightly so. But let’s not forget the delightful ones. They’re also part of the truth.
Updated on Feb 11, 2023 07:45 PM IST
Why R-Day’s Beating Retreat saddened me
What is fixed in my memory are the retreating bands, climbing Raisina Hill. As they reached the crest, the sun would start to set. It made everyone gasp with delight. Alas, much of that is history.
Updated on Feb 06, 2023 10:45 AM IST
Three old books, but fine vacation reads
Two of them are biographies, a genre I find most enjoyable. The first is Zareer Masani’s slim but revealing and insightful work on Thomas Macaulay
Updated on Jan 28, 2023 09:17 PM IST
Prince Harry’s book is both curious and embarrassing
The style of the book is taut, tense, and staccato. Like a thriller. But the language lacks depth, and when the content flags, it can pall, even irritate.
Published on Jan 21, 2023 07:42 PM IST
Move forward, but cherish the past too
Carols at Christmas seem as natural as the aarti and fireworks at Diwali or semiya ki kheer at Eid. But will religion now determine what we can sing and partake of?
Updated on Jan 14, 2023 07:55 PM IST
Some unfamiliar Einstein sayings to kick-start 2023
I’ve never been able to understand E=mc², but I’m in lockstep with the rest of his wisdom. It’s a shame we don’t know more about this side of him. So, let me, this Sunday, tell you about the Einstein we’re not familiar with.
Published on Jan 07, 2023 06:22 PM IST
New Year resolution? I don’t have one... yet!
Today, as 2023 gets underway, I’m not sure what New Year’s resolution to make. I like the feeling of saintly virtue when I deliberately deny myself something I like, but I can’t think of what it should be
Updated on Dec 31, 2022 08:55 PM IST
A spymaster recounts his life in the shadows
In AS Dulat’s A Life in the Shadows, you will come across stories and people you otherwise would never find out about. This is what makes the book such fun
Updated on Dec 24, 2022 09:26 PM IST
Of pointed humour, digs and Doon’s class of 1971
My class of 1971 at Doon had a reunion and I met up with several old friends. But if anyone thought age, experience, and wisdom would have curbed our penchant for laughter at someone else’s expense they couldn’t have been more surprised.
Published on Dec 17, 2022 08:13 PM IST
What the fuss over a film revealed about our society
Whether or not Israeli screenwriter Nadav Lapid was right to criticise a specific film at the award ceremony is a legit-imate question. but A bigger concern was our behaviour
Published on Dec 10, 2022 07:37 PM IST
The curious case of counting terrorists
Last week, a senior police officer revealed that there are 81 active terrorists in the Kashmir Valley as of now, including 29 locals and 52 foreign terrorists. How on earth can the data be so precise?
Updated on Dec 03, 2022 09:02 PM IST
Facts and concerns about the collegium system
Is the collegium system of choosing judges perfect? Can it be considered intrinsic to the basic structure of our Constitution? Here’s what simple research has revealed.
Published on Nov 27, 2022 07:40 PM IST
Why you should visit Bahrain at least once
Now, if you’ve visited the Emirates but remain fond of shopping, sea sports, the desert and the feel of a modern city, why not try Bahrain for your next weekend vacation?
Updated on Nov 19, 2022 07:21 PM IST
Some revelations on RBI, and advice for governors
C Rangarajan has published his account of his decades at RBI, culminating as its governor, and his period as governor of united Andhra Pradesh. It’s full of delectable details and amusing anecdotes.
Published on Nov 12, 2022 07:50 PM IST
When a simple call led to an uncomfortable truth
Recently, When a young journalist asked me what I think about cricket, I said, “I don’t think about cricket.” And when she wouldn’t take that as an answer, I found myself in a conversation that took a bizarre turn
Published on Nov 06, 2022 02:23 PM IST
What India can learn from British politics
In India, We have perhaps 200 million Muslims but they have been invisibilised. So, today, when we take pride in Sunak’s meteoric rise, why don’t we also look at ourselves and ask: Could a Muslim PM be possible in India?
Updated on Oct 29, 2022 08:07 PM IST
India’s pharma sector has much to answer
A new book on the sector concludes that many facilities are flouting quality and process control procedures. Yet they seldom face any material punishment. This must change
Published on Oct 22, 2022 06:54 PM IST
An interesting read on the Anglo-Indian community
Barry O’Brien’s new book, The Anglo-Indians: A Portrait of a Community, tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the community. It is a cornucopia of encyclopaedic information.
Published on Oct 15, 2022 08:04 PM IST
In the Congress poll, did Tharoor get used?
Was Tharoor naïve in believing the Gandhis? When questioned, he said he could hardly doubt Sonia Gandhi’s word. If he did, he would be calling the Congress president a liar. That’s understandable, but the question remains. Was he naïve to believe what she said?
Updated on Oct 08, 2022 05:28 PM IST
How a Manipur order threatens our freedoms
The State notified an order requiring books on the state’s history, culture, tradition, geography to be submitted to a committee, headed by the education minister, for approval. This is a violation of our right to free speech and expression
Published on Oct 01, 2022 03:28 PM IST
Can Congress ensure free and fair polls?
A free and fair poll to choose the party president may be held, but the electoral college has not been properly chosen. Equally importantly, the body that will choose the CWC is nominated and not,as required, elected
Updated on Sep 24, 2022 06:24 PM IST
Why does the Queen still command our attention?
What are the attributes of this sceptred isle that enthral the world? The first is its monarchy. The second is through its language. And a third reason is the BBC. And I’ll add one more reason to explain the British allure: It’s their sense of humour
Published on Sep 17, 2022 08:05 PM IST
Sunak lost, but he has his eye on the future
He’s 42 and if he has to wait till 2029, he’ll still be under 50. His decision to sit on the back benches is a sign he has his eye on the future.
Updated on Sep 10, 2022 07:37 PM IST
Of Bilkis Bano, remission, and the Supreme Court
The Bilkis Bano case has become a litmus test at many levels. That’s the case for Indian women and for the SC. But isn’t that also true for our country? I would say it is. Because, on the outcome depends the sanctity of justice
Published on Sep 03, 2022 07:11 PM IST
What a revived Congress will mean for India today
There is substantial evidence to suggest the BJP could be vulnerable in 2024. A revived Congress, under an effective and respected president, could use this to determine the election result
Published on Aug 27, 2022 08:06 PM IST
