A list of good reads

• The Hindu has an excerpt and a column by the author of a new book—’Lords of the Deccan’—that offers a fascinating look at the often ignored dynasties of the South—example, the Chalukyas. Or watch William Dalrymple’s conversation with author Anirudh Kanisetti here.
• The Baffler looks at an intriguing anthology titled ‘Extinct: A Compendium of Obsolete Objects’—a collection of illustrated essays on eighty-five objects that “once populated the world and do so no longer.” This includes everything from zeppelins to paper dresses and—in some parts of the world—ashtrays.
• The Signal offers excellent insider goss on why Netflix is struggling in India—and what went wrong with that Baahubali prequel.
• Here’s something to read for the pure joy of reading beautiful writing about writing: Priscilla Long’s essay titled ‘On Writing: An Abecedarian’ in The Hudson Review.
• AFAR has an interesting piece on why Turkey has renamed itself Türkiye.
• Speaking of books: Roosevelt Montás in Aeon makes a passionate case for approaching great classics—not with the critical distance of time but with the intimacy of love.
• Abdullah Shihipar’s New York Times’ column pays tribute to the word ‘Inshallah’—and argues it brings hope to everyone, irrespective of the language they speak.
• Harper’s magazine offers a fascinating deep dive into seven biomes—including a rainforest, a marsh, a desert, a farm, and an ocean with a coral reef. Each of them fully sealed habitats where people can exist in a miniature environment unconnected to the earth’s atmosphere.
• Atlas Obscura has a lovely piece on a Japanese man—Mr Kaor—who religiously sends hand-written letters to a Dutch hotel he has never visited. And he has done so for 40 years!
• TN Ninan in The India Forum offers a very good analysis of India under PM Modi—and it’s a little different from the standard liberal takes.
• Rewati Karan in The Print takes aim at the toxic hero culture in Pakistani TV serials.
• In Serious Eats, Mithila Phadke pays an ode to our beloved dahi. (h/t founding member Basreena Basheer)