President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the nation on the eve of India's 75th Independence Day. Here's the text of what he said:
'Through his conversation with Yama, Nachiketa helped society grapple with a bunch of knotty issues, just as many of the ongoing conflicts could do today,' says Arundhuti Dasgupta.
For Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dig up the perceived past of the DMK rival, now under a new leader in M K Stalin, may not gel with the voters, both old and new. If they are still going to vote for the AIADMK-BJP combine, it will be for entirely different reasons, and despite Modi's poll speeches, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Celebrities across the world have been turning to yoga to keep themselves in shape. Here are some of the hottest stars who swear by the ancient Indian practice.
Cairo, Egypt's sprawling capital, is a maelstrom of sights, sounds and smells.
Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se has the wit of a goat, fumes Sukanya Verma.
The top court, which had earlier fixed August 31 as the deadline for completion of proceedings including pronouncement of the verdict, took note of the report filed by special judge S K Yadav in the high-profile case.
Resurgent China opened the Olympics on Friday with a burst of fireworks at a spectacular ceremony that celebrated ancient Chinese history and aimed to draw a line under months of political controversy.
The person has described himself as 'Abhinav Tripathi, a social worker' and asked PM Modi to 'acknowledge that your visit to Kashi is being opposed'.
Belgians tasted bitterness in their beer on Tuesday after their dreams of a first World Cup final were ended by the narrowest of margins by their bigger French neighbours.
If we value India, we must not only 'Make in India', but defend the idea of India, too.
Waterfalls, lakes, oceans -- our readers send in their favourite travel photographs. Share yours!
We bring you a presentation of the best photos in the last 48 hours from around the world.
'Modi has visited all these three countries (the UAE more than once, inexplicably) but has left out Kuwait and Oman, the two Gulf countries that are closest to India in their political, cultural and civilisational ethos,' notes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Flowing from an inadequate understanding of Tamil history and politics is an urban elitist mindset that does not seem to be able to touch and feel the real angst of the larger Tamil-speaking masses, cutting across the social and economic status of the individual, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
What would happen if the home minister chose to go to the movies, and watched the current science-fiction hit, Christopher Nolan's Interstellar
The one-time BJP stalwart, who for some years spearheaded the Ayodhya movement and was at the helm of UP affairs, when the 16th century Babri mosque was pulled down by Hindu 'karsewaks' on December 6, 1992, failed to mobilise support of more than 40-50 people .
"We stumbled on the erotic figure during a scientific clearance work by the Ranchi circle of ASI recently," Superintendent Archaeologist, T J Baidya, told PTI in Ranchi. The statue, which could date back to the 12th century, was found at the Benisagar, which is close to the Orissa border, he said.
Be it the name, the design and communication campaign and the engagement processes being imagined between the brand and its buyers, the company is casting its cars in a new mould, reports T E Narasimhan.
Cinema Paradise's Sandai, starring Sundar C and Nadia, is a complete, illogical and fun entertainer that sells old wine in a new bottle. Just leave logic and reason behind before settling for this age-old mother-in-law/son-in-law battle movies on the lines of Poova Thalaiya and Mappillai.
Government sources also said there was no question of any discussion on the issue as it is India's sovereign matter but added that Modi will update the Chinese President on the matter if there is a query.
Ahead of the India-China summit, Mahabalipuram, the ancient coastal town near Chennai, has been virtually turned into a fortress with unprecedented security arrangements while the beautification and other preparations touched a feverish pitch on Wednesday.
While Hindus claimed the land to be the site of the birthplace of their most revered Lord Ram, Muslims asserted their right over the same as the site of a 16th century mosque claimed to have been built by the first Mughal emperor Babur in the ancient town of Ayodhya, about 120 km from Lucknow.
These trips will fill you with wanderlust.
Ancient temples are a huge part of our cultural and architectural heritage. Here we present some of the photographs readers sent in of the temples they visited.
Munna Master, who has been singing bhajans for 30 years, earnestly believes the Padma Shri is a result of his devotion to gau mata.
Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is nominated for a Grammy Award in the Traditional World Music category for his album Ancient Sounds. He talks about what the award means to him.
South Korea's First Lady Kim Yoon-ok's descendants had royal origin in Ayodhya. Kim, wife of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, is a descendant of one of royal families in Ayodhya dating back two thousand years, The Korea Times has reported quoting the presidential office.
Led by a team of scientists of Indian-origin, NASA's Curiosity rover has found new evidence of water on Mars, indicating that the planet most like Earth in the solar system was suitable for microbial life.
Traditional textile and art forms are being adapted into modern-day garments, ranging from the super-luxurious to the casual.
Away from limelight, Jeevika Didis are silently fighting the coronavirus in rural Bihar.
India's largest companies are making inroads into one of the country's most ancient businesses - the purchase of gold by the nation's hundreds of millions of women for weddings, festivals and savings.
'If Mr Modi continues growing as a Hindu Hriday Samrat, better that it is done by restoring ancient temples than demolishing medieval mosques,' says Shekhar Gupta.
From Kutch to Itanagar, Kashmir to Kanyakumari, there is only one emotion, it seems. Fear. Of coronavirus.
Scientists believe the unique geological locations where they are situated makes them worthy of veneration.
'I had no idea that behind the charming, ever smiling Goan faces, there is so much complexity and history!' says Ajit Balakrishnan.
These tips will help you excel in the competitive exam.
Meet 28 year-old Dusyant Sridhar who is a techie by day and an Upanyasakar after work, giving discourses on ancient scriptures.
'Nike came up with this idea right when I decided I was going to come back. And so it's kind of interesting how it all tied into the wedding and, you know, then I felt a little awkward!'
He promised a grand city inspired by Cambodia's sprawling Angkor Wat, in the state if his party comes to power.
