We’ve all had that adda. That neon sign flashing loud in the dingy street crawling with mice and drunk uncles. That dimly lit interior reeking of puke, heartbreak, and freedom, all at once. It amazes me to think about how one spot within four walls has witnessed so much of my life

Being a night owl was never a conscious decision – I don’t derive any secret joy from knowing I’m awake while the world around me slumbers peacefully. It’s no fun needing a cup of coffee just to check your email inbox in the morning, nor is the feeling of drifting off into a fugue state by lunchtime something I would recommend to others.

When your uncle who only posts old songs on Facebook, or friend who spams Instagram with memes is suddenly discussing national policy, you know you’re now scrolling through your election newsfeed. And like Thanos in the upcoming Avengers movie, there’s no running or hiding from it.

Meena T Pillai’s resignation is only the latest fallout in a series of persistent attacks on India’s academic institutions. A great number of teachers, scholars, and students whose work and livelihood depend on the state’s funds have had their freedoms cut short by an idealistic pursuit of both intelligence and agenda.

With cash-strapped Jet Airways suspending flights, air fares are likely to soar. For travellers, the timing could not be worse. April is vacation time in the country and your annual family holiday might just be in peril.

We women spend a lot of time fretting over how to navigate professional worlds controlled by men. But we rarely get to thank the women who, despite everything that stands in our way and theirs, make life a little less difficult. I’m talking about the work moms and work wives of our lives.

Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a chowkidar, just like he was a chaiwallah yesterday. Politically, it is a compelling strategy, but true protectors of democracy have been silenced in one way or another. They’ve either faced bullets like Gauri Lankesh or are behind bars like Sudha Bhardwaj.

In the last one month, since the Pulwama attack, among those doubling up as defence experts are smug army brats. Their fathers served in the forces, but these skilled piggy-backers have never left behind big city comforts. The odiousness of army brats is tiresome in peacetime, but insufferable when the real threat of conflict lurks in the air.

The Surf Excel Holi ad seems innocent enough, but somehow the idea that two children of different faiths could be cordial in a fictional setting triggered a very vocal section of social media. The only safe option is a 30-second PSA explaining the benefits of participating in Holi on our souls narrated by Amitabh Bachchan.

The furore at the border meant that there was neither the time nor the mental space for people or the media to truly examine the significance of the ordinance amending the rules around the Aadhaar Act. It isn’t just the timing that’s problematic, it’s the fact that the Cabinet has used the ordinance to bypass normal legislative process.