News for 'East Room'

Why is Modi talking about Temsutula Imsong?

Why is Modi talking about Temsutula Imsong?

Rediff.com18 Apr 2016

Meet the cleanliness warrior from Nagaland who is cleaning up the holy ghats of Varanasi...

Sheena Bora Trial: What's Peter's crime?

Sheena Bora Trial: What's Peter's crime?

Rediff.com9 Jan 2019

The 25 odd witnesses that so far had given testimony had not come up with anything incriminating against Peter or the way Shivade characterised it -- "not even a whisper."

Pixar's desi star who may win an Oscar

Pixar's desi star who may win an Oscar

Rediff.com20 Oct 2015

'John Lasseter gave me such good advice. He said the reason why he wanted me to tell the story was because it was about my dad and me. He said if it is a father and son story, it will relate universally.' Star Pixar animator Sanjay Patel tells Aseem Chhabra/Rediff.com the back story behind his new film, Sanjay's Super Team, which features Hanuman, Vishnu and Durga as superheroes.

WTF News: It's Weird, True and Funny

WTF News: It's Weird, True and Funny

Rediff.com17 Jul 2015

This week's digest of weird, true and funny news from around the world

Trust the captain on the spot

Trust the captain on the spot

Rediff.com19 Jan 2015

The recent episode in which a supposedly Pakistani boat destroyed itself at sea, apparently by setting itself on fire, has aroused a great deal of comment in the media. There have been some positive words for the Coast Guard which responded to the developing situation, such as it was, but also doubts about what had actually transpired.

Clinton takes on Trump, says he is unfit to be US president

Clinton takes on Trump, says he is unfit to be US president

Rediff.com3 Jun 2016

She warned that Trump is not fit to have his finger on America's nuclear trigger.

How I survived 4 days of Chennai floods

How I survived 4 days of Chennai floods

Rediff.com7 Dec 2015

'Things are far from normal. The roads are still under several feet of water and every time we venture out, it is a nightmare wading through the water that is no longer flowing but stagnant, filthy and foul-smelling. Shops are yet to stock up on supplies. Power supply is erratic and there is constant fear that it might go off again.' S Saraswathi recalls the horrific four days of her life.

What of the troubles within, Mr Modi?

What of the troubles within, Mr Modi?

Rediff.com27 Feb 2017

Much of the pre-2014 peace in our hotspots is diminished. Kashmir is on the boil and the Northeast is anarchic, observes Shekhar Gupta.

Meet Maharashtra's richest politician ever!

Meet Maharashtra's richest politician ever!

Rediff.com20 Feb 2017

Meet the richest and poorest candidates contesting the election to the richest civic body in the country.

How Abdul Latif, Gujarat's dreaded gangster, was arrested

How Abdul Latif, Gujarat's dreaded gangster, was arrested

Rediff.com20 Jan 2017

'When these fugitives flee to Karachi they don't have much to do, but tweedle their thumbs.' 'I have seen a number of criminals coming back to India because they realise they can meet more people over here.' 'After the 1993 blasts, Latif was not mentioned in the chargesheet.' 'He probably felt he could safely return to India.'

When Moshe and Netanyahu visited Moshe's old home

When Moshe and Netanyahu visited Moshe's old home

Rediff.com19 Jan 2018

'The Indian and Israeli rabbis were singing a small departure song for brave little Moshe, who had spent many, likely, heartbreaking but bittersweet hours at this home of his babyhood, looking at the drawings his mother had made for him, that were still up in his room.'

Top 11 Foreign Language Films, 2014

Top 11 Foreign Language Films, 2014

Rediff.com5 Jan 2015

Beautiful movies, from across the world.

Take a bow, Lieutenant Colonel Sofiya Qureshi!

Take a bow, Lieutenant Colonel Sofiya Qureshi!

Rediff.com8 Mar 2016

'The same charm that draws men to the armed forces, also draws women. It is love for the nation and honour and pride in donning the uniform,' says Lieutenant Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the first woman to lead the Indian Army in a 18-nation military exercise.

It's time for smart villages

It's time for smart villages

Rediff.com24 Feb 2016

India's neglect of villages shows up in many other ways.

Saluting Robin Williams

Saluting Robin Williams

Rediff.com14 Aug 2014

Can a film and the voice of its actor really influence us, and change our lives? I like to believe so, says Aseem Chhabra.

Do Indian stand-up comics make money?

Do Indian stand-up comics make money?

Rediff.com13 Dec 2017

It turns out that there is serious money in funny business these days!

ISL's costliest buy ready for first taste of the action

ISL's costliest buy ready for first taste of the action

Rediff.com23 Sep 2015

Having missed out on lucrative offers in the inaugural edition after his I-League club, Bengaluru FC, refused to release their players for the tournament, Indian football ace Sunil Chhetri is raring to go in the second second season which kicks-off on October 3.

A few good men and the angry sea

A few good men and the angry sea

Rediff.com5 Jan 2015

A Few Good Men and the Angry Sea: 2004 Tsunami, the IAF Story, is the incredible story of survival, guts, resilience and indomitable spirit of the air warriors and their families, civilians and the government's efforts in rebuilding the strategically important military Car Nicobar air base.

Sheena Bora Trial: It's all about geography

Sheena Bora Trial: It's all about geography

Rediff.com6 Apr 2018

Lawyer Amit Ghag got up to tell the judge that Shrikant Shivade -- Salman Khan and Peter Mukherjea's lawyer -- would take a morning flight from Jodhpur to Mumbai and would be in court by 3 pm on Friday to cross-examine Sub-Inspector Dalvi. For a moment, Judge Jagdale looks startled. "But isn't he caught up with that case in Jodhpur?" the judge asked.

I felt a little fear: Indrani's driver

I felt a little fear: Indrani's driver

Rediff.com22 Aug 2017

Lawyer: 'Did YOU not ever feel scared?' Shyamvar Rai: 'I am a driver, I said okay. Madam said it is your job...'

The couple that forced 5,000 girls into prostitution

The couple that forced 5,000 girls into prostitution

Rediff.com24 Oct 2016

Affaq Husain and his wife Saira built a Rs 100 crore empire preying on the most vulnerable people in society.

'Uncle' has educated the poorest of the poor

'Uncle' has educated the poorest of the poor

Rediff.com7 Jan 2015

'I've seen the craze for English education even among the poorest. But that is only for their sons. Parents feel thrilled when they see their sons going to school wearing a tie. They don't mind paying for their sons' private tuitions too.' 'But daughters are sent to municipal schools, madarsas, small schools where teachers with no teaching skills are paid Rs 2,000 or Rs 4,000. That's why more girls come to my class.' Syed Feroze Ashraf, who has sent 500-odd girls (and a few boys) -- all first generation learners, children of grave-diggers, hawkers, rickshaw-drivers, tailors and watchmen -- to college, speaks to Jyoti Punwani. A Rediff.com Special.

Agricultural minister's silence on land bill strategic or tactical?

Agricultural minister's silence on land bill strategic or tactical?

Rediff.com28 Mar 2015

The fact that everyone but Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh is speaking on the issue only gives credence to the specious fears of farmers that this government is out to get them. Aditi Phadnis reports

SBI's merger plan may lead to a banking meltdown

SBI's merger plan may lead to a banking meltdown

Rediff.com5 Oct 2016

'SBI is already too big. Too big to fail.' 'It already is a moral hazard. What will it do with 20,000 branches that it cannot do with 14,000, especially in these days of online and mobile banking?'

He gave up life in America to save India's babies

He gave up life in America to save India's babies

Rediff.com20 Feb 2017

Ratul Narain -- the entrepreneur behind Bempu -- tells Shobha Warrier that despite the challenges and frustrations, he is living his dream.

The 10 best places to have chai

The 10 best places to have chai

Rediff.com19 Jul 2016

In the mood for chai?

Cyclone Phailin approaches: Odisha to evacuate 2 lakh people

Cyclone Phailin approaches: Odisha to evacuate 2 lakh people

Rediff.com11 Oct 2013

With cyclone Phailin expected to make landfall in Odisha on Saturday, the state government mounted a massive operation to evacuate two lakh people from six coastal districts on Friday night

Could Partition have been less bloody?

Could Partition have been less bloody?

Rediff.com15 Aug 2017

The British administration ignored the mounting evidence of violence between Hindus and Muslims... Military historian Barney White-Spunner traces the countdown to the tragedy in his book, Partition.

'It was impressive. I did not expect this from Rahul Gandhi'

'It was impressive. I did not expect this from Rahul Gandhi'

Rediff.com22 Sep 2017

Rahul would know that fealty can be a fickle thing, and that if the Congress bucks the trend and actually wins the next national election, selfies with him would find their way from phones to walls, replacing those taken with Modi.

How yoga came to the UN

How yoga came to the UN

Rediff.com24 Jun 2015

It was almost 10 years ago that the idea of a Yoga Day was mooted by some NGOs, but it had no takers till Prime Minister Narendra Modi realised its potential, probably at the instance of Sri Sri Ravishankar, says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.

Modi reforms flicker in rural India, other big challenges remain

Modi reforms flicker in rural India, other big challenges remain

Rediff.com13 May 2016

While many promises remain unrealised, power reforms and the creation of tens of millions of new bank accounts have helped Modi maintain his popularity

'Would be criminal if I stopped Saira from acting'

'Would be criminal if I stopped Saira from acting'

Rediff.com14 Aug 2017

Beautiful glimpses into Dilip Kumar's life with Saira Banu.

Will SpiceJet live to fight another day?

Will SpiceJet live to fight another day?

Rediff.com14 May 2015

The airline re-built the flight schedule and refunded passengers.

Empty malls echo India's sorry retail story

Empty malls echo India's sorry retail story

Rediff.com4 Dec 2014

Of the 300 operational malls in the country, just 5-7 per cent, or about 20 malls, are doing well, suggest analysts reports.

They don't make the likes of M V Kamath anymore

They don't make the likes of M V Kamath anymore

Rediff.com9 Oct 2014

'If you are a professional journalist, don't ever think that your work is going to bring in revolution or that you are going to change the world. That job is best left to the revolutionaries,' M V Kamath, the legendary journalist who passed away on October 9, told Nitin Gokhale.

5 traditional Christmas recipes

5 traditional Christmas recipes

Rediff.com18 Dec 2015

What is Christmas without some traditional food?

'We will be satisfied if 29,000 farmers stop committing suicide'

'We will be satisfied if 29,000 farmers stop committing suicide'

Rediff.com4 Apr 2016

'All that Maharashtra can give someone whose husband has died is a piece of cloth. That was extremely tragic for me.' 'If you go back historically there is no reference to Maharashtra whereas there is complete reference to Vidarbha.'

They are changing the way urban India lives

They are changing the way urban India lives

Rediff.com24 Jul 2017

Prashant Lingam and Aruna Kappagantula are changing the way houses are being built in India.

'What we have achieved in 50 years, we may achieve in the next 30, 40 months'

'What we have achieved in 50 years, we may achieve in the next 30, 40 months'

Rediff.com11 Dec 2015

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar expects to see progress in India-US defence relations at the speed of a year per month.

Now we know why Fadnavis wanted Pardeshi

Now we know why Fadnavis wanted Pardeshi

Rediff.com1 Jul 2015

If it was true that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held up the flight to Newark to ensure that Praveen Singh Pardeshi, the state principal secretary, was on board, he had at least one excuse...