Changing Seasons

After a year of political disruption around the world and economic seesawing at home in 2017, we look forward to a year of exciting headlines and more positive news in 2018. From foreign policy, domestic politics and cultural clashes to economic growth, companies and disruptive ideas, 2018 surely promises to be an exciting year. And so to keep you in the loop of what to expect in times ahead, we bring you some of the top headlines that will dominate the news at home and the world.

On the heels of the two major economic disruptions, the Indian economy has been rather rocky through 2017 and so the nation is hoping to take some positives from Budget 2018. This being the last and full budget of the present government it may not be a dream budget but in all probability will be a highly populist one with so many elections in the states coming up, culminating with the Big One. So here goes a primer on the budget.

There is the raging debate going on over the government’s move to ban polygamy and triple talaq among Muslims. While the subject needs an intervention to give gender justice, the whole thing is being given a religious colour, unfortunately. It is also true that Muslim women have far more pressing concerns, yet this obscure practice seems to be gaining all the eyeballs. If we are really sincere about ending the gender discrimination faced by Muslim women we should empower them educationally and economically.

The other woman to have hogged headlines is the Rajput queen from Rajasthan, Padmini. Though her myth is captured in epic poems, the need to make it part of history has seen the Rajputs turn violent over the release of a film called Padmavati, now changed to Padmavat. Strangely, more and more films are being held up at the censors on some account or the other. Isn’t all art supposed to make us think? Or is freedom of expression becoming mere tinsel atop the tree?

In the international section, we peep into the world of the world’s most powerful man – Chinese premier Xi Jinping who has more clout than Donald Trump. A look back at the history of the famous Indian bakery Monginis and its connection to Italy’s Mussolini.

And for all the monthly goodies you look forward to we have the usual columns, book readings, tech advice and travel. With winter on the wane, spring cannot be far. Happy reading!