Outside Diggi Palace's walls, things may be getting darker. Speech may be under threat; writers may be getting murdered for their writing. But, inside, it is possible to feel hope that ideas, nevertheless, may have their own power, says Mihir S Sharma.
Australia opener David Warner paid a fitting tribute to his deceased teammate Phillip Hughes, scoring a rollicking 145 before India dealt three quick blows at the fag end to share honours on an emotionally charged opening day in the first Test in Adelaide on Tuesday. Statistical highlights from the day's play.
'How does one get to weaken all those pillars on which the Deep State of Pakistan and the Separatists rely to prevent the situation reaching that point; how must this stage of the proxy war be countered? In many ways the strategy being followed by the adversaries is a smart one, acting within threshold and avoiding overpitch,' says Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).
The boxers hardly broke a sweat while scooping all the seven gold medals up for grabs, while the shooters ended their campaign with an outstanding tally of 25 gold medals to ensure India's reign at the top remained unchecked in the 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati on Monday. On the penultimate day of competition, the Indian was perched at the top with 289 medals (173 gold, 86 silver and 30 bronze).
Faced with the herculean task of reviving the sagging fortunes of Indian boxing, newly-elected Boxing India President Sandeep Jajodia said the sport had been left 'orphaned' in the last couple of years and he would bring it back on track with clean administration.
The idea that Hindus are peace-loving and reticent is modern, says Aakar Patel.
'The truly amazing part is the influence that Washington wields over Modi and the Sangh Parivar,' says M K Bhadrakumar. 'What explains it? The Americans know precisely well which raw nerve to touch and how to make the Sangh Parivar, Modi and this government perform the trapeze act.'
India's bowlers, led by Ravichandran Ashwin, displayed outstanding perseverance to end South Africa's dogged resistance and register a comprehensive 337-run victory in the final Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla, in Delhi, on Monday.
This compares with China at over $10 trillion and India $2 trillion.
England skipper Kevin Pietersen struck a majestic 15th Test century of his Test career before India fought back to take two late wickets on the third day of the second and final Test on Sunday.
The British media on Tuesday were unanimous in their praise of Sachin Tendulkar as they flayed England and felt for "reasons of compassion" the right team won. Describing the first Test in Chennai as one of the most politically significant match in the history of the game, the media also noted that it is a matter of time before India becomes the number one side.
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on Monday offered his deep condolences on the passing of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
India completed a golden double on the kabaddi mat for the second successive edition of the Asian Games after the men and women's teams defeated Iran to win gold in Incheon on Friday.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni failed to finish off the match and was dismissed off the final delivery with just two runs needed for victory as India went down by one run in a thrilling finish in the first T20 International against West Indies in Florida, on Saturday.
The Indian cricket team will tour the West Indies next year in June to play a four-match ODI series.
Raghuram Rajan, the PM's honorary economic advisor, said in 2006, 'It is important for India to exchange its paternalistic, directive government, which seeks to remedy every wrong through a subsidy, a quota, or a scheme, for one that creates an enabling environment for the people and unleashes their entrepreneurial zeal.' Two years later, his words seem prescient. But how much of what he says should be done will be done by the government in the limited tenure it has left.
The 30-share Sensex and the 50-share Nifty ended flat at the mark of 29,008 and 8,767 respectively.
A protracted contract dispute between Sri Lanka Cricket and its players has reached boiling point just weeks before India are due to tour there.
'Modi and Obama are transformational leaders. There can't be a better occasion than to see them together, making their own 'firsts' in a festival of the Republic of India,' says Tarun Vijay, MP.
South Africa's number three batsman handled the home spinners and the heat for almost seven hours to register his fourth Test century. 'It was a good wicket to bat on but they were the hottest conditions I've ever batted on, that was the most difficult challenge,' Amla said.
Retiring legend Kumar Sangakkara was unable to get a big knock in his swansong Test appearance but Sri Lanka overcame an early jolt to post 140 for 3, after dismissing India for 393 in the first innings, on Day 2 of the second Test in Colombo on Friday.
India has one thing that China has - the potential to be of interest as a huge market in its own right.
From Aurangzeb to Sangh Parivar, the year 2016 offers plenty of hope in historical and modern literature.
India rallied from two goals down but let in a late goal and were held by China 4-4 in the four-nation hockey tournament in Darwin.
Twenty20 World champions India have been invited by Texan billionaire Allen Stanford to play a USD 5 million winner-take-all match against the Stanford Super Star team in June next year.
Images from the fourth day's play of the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on Monday.
Shafqat paid a price for what 60 years of separation have wrought.
Jason Holder and Ravichandran Ashwin weigh in on the Powerplay rules ahead of the World Cup match between the West Indies and India.
Dhoni mysteriously held back a final assault on the distant victory target.'
Twitter is planning to replicate parts of its India election strategy across countries that go to polls this year, after it emerged as a key tool for politicians and media companies during the world's largest democratic exercise.
Against the backdrop of delays in several of its major projects, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesdau told Defence Research and Development Organisation to speed up and complete its programmes in time as the world will not wait for it.
2016 is at the halfway stage and the year has already seen some stunning sporting wins, underdogs emerging triumphant on the biggest stages of them all.
'President Kalam pitched his dreams high. He will be best remembered for that feat.'
Foxconn is the world's largest contract manufacturer for electronic goods and makes iPhones for Apple and smartphones for its Chinese rival Xiaomi.
A half-century by wicketkeeper Vikram Mani saw Tamil Nadu to a healthy 347 against Delhi.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jailtey on Tuesday defended the Vajpayee government's releasing the three most wanted terrorists in return for the safety of passengers of the Indian Airlines plane hijacked to Kandahar in 1999, saying the lives of all Indians were "more precious" than the release of the terrorists.
No one is quite sure when the soft launch is likely.
The ecosystems of India and China today jostle against one another across Asia and much of the world.
Your social media profile may soon be your ticket to a loan or a credit card, says Abhishek Agarwal
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