Lalita Panicker

Don’t be in denial, north Kerala is in the grip of radicalisation

The radicalisation of this area has been with the connivance of all the political parties who now come out with platitudes that the recent IS recruits are just misguided youth

Being Salman: Man of many faults, but we are his fans

He is a little hot tempered, he likes his women covered up, but all this detracts from the fact that he has a heart of gold.

That sinking feeling again, Udta Punjab row another insult to filmgoers

Udta Punjab simply tells a story as it is. If you feel offended by the depiction of Punjab, don’t see it. But the greatest insult to the filmgoer is the idea that the censor board can dictate what might, mind you might, offend our delicate sensibilities.

On safety, the dice is still loaded against women

This is getting a bit difficult to swallow

NYT piece on Mangeshkar: Get over it and let the singer trill on

Tanmay Bhat has had his 15 minutes of fame. He dissed both Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar in one fell swoop and earned undreamt-of notoriety

Opinion: Beef it is, but what about the guardians of culture, Dadri killers?

A report prepared by a forensic laboratory has confirmed that the meat found in Dadri lynching victim Mohammad Ikhlaq’s house was from a “cow or its progeny”, documents accessed by Hindustan Times showed on Tuesday.

Poll results: A saffron footprint in God’s Own Country

It is in fact something of a miracle that given all this religiosity and adherence to rituals and rites, the BJP had not made greater inroads in the state before

Analysis: Why Kerala gave no cheer to Oommen Chandy in elections

Squeaky-clean chief minister fails to beat Left Front challenge.

Belgian dy mayor throws light on Muslims’ tryst with terrorism

Deputy mayor of Leuvan, Mohamed Ridouani’s is a voice of sanity and hope in a country struggling to come to grips with the emergence of extremism.

Why is The Jungle Book worrying Pahlaj Nihalani?

So far, he confined himself to adult content, cuss words and violence. Now, Pahlaj Nihalani, the chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification, has done it again by giving a U/A rating to The Jungle Book for being “too scary”

Lack of enthusiasm in poll-bound Kerala has left people high and dry

Kerala is a very political state but this time the election campaign is listless owing to tired figures and familiar ideas

The figures tell a dark story about Incredible India

Attacks on women destroy India’s tourism capability

It’s tough for a woman to report sexual harassment at work

Instead of dismissing a victim as a pawn, we must understand how tough it is for a woman to report sexual harassment at work

Adoption rules of Teresa’s charity will deny many a safe home

If you happen to be single or divorced, perish the thought of adopting a child from the Missionaries of Charity. In what can only be described as a bizarre display of morality, the authorities at the famous organisation founded by Mother Teresa have expressed fears that the single person who adopts a child may turn out to be gay or lesbian, which in their eyes poses a security and moral risk to the child. Rather than conform to the government’s guidelines on adoption, the Missionaries would rather be de-recognised.

Click away, post on social media and let law get the perverts

We should not rest until our own womenfolk can go about their work unmolested. Perhaps the answer, as in the case of so many of our problems, lies in technology.

Civic cleanliness: It's not in our nature, we spit on the idea

The concept of civic cleanliness is not in our nature and we’re oblivious of the garbage right outside our front door

MP CM Shivraj’s egg rule gets him egg on the face

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is not one to compromise on his diet. He is a strict vegetarian and he must be applauded for this healthy lifestyle choice. But when he begins to impose it on people, in this case children, becomes a little unpalatable. He has decreed that as long as he is chief minister, he will not allow eggs to be given to children in anganwadis.

Hot under their collar: Women's panel takes on Kumar Vishwas

The Delhi Commission for Women could use its time better if it were to take a look at the problems women face from predatory men in public spaces.

Be human, don't waste your sympathy on Salman Khan

He has a heart of gold, according to the great and good of Bollywood. But what about one word of sympathy for the person who lost his life and those who were injured under his car?

Man and beast: Missing the picture in Dec 16 gangrape film uproar

The film does once again turn the spotlight on how little attitudes have really changed since the Dehi rape which evoked an outpouring of anger and grief.

To be pravasi-friendly, make leaving and returning easier

The pravasi divas should be a celebration of achievements of people who have gone abroad. But it should lead to the serious business of the government being a facilitator for them whether it is to go abroad or come back, writes Lalita Panicker.

Neither simple, nor saintly: No excuses for Niranjan Jyoti

She isn't the first sadhvi to shoot her mouth, but women's rights groups should take up the cause of shouting sadhvis. They are being exploited to achieve the ends of a patriarchal political class.

Waiting for her man: Jashodaben is neither here, nor there

Jashodaben, who has filed an RTI application over her security, suffers all the headaches of being the prime minister's wife without the privileges of the actual position. Now that she has become a public figure, there is every chance that her life is in danger.

Weight and watch: The fat joke is on you

Have you ever noticed that the world is not very kind to people of size? In fact, in India, if you happen to be adipose enhanced, oh okay, fat, then people feel compelled to rub your nose in it, writes Lalita Panicker.

Our netas must rule to work

All we ask is that politicians conduct their work and not get enervated by the baggage of distant legacies, writes Lalita Panicker.

Jayalalithaa: 'Amma' is a mystery wrapped in an enigma

The people’s adoration for Jayalalithaa stems from the many sops she has given them. That is enough to buy a lot of loyalty.

Caged by apathy, ignorance and cruelty

The image of the fearsome tiger looming over the frightened man in Delhi zoo is something many of us won’t forget for a long time. But what most of us will forget are the appalling conditions in most of our zoos.

Imran Khan’s descent from cricket captain to pulpit bully

There is nothing quite as sad as the sight of the once handsome cricketer over whom women swooned and men envied reduced to a pulpit bully, all sound and fury signifying nothing at all, writes Lalita Panicker

This time for Africa: why India must woo this continent

With democracy taking root in Africa like never before, India must step up engagement with the continent, writes Lalita Panicker.