Photojournalist Ed Kashi and documentary filmmaker Julie Winokur have crafted visual narratives on ageing, migration, poisoned neighborhoods, rising seas. Here, they discuss long-form storytelling: how time becomes a collaborator, and why bearing witness matters

youtu.be/DfaGnptzvdg?...

In India’s theatre of patriotism, yesterday’s enemies are today’s business partners. And we are all actors in a drama whose script we haven't seen. My post, on the shape-shifting nature of India’s “enemies”:

rahulbhatia.com/2025/08/29/q...

Skimming through a playlist and got stuck on this, now playing on loop (You really need a DAC to get the most out of this). Clapton, John Mayer, Doyle Bramhall II on guitar. Abe Laboriel Jr on drums. Robert Randolph on steel guitar, Sheryl Crow to round it off. Enjoy

youtu.be/DqeT7QCmhjY?...

Over the past few days, I’ve learned of three fine reporters/editors building their own publications because Indian newsrooms have turned conservative.

Times are hard now, but there are people quietly building for the future. Every newsletter done right is a potential institution. Defiance adds up.

Excellent reporting by M Rajshekhar, who goes behind the headline-making ban on online gaming and comes up with a tale of politics, and lobbying, and vast amounts of money. Read:

A conversation with @rahulbhatia.bsky.social just now reminded me that I have this account, which I had forgotten all about. Time to get back, I think.

The latest news from the chamber of horrors we are turning our country into:

https://prempanicker.wordpress.com/2023/07/26/you-cannot-be-serious/

A piece I wrote on the political moves and countermoves that played out in Bangalore and Delhi over the past couple of days:

https://prempanicker.wordpress.com/2023/07/19/the-india-gambit/

The rejigged BCCI selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar, made interesting choices for the team to play five T20s against the Windies. My post, pointing at what for me is the most interesting of those choices: the captain.

https://prempanicker.wordpress.com/2023/07/06/the-captaincy-conundrum/

The recent World Test Championship, the selection for the Windies tour, and the ODI WC schedule threw up dozens of questions. To no purpose, because no one will answer. My piece:

https://themorningcontext.com/chaos/no-questions-no-answers-how-the-bccis-institutional-omerta-is-normalized

Kind attention Bangalore people: On Monday June 12, the wonderfully eloquent Arati Kumar-Rao is at BIC, doing a show and tell around her new book Marginlands. Details here:

https://bangaloreinternationalcentre.org/event/marginlands-indian-landscapes-on-the-brink/

In this morning's edition of The Morning Context, I have a piece out on the ongoing wrestlers' protests, and the wider issues surrounding the central event. Link here, thoughts much appreciated):

https://themorningcontext.com/chaos/in-the-akhara-of-indian-politics-indias-wrestlers-are-the-losers

A baby step into this new world. Fingers crossed it proves to be more friendly, and less toxic, than the blue bird.