Articles by Jayalakshmi K

Saving the merry tunes for posterity

Life in the chaotic city has been more than enlivened by birds — these creatures from the heavens.

Jan 17, 2018

12 launches a year vs. 360 new rice varieties a year

Why is the agriculture sector taken for granted, especially given that it caters to a more basic and crucial need than space missions?

Jan 11, 2018

From squeezing water from air and verdict on triple talaq to Padmavati row and MeToo campaign: 2017, the year that was

A mixed year with its share of success and failure stories that leaves one with a feeling of hope amidst despair. Will we learn lessons from the past or repeat the mistakes?

Jan 1, 2018

Time to speak up about the M-word: Menstruation

Tho shocking truths about menstruation and menstrual hygiene among women need to be addressed.

Dec 22, 2017

Here's how humans pose a jumbo problem for captive elephants

Elephants face a harrowing time in captivity, leading us to the question: Should their presence in temples be done away with?

Dec 12, 2017

Adivasi life: Clash of modernity and tradition

A workshop organised by Pipal Tree saw tribal activists and thinkers conclude that the tribal/adivasi culture was the best model for a sustainable and peaceful society.

Dec 6, 2017

Padmavati row is a classic example of creative licence vs human sentiments

Why has Sanjay Leela Bhansali not shown Padmavati to protesters, but screened it for journalists?

Nov 23, 2017

Smog in our heads: The mental condition that leads to more pollution in our cities

The pollution within our heads may need to be cleared first for us to combat the smog that is choking our lives.

Nov 13, 2017

Making of the Crispr superman: Will gene-editing create the perfect human?

Crispr cannot be used to reverse an existing disease in humans, but only helps prevent the same in progeny by working on the embryo stage.

Nov 8, 2017

In Bodh Gaya, a look at why modern India has so few Buddhists

Does modern India harbour anti-Buddhist sentiments from its Brahminic past, believed to be one of the major reasons, along with the plunder by the Mughals, for the demise of the religion?

Oct 30, 2017

Decoding Varanasi: An ancient city that eminently holds on to its heritage [PHOTOS]

Kashi, Varanasi or City of Lights -- the "original ground" created by Shiva is probably still run by the divine hand.

Oct 19, 2017

From Germany's Trump moment to social media lynching: Enemy within is in search for the 'other'

A party like AfD is against globalisation and integration exactly for this reason. The sense of a separate people, of an 'enemy', is what the ego feeds on to feel important.

Oct 8, 2017

Can one Newton change Naxalite-affected Chhatisgarh?

In our country today there are pockets of extreme backwardness where the situation is almost unsurmountable -- places like Chattisgarh where violence and poverty stalk each other.

Oct 3, 2017

River rally: A good cause with many stumbling blocks

Covering 7,000 kms across 16 states and 22 cities of India, Rally for Rivers seeks the citizen's votes on a river restoration campaign.

Sep 28, 2017

Rising sex crimes: Concept of consent is alien to many Indian men

With the sexual assault on children in schools making regular headlines, it looks like there is no safety in gender anymore. Children of either sex are vulnerable targets.

Sep 15, 2017

Recurring floods: World's poor pay for West's energy use excesses

Whether it be Houston or Bangladesh, man-made global warming is the obvious reason for the intense water fall. Where the water goes after falling on land depends again on man-made obstructions.

Sep 7, 2017

Blue Whale: A look at what makes the game so dangerous

The 50-day challenge devised by a Russian, now behind bars, culminates in participants committing suicide similar to the beaching of whales.

Sep 3, 2017

Gurmeet Ram Rahim in jail: Why do people, rich and poor, flock to godmen?

Now that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been convicted in two cases of rape and is set to spend 20 years in prison, he will taste a sample of austerity he ought to have, as a spiritual head.

Aug 30, 2017

Worried about impact of pesticides on your health? Here's how you can get rid of it the organic way

The agriculture sector uses most of India's pesticides with the products applied most liberally to crops like rice, wheat, maize, chillies, cotton and soya bean.

Aug 18, 2017

How Kerala toppled Gujarat in governance

Kerala is right on top of the 29 states in governance, followed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, according to a recent report.

May 27, 2016