Lord Meghnad Desai, renowned British Indian economist and House of Lords peer, has died at the age of 85. Tributes pour in from political figures and colleagues.
Dussehra 2025 celebrations witnessed Ravan Dahan ceremonies across India, with massive effigies of Ravan, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad set ablaze in cities from Amritsar to Patna.
When the effigies finally go up in flames, the spectacle is more than just entertainment, it is a collective reaffirmation of faith, morality, and the age-old belief that righteousness will always prevail.
Manika Vishwakarma will play Sita in the upcoming annual theatrical event, Ayodhya Ramleela.
Seers in Ayodhya announce a boycott of the upcoming Ram Leela, objecting to its 'unrestrained' and 'cinematic' presentation, citing concerns about the actors' lifestyles and the sanctity of the epic.
Ramlila performances, where the epic Ramayan is enacted, are a common sight. The climax of the festival often involves the symbolic burning of giant effigies of Ravan, Kumbhakaran and Meghnad.
Murmu and Modi watched the Ramleela performance depicting end of Ravana at the hands of Lord Rama.
India should opt for full convertibility of the Rupee, Lord Meghnad Desai, Member of the House of Lords said.
Indian-origin economist Lord Meghnad Desai has said India will get a more 'decisive leadership' in Narendra Modi if he takes over as the new prime minister after the general elections next month. Lord Desai endorsed the Gujarat chief minister's credentials for the country's top job.
They try to hide behind the smokescreen that these are works of fiction inspired by real events. So, you can pick and choose from facts and fictionalise to push the right triggers with your audience or appease the powers that be, observes Shekhar Gupta.
The prime minister and his cabinet will be compelled to do what governments in other democracies must: Listen to criticism from citizens and tolerate it and even learn from it. In doing so, perhaps they can also get a laugh out of the material, as many of us so often do, notes Aakar Patel.
Dussehra festivities returned to their usual grandeur after two years of muted celebrations as Covid fears subsided and people came out in their millions to watch the burning of Ravana effigies across the country on Wednesday to mark the victory of good over evil.
Here's a glimpse of how India celebrated the festival marking the triumph of good over evil.
After Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the Moon, the Congress on Wednesday said it is a collective success of every Indian and ISRO's achievement reflects a saga of continuity and is truly fantastic.
I suggest we build a Vigyan Mandir (Temple of Science) with the ambience of a place of worship, so that it becomes a destination for pilgrims. We should embed on its walls bronze plaques describing each scientist mentioned here along with about a dozen of our ancient mathematicians, recommends Professor Kalyan Singhal, historian of science and technology.
In a blistering attack against the BJP over the violence in Manipur, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that its politics had "murdered Bharat Mata" in the northeastern state and termed members of the ruling party "traitors".
The Income Tax authorities have left the offices of the BBC in New Delhi and Mumbai after three days of lengthy questioning of some of its staff, the United Kingdom-headquartered public broadcaster said on Thursday.
Towering effigies of 10-headed demon king Ravana, his son Meghnad and brother Kumbhakaran crackled in fiery splendour marking the triumph of good over evil as gusto and fervour marked Dussehra festivities across the country. Crowds burst into cheers as the stuffed effigies, dotting grounds and open spaces, went up in flames at sundown.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attended the Dussehra celebrations at Ram Leela maidan in Dwarka and in his address said that India is a land of festivals and that every festival brings our society together. He also urged people to take up and fulfill one mission that would benefit the country.
'On as many as two occasions, Sita is called upon to take a test to establish her integrity and loyalty to Rama and on both the occasions she opts for a course of action on her own terms,' points out A K Bhattacharya, reviewing Bibek Debroy's translation of the Ramayana.
As government-issued guidelines in many places banned large congregations and setting up of fairs or food stalls, the torching of effigies was restricted to very few venues than usual. The Ramleela Maidan at the iconic Red Fort where every year the Dussehra festivities are attended by dignitaries including the prime minister and the President apart from hundreds of common people, was deserted this time as the annual celebrations were cancelled.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told rediff.com in Patna on Tuesday that the Dalai Lama promised to back and fully support the setting up of the university in Nalanda.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday took aim at giant effigies of ten-headed demon king Ravana, his son Meghnad and brother Kumbhakaran before they were burnt to ashes at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi.
Malavika Sangghvi gives us fascinating glimpses from Dilip Kumar's life.
Giant effigies of 10-headed demon king Ravana, his son Meghnad and brother Kumbhakaran went up in flames marking the triumph of good over evil as fervour marked Dussehra festivities across the country on Thursday.
No one deserves the title thespian more than Dilip Kumar, notes Shreekant Sambrani.
Economist and professor emeritus at London School of Economics, Lord Meghnad Desai on Friday questioned Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence in view of his endorsement of the Bhagvad Gita.
Actor Dev Anand, who ruled the hearts of millions of film enthusiasts for over six decades, was on Saturday bid a tearful adieu as his mortal remains were consigned to flames amid the tunes of some of his most memorable songs Abhi Na Jao Chor ke and Gaata Rahe Mera Dil. The funeral ceremony was attended by a large number of people, including his family and close friends like Lord Meghnad Desai and Sahara chief Subroto Roy. His last rites were held according to Hindu tradition
Giant effigies of demon king Ravan along with his son Meghnad and brother Kumbhkaran went up in flames as part of the Dussehra celebrations in all its colour symbolising the triumph of good over evil.
According to the author, lecturer and thinker, Lord Meghnad Desai, the Indian education system does not encourage thinking out of the box.
During the visit organised by the UK India Business Council and UK Trade and Investment, 129 delegates, including business leaders Vittorio Colao, CEO, Vodafone; Lord Meghnad Desai, noted NRI economist; Terry Hill, chairman, Arup; Evelyn de Rothschild and Gerry Grimstone of Standard Life will visit New Delhi, Pune and Mumbai.
At a recent brainstorming session on 'After effects of Financial Meltdown: World Economy', held at the Amity Campus in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Lord Meghnad Desai expressed his views through a written message, as he could not make it to the event.
India-born economist and politician Lord Meghnad Desai was in India to unveil his debut novel. He also discussed the financial crisis and the Lok Sabha election results.
How India engages with the world may have to change.
India's standing in the international community will take a beating now that it has become evident that the Indo-US civil nuclear deal has been given a silent burial, eminent economist Lord Meghnad Desai has said.
Eminent economist Lord Meghnad Desai on Wednesday came out strongly against moves to stall the India-United States nuclear agreement and claimed that if the deal did not go through, it would be a severe blow to India's international standing.Terming the pressure tactics by the Left as disgraceful, Lord Desai said that it was tragic that the United Progressive Alliance government was losing its nerve (on the nuclear deal).
This year, the effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhkaran at Patna's famous Gandhi Maidan will have a more colourful look. This is the first time in the history of the festival that the three effigies have been dressed in designer gear for Dusshera. Incidentally, at the end of the hugely popular Ramleela staged at the maidan every year, the three effigies will be set on fire.
Answering questions on Wednesday night at a function at the Nehru Centre where his wife Kishwar Desai's book Darlingji The True Love Story of Nargis & Sunil Dutt was launched, Lord Desai said, "It would be outrageous if he got treatment different from the other accused in the case. Just because we love Sanjay Dutt does not mean the law can treat him differently. This has to be left to the court. Otherwise, it will be presumed that actors can do anything and get away."
Kumar has said that his government would introduce a bill in connection to set up the university in the state assembly soon.
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