The new ‘Hyrox’ obsession signals a radical shift in India’s fitness industry
In India’s sluggish fitness market, Hyrox is driving the 'eventi-fication' of workouts—fusing athleticism with aesthetics, sweat, and social capital.
Travel | Culture | Personal Essays
"If I'm an advocate for anything, it's to move."
Lonely Planet's 2024 India Country Guide
How Treating My PCOS Hooked Me On Aesthetic Treatments | The Whole Truth
Editor’s note: My favourite genre of personal essays lies where the writer exists in the dissonance between what they think they should do and what they actually do—and they let that tension live and thrive on the page, without resolving it and merely acknowledging genuinely hard situations. Today’s piece falls exactly in that bucket, as Pallavi Pundir writes the story of how her medical necessity (PCOS treatment) turned into an aesthetic desire (anti-ageing). She identifies a society-level trap...
How the ‘BC Sutta’ Song Defied Moral Censors in South Asia To Become a Cult Anthem
In the time before democratic music platforms such as Soundcloud, Apple Music or Spotify, “BC Sutta’s” success was not just phenomenal, but it also spoke to a whole generation born at the cusp of the internet age.
Inside the Bizarre and Violent World of Cricket Fandom in India
Superfans are unlike ordinary fans. They might love and support their teams just as much, but they make themselves a part of the fandom by building their entire lives around their favourite team or player, turning up at every match possible even in extreme conditions, and often choosing an avatar to distinguish themselves from the rest of the crowd.
I Joined a Cult Believing I’d Be Closer to God. Then, I Was Castrated.
Dera Sacha Sauda, which started off as a religious and non-profit social welfare group in 1948, is one of the most controversial cults in India. It took the government 15 years to convict Singh of rape, after which he was sentenced to 20 years in jail.
Sikh Americans In the US Military Are Still Fighting to Keep Their Turbans and Beards
Surveys have revealed that Americans often perceive a “terrorist” to be a person with brown skin, wearing clothing seen as foreign. For young Sikhs, it was not just important to turn the narrative; it was necessary.
These Bombs Were Planted During World War II. They’re Still Killing People.
The Moreh explosion is not just a stark reminder of the war, but reiterates the adage that most wars never really end. In this case, even though the war has long ended, its remnants continue to ravage lives.
India’s Rich Are Spending Thousands of Dollars on Luxury Face Masks. Because Why Not?
Globally, large fashion brands and luxury goods manufacturers developed masks made of expensive fabrics such as silk de chine or cotton poplin. Analysts, in fact, say that masks could potentially go from being a specialised product to mainstream accessory, or even an “it” item.
Abdul Karim: On Her Majesty’s Service - Open The Magazine
In the court of Queen Victoria, Abdul Karim from Agra was more than an attendant.
The Kargil Chic | Open, The Magazine
From war zone to heritage hub, it’s the new destination of culture tourism in the Himalayas. Pallavi Pundir chronicles the transformation.
Mother my Tongue | The Indian Express
Growing up away from home means a fractured relationship with the language of one’s own. How does one reclaim it?
Home and Away: A Travelogue from Nepal
Making new friends in Pokhara and Kathmandu, and bonding over Bollywood and food.
An Interview with William Dalrymple | The Indian Express
Author William Dalrymple on his first book of photographs, why he doesn’t write bleak novels and his next project — a book on the East India Company.
An archivist in a digital world: An Interview with Dayanita Singh
Instagram could change photography because it makes photographers stop doing the usual, says Dayanita Singh.
Instagram Helps Photographers Capture the Intimate in the Everyday
From photojournalists and photo-bloggers to artists and curators, the platform promotes a lively conversation, often between users who meet through the app for the first time.
A life on the lines: Celebrating three decades of Nasreen Mohamedi’s work
When she was alive, Nasreen Mohamedi’s work was barely noticed by the market and almost never reviewed. Today, an exhibition in Madrid celebrates her as a modern master. Who was this reclusive artist?
The Caravan Must Go On
Camels are a ubiquitous part of Rajasthan’s cultural and economic identity, but there’s a crisis brewing – the animals are disappearing.
An Interview With Steve McCurry | The Indian Express
Steve McCurry on the first photographs he took in India, what draws him to the country and his new book.
An Interview with Irrfan | The Indian Express
"I am not here to just survive,I am here to challenge."
Stories from the Other Side
A first of its kind book combines stories in graphic format from India,Pakistan and Bangladesh to deconstruct Partition narratives.
Between War and Peace | Travel Story from South Korea
No amount of Google search or guide books prepares a visitor for South KoreaBefore the plane landed at the Incheon International Airport of South Korea, our half-baked impression of the country was that of Psy, kimchi and the mounting threats from its partitioned neighbour, North Korea.
