'It is inconceivable that there are no gays working in Indian corporations but obviously, the subject remains taboo enough in the workplace for those of alternate sexual orientation to feel safer remaining in the closet,' notes Kanika Datta.
'This is social reform, which has to be conducted from within society and by its institutions, like religious bodies, not by public officials and ministers. That is why I think the big change Modi seeks is actually not in his power to bring about,' says Aakar Patel.
Amid the crisis has risen an outpouring of empathy from ordinary people across India led by the civil society, who have stepped up to help migrant labourers, domestic helps, construction workers, and small scale workers who were left jobless because of the nationwide lockdown.
"The return fare on economy class to most European capitals from Mumbai are close to 50,000 plus. If an LCC can offer direct connectivity for a basic fare of 25,000 with additional top ups for meals, baggage and blankets, which further takes the fare to, say, 35,000, it is still a value deal."
Reaching out to expatriates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a 24X7 multi-lingual helpline for them
From Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan to Chiranjeevi and Prabhas, India's film stars are stepping forward to do their bit for migrants, daily wage workers and those from their own film industry facing joblessness and near starvation in an unprecedented pan-India lockdown.
'Bapi's characters looked and spoke like people we know.'
Readers share their experiences of ordering meals in the Indian Railways.
Rajeev Srinivasan on how Indians are satisfied with illusions, not reality.
'I joined Hrishida when I was 17.' 'He left me with a lifetime of memories.'
It is bound to fail like the earlier ones, again causing Pakistan enormously more damage than to India, points out Shekhar Gupta.
Shubir Rishi/Rediff.com narrates the morning safari that he took on day two at the Pench National Park. He was on a road trip to the Pench-Kanha-Tadoba national parks.
Bips plays tourist with her dad, mum, sis and hubby.
In 2020, Indian users went up by 400 per cent, making it the fastest growing market in the world for Duolingo, with China coming in second.
Sanjeev Nayyar visits an Amma canteen in Chennai, and comes back impressed
'In one mansion we visited, I was told the doors in the back courtyard had to be kept closed because to have the front and back doors open at the same time would result in Chettiar wealth flowing away,' notes Rahul Jacob after a memorable visit to Karaikudi.
'... their love was jinxed.' 'His celluloid path to his partner's heart was seldom smooth; it had to contend with greedy relatives and indecisive sweethearts, who were more ready to sacrifice than woo and wed.'
For many the resumption of trains is a big boon, but some say it doesn't come without confusion and worries
You will see purified drinking water, focus on cleanliness, and ticketing reforms.
A Ganesh Nadar meets Daniston Litten, a sailor from India, who was held captive by Somali pirates for four years. While the pirates may have harmed him physically, his spirit is unbroken.
Weight loss might not necessarily mean that you have lost the excess fat as well, says Jitendra Chouksey.
Sonali Shetty took on a restaurant that denied admission to street children.
'The world outside my window now is mostly uninhabited, barring the few masked figures that skirt around my shadow as I walk the empty roads for the occasional grocery run.'
The hotel has currently turned into a high security zone with guests living there moved out to other facilities of the Taj group.
Rediff readers share their experiences of eating on Indian trains.
'With the largest number of malnourished people on the planet, India is poised to be a nation that significantly under-performs as an economy.'
'He was a true intellectual of this country: Never claiming to be an expert on anything, or the greatest, he just went ahead and followed his beliefs uncaring of how the world judged him.' Jaya Jaitly pays homage to a dear friend, Wendell Rodricks, designer and trendsetter.
Kavitha Kuruganti has been fighting for decades to ensure farmers are respected and get their due from the Indian nation. In order to ensure they don't struggle for a living, she works to ensure sustainable farm livelihoods and farmers' rights.
Is it sustainable?' 'Or is it like an overdose of a medicine that saves your life in the short run but kills you through long-lasting side-effects?' asks Shekhar Gupta.
Even a rump Air India could not hope to get away with the shoddy service and scrappy fare for which I paid nearly two lakh, complains Sunanda K Datta-Ray.
'On that day, I decided no matter what harm comes my way, I am going out to help the poor.'
A team of 30 chefs is cooking up an Indian storm with a Californian twist for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 700 guests for his community lunch being hosted by the Indian consulate at the Fairmont Hotel.
'I'm very proud of having worked with one of the finest minds of India and Indian cinema.'
'The problem with such ill-considered remarks is that they give the BJP an opportunity to push ahead with its nationalist agenda which includes depicting its opponents as seditionists,' observes Amulya Ganguli.
'With enjoyable physical activity, stress release quality sleep and the right diet, we can reverse the metabolic damage which is wreaking havoc in the world and especially in India.'
Several people clicked snapshots of the leader having his meal from a distance that the SPG -- which looks after Gandhi's security -- permitted.
Milk, turmeric, millet and nuts are important source of nutrients for your body, says Ritika Samaddar.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation, which provides free and nutritious meals to nearly a million children in government schools in half-a-dozen Indian states, last week made a $7 million commitment to feed an additional 100,000 schoolchildren. The organisation made the pledge at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York last week.
Clearly, Nestle has a fight on its hands. Whatever be the outcome of the ensuing battle, the conversation at the morning table is shaken and stirred.
"A recent Columbia University study that supports that death is prevented by earlier lockdowns bears the fact that Narendra Modi's government has done an excellent job in clamping lockdown," Tennessee-based Dr Indranill Basu Ray said in a statement.
