author

Archana Masih

Archana Masih frequently contributes military features to Rediff.com. You can read some of her features in the related links alongside. You can e-mail the author at archana_masih@rediffmail.com

Stories by Archana Masih

'I remember Irrfan as warm, friendly, thoughtful'

'I remember Irrfan as warm, friendly, thoughtful'

Rediff.com   5 May 2020

'Different people resonated with different films of his, but beneath all of that was his unique ability to capture the human spirit in an intimate and honest way.'

These COVID-19 warriors are an inspiration for India

These COVID-19 warriors are an inspiration for India

Rediff.com   2 May 2020

'We got so many calls after the attack.' 'Loved ones told us forget all this, nothing was more valuable than our lives.' 'But we said, 'No, this wasn't the way forward -- the people, society, the country needs us at this time.'

'If people die of hunger, that will be a great shame for the nation'

'If people die of hunger, that will be a great shame for the nation'

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2020

'Everybody should be given rations. Nobody should be excluded.' 'Without an income, the present ration quota is not enough.' They should increase it so that one person can eat adequately for a month.'

SAD! The PLIGHT of Bihari students in Kota

SAD! The PLIGHT of Bihari students in Kota

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2020

'I don't think I can go back home before the lockdown is lifted because Nitishji has said he will not allow students from Kota to return.'

Varanasi station has been their home since the lockdown

Varanasi station has been their home since the lockdown

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2020

'The government and railways are looking after us, but I just want to get home.'

COVID-19: 'Light at the end of the tunnel'

COVID-19: 'Light at the end of the tunnel'

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2020

'We know there will be an end to this epidemic temporarily.' 'We probably should get a couple of years break before it comes again.'

Meet an IAS officer COVID-19 Warrior

Meet an IAS officer COVID-19 Warrior

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2020

'Villages are much better prepared than towns as far as COVID-19 is concerned.'

The real COVID-19 warrior in the village is a woman

The real COVID-19 warrior in the village is a woman

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2020

'I set out really early because it gets very hot.' 'The soles of my feet burn by the time I have finished going house to house on foot.'

'Mumbai is doing a good job'

'Mumbai is doing a good job'

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2020

'Safest' looks like a phone booth, but is a state-of-the-art mobile COVID-19 testing lab.

Why Kerala has succeeded and Maharashtra is struggling

Why Kerala has succeeded and Maharashtra is struggling

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2020

'Around April 1-2, both states had similar number of cases, around 300.' 'The number of deaths in Kerala were 2 and in Maharashtra around 10. But the two graphs have diverged after that.'

'We have to avoid an explosion of numbers'

'We have to avoid an explosion of numbers'

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2020

'... so that the hospitals do not get overwhelmed. We have to avoid it at all costs.'

COVID-19: 'There will be significant discoveries'

COVID-19: 'There will be significant discoveries'

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2020

'Scientists around the world are focused on very quickly doing work to help us better understand what we are facing.' 'I am inspired by what scientists have found in such a short amount of time since the virus emerged.'

How will India's poor cope with this crisis?

How will India's poor cope with this crisis?

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2020

'Unless the State is a welfare State, unless the State has more welfare measures, it will not be able to deal with these kind of sudden situations.'

'Hunger is a real problem'

'Hunger is a real problem'

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2020

'It can lead to mass malnutrition.'

How a small town in India is fighting coronavirus

How a small town in India is fighting coronavirus

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2020

Far from the metros and big cities, the coronavirus crisis in the country's districts, towns and villages is being led by district magistrates.
The responsibility of keeping the pandemic under control lies with the DM or collector.
Subrat Kumar Sen, the young district magistrate of Saran, north Bihar, tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih how he and his staff are combating a crisis that no one has confronted before.

How armed forces are ready for coronavirus crisis

How armed forces are ready for coronavirus crisis

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2020

'This week will be crucial and we are prepared.'

'Life as we know it will be on the mend soon'

'Life as we know it will be on the mend soon'

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2020

'Times will be tough, but we will get by and by the grace of Lord Balaji.'

'Younger population is an advantage against this virus'

'Younger population is an advantage against this virus'

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2020

I do think a younger population structure is an advantage against this virus, but there are other important factors such as the capacity of the healthcare system," says Dr Jennifer Dowd, associate professor of demography and population health, University of Oxford.

A pilot's last flight before the lockdown

A pilot's last flight before the lockdown

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2020

'Since it was the last day of flights, the feeling was weird. There were hardly any aircraft on the ground or in the air.'