smart & curious
This is Taapsee Pannu’s tribute to the ‘Pravasi’
This short clip—with Pannu’s voiceover—is moving and a must-watch. The pain in her voice...
A list of intriguing things
A Sri Lankan treasure: Archaeologists have uncovered bone arrowheads that are between 45-48,000 years old in Sri Lanka. Why this matters: This is the oldest such find outside Africa, and it is in South Asia. Scientists have typically looked to Africa and Europe for evidence of early human innovation and creativity.
Behold: baby dragons! These are ancient underwater predators that can live up to 100 years—and only breed once in a decade! They are now on display in a cave in Slovenia.
This is Captain Arjun—the socially distancing robot who will be checking temperatures at a railway station near you. FYI, ARJUN stands for Always be Responsible and Just Use to be Nice.
A Covid-free list of good reads
We’re listing these separately for the benefit of those suffering pandemic fatigue:)
- National Geographic offers a delightful roundup of wild and wacky lucky charms around the world—from waving cats to silver amulets and red underwear.
- The lamphone technique allows spies to use lightbulb vibrations to overhear your conversation. Wired explains how.
- Scroll offers a well-reported deep dive into the grimy world of Delhi cricket—and looks at why it continues to produce some of India’s finest.
- William Dalrymple offers a stirring argument as to why Britons must tear down the statue of Robert Clive—a notorious and “vicious asset-stripper” and early architect of the colonisation of India.
- Economic Times has a fun read on the big new trend of online parties—which can cost as much as Rs 25,000-30,000 per soiree.
- Unography magazine—a recent and delightful find, courtesy one of its creators Dhruv—offers this lovely essay on online dating, which takes a tired topic and makes it fresh. Also refreshing: the illustrations.
A list of good Covid reads
- A girl child alert! Attention must be paid to what is happening to young Indian girls, who are being pulled out of school and pushed into marriage. This is an urgent and important bit of reporting.
- This Covid diary of Indian Express journalist Shalini Langer is harrowing and all-too-relatable. This is how it is now.
- The Economist offers a smart take on how Indian babudom ruined our fight to contain the virus.
- Hindustan Times explains how IAS officers helped beat back Covid in Dharavi.
- An inspiring Covid read: Here’s what octogenarians—who have lived through Partition, famines, riots and more—have to say about the pandemic.