Society & Culture Stories
In charts: Christians, Buddhists lead mass exit from religion
However, people born into Islam or Hinduism rarely change religions or stop believing, finds a survey of 36 countries by Pew Research Centre
Till death do us part? Not in this Telangana village
Roman Catholics in a quaint Telangana village have, for over 50 years, defied the notion of death as the final act of isolation by interring generations of family members in shared graves. TOI walks through this cemetery filled with tombstones that bear stories of lives that don’t end with death
- Sunny Baski
- TNN
Why being ‘Muslim first’ doesn’t mean being anti-India
In India, the majority community is assumed to be automatically patriotic, while casting doubts on minorities. The divisive tactic of contrasting faith and patriotism as a measure of loyalty will only worsen religious divisions
- Hasan Suroor
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Bai, bye to rights? How ‘Uberisation’ is set to change domestic work
Several startups now offer an on-demand model for domestic help, but does it mean better pay and flexibility or more exploitation?
- Ketaki Desai
- TNN
Why Can’t We Laugh & Therefore Be Free?
Recent state responses to satire remind us that free speech flourishes in societies comfortable with sharp comedy, historical complexity and ambiguity
He came bearing Diet Coke and a camera: Why this Andaman island remains off-limits
An American national has been arrested for illegally entering North Sentinel Island, home to the elusive Sentinelese tribe. The incident has sparked concerns about tribal protection, surveillance gaps, and ethical boundaries in exploring forbidden indigenous territories
- Team TOI Plus
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Why globalisation is no longer the golden ticket for developing nations
For the billions of people who still live in poverty, the path to prosperity may look very different than it did for the rich world and Asia’s high performers
- Dani Rodrik
- New York Times
Why Indian men are struggling to make sense of a changing world
For the first time in our cultural history, Indian men are facing unprecedented judgement from women and often found lacking, a power shift that many are emotionally unprepared for
Dancing without daaru: Sober raves are redefining fun
Tired of the club scene, young people are moving parties to kitchens, stores and even the Mumbai local. Who needs tequila and strobe lights when you have matcha shots and daytime dancing?
- Mohua Das
- TNN
Grandma got scammed! Seniors becoming rich prey for swindlers
From romance scams to digital arrests, most cons are targeted at older folks, but many go unreported due to fear or embarrassment.
- Ketaki Desai
- TNN
Why no one wants the Rs 101 crore lying in eight Maharashtra banks
Eight banks have notes worth Rs 101.2 crore just rotting away. The man who watched Money Heist on loop 15 times, not just because he liked it, but because he had bigger plans. And the high-flying train thief who flew to Kolkata for rosgullas, Goa for scotch – three stories on India Uncovered
Why we don’t need US to tell us about the reality of intolerant India
The government was quick to reject the USCIRF’s report on the mistreatment of minorities, but for how long can it wilfully ignore the everyday reality of the Muslim experience in India?
- Hasan Suroor
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Would you have more kids if that meant zero taxes?
Hungary won’t tax women who have children. Which sounds great, until you look through the data — and then a little more than the data
- Chandrima Banerjee
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Unfair and lovely! Kerala chief secy shines a light on colourism
Millions who’ve faced bias have found resonance in Sarada Muraleedharan’s eloquent affirmation of her blackness
Winning Them Softly
Trump’s US prefers hard power over Americana’s cool culture. But soft power delivers bigger bang for the buck. Low income India ranks relatively high in soft power, allowing it to exert greater influence
Free Speech, Anyone?
If freedoms promised by Article 19 must mean anything, our politicians must grow more tolerant of criticism. Otherwise, we can’t call ourselves a real democracy
Beyond Hindi and Tamil, what India's language data really tells us
Amidst the controversy over the alleged 'imposition of Hindi' by the central government as claimed by Tamil Nadu CM Stalin, six charts that go beyond the headlines and reveal how every state is, in fact, multilingual and why English could well be the country's undeclared second language
- TNN
Why are Kashmiri youths flocking to erase their AK-47 tattoos?
While tattoos once symbolised rebellion for some Kashmiris, there’s a growing trend of individuals seeking tattoo removal, driven by evolving personal and cultural beliefs
- Naseer Ganai
- TNN
Criticism will make India better. Let the Vir Dases & Kunal Kamras speak
The hallmark of a strong, resilient, self confident nation is the ability to take criticism – fair or unfair. However, controversies in recent years over the comedy acts of Vir Das, Munnawar Farruqui and now Kunal Kamra have shown that India, currently, is anything but that
When smog meets satire
Climate change can be a a depressing topic, but a bunch of creative folks are using pop culture to create awareness