Zehra Kazmi

Shoegate: 5 times Indian politicians were at the receiving end

Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi became the target of a shoe attack during his road show in Uttar Pradesh. Shoe throwing incidents have been on a rise since the infamous 2008 incident when Iraqi journalist

‘India jumps the gun’: Pak media criticise ‘knee-jerk reaction’ after Uri attack

The Uri attack was front page news for most Pakistani newspapers on Monday. The papers devoted considerable space to home minister Rajnath Singh’s declaration that Pakistan was a “terrorist state” and carried Islamabad’s response.

NRIs to diplomats: A history of ill treatment of domestic help

Himanshu Bhatia, the CEO of Rose International, has been accused of mistreating and underpaying her domestic help. HT looks at other cases involving India-born CEOs and diplomats who were charged with treating their domestic help badly.

Where hijab meets the high-street: Modest fashion has reached India

The French ban on Burkini ignited a new debate around modest fashion. In India, there is a growing demand for clothes which are fashionable, functional and comply with religious edicts, fuelled by young women.

International Lefthanders’ Day: 6 reasons why being a lefty is tough

On International Lefthanders’ Day, let’s look at six reasons why being a lefty is tough

Drawing on history: Delhi’s heritage captured in black and white sketches

Yajanekka draws sketches of Delhi’s monuments

Tom Alter on his love for Urdu and playing Bahadur Shah Zafar on stage

Theatre personality and Urdu lover Tom Alter plays both Ghalib and Bahadur Shah Zafar

HMT, Gold Spot: India’s economic reforms wrote the epitaph for these 7 brands

HT takes a look at seven brands which gradually disappeared from the Indian market post-liberalisation. For some, competition proved too tough, for others, which were already struggling to keep afloat, liberalisation was the final nail in the coffin.

Eight amazingly useless things I learnt from watching videos on Facebook

Presenting, in no particular order, a list of amazing but amazingly useless things I learnt from the absolute glut of Facebook videos people keep sharing.

Bastille Day: Despite a bloody history, a celebration of French spirit

As France mourns the 84 dead and more than 100 injured in the Nice terror attack, president Francois Hollande said the country has been attacked by terrorists on its national day, “the 14th of July, the symbol of freedom.”

A short guide to the awesomeness that is Taher Shah

8 bizarre ideas Indian advertisements peddle

Because they think you’re a fool.

Why prime-time TV is turning into crime-time TV

Drumroll for the six shows which make us suspect lurking murderers in every neighbour, watchman or monkey.

Will someone please ask the culture minister to hold his peace?

Given Mahesh Sharma’s propensity for shooting off his mouth, he is probably better off holding his peace. Otherwise, someone in the government should ask him to do so.

Evergreen bestseller list on public transport

Evergreen bestseller list on public transport

From revenge marriages to lookalikes: 7 bizarre things on TV

Or shaking our heads when good people fail to see through the obvious machinations of bad people. But here are seven things- really, really bizarre things which can happen only in the universe of Indian soaps

Balika Vadhu to Qubool Hai: 5 shows we would love to bid goodbye

From Balika Vadhu to CID and more, here are five long-running shows that deserve to kick the bucket soon, having outlived their original plots and their audience’s patience.

There's a show about Reporters on TV

There's a show about Reporters on TV

Zindagi TV, we never want to watch these regressive plotlines again

Pakistani draame, served with regressive values

How to add some tehzeeb to your conversation

The Pakistani dramas on Zindagi have taught us several things. TV soaps can have proper storylines, they don't have to go on endlessly and many more. But the Urdu language is the best takeaway. Few examples.

Eastenders ready to play ball

Respectable: Ghaziabad’s infrastructure may still lag behind other satellite towns but its best schools are up for all sorts of challenges. Zehra Kazmi reports.

Noida’s target: conscious citizens

Schools now recognise that they must impart much more than the regulation academic skills or co-curricular activities.

Are schools in the NCR still wary of the RTE?

Schools say yes to the Act in principle, but not in spirit. Why is it our burden, they ask.

Indian youth fine with live-ins but want virgins for partners

India’s urban youth may have the outward veneer of modernity, but scratch beneath the surface and you find conservative, patriarchal attitudes. Zehra Kazmi writes.

Acid attacks: a look at India and other countries

India passed a new law in February following the Delhi gang rape case which also ciminalises acid attacks. The law defines acid attack as a separate Indian Penal Code offence and proposes punishment of not less than 10 years to a maximum of life imprisonment for perpetrators and fine that could go up to Rs.10 lakh.

Apples and Oranges: Delhi Metro v/s Mumbai local

Delhi and Mumbai are perenially at odds. Zehra Kazmi and Nithya Narayanan bring you a clear comparison between the Delhi Metro and Mumbai local.

Smile Pinki protagonist to toss coin at Wimbledon

Pinki Sorcar, the little girl who emerged as the star of the 2008 Oscar winning documentary Smile Pinki, has just found another reason to grin. Zehra Kazmi reports.

Jiah Khan, a life cut short by the fickleness of fame?

Psychologists warn that the insecurity and pressure that comes with short-lived fame could result in depression

The kiss in Hindi movies

On-screen kissing in Bollywood movies has always created a stir, leaving viewers half-scandalised, half-curious. But before India got its censor board many movies in the 1920s and 30s featured liplocks.

Going to the movies, the other kind

Any celebration of 100 years of Indian cinema is incomplete without documentary films. Though many have been screened at the Centenary Film Festival, drawing an interested audience, their presence has largely been eclipsed by feature films, writes Zehra Kazmi.