** History’s muse – The Empress of Ancient Indian Studies

Some anniversaries wait uneasily to be reached in the calendar. November 30, more than three months away, is one such. As the date when Romila Thapar turns ninety, it asks to be celebrated ahead of its click.

Described as the ‘pre-eminent historian of ancient India’, she is exactly that. Just as Amartya Sen is the pre-eminent exponent of development and welfare economics. ‘Left-leaning’ would be another description of her — and, of course, of him — in a journalistically apt sense. But as a summary of their intellectual resources and energies, it amounts to a flat cliché. Both those descriptions show how the accurate can be incomplete and the correct, inadequate.

Described as the ‘pre-eminent historian of ancient India’, she is exactly that. Just as Amartya Sen is the pre-eminent exponent of development and welfare economics. ‘Left-leaning’ would be another description of her — and, of course, of him — in a journalistically apt sense. But as a summary of their intellectual resources and energies, it amounts to a flat cliché. Both those descriptions show how the accurate can be incomplete and the correct, inadequate.

** As fuel prices rise, TN man spends Rs 20,000 to make e-bike that goes up to 50 km

With fuel prices increasing every day, people are desperate for an alternative and more affordable mode of transport. And answering the demand, 33-year-old S Baskaran has designed an electric cycle that can travel up to 50 km with just one unit of current. And what is more, it cost him just Rs 20,000 to make it! 

A resident of Pakamedu village in Villupuram, Baskaran is a diploma holder in mechanical engineering. He had to quit his job due to the pandemic last year and has been focussing on agriculture. During his free hours, Baskaran researched electric cycles and bought an old cycle for Rs 2,000, which he turned into an e-cycle. All he needed were spare parts for Rs 18,000.

** Ishan Kishan Becomes First Ever Indian Batsman To Hit Fifty On Both T20I And ODI Debut

The day keeps getting better and better for the 21-year-old Ishan Kishan.

On a day that saw the Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batsman become the second Indian cricketer to make his ODI debut on his birthday, Kishan has now added two more feathers on his cap

** FEATURED Who is Astra Sharma, the Indian-origin tennis player making waves in Australia?

Laxmi Poruri was making waves in the US tennis circuit by the time she was 15.

America had an Indian-American lead the way in female tennis ranking and it was truly a historic moment for her.

Similarly, there have been many Indian NRIs or citizens of Indian descent living abroad who have represented and played sport for their country of residence.

One woman making headlines in Australia is 22 year old Astra Sharma.