Divided by a Common Language: The Indian Edition

By Mohan Murti As Indians schooled in the Queen’s English but raised in the Republic’s reality, we’ve turned the language of Shakespeare into something gloriously, unapologetically our own. We bend it, twist it, stretch it—and occasionally, reinvent it altogether. The result is Indian English, a tongue so inventive that it confuses the Brit, bewilders the… Read More Divided by a Common Language: The Indian Edition

Pope Francis’s last sacrifice in a lifetime of sacrifice: granting an audience to JD Vance

John Crace What do Liz Truss and JD Vance have against elderly people? Specifically, those who are kind, decent and compassionate. Take Radon Liz. In September 2022 she made a fleeting visit to Balmoral to be sworn in as prime minister by the queen. The last picture that was taken of Queen Elizabeth was of… Read More Pope Francis’s last sacrifice in a lifetime of sacrifice: granting an audience to JD Vance

How the attacks on Kunal Kamra undermine the freedoms of all Indians

The last decade in India has been marred by the institutionalisation of arbitrary power. Raghu Kesavan Kunal Kamra is an unlikely hero. He stands slightly hunched over, mic loosely held in one hand, the other occasionally pressed into service to express disbelief but often stuffed into a trouser pocket. His most recent special, Naya Bharat, reprises the… Read More How the attacks on Kunal Kamra undermine the freedoms of all Indians

यह कैसा भारत है जिसमें कुणाल ने माफ़ी मांगने से इंकार कर दिया

Ravish Kumar Official आप जो भीड़ देखते हैं वो कुछ उदंड लोगों की भीड़ नहीं है, बल्कि वह उस राजनीतिक दल का हिस्सा है जिसकी सरकार है। उसके समर्थन में गोदी मीडिया है, पुलिस है, सरकार है। ऐसी भीड़ ने हिंसा की कितनी ही घटना को अंजाम दिया लेकिन उसका कुछ नहीं हुआ। उस भीड़… Read More यह कैसा भारत है जिसमें कुणाल ने माफ़ी मांगने से इंकार कर दिया

A comedian told a joke about a politician. Now he’s under police investigation

NB: Actually the political hoodlums are bigger jokers than Kunal Kamra. Now they have secured a much wider audience for his jokes. Most of their muscle lies between their ears. Kunal Kamra Comedy Special By Rhea Mogul and Esha Mitra, CNN A prominent Indian comedian is standing by his right to make jokes after an… Read More A comedian told a joke about a politician. Now he’s under police investigation

History’s most iconic ear injury (sorry, van Gogh) + one low information joker

Marina Hyde: Donald Trump just appointed ‘never Trump guy’ as his running mate Encouraging scenes from the Republican national convention (RNC), where US politicians and the wider world are being told to dial down their rhetoric by a crowd of people rhythmically raising their right fists and screaming “Fight, fight!” It’s just a hunch, but… Read More History’s most iconic ear injury (sorry, van Gogh) + one low information joker

Israel’s Future: A Jewish Theocracy That Resembles Iran

Eran Yashiv Wikipedia entry, April 2048. Israel is a religious Jewish republic with a secular minority on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Its regime is currently theocratic and authoritarian. Israel’s history as a state is relatively brief (100 years), though it is part of the long history of the Jewish people. Its official language… Read More Israel’s Future: A Jewish Theocracy That Resembles Iran

The history of the middle finger & importance of the horse’s ass

First posted August 29, 2013 History of the Middle Finger Well, now, here’s something I never knew before… Isn’t history more fun when you know something about it? Before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, the French, anticipating victory over the English, proposed to cut off the middle finger of all captured English soldiers. Without the middle finger it… Read More The history of the middle finger & importance of the horse’s ass