UAE–AED 20

OC
Indo-Pak: Battle For Air Superiority
BANGLADESH: THE ARMY PUSHBACK / SIKKIM@50: THE BIG VISION
www.indiatoday.in JUNE 9, 2025 `100

Volume 50-Number 23; Published on every Friday of Advance Week; Posted at LPC Delhi – RMS – Delhi – 110006 on Every Friday & Saturday; Total number of Pages 68 (including cover pages)
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(L to R),
Revant Himatsingka,
Usha Bishayee,
RJ Karishma,
Aaditya Shukla,
KL Bro Biju

THE NEW CREATOR

ECONOMY
ECONO MY
A RISING WAVE OF DIGITAL STORYTELLERS AND INFLUENCERS
ARE TURNING PASSION INTO PROFIT ACROSS ONLINE INDIA
FROM THE content creators, and counting. They Like Rajkumar Thakuria, aka Raku
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF make the most number of Instagram
reels in the world. About 6 million
Da, a 70-year-old retired banker from
Assam, whose ‘cringe pop’ has earned
a day! It also has the most YouTube him 236,000 followers on Instagram.

T
hey are not born artists channels—over 100 million of them. No wonder that, at the recent
or entertainers. They did More than 15,000 of these have a World Audio Visual & Entertain-
not go to film school. Or subscriber base exceeding a million. ment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai,
learn fancy video editing It helps that Indians are second only creators and digital platforms were
and scriptwriting at an elite institute. to Brazilians and Indonesians in as much the centre of attraction as
They turned to the dross material spending time online. They log a daily Bollywood celebrities. All of it flows
of their own daily humdrum lives, average of five hours, of which 70 per from the sheer, unaffected joy with
and alchemised that into pure gold. cent is spent on social media, video which these new-age products are
Take Usha Bishayee, 51, who shares platforms and gaming. In 2024, made, distributed and consumed.
traditional Bengali recipes. One reel that made for a total of 1.1 trillion Likes, heart signs, thumbs-ups and
won her 430,000 hearts and 4.7 hours, according to EY. No wonder shares are their currency, not glitzy
million views. It was simplicity itself, digital channels eclipsed television to advertisements. Make no mistake.
but encapsulated the meteoric rise to emerge as the biggest segment of the What we are witnessing is a phase
fame of her breed. She was describing Rs 2.5 lakh crore media and enter- of transition. All traditional M&E
her first trip outside of West Bengal; tainment (M&E) industry. Their total platforms are a touch out of breath
the first flight that took her to Mum- valuation, Rs 80,200 crore in 2024, and behind the curve. Films are
bai, where she’d eventually meet, and is expected to touch Rs 90,300 crore struggling. Print and TV lean on the
dance alongside, Instagram head digital ‘platform economy’ to ply their
Adam Mosseri. You have the likes of wares. On the other hand, a complete
podcaster Raj Shamani, whose 10 newcomer can attain virality because
million YouTube subscriber base per- the means of production have been
suaded Bill Gates to sit down for an democratised. Today’s smartphones
interview with him. And also to have come with reliably advanced features
tea made by the flashy Dolly Chai even at price ranges within reach for
Wala of Nagpur (5 million Insta fol- most. And the WiFi revolution since
lowers). There are those with a mis- Jio was launched in 2016 has spawned
sion. Santosh Jadhav and co-founder entire digital communities who have
Akash Jadhav created @indianfarm- grown up on YouTube and Instagram.
June 10, 2024
er in 2018 to make YouTube videos The Covid-19 pandemic only deep-
on sustainable agriculture. This side this year. Within that, the value of the ened everyone’s immersion. So this is
hustle turned out to be much more rising Indian influencer marketing how the 21st century is panning out.
‘sustainable’. They now have 4.94 mil- industry alone is Rs 3,600 crore and Not on a 70 mm silver screen, but on
lion subscribers, an annual turnover it’s expected to grow at 25 per cent in a miniaturised canvas that everyone
of Rs 1.5 crore through ad revenue the coming year. Calling it a sunrise carries around with them.
and brand deals, and a production sector would be a misnomer. It’s like a Deputy Editor Suhani Singh takes
team. That’s why Ajay Vidyasagar, billion sunrises dawning every second a break from her regular cinema and
MD, YouTube South East Asia, calls on a billion smartphone screens. entertainment industry beat to look at
all this “extraordinarily inspiring”. how Indians are fundamentally shift-
YouTube alone paid out Rs 21,000 ehind this boom, there are no ing to this new mode of producing and
crore in 2022-24 to those who cre-
ate content in India: the sector now
includes not just traditional media
B moguls or magnates. No mas-
ter plan from a management
whiz. Instead, you have a motley crew
consuming content. With her twin
focal lengths, she spots and appreci-
ates the contrasts straight off. “There
giants but also a burgeoning band of of unlikely self-born megastars who are no entry barriers, no cliques or
solo creators and artists. It plans to have crashed the party of the old, es- dynastic cabals to navigate as in Bolly-
invest Rs 850 crore in the coming two tablished M&E behemoths. They are wood, no degree or special knowledge
years to accelerate growth. in fact the new mainstream. What required. All you need is an authentic
We are calling it the New Cre- else do you call a regular, mous- self,” she says. Our cover story this
ator Economy. At its heart is digital tachioed Malayali mister like KL week tips its hat at this new digital
content. Such torrents of it that it’s Bro Biju, who puts up simple fam- exchange for dreams and desires.
become the common Indian’s gold ily videos and gathers an unearthly
rush. The world’s most populous subscriber base of 72.7 million! And
nation makes each number related all of it organic. Some of them churn
to this new economy a jaw-dropping out ‘timepass’ videos that are even in-
one. India has 4.6 million digital tended to be ‘so bad that they’re good’. (Aroon Purie)
www.indiatoday.in
CONTENTS
UPFRONT: INDUSIND BANK STATE SCAN: THE GOGOI
CHAIRMAN AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Aroon Purie
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GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Dinesh Bhatia
GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Raj Chengappa
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Manoj Sharma
GROUP CREATIVE EDITOR: Nilanjan Das; GROUP PHOTO EDITOR: Bandeep Singh OLDAYS
EDITOR (FEATURES): Kai Jabir Friese KITCHEN
MANAGING EDITORS: Sunil Menon, S. Sahaya Ranjit; MUMBAI: M.G. Arun Usha and
EXECUTIVE EDITORS: Manisha Saroop, Kaushik Deka
Suprabha
SENIOR DEPUTY EDITORS: Sangram K. Parhi, Sasi Nair;
HYDERABAD: Amarnath K. Menon
Bishayee
DEPUTY EDITORS: Anilesh S. Mahajan, Pradip R. Sagar;
JAIPUR: Rohit Parihar; MUMBAI: Suhani Singh
SENIOR EDITORS: Sonali Acharjee, Ashish Mukherjee, Saikat Niyogi;
PATNA: Amitabh Srivastava
SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Sonal Khetarpal; MUMBAI: Dhaval. S . Kulkarni;
AHMEDABAD: Jumana Shah; BHOPAL: Rahul Noronha
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Avishek G. Dastidar, Vipul Grover; BENGALURU: Ajay Sukumaran
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MUMBAI: Mandar Suresh Deodhar (Chief Photographer)
PHOTO RESEARCHERS: Prabhakar Tiwari (Deputy Visual Research Editor),
Saloni Vaid (Chief Photo Researcher),
Jodha Singh Adhikari (Principal Photo Researcher)
CHIEF OF GRAPHICS: Tanmoy Chakraborty
ART DEPARTMENT: Sanjay Piplani (Creative Editor),
Angshuman De (Senior Art Director), Rajesh Kumar Angira, Bhoomesh Dutt
Sharma (Associate Art Directors), Santosh Kumar Sharma (Assistant Art
DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY

Director), Praveen Kumar Gummadi (Chief Designer),

Siddhant Jumde (Chief Illustrator)
PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT: Harish Agarwal (Chief of Production),
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CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Suparna Kumar

26
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COVER STORY

The New Creator

Economy
Volume 50-Number 23; For the week
June 3-9, 2025, published on every Friday
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log on to www.indiatoday.in/india-today-magazine-insight

INDI A-PA K ISTA N SPOTLIGHT | NORTHEAST

How Modi’s foreign policy on neighbours is
36 The Battle for Air Superiority rewiring Northeast geoeconomics
The four-day conflict showcased modern aerial combat in all its By Anilesh S. Mahajan
dimensions. The Rafale vs J-10C face-off remains inconclusive, The upcoming Shillong-Silchar-Sittwe-Kolkata cor-
but India’s multi-layered air defence system was a clear winner ridor is one such strategic insurance against a volatile
neighbourhood, but the bold gamble hinges on
execution https://shorturl.at/M0fxv
BA NGL A DESH

DEFENCE | FIFTH-GENERATION FIGHTERS

48 Private giants to help India’s stealth fighter
The Army jet take wing: Why this is big
Pushes Back By Pradip R. Sagar
India Today had reported in February how the AMCA
The army chief’s call for an early plan hit hiccups over the indecision on whether state-
election sparks fresh speculation run HAL or private players should build it
on the interim government’s fate https://shorturl.at/s48tC
ARUN KUMAR

SPORTS | CRICKET
Why it’ll be
baptism by fire for
‘Smoothman Gill’
By Amitabh Srivastava
Shubman Gill’s Test
captaincy begins on a
measured note—a si-
lent confidence poised
to define his legacy in the post-Kohli-Sharma era
https://shorturl.at/Hj1NY

CINEMA | NEW RELEASE

Why cinemagoers may be unforgiving of
SIK K IM@50 CONCL AV E Rajkummar Rao’s ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’
By Suhani Singh
53 A Small State with Big Vision The plot is ingenious but the Rao-Wamiqa Gabbi star-
rer falls into the predictable trap of trying to make the
The India Today State of the States—Sikkim@50 conclave jokes work with loud delivery https://shorturl.at/7qKDM
showcased the Himalayan state’s transformative journey, bold
ambitions and its model of sustainable, inclusive development
FROM THE ARCHIVES (2011)
Jawaharlal Nehru: The
LEISURE inveterate democrat
By M.J. Akbar
63 His death anniversary on
May 27 was a moment to
Muted reflect on the architect of
Masterpiece modern India and colossal
world figure that our first
Filmmaker Dibakar prime minister was
Banerjee talks about his https://shorturl.at/2IRNQ
yet-unreleased film Tees
 UPFRONT
VIEWPOINT: THE REAL TOLL OF COVID PG 11 LION CENSUS: GROWING PRIDE PG 12

STORM WITHIN An
IndusInd Bank branch
in Delhi; (inset) ex-CEO
Sumant Kathpalia

INDUSIND BA NK

UNDER A M
AY 22 WAS INDEED A GRIM DAY FOR
76-YEAR-OLD ASHOK P. HINDUJA,
chairman of IndusInd International Hold-

CLOUD ings Ltd (IIHL) and promoter of IndusInd

Bank. For the first time in nearly two decades, the bank
reported a quarterly net loss—an alarming Rs 2,328 crore.

OF FRAUD
Revelations of suspected fraud have
The causes: accounting discrepancies, suspected fraud and
mounting stress in its microfinance portfolio. Spooked in-
vestors sent the bank’s shares tumbling. Both CEO Sumant
Kathpalia and deputy CEO Arun Khurana had stepped
cost India’s fifth-largest lender, down in April. On May 28, the Securities and Exchange
promoted by the Hindujas, more than Board of India (Sebi) passed an interim order against the
just a Rs 2,300 crore quarterly loss. duo over alleged insider trading, restraining them from
The bank’s reputation has taken a accessing the securities market. Six days before, Sebi chief
severe hit, raising questions about its Tuhin Pandey had said the matter was actually “RBI’s re-
corporate culture mit”—the central bank was already on the case since March.
By M.G. ARUN Sebi would concern itself only “if there are any egregious
violations by anyone”, Pandey said. Subsequent events imply
something on those lines may have indeed gone on.

8 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 UPFRONT

Before all the ash started flying,

Hinduja had put on a brave face on the
disappointing quarterly results, saying
41 ` 4 lakh `62,725
the bank’s board has taken “appro-
priate, swift” action. But the scale MILLION CRORE CRORE*
of losses, and more so the suspected CUSTOMER BASE DEPOSITS MARKET CAP
fraud behind it, have shaken up what *May 28
is India’s fifth largest lender, with over
41 million customers and deposits of
over Rs 4 lakh crore. Though the bank `1,960 ` 2,328
has claimed it is well capitalised, the
recent events have threatened to erode CRORE CRORE
its reputation, even as more instances EXTENT OF DERIVATIVES Q4 FY25
of accounting errors and discrepancies DISCREPANCIES LOSSES
keep surfacing. “Every line of defence
at IndusInd Bank seems to have failed
to detect these discrepancies,” says
financial consultant Ashvin Parekh. “A
detailed investigation will certainly be
SHAREHOLDING risks. However, during a review of its
processes to comply with RBI guide-
conducted, particularly so if it is sug- PATTERN lines on investment portfolios—effec-
gesting intentional non-compliance.” A look at who holds how tive April 2024—the bank discovered
Conceptualised by Srichand P. Hin- much of the bank “some gaps” in the positioning of its
duja, the eldest of the Hinduja brothers derivatives. It found the anomalies
and erstwhile chairman of the Hin- around October-November last
duja Group, and established in 1994, 9.2% 15.83% year, and hired an external agency to
Others Promoters
IndusInd Bank was the first among (Hinduja-led investigate the matter, in addition to
the new-generation private banks in IndusInd an internal enquiry, Kathpalia told
International
the post-economic liberalisation era. Holdings Ltd) the media. Strangely enough, Gobind
Ashok, the youngest of the deceased Jain, the bank’s CFO, resigned in
ARUN KUMAR

Srichand’s three brothers, chairs the January, to “pursue opportunities

Hinduja Group of companies in India. 27.55% outside the bank”, following which
Mutual Funds
IIHL holds around 16 per cent stake in Khurana stepped into the role.
the bank, and has the Reserve Bank of
India’s (RBI) consent to raise it to 26
29.53% “Derivatives are complex instru-
ments. Usually, there are multiple
per cent (see chart). Its key customers 17.94% Foreign
Institutional underlying assets which are at risk,
Public Investors
include large corporates, small and resulting in complex valuation as
medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as well as accounting treatment,” says
retail clients, with a focus on commer- Parekh. “The underlying risk may
cial vehicle financing. The bank had a hit of Rs 1,900-2,000 crore as a result. include interest rates, market rates or
network of 2,984 branches and 2,956 Derivatives are financial contracts exchange rates, which are dynamic
ATMs as of FY24. whose value is determined by the price and volatile. The combination of such
of an underlying asset, such as stocks, underlying risks requires proper as-
DISCOVERY OF A ‘FRAUD’ bonds, commodities or currencies. They sessment of value at risk.” On March
No one could have predicted such a are used for various purposes, includ- 20, the bank announced that it had
drastic turn of events at the bank. It ing hedging risk, speculating on price appointed a new external agency to
came under the RBI’s radar in early movements and potentially earning conduct a root cause analysis and
March, when the central bank denied profits. At that stage, Kathpalia said the assign accountability. On April 27,
Kathpalia a three-year extension and problem was specifically in the internal it said the agency found that the dis-
granted only a year instead. On March deals for foreign currency liabilities. crepancies would lead to a financial
10, the bank’s senior management held It is standard practice for banks hit of Rs 1,960 crore. Khurana re-
a conference call with analysts, stating to hedge currency risks to minimise signed the next day, and Kathpalia, a
discrepancies had been found in the potential losses from exchange rate day later, taking moral responsibility.
derivatives trading portfolio and that fluctuations. IndusInd Bank, too, used The bank has said that a com-
the bank expected to take a financial derivative instruments to manage such mittee of executives will manage

J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 9
UPFRONT

operations at present and that it is on executive directors. It remains unclear

the hunt for a new CEO. On May 9, it whether they implemented proper con-
issued a fresh disclosure, stating it was trols or were prevented from doing so.
investigating insider trading allega- Beyond these three layers, one would
tions against Kathpalia and Khurana. expect the audit committee, along with
This was followed by disclosures of “It is RBI’s remit, the internal and external auditors, to
Rs 674 crore in “incorrect interest but if there are any examine valuation and accounting
income” recorded in the microfinance practices—followed by oversight from
division, and Rs 595 crore in unsub-
egregious violations by the board of directors and the promot-
stantiated balances under other assets. anyone, in its capacity, ers. IIFL estimates that IndusInd has
Both issues, however, were closed as of Sebi is looking into it” taken around Rs 4,700 crore hit on its
January, the bank said. J. Sridharan, profit and loss statement due to all the
TUHIN PANDEY
executive vice chairman of the microfi- Chairman, Sebi “frauds”. The brokerage has down-
nance arm, Bharat Financial Inclu- graded the IndusInd Bank stock. The
sion, has also tendered his resignation. bank’s shares closed at Rs 804.75 on
Experts believe the bank failed on the BSE on May 28, nearly half of its
several fronts. “There seems to be a cul- highest level of Rs 1,550 a year ago.
ture and governance breakdown. The
bank was trying to grow at any pace,” STEADYING THE SHIP
says Abizer Diwanji, founder, NeoStrat Although the issues at IndusInd Bank
Advisors. “Whenever cyclical issues hit point to serious corporate governance
it, they chose to ignore them.” failures, there is no worry yet on its
“Though the capital financial health. Hinduja has clarified
adequacy of the

M
id-sized banks are always that the bank is adequately capitalised,
vulnerable to market bank is quite healthy, for with a capital adequacy ratio of 16.24
perceptions. Given the business growth, should per cent as of March. The RBI also said
high cost of doing business, they often any further equity on March 15 that the bank was “well-
engage in riskier activities than their be required, IIHL, as capitalised and the financial position of
larger counterparts. In such cases, the bank remains satisfactory”. Sunil
the promoter of IBL,
banks should consistently make provi- Mehta, the bank’s chairman, told ana-
sions in their books for creditors. “In-
remains committed to lysts on May 21 that they are “taking
dusInd tried to grow in the high-yield, supporting the bank, as further measures to improve internal
unsecured SME segment, and when it has done over the past controls and processes to prevent such
things hit the roof, they did not have 30 years” lapses from occurring again.”
provision cover, and had to do things Diwanji says the bank should look
like derivative accounting,” Diwanji ASHOK P. HINDUJA at its own business model of high-cost
Chairman, IndusInd
says. “When you tend to compromise lending. Moreover, the board should
International Holdings Ltd
on accounting, you tend to compromise oversee internal developments and pay
on governance.” As it happens, the closer attention to whistle-blower com-
Hindujas were also borrowing against plaints. For instance, red flags should
IndusInd shares to finance the Reliance have been raised when Jain resigned
Capital acquisition, and may not have instrument; the mid-office, which is in January. Last but not the least, the
wanted the share prices to crash. expected to evaluate the risk regularly management has to rebuild trust—that
Had the bank valued its assets and dynamically; and the back office, begins with a change in work culture.
dynamically and regularly, with proper which is supposed to account for it,” They should allow information to flow
quantification of the value at risk, it says Parekh. “All the three seem to have and act when necessary, rather than
could have identified the “gap” and either failed or connived.” stall the flow of information, he adds.
taken appropriate measures to ad- Many are surprised that such prac- With more and more skeletons
dress the loss in value. “But here, the tices went undetected by the senior tumbling out of its closet, IndusInd
underlying valuation itself is a question management for years. The first line Bank has to methodically work to
mark, giving an impression that all the of defence is the trader; the second resolve its current issues besides build-
three offices were involved—the front is the senior managers, who may not ing new systems to prevent a recur-
office that does the trade, which holds have asked the necessary questions. rence and restore the confidence of its
the instrument or decides to buy the The third level comprises the bank’s investors and customers. ■

10 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 V I E W POI N T

THE REAL TOLL

OF COVID IN INDIA BY K.
SRINATH
Fresh Covid cases draw attention, but it’s the undercounted deaths
REDDY
from 2021 that demand urgent scrutiny and systemic reform

C
ovid-19 is back in the news state governments must mandate, pro-
because of a rise in the num- mote and institutionalise such partner-
ber of persons testing positive ships between the district health systems
in different states of India as and co-located medical colleges.
well as the release of government data Getting the total death counts

Illustration by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY

on deaths that occurred in 2021, when right is important too. Both the Civil
the country was devastated by the Delta Registration System (which gathers
variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The data on a continuous basis) and the
recent spike in cases due to the less Sample Registration System (which
virulent JN.1 and BA.2 sub-lineages of conducts periodic sample surveys)
Omicron is not a cause for panic, as no need to be strengthened through bet-
deaths have been reported. However, ter training. Accuracy and timeli-
there is concern about the underestima- ness can both be improved through
tion of Covid-related deaths in earlier the introduction of algorithmically
official reports. Questions have been guided digital registration methods.
raised about why previous estimates Mathematically estimating ‘excess
were low and the marked interstate deaths’ through year-to-year compari-
variations in the gap between reported FROM THE OFFICIAL DATA sons can help overcome ambiguities on
Covid deaths and Covid-attributable SHOWING 2.1 MN EXCESS the cause of death and fill data gaps.
excess deaths in 2021. DEATHS IN 2021 OVER Even for measuring heat wave-related
Official estimates of Covid-related 2020, IT CAN BE DEDUCED deaths, estimation of excess deaths is
deaths in 2020 and 2021 differed from THAT MANY WERE LIKELY proving useful.
modelled estimates of the World Health DUE TO COVID Judging by the recent RGI data,
Organization (480,000 versus 4.7 mil- northern and western Indian states
lion). Data released by the Registrar exhibited large data discrepancies,
General of India (RGI) now reveal an appearing to have underreported Covid
excess of 2.1 million deaths in 2021 certification practices of doctors, espe- deaths. Kerala was the best performer,
compared to 2020—a 26 per cent rise. cially for out-of-hospital deaths. When with the least gap between reported
The usual causes of death would not there are associated conditions like car- Covid deaths and estimated excess
have substantially changed over the year, diovascular disease or diabetes, death is deaths. The state would have drawn
and road accident-related deaths would often attributed to them even if Covid strength from a well-functioning pri-
have actually decreased due to mobil- had supervened to cause serious compli- mary care system, high population lit-
ity restrictions. So, it is likely that many cations. Healthcare providers, in public eracy, strong community engagement,
of the unexplained excess deaths were and private sectors, need better train- active role of panchayats and NGOs
Covid-related. That would suggest that ing to improve certification practices. during the pandemic, as well as gearing
earlier official estimates were low. We Where certification is dubious, ‘verbal up of health system efficiency during
must bear in mind that those estimates autopsy’ studies can be conducted to the 2018 Nipah virus outbreak. Even
were made when usual data-gathering identify the probable cause of death with as we debate the Covid numbers, we
systems were under siege by a pandemic, standardised questions. These can be must strengthen community-connected
which demanded action on many fronts. performed by trained frontline health health systems across India. „
While the fact of death is relatively workers and women’s self-help groups Prof. K. Srinath Reddy is a
easy to document, the cause of death with guidance from staff and students cardiologist, epidemiologist and
may be difficult to ascertain due to poor of nearby medical colleges. Central and public health advocate

J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 1 1
UPFRONT FINDING 1 Lion population
Distribution area

891
While the lion count (in ’000 sq. km)
LION CENSUS went up by 32.2 per

674
cent since 2020,

GROWING their distribution

523
area expanded by
just 17 per cent

411
359
PRIDE

327
304
284
WHAT IT IMPLIES
The capacity of
The Asiatic lion population is on the wildlife sanctuaries
rise in Gujarat and its habitats are is long exhausted. 35
expanding, reveals the 16th Lion Most prides now live 30
Population Estimation carried out in adjoining areas, 20 22
in May. Spanning 35,000 sq. km, the near villages. If lion 12 13
survey also throws up sobering facts density increases 6.6 10
about challenges this upswing poses beyond a point, the
fine balance could

1990
1995
2001
2005
2010
2015

2025
2020
Text by JUMANA SHAH
Graphic by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY become a casualty

TOTAL
674 891
(Ï32%)
ADULT FEMALE
Lion population ADULT MALE
2020 2025
260 330
Change in ( )
161 196 (Ï27%)
(Ï22%)

CUB
137 225
(Ï64%)
FINDING 2 FINDING 3 FINDING 4
As many as 395 For the first time, it has A new satellite
lions, i.e. 44.2 per been reported that the population of 17 lions
cent of the total, live big cats regularly move recorded in Barda
outside forest areas through the so-called ‘lion Wildlife Sanctuary
corridors’, which are not
WHAT IT IMPLIES ‘protected areas’ WHAT IT IMPLIES
Human-lion Barda near Porbandar is
coexistence is hailed WHAT IT IMPLIES being touted as a ‘second
as a unique success This ‘floating population’ home’ for the big cat,
story of Saurashtra, of 22 lions, the report which could help in their
but incidents of claims, has a ‘significant genetic diversity. But
conflicts are rising potential for future’. biologists argue that
as lions venture The identification of the aerial distance of
beyond the forest these corridors makes it 50 km from the source
boundaries—35 imperative to prioritise population in Gir is too
human deaths in conservation efforts little to insulate the lions
189 lion attacks over urban and industrial from disease outbreak or
since 2015 development natural calamity

CAT SCAN IN GUJARAT

In 2020, Gir accounted for half the lion population. Now, it’s down to
43% even as new satellite populations come up in three more districts

Girnar WS Savarkundla
56 54 Liliya and
adjoining areas
(Ð4%)
G U J A R A T 98 125
Pania WS (Ï28%)
Babra-
10 10 Jasdan
(0%) Bhavnagar
mainland
Gir National Barda
WS Lions’ 56 103
Park & visitation (Ï84%)
Sanctuary range
and adjoining Bhavnagar
areas coast
Jetpur
334 384 17 15
SUB-ADULT (Ï15%) (Ð12%)
South
116 140 Western South Eastern
(Ï21%) Coast Mitiyala WS Coast
20 25 16 32 Lion population 67 94
(Ï25%) (Ï100%) 2020 2025 Change in ( ) (Ï40%)

NEW SATELLITE DISTRICT-WISE DISTRIBUTION

POPULATION
1. Junagadh 176 191 (Ï9%)
Barda WS: 17 2. Gir Somnath 184 222 (Ï21%)
Jetpur and 3. Amreli 233 339 (Ï45%)
adjoining
areas: 6 4. Bhavnagar 81 116 (Ï43%)
Babra-Jasdan 5. Porbandar* 0 16
7 6
and adjoining 5
4
6. Rajkot* 0 6
1 3
areas: 4 2 7. Devbhoomi Dwarka* 0 1
WS: Wildlife Sanctuary *New habitats
 GL ASSHOUSE

DEFENDERS FROM THE EAST

A
ssam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has really taken to his role as the BJP’s rhetorical
assault weapon, firing verbal salvos at will across borders. After ‘Operation Sindoor’,
Sarma gleefully reminded anyone in range of India’s might, even endorsing the
Balochistan freedom struggle to needle Islamabad. And when Bangladesh interim chief
Muhammad Yunus crossed the line over the “chicken’s neck” linking the Northeast to the
rest of India, Sarma sent a shrill reminder that they, too, have two vulnerable corridors. But
now the Assam CM has competition near home—Tripura’s titular king and Tipra Motha chief
Pradyot Debbarma has taken the tit-for-tat with Dhaka a step further, saying India could
carve out a new nation if push comes to shove. Looks like the Northeast netas are walking
around strapped, ever ready to rain hellfire with just enough plausible deniability.

Illustrations by SIDDHANT JUMDE

FA M I LY T I M E

DYNASTY RELOADED all national coordinators and state

unit presidents. This time around,
Guess blood is thicker than water. The return Behenji may have stopped short of
of Akash Anand, the nephew of BSP chief calling him her political successor,
Mayawati, and his appointment as the party’s but there is little doubt the young
Chief National Coordinator, a new post that ’un has his hands on the party
makes him the “second most powerful leader reins. Already there’s a diktat that
in the party”, is giving a few of the old guard ‘non-performing’ mandal in-charg-
sleepless nights. Sources say Akash has been es will be axed, and sources say the
tasked with leading the BSP programmes and purge may include those respon-
yatras across states and, pertinently, overseeing sible for Anand’s earlier ouster.

14 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 UPFRONT

A VIRAL PROBLEM
SCI-TECH WATCH
One viral video is a
scandal, but four in By Ajay Sukumaran
quick succession?
That’s a headache the
BJP can do without in TRACKING EARTH,
the states it rules. From INCH BY INCH
local heavy Manoharlal
Dhakad’s highway antics WHAT: The NASA-ISRO HOW: NISAR will be the
in Mandsaur, MP, to dis- Synthetic Aperture Radar first earth observation satell-
trict president Amar Kashyap’s shenanigans at the (NISAR) satellite, to be ite with two kinds of radar—
party office in Gonda, UP, a string of BJP leaders placed in a low earth orbit an L-band synthetic aperture
have recently landed in hot water over viral clips soon, will scan the Earth’s radar (SAR) from NASA, and
showing them in...let’s just say, not-so-sanskari situ- surface every six days mea- the S-band SAR built by the
ations. The high command is not amused, and an suring minute changes Space Applications Centre
unofficial warning has gone out to the leaders in down to a centimetre. in Ahmedabad. The instru-
problem states: clean up your act, or else….
With each pixel captur- ment’s imaging swath is
ing an area about half the greater than 240 km, which
size of a tennis court, it will allow it to image the
Two Strikes will track how quakes, vol-
cano eruptions and land-
entire planet every 12 days.
The NISAR mission will run
Rajasthan law minister Joga Ram Patel is under slides occur; measure the for five years. Estimated to
fire again, this time over his grandchild being advance or retreat of gla- cost $1.5 billion (Rs 12,765
booked for alleged cheating during an ciers and ice sheets; and cr.), NISAR will be among
engineering exam on May 22. The monitor the growth/loss the most expensive earth
flying squad flagged it, but the of forests and wetlands. observation satellites.
exam centre superintendent gave
her a pass, which the Opposition
is none too pleased about. Patel
insists he’s open to even a
“CBI probe”, but this is the law
minister’s second family-related fracas.
Last year, his son had to quit as additional
advocate general after the Opposition
questioned the propriety of his appointment.

MR RECONCILIATION
WHY: To help prepare THE COLLABORATION:
New Tamil Nadu BJP president
Nainar Nagendran is a sharp con- for natural or man-made An equal collaboration
trast to predecessor K. Annama- disasters. Earth’s surface between NASA and ISRO,
lai, for he has openly backed the is in constant flux, the NISAR mission marks
alliance with the AIADMK (pos- NISAR will mea- the first time the two agen-
sibly because his roots lie in the sure changes in three cies have cooperated on
‘Two Leaves’ party). Indeed, unlike disciplines: hardware development for
Annamalai, whose lacerating jibes Ô Ecosystems, involves an earth-observation miss-
had led to the alliance breakdown vegetation, carbon cycle ion. The mission is currently
earlier, Nagendran has warned the Ô Major changes in the targeted for a June 2025
BJP cadre against publicly criticis- Earth’s crust launch. The 2,800 kg NISAR
ing the AIADMK, even proposing tracking social Ô Cryosphere sciences satellite will be launched on a
media posts to ensure they stay in line. With which pertain to icy GSLV Mk-II rocket from the
assembly polls due in a year, he knows the party regions crucial to climate Satish Dhawan Space Centre
can ill afford any mis-steps. change studies. at Sriharikota.

Kaushik Deka with Avaneesh Misra, Rohit Parihar

and Kavitha Muralidharan
J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 1 5
 STATE SCAN
BENGAL: THE BANERJEES IN A BALANCE PG 20 PUNJAB: BATTLE OF THE TAKHTS PG 22

THE CHALLENGER Gaurav

Gogoi during the panchayat
poll campaign; (right) CM
Himanta Sarma

ANI

I
T MAY HAVE BEEN A CORONATION WAITING TO
ASSA M HAPPEN, but when it came—on May 26, with a year
to go for the 2026 Assam assembly election—it rang

THE
out like a call to a duel from the days of feudal chivalry.
Gaurav Gogoi, like a prince who had the throne snatched
from him, has got his chance for avengement. Elevated as

GOGOI
state Congress president by the high command, his formal
investiture sets the stage for a most intense political slugfest,
for Gogoi will be in the ring against a very combative incum-
bent CM, Himanta Biswa Sarma of the BJP, the mutineer

GAMBIT
who felled his father.
It’s a classic setpiece, meant to end a frustrating decade of
eclipse for the Congress, marked by utter BJP dominance over
a state it had made a fresh conquest of only in 2016. Part of
The Congress is going all in with MP it rests on legacy. The late Tarun Gogoi’s 15-year stint as CM
is often associated with Assam’s fitful passage out of its old
and legacy heir Gaurav Gogoi in
militancy-hit phase into a measure of stability and prosperity.
the battle for Assam against But the package also offers a ‘new, improved’ version of
Himanta Sarma’s BJP in 2026 his son, Gaurav, reimaged as the Grand Old Party’s “face of
revival”, “a charismatic challenger”. What aids this is the rise
By Kaushik Deka
in Gaurav’s own stature since his decisive win in the 2024

18 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 S TAT E S C A N

they’re backing him to the

BIH A R
ANI

hilt despite Sarma lobbing

allegations of a ‘Pakistani
connection’ at Gaurav’s Brit-
ish wife Elizabeth Colburn.
Sarma’s campaign over the PK BIDS TO
past few months has incl-
uded claims that Elizabeth
worked for Pakistani agen-
BE A THIRD
cies and that Gaurav visited
the country on ISI invita-
FORCE
tion. Gaurav has called it a
Prashant Kishor reshapes core
“C-grade Bollywood movie
plot” and questioned Sarma’s
team, blending caste calculus
“mental state” while offering with credibility to position Jan
Takeaways a nuanced refutation. Suraaj for the big poll fight
The 2024 Lok Sabha
Ô Gaurav Gogoi made election marked a definitive By Amitabh Srivastava
Assam PCC chief, will turning point in Gaurav
lead party in ’26 poll Gogoi’s political career and

I
his rivalry with Sarma. Deli- T’S A PRASHANT KISHOR encore, so none of
Ô Congress out of mitation had eliminated the the mainstream parties had exactly wished for
power in Assam for a old Gogoi pocketborough it. The October 2024 birth of Jan Suraaj Party
decade, since 2016 of Kaliabor, forcing him to was preceded by a good bit of labour: two full
contest from Jorhat, where years, about 5,000 km, of pacing up and down the
his prospects appeared slim. natal ward of Bihar. That hard-earned paternity is
Ô CM Himanta Sarma
Sarma arrayed the entire now entering its logical phase: the JSP aims to make
and BJP pursuing
state apparatus against him, it good in the coming state election. Prashant (‘PK’)
Gogoi with ‘Pakistan
connection’ charge turning it into a prestige has hit the ground running—with a rerun. He plans
battle. So, when Gogoi won to criss-cross all 243 assembly constituencies before
by 144,000-plus votes, it was October-November with his ‘Bihar badlaw yatra’.
Lok Sabha election, and his more than just another LS Bad law is just about right, as a spot of start-
visibility—and audibility— seat win for the Congress—it
as the party’s deputy leader shattered Sarma’s aura of
ANI

in the Lok Sabha thereafter. electoral invincibility.

Within the state unit,
ELECTORAL MATH there’s a mix of enthusiasm
The Congress is also seeking and pragmatic acceptance,
to solve Assam’s complex with veterans aware that Go-
electoral math in its usual goi is their best bet at the top.
way. Three new working But his feet aren’t planted
presidents represent key too solidly: the Congress had
demographics: Jakir Hus- a scare show in the recent
sain Sikdar (Bengali-origin panchayat polls, not winning
Muslim), Roselina Tirkey a single zilla parishad seat in
(‘tea garden’ tribal) and Pra- Jorhat, Gogoi’s stronghold.
dip Sarkar (Bengali Hindu). It’s on this perilous turf
Gaurav is from the Ahom that Gogoi stages his 2026
community, historically cru- challenge. It’s a clash of
cial to electoral success in the personalities. Also, a cho-
state. With him positioned ice between two visions:
as de facto CM candidate, Sarma’s muscular, growth- WALK THE TALK
the party is also sending a focused approach vs Gogoi’s PK at the Patna leg
of his yatra, May 23
powerful message—that social justice alternative. „

J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 19

S TAT E S C A N

PRICKLY HEAT An ex-bureaucrat and Nitish favourite,

JD(U) chief Nitish once his principal secretary, who leapt
Kumar and RJD’s to great heights: JD(U) president, Rajya
Tejashwi Yadav
Sabha MP, and towards the end of that
2010-22 phase, even Union steel min-
ister. More crucially, he’s a Kurmi from
Nalanda, like Nitish.“RCP’s entry will
fortify our appeal among a key demo-
graphic,” admits a JSP insider.

NUMERICAL NUANCES
Simultaneously, Kishor anointed Uday
ing trouble proved. On May 18, Singh. Resume: younger brother of the
under a blistering sun in Nalanda, estimable ex-bureaucrat N.K. Singh,
PK found himself stopped on way to resourceful man from a prominent
Kalyanbigha, CM Nitish Kumar’s family who was twice BJP MP from
ancestral village. “Yahaan koi British Purnea and, after a bitter falling out
Raj hai jo gaon mein jaane ke liye and detour in the Congress, turned a
aapka permission chaahiye?” he was benevolent patron for JSP in its salad A STITCH IN
heard fulminating, at a stone-faced days. Also, a Rajput face—so saffron TIME Mamata
SDM and a phalanx of officials. PK’s territory. Counting Manoj Bharti, the Banerjee with
caravan was out to test Nitish’s three Abhishek
pledges on his own home turf. Had
Takeaways
Rs 2 lakh been really given to each of
the 9.4 million low-income families Ô Prashant Kishor is revving By Arkamoy Datta Majumdar
identified in Bihar’s caste survey? up for polls, with a new yatra
Had Mahadalits been allotted land? and a new set of lieutenants

A
Have land records been digitised and LIST OF DISTRICT
freed from corrupt local babus? Ô RCP Singh, former Nitish presidents and
suchlike may seem

I
favourite, merges party with
n the event, those remained a JSP; Uday Singh is president like a fairly ho-hum
mystery. PK turned back, and HR matter for the Trinamool
instead held a rally at Bihar- Congress (TMC), a party that
sharief on May 20 where he formally Dalit state chief with an IIT/IFS bio, has ‘grassroots’ right there in its
launched his Yatra 2.0. As his caravan that’s three caste boxes ticked. With name. But this new roster was
rolls into each village gathering, it un- top-tier lieutenants in place, Kishor can expected soon after the 2024
folds with the same refrain: “You vote devote himself to the trail, promising Lok Sabha election. The one
by caste or for 5 kg of grain. When governance over identity politics. year of no-show was marked
was the last time you considered your Numerical nuances frame his strat- by visible strain between West
children’s future? Lalu Yadav is plot- egy as he goes tilting at the nearly four- Bengal chief minister Mamata
ting his son’s rise; what of yours? For decade-long RJD-JD(U) duopoly, with Banerjee and nephew Abhishek
once, look beyond the immediate.” the BJP playing the long game. As many Banerjee. A “balanced” reset is
Bihar’s villagers, long habituated to as 40 of Bihar’s 243 assembly seats had what they’re calling it—a truce
transactional voting, listen in rapt victory margins lower than 3,500 votes between Mamata’s old guard
silence. Something resonates. in 2020. In November 2024, JSP con- and Abhishek’s ‘reformist’ bloc.
His vocabulary brims over with tested four bypolls and finished third It arrives at a politically
the promise of a post-caste politics, in two seats. In Imamganj, its 37,103 delicate juncture. The 2026
but as PK revs up for the hustings, the votes ensured the RJD’s defeat. Overall, assembly polls loom ever closer,
chess moves he’s making show he’s not JSP got approximately 10 per cent of and a long-pending organisati-
without a keen eye towards the elec- the votes. So the sight of PK wading onal reshuffle would seem basic
toral potential of caste. On May 18, through rice paddies and dusty lanes, to prepping up for combat. That
he secured the merger of Ramchan- talking his new talk in cramped huts aspect of urgency has acquired
dra Prasad ‘RCP’ Singh’s Aap Sabki and at bustling chaupals, can’t be too a keener edge than one would
Awaaz Party into JSP. Who’s RCP? soothing for the entrenched powers. „ have presumed for a party that

20 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 HINDUSTAN TIMES

Takeaways ing TMC victory. But this time, the

party’s apparent inertia, prolonged
Ô The TMC finally decision paralysis and a growing
announces a vital list perception of arrogance have con-
of district heads, with
tributed to a sense of strategic drift.
2026 polls looming
The negotiated settlement
on the district personnel aims
Ô The roster was to change that. Among the most
stuck for a year due notable examples of compromise
to differences in is Howrah Urban organisational
approach between district, where veteran leader and
Mamata, Abhishek minister Arup Roy has been ap-
pointed president. Roy was not the
Ô The final choices preferred candidate of either fac-
reflect a belated but tion, but with no other consensus
careful compromise leader available, Mamata pressed
for the selection of her cabinet col-
league, and Abhishek agreed.
Ô Nervousness has

I
grown due to the
n North Kolkata, the newly
barrage of scams
constituted nine-member
core committee reflects a
more evenly distributed balance
of power. It includes figures from
W EST BENGA L
both camps—such as Jiban Saha,
widely seen as close to Abhishek—
while MP Sudip Bandyopad-

THE BANERJEES hyay has been accommodated as

chairperson. Birbhum is the only
other district to get such a commit-

IN A BALANCE tee and designated chairperson.

Across the state’s 35 organisational
districts, 16 have received new
Mamata’s old guard and Abhishek’s reformist bloc appointees. Two are pending:
strike a deal on who mans the districts to gear up Darjeeling (Plains) and North 24
Parganas (Barasat). For all other
for the uphill task of winning 2026 state polls districts, both a president and a
chairman have been named.
had a handsome score of 29 out of Ben- School Service Commission (SSC) teach- “It was high time the ball was
gal’s 42 Lok Sabha seats last summer, ers in Salt Lake. The situation worsened set rolling. We were all getting wor-
with a 2 per cent vote swing in its favour, when former TMC MLA Sabyasachi ried. Unless the reshuffle was done,
and ramped that up to a knockout-wor- Dutta was allegedly seen assaulting dem- nothing else would have moved,”
thy 14 per cent-plus in November bypolls, onstrators and journalists. Fired SSC says a senior TMC functionary. Yet
where it swept all six seats in play, even teachers, who see themselves as unfairly many feel it has come too late. Says
plucking two out of the BJP’s kitty. victimised in a 2016 recruitment scam, political analyst Biswajit Bhat-
are only one piece of collateral damage in tacharya, “By this time in 2020,
NEW COAT OF TAINT what has been a barrage of scandals over if you remember, the TMC was in
Why so? Because, while corruption has the years—from the Saradha and Rose full campaign mode for 2021. It
historically not inflicted electoral dam- Valley chit fund scams to the coal and had the campaign song and theme
age on the TMC, a new nervousness is cattle smuggling rackets. ready—even amid the pandemic.
now evident. Just a day before the list was In 2021, the BJP’s vociferous cam- But this time, they are already very
announced, there was public backlash paign centred around “cut money” and late. The PM and home minister
over a police crackdown on protesting “syndicate raj” failed to stop a resound- begin their campaign soon.”„

J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 2 1
 THE HOT SEAT
Takht Sri Harimandir
Ji Gurdwara, also
S TAT E S C A N known as Patna Sahib

PU NJA B/BIH A R

BATTLE OF
THE TAKHTS
A bitter clash between two seats of Sikh
authority exposes deep ideological and
institutional rifts within the faith
By Anilesh S. Mahajan

I
N A FAITH WHERE FIVE religious authority but the very idea of Sikh institutions are already reeling
THRONES symbolise unity, two Sikh unity. The battlelines are blurring from the recent sacking of three jathe-
just went to war. On May 21, a faith, power and politics in a way that’s dars—the previous Akal Takht chief
religious cannonball was fired left the global Sikh community rattled. and heads of two other Punjab-based
from the east: Takht Sri Patna Sahib, If this feels unprecedented, it’s not. Takhts—by the SGPC, in a move seen
one of Sikhism’s five revered seats, In 2008, then jathedar of Patna Sahib, by many as politically engineered. It
located in Bihar. The Panj Pyare or ‘five Giani Iqbal Singh, had openly challen- was supposed to be a course correction.
beloved’ leaders of Patna have declared ged the Akal Takht’s supremacy. That Instead, it has triggered a free-for-all.
as tankhaiya, i.e. guilty of religious spat was hushed up via backchannel
misconduct, two of their senior clerical OLD FAULT LINES
peers back in Punjab: the acting jathe- For the faithful, the crisis is more than
dar of Akal Takht, the supreme seat of
Takeaways administrative. And it’s exposing fault
Sikh authority in Amritsar, as well as Ô Akal Takht, the supreme lines long buried under the surface.
the Takht Damdama Sahib head. seat of Sikh authority, The Akal Takht, established by Guru
The flashpoint? A decision by the reinstates a controversial Hargobind in 1606 as a seat of power
Akal Takht to reinstate a controversial former Patna Sahib jathedar and justice, has operated as the first
former jathedar, Giani Ranjit Singh without consultation among equals: issuing hukamnamas
Gauhar, without so much as consulting (edicts), settling disputes, excom-
Patna Sahib, which had dismissed him Ô Patna Sahib’s Panj Pyare municating those deemed out of line.
in 2022 amidst a welter of corruption declare the acting Akal That moral supremacy was sanctified
and other allegations. Takht jathedar and Takht not just by tradition, but by proxim-
The response from Amritsar was Damdama Sahib head guilty ity to power—the SGPC and Punjab’s
instant. The Shiromani Gurdwara of religious misconduct political aura that itself drew from its
Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which centrality to Sikhism.
controls the Akal Takht’s manage- Patna Sahib is no upstart. It was
ment, thundered its disapproval and diplomacy. This one is being livestrea- formally accepted as one of the five
demanded that Patna Sahib retract its med—on Facebook, YouTube, Insta- Takhts by the SGPC in the 1950s, but
edict. The latter refused to blink. What gram. Every edict, every insult, every its sanctity predates that by centuries.
started as a personnel shuffle is now act of defiance is now a global push no- It is the birthplace of Guru Gobind
an all-out turf war. At stake: not just tification. The timing couldn’t be worse. Singh—the tenth Guru and founder

22 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 K A RNATA K A

CASTE METER 2025

Karnataka undertakes a survey of the state’s Scheduled
Castes using a digital app developed in-house
By Ajay Sukumaran

B
Y JUNE 1, A NEAR FOUR their numbers at 2.1 million house-
WEEK-LONG Compre- holds but a one-man commission
hensive Survey of Sched- under retired judge H.N. Nagamohan
uled Castes 2025 is set to Das recommended a fresh survey,
come to a close in Karnataka. Some citing “ambiguities” in it that had
59,000-odd enumerators have fanned hindered sub-classification.
out across the state to carry out the The survey had a 42-point ques-
door-to-door survey using a digital tionnaire to be filled up on the mobile
app. “We wanted it to be on a digital phone application using drop-down
platform from start to end,” says menus where answers were selected.
SHUTTERSTOCK

Yatish R., who heads the Directorate The state e-governance department’s
of Electronic Delivery of Citizen Ser- database, Kutumba, came in handy
vices, the e-governance department here as it stores information on 11.8
wing which developed the app. million ration card-holding families
The data was necessary to (52 million citizens). Kutumba is
sub-divide the 17 per cent SC quota integrated with all state departments,
into internal categories for a more which means any service provided
of the warrior Khalsa order— equitable distribution of reservation was automatically synced with the
and has long been revered as a benefits among the 101 SC castes in data. So, when an enumerator logged
spiritual centre for Sikhs in Bihar, Karnataka. A 2011 census had put into the app and entered a ration card
Jharkhand, Bengal and eastern number, all available details of family
Uttar Pradesh. The tensions with Takeaways members got filled in automatically.
Takht Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Once the form was completed, it
Maharashtra, are another powder Ô State SC survey to lead to was e-signed by the resident who
keg. Nanded has often bristled at a more equitable subdivision could also log into a portal to review
attempts by Amritsar to assert of the 17% community quota it. Each interview was geo-tagged,
supremacy: on calendar reforms, the family surveyed issued a unique
clergy appointments, even on Ô For the first time, a mobile number and their photo captured.
rituals. It, too, has been known to digital app used for survey A separate online self-declaration
issue independent edicts. with a 42-point questionnaire facility was opened up too to ensure
For the global Sikh diaspora, maximum coverage. „
this is nothing short of disillu-
sionment. The schism isn’t just
geographic—it’s ideological. Sikh
preachers from California to
Calgary are offering counter-nar-
ratives—filling the vacuum left by
dithering Takhts. This doctrinal
free market may be democratising
discourse, but it’s also breed-
ing chaos. With no clear line of
command, contradictory edicts
are now routine. The current
stand-off may still be walked back
through closed-door parleys. But
some damage seems to have been DIGITAL HAVES The surveyors in Karnataka’s Survey
of Scheduled Castes fills in details on the special app
done already. „

J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 2 3
 WHOSE LEGACY? A JJP poster,
showing Dushyant with family icons,
that angered INLD’s Abhay (below)

By Kavitha Muralidharan

I
N TIMES when historical
controversies can raise
enough dust to bury
entire civilisations, the
ancient Tamil site of Keezhadi
has re-emerged as a flashpoint.
The Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI) has asked the site’s
lead archaeologist to revise his
final report of January 2023—
essentially, to locate the site on
H A RYA NA
a much later timeline than the
6th-8th century BC originally
suggested by the evidence.
A DYNASTIC DIN This has sparked fresh alle-
gations of political interference
The fragmented Chautala brood fights over his Jat in historical research. ‘Post-
legacy, but it’s a grim hedge against irrelevance dating’ the site would take
away all the excitement from a
By Anilesh S. Mahajan discovery that had conferred
greater civilisational depth to
Tamil Nadu, pushing back its

R
EMINISCENT OF THE On May 17, the JJP said Chautala’s Sangam era by three centuries.
competing claims on Bal face would adorn its posters. The INLD
Thackeray by the two Shiv reacted sharply. “You have no right to
Senas, a dangal is unfolding appropriate his legacy after betray-
in Haryana’s heartland. At stake is a ing it,” Abhay thundered. “We are his Chennai
face—that of Jat patriarch Om Prakash blood,” Dushyant fired back, “we hon-
Chautala. It’s not even been six months our his vision.” The heated words frame
since the ex-CM’s demise. But just like a larger source of desperation: both TAMIL NADU
farmland gets fragmented as families sides are fighting for relevance in a state
grow and drift apart, the son of the where their influence is rapidly waning. Madurai
iconic Devi Lal has become the subject Look no further than the 2024 as-
KEEZHADI
of a family feud: on who gets to use his sembly election. The JJP had a pristine
turbaned visage as a heraldic emblem. tally of zero; Dushyant, ex-deputy CM,
Both the legacy party, son Abhay finished fifth in his seat. The INLD
Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal barely bettered that, with just two
(INLD), and the splinter Jannayak seats in Sirsa. Upshot: beyond that
Janta Party (JJP) of grandson Dushy- home turf, the magic is fast fading.
ant Chautala, lay claim to his political Chautala had seen this coming.
estate—image, sway, electoral turf. The 2018 family split had left him
heartbroken—he tried to make peace,
and eventually sided with his son, see-
Takeaways ing Dushyant’s exit as a betrayal. But
voters see this as a tired soap opera:
Ô Dushyant’s JJP and Abhay’s young Jats prefer the BJP over sub-
INLD fight over who is the regional politics. If the Chautalas have
real Chautala political heir one hope, it’s the Congress’s shambolic
state. Ex-CM Bhupinder Singh Hoo-
Ô Neither was able to leave a da’s age and tenuous rapport with New
mark in 2024 assembly poll, Delhi present an opening. But instead
heredity may not build future of party work, much less ideology, the
Chautalas are relying on nostalgia. „

24 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 S TAT E S C A N

TA MIL NA DU Vaigai river dating back over 2,600

years. Nearby sites like Agaram and
Konthagai buttress that idea, with

THE AGE OF some lines of inquiry even suggesting

possible evolutionary links of early
Tamil-Brahmi to the Indus script. The

DISAGREEMENT trouble this runs into, of course, is that

it challenges the Centre’s Vedic-cen-
tred view of antiquity. Hence, the ASI
missive is seen by many experts less as
The ASI issues a stern decree to Tamil Nadu: do not
pure academic scrutiny, more as a for-
travel too far back in time with ancient Keezhadi mal curb on the kind of story Keezhadi
can tell. If fully unfurled, that narra-
Archaeologist K. Amarnath Ra- carbon-dated charcoal layers. Also, tive can subvert the privileged space
makrishna, who led the early phases whether its ceramic style accords with conferred on the Vedic/Sanskritic
of excavation, has rejected the ASI’s ancient Tamil Nadu’s pottery chronol- lineage, suggesting a parallel civilisa-
demand, stating that he stands by his ogy. But the ASI’s May 2025 letter tional track in the South—with its own
982-page report. His conclusions, he doesn’t just seek corroboration. It calls language, script and cultural norms.
says, were based on unimpeachable for “necessary corrections” and insists A putative continuum with Harappa
scientific methods like stratigraphy and the earliest layer not be dated before would deepen that further.
accelerator mass spectrometry. The 300 BC. Ramakrishna isn’t the only

J
state of the art in radiocarbon dating, one who spies a prejudicial edge in ust as Keezhadi’s findings
the latter method has a precision of 40 the ASI adopting such an approach to were gaining national and
years for recent antiquity. “well-reasoned findings”. For many in international attention, Ra-
the South, it’s part of a broader pat- makrishna was abruptly transferred
A MATTER OF TIME tern—one where “science is subordi- from Tamil Nadu to Assam in 2017
To be sure, Keezhadi still awaits nated to ideology, and archaeological and ASI-led excavations slowed, later
full scholarly consensus, specifically evidence inconvenient to the dominant declaring no significant discoveries.
on whether the prime evidence for historical narrative is sidelined”. In response, the state archaeology
antiquity—potsherds with early Tamil Keezhadi offers signs of a literate, department took over Keezhadi
inscriptions—are coeval with the urban Tamil civilisation along the work. Over time, that unearthed
over 7,500 artefacts that buttressed
Ramakrishna’s conclusion.
That hasn’t been enough, it seems,
Takeaways to persuade New Delhi. “The ASI
Ô ASI says Keezhadi has never been eager to acknowledge
should not be dated Keezhadi’s truths,” says CPI(M) MP
earlier than 3rd c BC and writer S. Venkatesan, who has
written extensively on Keezhadi. “The
BJP pushes mythology as history, but
Ô Lead researcher
it works just as hard to erase our real
stands by findings,
past. But Tamil antiquity cannot be
which had created
waves globally with a erased by government order.”
6th-8th c BC vintage BJP leader Tamilisai Soundarara-
jan counters that the Centre had fund-
ed the initial excavation. “The report
was likely returned for administrative
reasons, perhaps to avoid future ques-
tions,” she says. In response, Venkate-
san asks: “Why did you stop funding?
If an excavation yields nothing, you
MEASURING DEPTH may stop. But Keezhadi yielded every-
The Keezhadi site, and
thing. You stopped because what was
the potsherds with
inscriptions in early discovered unsettled the very history
Tamil-Brahmi (left) you have been narrating.” „

J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 2 5
 COVER STORY

A RISING WAVE OF DIGITAL STORYTELLERS

AND INFLUENCERS ARE TURNING PASSION
INTO PROFIT ACROSS ONLINE INDIA

By Suhani Singh Photo-montage by Mandar Deodhar

never saw the world beyond my

I
home. I never wished to because I was
content with what I had. But, one day, my
son said, ‘Ma, you cook so well, why don’t
you share it with the world?’ I was shy,
afraid of facing the camera, afraid to speak.
But, slowly, social media taught me to be
seen, to be heard, to be loved.” Fifty-one-
year-old Usha Bishayee, better known by her digital moniker
@oldays_kitchen, won 430,000 hearts and 4.7 million views
with this reel, in which she describes her first trip outside West
Bengal, the first flight she took to Mumbai, where she’d eventu-
ally meet, and dance, alongside Instagram head Adam Mosseri. Crafting
Usha is one of India’s 4.6 million creators aka influencers for whom video-
sharing platforms like YouTube and Instagram have been life-altering. View-
ers couldn’t get enough of Usha’s scrumptious Bengali recipes and soon brand
Her Own
collaborations started streaming in. Today, Usha quotes the price of an iPhone
16—a neat Rs 75,000—to big brands. Son Suprabha handles daily operations,
Universe
and the duo is looking to hire a manager given the explosion in Usha’s fandom.
The rise of creators like Usha is evidence of how Indians are warming up
to individuals who want to show their authentic selves, often from the comfort
of their homes. It helps that we are second only to Brazilians and Indonesians
 Location Courtesy: CONTRAST STUDIOS MUMBAI

A
s a child, Karishma loved job and her real interests—writing,
dressing up in her mother’s shooting and editing original video
saris and copying char- content. About her “risky vocation”,
KARISHMA GANGWAL, 31
acters from TV shows in front of a Karishma says, “You cannot be lax...
RJ KARISHMA
mirror. Two decades later, in front of It cannot be ‘Main toh OG [original]
her phone camera, she plays char- MUMBAI hoon . Nope, you are replaceable.”
acters she dreamt up, including Karishma is broadening her ho-
the popular Mummyji and Vicky. 8.21 MILLION subscribers rizons by writing, acting and pro-
One of India’s top comedy content 6.9 MILLION followers ducing a digital micro drama. Bright
creators, Karishma was a popular Bhavi shya Loading is a “Karish-
radio jockey in Indore before mov- maverse” of multiple characters. „
ing to Mumbai in 2023, juggling her Suhani Singh
 DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY

USHA BISHAYEE, 51
Ilish, Quite Delish SUPRABHA BISHAYEE, 28

T
OLDAYS KITCHEN
he Bishayee family ran a ment. Next time, they staked it all— MOHANPUR WEST BENGAL
sweetmeat shop, which took selling their house to clear the loan
a hit during the pandemic. and using the rest to buy an iPhone
3.2 MILLION subscribers
Financial struggles mounted, with 14. “It was a leap of faith,” says Usha.
a home loan weighing heaviest. Oldays Kitchen began as a hum- 532,000 followers
In 2021, the mother-son duo Usha ble venture—a mother in her old-
and Suprabha tried launching a world kitchen, cooking traditional
YouTube channel. It failed. “But we Bengali dishes. By the third video, ny rhyme (chhora) at the outset, re-
couldn’t give up,” says Suprabha, Suprabha had an idea: food-based lated to the recipe of the day, cooked
who has studied hotel manage- rhymes. That formula—a short, fun- in a rustic oven—struck a chord.

2 8 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 WHAT IS COVER STORY
CREATOR DIGITAL CREATORS
ECONOMY?
It is a collective of crea- in time spent online—1.1 trillion hours in
tors, platforms (Insta- 2024 as per consulting firm EY, an average
gram, YouTube, Snap-
chat et al), brands and of five hours a day glued to mobile screens, of
third-party intermediar- which 70 per cent is spent on social media,
ies like talent manage- video platforms and gaming. The most
ment agencies who populous nation in the world also makes the
come together to gener- highest number of Instagram reels and has
ate revenue via content- the most YouTube channels (over 100 mil-
driven models such as
lion, with over 15,000 having over a million
advertising, sponsor-
ships, subscriptions, subscribers). Little wonder that digital chan-
commerce, live-stream- nels eclipsed TV to emerge as the biggest
ing, among other things segment of the media and entertainment
(M&E) industry, generating Rs 80,200 crore
in revenues in 2024.
India’s creator economy is now seen as a

4.6
MILLION
sizeable part of the M&E ecosystem. At the
recent World Audio Visual and Entertain-
ment Summit (WAVES) in Mumbai, creators
Strength of creators in and digital platforms were as much the
India in 2024, according centre of attraction as Bollywood celebrities.
to the Goat India TechnicalGuruji aka Gaurav Chaudhary
Influencer Marketing moderated a panel, food and travel influencer
Report, 2025 Kamiya Jani aka Curly Tales was part of
one; and there was Creatorsphere, a pavilion
devoted to the fast-growing industry. In his
opening speech, Prime Minister Narendra
`
30-34 Modi hailed the creator community, saying,
“As the orange economy booms, I will tell
LAKH CRORE every young creator in India, whether you are
Creator-fuelled a musician in Guwahati, a podcaster in Kochi
consumption/ creator- or designing a game in Bengaluru, you are all
influenced spend in bringing a wave in Indian economy, a wave of
2024, as per a BCG creativity.” He also met the 750+ finalists of
report titled ‘Mapping the Create in India Challenge and announced
India’s Creator Economy’
the establishment of an Indian Institute of
Creative Technology in Mumbai, to train a
new generation of creators with new skills.

Their first viral hit came with

`
3,600
CRORE
Anybody Can Be a Creator
“You can say that India has become a creator
a demo for simuyier payesh nation without batting an eyelid,” says Ajay
Value of the Indian
(vermicelli pudding). One day, Vidyasagar, managing director, YouTube
influencer marketing
Suprabha asked her to taste industry in 2024, South East Asia and Emerging Markets.
the food on camera and react. according to the Goat “The sheer energy and speed at which Indian
“Daarun!” (wonderful), she report creators are finding their voice and thereon
smiled—a word that is their succeeding on a platform like YouTube is
signature now. The dream extraordinarily inspiring.” In 2022-2024,
now? To open a café—perhaps
in Kolkata, but more likely in
Digha, Usha’s windy home-
`
1.7-2
LAKH CRORE
YouTube paid Rs 21,000 crore to those who
create content in India: a sector that includes
not just traditional media giants but also a
town by the sea. „ Size of India’s creator burgeoning band of solo creators and artists.
Arkamoy Datta Majumdar economy, as per the It plans to invest Rs 850 crore in the coming
BCG report two years to accelerate growth. The magic
of India’s content creation revolution, feels

J U N E 9 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 2 9
 COVER STORY
DIGITAL CREATORS

Vidyasagar, lies in how “diverse, ambi- video—titled “What is this called?”— where he relishes, what else, a croissant
tious and complex” it is and driven by young creator Ayush mispronounces an while promoting an air fryer.
youngsters hungry to learn and grow. AI-generated enunciation of croissant as What’s fascinating is that creators
“It’s not just one vector, one type of Prashant. Ever since it broke the internet don’t even have to follow any logic
content shining. The plurality of formats in March, the quirky video has amassed or lofty standards for their content;
and verticals and languages has led to over 17 million views, even landing anything and everything goes. How else
this extraordinary inflection,” he adds. Ayush an ad with Philips Home Living does one explain the virality of Assam’s
Rajkumar Thakuria, popularly known

W
hat’s driving this crea- as Raku Da? A 70-year-old retired
tive explosion? The BEING SEEN WITH banker, his ‘cringe pop’ renditions
widespread access to CREATORS IS A MEANS with titles like ‘You are a doctor, I am a
affordable internet and driver’, have struck a chord way beyond
cheaper smartphones certainly, making
TO KEEP UP WITH POP Northeast India, winning him 80,000+
it easier to consume content on social CULTURE TRENDS. subscribers on YouTube and 236,000
media. But it is also the lightning speed PERHAPS WHY YOU followers on Instagram.
at which content is being created and SEE BILL GATES Being seen with creators has now
going viral, leaving you with no choice HAVING TEA WITH THE become a means to keep up with pop
but to take note. Take, for instance, FLAMBOYANT DOLLY culture trends and remain relevant. And
the delightful “Prashant” meme. In so it is that Bill Gates is sitting down for
this short split-screen English tutorial
CHAI WALA an interview with one of India’s most

MANDAR DEODHAR
Food Inspector
General
R
evant Himantsingka is an anomaly among
creators. Best known as the nutrition in-
fluencer who pulled up Bournvita for its
high sugar content in his very first video, prompt-
ing a legal notice; compelled Lay’s to switch from
palm to sunflower oil in India; and started the
campaign ‘Label Padhega India’, Revant is better
known as a ‘de-influ-
encer’—someone who
REVANT HIMATSINGKA, 33 criticises brands for
FOOD PHARMER falling short on deliv-
MUMBAI ering the healthy food
they ardently promise.
1.25 MILLION subscribers “The fi rst yea r, I
didn’t make any mon-
2.8 MILLION followers
ey,” says Revant, who
put in his savings from
a job in the US into his creative foray. “I have one
policy—don’t do any food brand deals. I have been
offered insane amounts....” These days, financial
services firm Zerodha is sponsoring the production
cost of his latest podcast, The Simple Health Series.
Happily, a plywood brand has also approached him
because he stands for “trust and credibility”. „ SS

3 0 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
Photo: MANDAR DEODHAR ; Location Courtesy: CONTRAST STUDIOS MUMBAI

popular podcasters, Raj Shamani (10 mil-

lion YouTube subscribers and growing), as
well as having tea made by Dolly Chai Wala
(5 million Instagram followers), a Nagpur-
based tea-seller known for his flamboyant
style and signature way of serving tea.
Indian creators are also going places. At
the 2024 Paris Olympics, Instagram dis-
patched Barkha Singh and Karan Sonawane
(@focussedindian) as part of its creator
squad to create a buzz for the Games with
behind-the-scenes content and engaging
videos. At Cannes, you now see more cre-
ators than film stars on the red carpet. This
year, lifestyle creator Sakshi Sidhwani made
waves with her Cannes-do spirit and style.

B
ut Indian curiosity is not restri-
cted to frivolous or “so-bad-
it’s-good” videos. Thousands of
creators are leveraging digital
platforms to share content, build communi-
ties, inspire change and earn a sustainable
livelihood. Santosh Jadhav, a farmer from
The Romance of Youth Karve village in Maharashtra, for instance.
Known online as @indianfarmer, he has

A
m a z i n g l y, A a d i t y a uploaded 5,000+ videos since 2018 as part
Shukla doesn’t have a AADITYA SHUKLA, 15 of his mission to make farming a “respect-
phone...yet. But natu- AADI able business”. “I realised kheti [farming]
rally, the teen who has over a NEW DELHI isn’t seen as a business. Paisa milta nahin.
million people hooked to his Shaadi hogi nahin. Market haath mein hai
reels knows how to make op- nahin (You won’t earn money, won’t find a
1.6 MN followers
timum use of those belong- girl to marry and the market is not in your
ing to his mother and elder hands). Climate is an issue,” he says. “Let’s
brother Akash. Aadi, as he is and his demeanour one of dis- change that image. Let’s make videos that
known in creatorsphere, has arming teenage amiability. educate and benefit others.” He and co-
used the device to document Shukla’s creativity on In- founder Akash Jadhav are leading the cha-
his life—preparing for the CBSE stagram has resulted in him nge. It has got them 4.94 million subscribers
boards, hanging out with his scoring collab deals (SaReGa- on YouTube, a production team in Pune and
friends—that offers a peek into Ma and Domino’s, to name just an annual turnover of Rs 1.5 crore in ad rev-
the minds of Generation Alpha. two) and a DM (direct message) enue and brand deals. Despite his success,
No concerns about his screen from casting director Shanoo Santosh still works in the fields, growing
time have been raised, for he Sharma’s office, which resulted sugarcane, capsicum, cucumbers and more.
ain’t a bad student. He recently in a part in the Netflix series The “Our vision is to encourage sustainable and
scored 88 per cent in Class 10. Railway Men. “I had no idea one profitable residue-free farming,” he says. The
“If I had been doing badly can make money from it,” says Jadhavs have also pivoted to educational
in academics, teachers would Shukla, whose first sponsor content, launching their first online course—
have objected,” says Aadi. “I’m deal earned him Rs 2,000. That’s on growing tomatoes—for Rs 2,000.
proof that even while creating when he had 10,000 followers.
content you can study and do Simple school math suggests a Show Me the Money
other activities.” It helps that far, far meatier pie now. „ In 2017, one already saw sure signs of
his content is squeaky clean SS evolution, with all the popularity inevitably
being leveraged and marketised. That year,
Viraj Sheth and Ranveer Allahbadia (@

J U N E 9 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 31

TURNING POINTS
IN THE CREATOR

BADUSHA P.T.
ECONOMY
FEBRUARY 2005
Ô Launch of YouTube;
Google acquires it next
year. India launch in 2008

2010
Ô The Viral Fever (TVF)
starts a YouTube channel.
Its spoofs and sketches
garner millions of views,
making it one of the first
Indian success stories

2014-15
Ô Video-sharing app
Dubsmash launches.
Users share clips of them
lip-syncing and acting to
songs and dialogues
Ô India’s first wave of
content creators emerges,
with CarryMinati, Bhuvan
Bam, Ashish Chanchlani,
Prajakta Koli aka Mostly-
Sane and BeYouNick strik-
ing a chord with the youth

SEPTEMBER 2016
Ô Jio launches its 4G
broadband service,
giving millions access
to the internet for free.
The same month, TikTok
launches in India

AUGUST 2020
Working-Class Hero
B
Ô Instagram launches iju has seen life from the
Reel, enabling its users to KL BRO BIJU, 38
hard angles—as a labourer
share short video content; at a quarry, as a helper in KL BRO BIJU RITHVIK
the next month, YouTube a lorry and, later, as a mini truck KANNUR, KERALA
joins the ‘small is good’ and jeep driver. Rendered job-
bandwagon with its own less during the pandemic and
feature, Shorts 72.7 MILLION subscribers
stranded at home, he decided, on
1.2 MILLION followers
a whim, to shoot videos on a Sam-
MARCH 2024 sung phone bought with money a
Ô A month before the friend gave him. not looked back since. His videos,
general election, the His first YouTube video, up- in which only Malayalam is spo-
Union ministry of elec- loaded in 2021, was about a young ken, are centred around simple,
tronics and IT hosts the man’s hunt for a bride in neigh- workaday domestic activities or,
National Creator Awards. bouring state Karnataka. That say, a short trip, that features his
Prime Minister Narendra video became a viral hit. He has family—wife Kavitha (28), mother
Modi awards creators like
Ranveer Allahbadia aka
BeerBiceps
 COVER STORY
DIGITAL CREATORS

beerbiceps) set up Monk Entertainment for campaigns across brands such as

aka Monk-E, a creative digital media Dove, Simple, Ponds and Vaseline. “It’s
organisation aimed at bridging the gap no longer just about follower count,” Ved
between influencers and brands. Today, adds. “We look for influencers whose
it represents some 120 creators across values align with the brand, who speak
domains that include food, beauty, authentically, and who have a meaning-
fashion, travel, lifestyle, podcast and ful connection with their audience.”
technology. Among them is fashion

A
creator Nancy Tyagi, who turned heads ccording to industry
at Cannes last year with a striking insiders, a beauty, fashion
pink gown that she designed herself. and lifestyle creator with
“Content creators are like five compa- a million followers and
nies packed into one,” says Sheth. “For engagement of 50,000-700,000 views
brands, it reduces their cost significant- can earn Rs 5-10 lakh for a reel and Rs
ly, gives them better relatability with 2-3 lakh for an Insta story. Meanwhile,
audiences and facilitates far more ease a popular entertainment creator with
of communication.” It’s why they are the same reach can earn Rs 80 lakh-1.5
choosing creators over the pricey, even crore a year. Instagram also has ‘Born
fussy, Bollywood and sports celebs for on Instagram’, which connects brands

INDIA’S CREATOR ECONOMY IS NOT AN

EXCLUSIVELY GEN Z PHENOMENON OR A
PREDOMINANTLY METRO TREND—IT’S AN
INDUSTRY THAT WELCOMES EVERYONE

quicker, targeted communication. to creators, and a Creator Marketplace

The Covid pandemic deepened the to further strengthen the partnership.
trend, opening up a wealth of opportuni- Among its benefeciaries is Pune’s
ties for creators, primary among them a Madhura Bachal (@madhurarecipe
captive audience seeking to escape the Marathi), 45, who best demonstrates the
dystopia outside. With access to celebri- entrepreneurial streak of India’s creators.
ties restricted, brands increasingly One of the earliest to join YouTube back
turned to creators who not only acted, in 2008 with the goal of putting Maha-
Karthyayani (68), children directed and distributed their content, rashtrian cuisine on the world map, the
Rithvik (8) and Rishvik (3 but also had an active online presence former banker began by shooting videos
months), and his niece Anu and highly engaged communities. when her baby was asleep. In 2016, she
Lakshmi (14). For Biju, an idle Influencer marketing is not just realised she would gain subscribers far
pursuit has led to fame and empowering creators but also translating more quickly if she went local, and so
a livelihood; indeed, his days into money. The Goat India Influencer started another channel in Marathi.
now revolve around chroni- Marketing Report, 2025, valued the Today, apart from running three chan-
cling his family life. industry at Rs 3,600 crore in 2024, pro- nels and writing 12 books, Madhura
Rithvik does not reveal jected a growth of 25 per cent in 2025. has her own line of spices and kitchen
numbers, but says he earns “The new marketing model has evolved appliances, which she retails online. “I
“enough” to support his fam- from just building brand salience to am making more as a content creator
ily as a content creator. Says capturing attention and driving engage- than I did as a banker,” she says, reveal-
Biju, “I do not know who in- ment. Influencers have been central to ing how she makes a six to seven-figure
vented YouTube and other this shift by creating authentic, relatable sum monthly from brand collaborations
platforms, but they are a relationships with their followers,” says and content monetisation. It is a matter
blessing for people like me.” „ Pratik Ved, vice president—skin care, of intense pride and joy when she sees
M.G. Arun Hindustan Unilever Limited. HUL has popular food creators like chef Ranveer
collaborated with digital creators like Brar, YourFoodLab and Kabita’s Kitchen
Ankush Bahuguna and Komal Pandey post Maharashtrian recipes.

J U N E 9 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 3 3
 COVER STORY
DIGITAL CREATORS

Not everyone is in it for the money,

though. For ‘changemaker’ influencers, it’s
about doing the right thing. Take environ-
mentalist Malhar Kalambe, for instance,
who organises beach clean-ups. Or Siddhesh
Lokare (@sidiously), who ties up with brands
to help those on the fringes and spotlight
stories of everyday heroes. In the case of
Revant Himatsingka (@FoodPharmer), rev-
enue comes less from brands and more from
speaking engagements for corporates and
colleges. More than the views, it’s the impact
his videos have that matter more to Revant,
his most recent success being the CBSE man-
dating a ‘sugar board’ in all its schools—high-
lighting the sugar content in soft drinks—in
response to his #SugarBoardMovement. The
move even merited a mention in an episode of
PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat programme.

CREATORS DON’T NEED TO

FOLLOW ANY LOGIC OR HIGH
STANDARD. ANYTHING AND
EVERYTHING GOES. THE
TRICK IS TO BE AUTHENTIC

The More the Merrier

As He Likes It
M
It’s a myth that India’s creator economy is ada n Gow r i’s suc-
primarily a Gen Z phenomenon or that it cess proves that far MADAN GOWRI, 31
has a predominantly metro presence. It’s an beyond the crowded MG SQUAD
industry that welcomes everyone. Have a fields, there are millions of tak- CHENNAI
shooting device, an internet connection and ers for content ranging from
a modicum of talent, good or bad, and you’re physics to politics. And that 8.17 MN subscribers
on. Rupali Singh (@sad_rupaa) from West most prefer it in the vernacular.
2.6 MN followers
Medinipur in Bengal is happiest when she is What started out as an English
creating Insta reels and YT shorts dancing to YouTube channel in 2017 has
Hindi songs—her ‘Tauba Tauba’ jig with her morphed into a wildly popular
two sons notched up 88.2 million plus views. Tamil one. Well-researched and Proudly prolific, he has put up
Chandni Bhabda’s mimicry skills are so pared down without sacrificing one video a day for the past 6-7
impressive that L’Oreal placed her with its complexity, Gowri’s entries both years. Courtesy his revenues
brand ambassador Alia Bhatt on a couch and slake and spur the thirst for from YouTube, Gowri has 40-50
had her imitating the actress pitch-perfectly, knowledge. However, “you can’t people on his payroll and runs a
to much laughter. “Once I have cracked the just talk about random things,” digital marketing firm.
voice and the character, I just start rolling,” he says. “I focus on what peo- Like veteran creator Bhuvan
says the 25-year-old, whose love for imper- ple want to know, like issues in Bam aka BB Ki Vines, Gowri is
sonations dates back to when she’d mimic her mainstream media.” foraying into films, but says he
teachers at school. From living in rented ac- “Earlier, when you said you will never forsake the badge of
commodations for 18 years, Chandni’s work are a YouTuber, people thought a content creator. “I’m getting
on social media today has earned her enough it was a serious profession,” he this opportunity as I am who I
money to buy her own pad in Mumbai sub- says. “But today...they are like… am in content. The day I stop do-
urb Andheri. Says Chandni, “I want to feel ‘even my kid is a YouTuber’. The ing this, I won’t have value.” „
competition is way higher.” SS

3 4 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
something and then make it. I want to be film stars but their own kind. “The recent Influencer Compliance Scorecard
tell stories. Brands love me for that. You best creators even today and 10-15 years showed that 69 per cent of India’s top
give me a timeline, I will make it happen from now will be those who take their 100 digital stars failed to meet basic
with no compromise on quality.” authentic selves and turn the volume disclosure guidelines in brand collabora-
The democratic nature of the plat- up, not those following trends,” he adds. tions. “This signals a widespread lack
forms has given wings to not just Gen Artificial Intelligence will change of awareness or willingness to comply,
Z-ers like Chandni but even Gen Alpha. the game even further, aiding the quick risking audience trust and regulatory
Aaditya Shukla was 10 when he began delivery of content. Tamil YouTuber action,” says Manisha Kapoor, CEO &
making videos on Insta because he had Madan Gowri relies on tools like Chat- secretary general, ASCI. “Influencer
“nothing to do other than studies” dur- GPT, Google’s Gemini and DeepSeek endorsements in sensitive sectors like
ing the lockdown. His first earning was for everything from research and health, finance, gaming and virtual
Rs 2,000, when his follower count was digital assets pose serious risks to public
10,000. Five years later, he has balanced safety.” The body expects influencers to
studies and reel-making to have brands disclose qualifications when promot-
like Domino’s wooing him to reach his
UNDER THEIR ing technical claims and more vigilance
teenage Insta audience of 1.6 million. INFLUENCE “not just from influencers but also from
Having lost his father in 2018, Shukla Trust and authenticity are valued brands and agencies to prevent irrespon-
is happy to join his two elder siblings in assets in influencers. Here is how sible promotions”.
helping his homemaker mother. “I have they’re categorised according A crowded space of influencers
to the number of followers
already built something, I won’t have to has also meant more competition and
suffer much later,” says Aadi. creators having to keep their sleeves
NANO MICRO rolled up all the time. “It looks really

A
nd it’s not just shorts that *10-50,000 50-100,000 easy to do, but difficult to sustain,”
sell, long format, too, has says Sheth of Monk Entertainment.
an audience of its own, “Just try building distribution through
emboldening creators like CATEGORY C CATEGORY B short-form content for six months.
100-500,00 500,000-1 mn
Raj Shamani to go from 45-minute I’ll change my name if you don’t feel
interviews to 2-3 hour-long ones on his disappointed at some point because you
YouTube podcast show, Figuring Out. MEGA are not getting enough likes or views
“I don’t believe attention spans are get- 1 million followers and more or don’t have scripts to go along. It is a
ting shorter. I think the ability to judge competitive space, because everyone
content is getting faster,” he says. The with a phone is a possible creator.” Even
go-to podcaster currently has 50 people CELEBRITY someone as popular as RJ Karishma,
working for him in several capacities, Established figures in sports, who has a community of millions on
allowing him to put out three episodes entertainment, arts etc. both YouTube and Insta, admits feeling
a week and 25 shorts a day across seven the pressure of uncertainty. One month,
*Number of followers
channels and several platforms. it’s brand deals a dozen, the next not so
And yet, most agree it’s just the start much. “When I started, there weren’t
for a young economy (just about 15 that many creators and I had the power
years old) that’s hard to ignore. “In In- scripting to editing and culling data on to say this is the amount I charge, I can-
dia, we don’t have enough creators with the issues that would drive audience not go below this,” she says. “Now, we
critical mass yet. We are in the stage engagement. “It has helped me increase are also compromising. There are more
of building it,” says Vinay Pillai, chief viewership,” he says. “All we have to do creators, so if not you, they will find
business officer at Pocket Aces, which is find the right prompt and curate our somebody else.”
runs Clout, a talent management wing content accordingly.” Ultimately, it’s the community they
that currently boasts 225 influencers. have built that fuels the creativity and
“Once it manifests itself, where we get The Road Ahead keeps them going. Karishma cannot
creators like Kylie Jenner or Mr Beast, A growing economy likely calls for thank them enough. It was her enact-
you will see the next step for the creator greater supervision. Given the influence ments of saas-bahu characters on social
economy. Monetising the distribution creators now wield on consumer spend, media that earned her a viewership
they have built into commerce will radi- there’s talk of the harm they can wreak and enabled her to pay the bills for her
calise the industry.” Pillai believes the on vulnerable audiences, especially chil- mother’s cancer treatment. “I am grate-
next set of creators will be different and dren and young adults. The Advertising ful to my audience. Because of them, my
interesting, for their inspiration will not Standards Council of India’s (ASCI) mother is alive.” „

J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 3 5
PAKISTAN
LY-80 OR HQ-16
Chinese medium-
range Surface to
Air Missile or SAM
(40-70 km); mobile
units integrated
with radar and
sensor networks

OP SINDOOR:
Countered Indian
drones/missiles;
one likely lost to an
Indian drone attack
in Lahore; could
not counter May 10
strike missiles

DEFENCE I N D IA VS PA KI S TA N

THE BATTLE FOR

AIR SUPERIORITY
The four-day India-Pakistan conflict showcased modern aerial combat in all
its dimensions. The Rafale vs J-10C face-off remains inconclusive, but
India’s multi-layered air defence system was a clear winner
By PRADIP R. SAGAR
 INDIA
AKASH
Indigenous short-
to medium-range
SAM (25-80 km)
OP SINDOOR:
Neutralised
numerous Pakistani
drones over
Jammu & Kashmir

ANI

S THE DUST SETTLES OVER THE INDIA-PAKISTAN CONFLICT—TRIGGERED BY INDIA’S MIS-

SILE STRIKES on nine terrorist hubs in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punjab province in
response to the Islamabad-sponsored terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April—it is time for a reckoning
of how the two adversaries fared. Uniquely, over four intense, dramatic days (May 7-10), the theatre of
war was the skies on either side of the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border. Airpower
was the key factor, manifested not in the dogfights of yore, but their modern equivalent, compris-
ing precise strikes, electronic warfare and smart coordination between aircraft, ground radars and
airborne early warning and control system (AEW&CS)/ Airborne Warning and Control System
(AWACS) aircraft. Drones and missiles were used aplenty by Pakistan, and India’s multi-layered
air defence (AD) system rose to the occasion like never before. According to the Indian Army, its air
defence units neutralised nearly 800-900 Pakistani drones during Operation Sindoor.
If, early on May 7, the Pakistani air defence had no immediate answer to the loitering munitions/
kamikaze drones, and SCALP/ Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles and HAMMER bombs
fired from the Rafales of the Indian Air Force (IAF) that destroyed the terrorist camps, the Pakistan
Air Force’s (PAF) J-10CEs, F-16s and JF-17 fighter jets did pose a threat. Indeed, Pakistan has
claimed—without definitive proof or explicit acknowledgement from India—that several Indian jets

J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 37

 DEFENCE SHIELDS UP AB
I N D IA VS PA KI S TA N
INDIA
were lost. Significantly, wary of each other’s missiles, particu-
larly those launched beyond visual range (BVR), both forces S-400 TRIUMF ‘SUDARSHAN CHAKRA’
operated well within their respective air space. However, on Russian-made long-
May 8 and 10, after Indian missile and drone strikes took out range surface-to-air
vital Pakistani air defence radars in Lahore and Karachi— missile system or SAM
one precious PAF AWACS was reportedly lost too—its air (400 km), intercepts
defence systems were rendered toothless, largely driving the aircraft, drones, missiles.
PAF from the skies. So, after Pakistan targeted Indian air Outclasses Pakistan’s systems
bases and military installations with drones and missiles on
OP SINDOOR: Reportedly downed 8 Pakistani
May 9 and 10—almost all of which were intercepted and shot
missiles in Jammu (May 8-9)
to pieces—it was helpless before India’s retaliatory barrage
of SCALP and BrahMos supersonic missiles, fired by aircraft
and from the ground on eight Pakistani air bases, including
the Nur Khan base near Rawalpindi, the general headquar- BARAK-8
ters of the Pakistan army. Thus chastened, Pakistan is said to Developed with
have called for a ceasefire. Israel, long-range OP SINDOOR:
SAM (70-100 km), Countered
AESA radar drones/ missiles

O
peration Sindoor was a demonstration of Indian
precision and reach, and showcased India’s
capability to strike any target in Pakistan at will.
Frank O’Donnell, senior research adviser at the
Asia-Pacific Leadership Network and non-resident fellow
at the Stimson Center, says that it signals India’s ability for
precision strikes on targets within each base and suggests its
implicit capacity to incapacitate these bases if desired. “The
very short flight time of India’s air-to-ground missiles, and
especially its reported use of the supersonic BrahMos, lever-
aged the continuing challenge for Pakistan of operational-
ising missile defence systems and the extreme difficulty of
ON TARGET A Pechora missile system
blocking cruise missile strikes. However, this challenge is
also shared by India,” he says. PECHORA, TUNGUSKA, OSA-AK
Russian-made short-range SAM/ guns (10-20
OPPOSING AIR WARRIORS km); mobile and rapid-response weapons
Though in recent decades India has held a qualitative and OP SINDOOR: Effectively protected Indian air
numerical advantage in air superiority over Pakistan, the lat- bases like Pathankot
ter’s acquisition of sophisticated Chinese aircraft has led ana-
lysts to suggest that the technological disparity is narrowing.
Among India’s frontline fighter jets, the Mirage 2000H,
armed with the Thales RDY radar (range: 100-130 km) and
MICA missiles (both beyond visual range or BVR and short BOFORS L-70, ZSU-23-4 SCHILKA
range or SR, with a reach of 60-80 km), excels in precision Radar-linked, self-propelled low-level air
strikes but has an ageing airframe. The MiG-29UPG, with defence (LLAD) guns
Zhuk-ME radar (range: 120 km) and R-77 missiles (BVR,
OP SINDOOR: With MANPADS like Igla-M,
with a range of 80-100 km) is agile, but lags in network-
Igla-S, shot down hundreds of Pakistani
ing. The Su-30MKI, equipped with a Bars PESA radar (or
drones in swarms
a Passive Electronically Scanned Array radar with a 200 km
range) and BrahMos missiles, offers long-range strike cap-
ability but has a large radar cross-section, meaning it can be
detected by enemy radars. The Rafale has an RBE2 AESA LEGACY
(Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar and SPECTRA GUN The
electronic warfare suite, which ensures data fusion across Bofors
electromagnetic, laser and infrared domains to protect it L-70 self-
from threats. Both PESA and AESA radars can track multiple propelled
targets at once. The Rafale, armed with Meteor and SCALP gun is an old
workhorse

38 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
OVE Here’s how the opposing air
defence networks matched up

PAKISTAN
PAKISTAN’S INVESTMENT IN
HQ-9/P Chinese-made long-range SAM OFFENSIVE WEAPONS LAYS BARE ITS
(100-200 km), less advanced than S-400 WEAK AIR DEFENCE CAPABILITIES,
OP SINDOOR: Claimed to have downed 25 SAYS A DEFENCE EXPERT. DEVELOP-
Indian drones; one likely lost to an Indian MENT OF MISSILES LIKE BRAHMOS
missile strike in Karachi AND AKASH, TIMELY PROCUREMENT
OF THE S-400 GAVE INDIA A BIG
EDGE IN NON-CONTACT WARFARE

missiles and HAMMER precision-guided munition, is

India’s most advanced jet, but its small fleet size limits impact.
On the other side, Pakistan’s Chinese J-10C fighters,
armed with PL-15E BVR missiles, and equipped with dual-
pulse motors and AESA seekers, mounted a challenge for
the IAF. The J-10CE’s AESA radar and its integration with
Saab 2000 Erieye AEWC enables long-range engagements,
while the JF-17’s KLJ-7A radar is less capable but still effec-
tive with networked support.
Operation Sindoor drew global attention to a possible
aerial duel between the Rafale and J-10C fighters—both
FM-90 4.5-generation multirole fighters. “Rafale is a proven plat-
Chinese form, as it has been used in combat in Afghanistan, Libya,
short-range Mali, Iraq and Syria, while J-10 C has not seen any combat,”
SAM (15 says a key IAF official.
km); limited
range, rapid

M
ilitary aviation experts claim that Pakistan’s
response J-10C, manufactured by the Chengdu
Aircraft Industry Group, lags behind the
OP SINDOOR: Tasked to protect frontline air Rafale, made by the French firm Dassault, in
bases like Nur Khan, ultimately failed to keep
armament. The J-10C has 11 hardpoints (mounting points
away Indian missiles on May 10
to carry weapons) and a six-tonne load capacity. The Rafale
has 14 hardpoints and a nine-tonne capacity, including
nuclear-capable munitions. The Rafale’s 24-tonne take-off
weight exceeds the J-10C’s 19 tonnes, offering greater pay-
load flexibility, though the J-10C reaches a higher 18,000-
EYE ON INDIA metre ceiling, compared to the Rafale’s 16,000 metres. The
A TPS-77 MRR J-10C excels in high-altitude performance; the Rafale domi-
ground-based nates in versatility and range. Experts say that the Rafale
radar in Pakistan
holds a slight edge in terms of sensor fusion and missile
performance. However, uncertainty persists over Pakistan’s
unverified claims of downing Indian jets, including Rafales.
“Public evidence does not confirm that a Rafale was
downed by a J-10C-fired PL-15E missile. However, the loss
of at least one Rafale demands an urgent review of techni-
cal and tactical vulnerabilities,” notes O’Donnell. He adds
“ABC” SYSTEM Tactical air defence linking that Pakistan and China have valuable combat data about
ground-based radars, J-10C/ JF-17 jets, western aircraft, aiding their fighter modernisation, while
AWACS; enhances real-time targeting Pakistan’s swift acquisition of Chinese platforms outpaces
India’s sluggish defence procurement, exacerbating the
OP SINDOOR: Claimed to have guided the IAF’s declining squadron strength.
PL-15 missiles that downed Indian aircraft

J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 3 9
 THE SHARPEST EDGE
Features and performances of the Rafale and the J-10C, India and Pakistan’s most advanced fighters

INDIA

PAKISTAN

RAFALE VS J10C

RAFALE Rbe2 Aesa AESA Radar J-10C

Used SCALP (200 km) RADAR (200–250 km) Pakistan
missiles, claims to
Hammer Meteor Mica Pl-15e have shot
MISSILES
bombs with (150–200 km) (145 km) down Ra-
precision, fales using
Spectra EW SUITE Chinese EW system
destroying PL-15s from
terror hubs Netra, AEW&C Indigenous J-10Cs; later,
in Pakistan Phalcon SUPPORT Chinese EW without AD
on May 7; support,
hit Pak air Multirole, ROLE Multirole, they kept
Precision Strike BVR
bases on away as India
May 10 36 NUMBERS 25 hit air bases

Defence analyst Shreyas Deshmukh, research associate at Air Command and Control System (IACCS) and the army’s
the Delhi Policy Group, says that the Rafale vs J-10C com- Akashteer. The IACCS is an automated command and con-
parison reflects a contest for battlefield superiority, given their trol system that integrates data at its control centres from
similar capabilities. Though debris, including PL-15E rem- air defence assets like ground-based radar, airborne sensors,
nants and possible MICA missile fragments from an IAF jet, AWACS/ AEW&CS, communication nodes and IAF comm-
were reportedly recovered, Deshmukh asserts that “no con- and and control centres. The consolidated data along with real-
crete evidence supports claims of aerial losses on either side”. time updates gives commanders of air defence units an overall
situational awareness and full battlefield picture to respond to
INDIA’S AIR DEFENCE EDGE incoming aerial threats. Similarly, the army’s Akashteer is an
For India, the real positive to have emerged from Operation air defence control and reporting system comprising radars
Sindoor is the overwhelming success of its integrated air def- and sensors that are connected to units of its air defence.
ence system. The two units that synergised perfectly to nul- With the integration of the resources of IACCS and
lify all projectiles hurled at India are the IAF’s Integrated Akashteer, the Indian air defence threw up a layered grid.

40 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 A DRONE WAR
Hundreds of drones were deployed in the DEFENCE
conflict. Here are some Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAVs) that the adversaries used I N D IA VS PA KI S TA N

EXPERTS SAY INDIA MUST NOT BE

COMPLACENT DESPITE ITS
PAKISTAN STRONG SHOWING. THE IAF’S
ASISGUARD FALLING SQUADRON STRENGTH,
SONGAR: Turkey- AND THE SLOW INDUCTION OF
made 300–400
INDIA surveillance/strike
FIFTH GENERATION JETS LEAVE
drones. GAPS THAT CAN BE EXPLOITED
HAROP:
Israeli-made loitering BAYRAKTAR TB2:
munition/ kamikaze drone Turkish armed ISR/
for precision strikes strike drone
HERON: Israeli ISR BAYRAKTAR Pakistani drone and missile attack.
(Intelligence-Surveillance- AKINCI: Turkish In contrast, Pakistan’s Chinese HQ-9 and HQ-16 air
Reconnaissance) drone advanced ISR/ defence systems failed to detect and intercept the devas-
strike drone tating Indian strikes on its air bases on May 10. Early on
SKYSTRIKER: Israeli May 10, Indian strikes took out a Chinese-made LY80 air
loitering munition YIHA-III
defence system using a Harpy kamikaze drone at Lahore,
KAMIKAZE:
NETRA: Indian-made while a missile destroyed an HQ-9 system in Karachi.
Loitering munitions
(IdeaForge) tactical ISR Comparative analysis also suggests that the S-400 sur-
used in swarms,
UAV passes the HQ-9 in performance. “India’s multi-layered
from Turkey
SWITCH: Indian tactical air defence systems exhibited greater effectiveness in
OP SINDOOR: deployment and integration than their Pakistani coun-
ISR/ strike UAV Pakistan used terparts,” a key defence official said.
OP SINDOOR: Indian 300-400 Songars, Defence analysts say that for the past two decades, as
Harop drones destroyed 400-500 YIHA-IIIs
a probable counter to India’s Cold Start Doctrine, which
a Pakistani LY80 radar in swarms to attack
envisages short, swift strikes into Pakistan that would
in Lahore. Other UAVs India early on; later,
avoid a nuclear escalation, Pakistan has been buying
conducted strikes Bayraktar & Akinci
and cued aircraft—by drones targeted air mostly offensive weaponry. “In contrast, India’s strategic
providing real-time bases/ installations. focus was on technological advancement and indigenous
intelligence and India’s AD system production, leading to investments in radars such as the
surveillance—thus limiting shot most down ADTCR, Ashwini and Indra (electronically scanned array
manned aircraft at risk radars), sensor processing systems, jamming devices, and
electronic warfare systems, including drone jammers as
well as counter-battery radars,” says Deshmukh. The
development of missile systems such as BrahMos
and Akash, coupled with the timely procurement of the
S-400, has provided India with a significant advantage
in non-contact warfare, he adds. Thus, Pakistan’s invest-
ment in offensive weapons lays bare its weak air defence
The first layer comprises counter drone systems like D4 and capabilities, leaving its command and control exposed.
MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defence Systems) like Igla-M and Ultimately, the conflict reaffirmed that modern war-
Igla-S, while the second layer has low-level air defence (LLAD) fare is driven by air power, not merely in terms of aircraft
guns like Bofors L-70 and ZSU-23-4 Schilka self-propelled sys- but through sensors, missiles, data networks, electronic
tem, and short-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) like Pechora, warfare and unmanned systems. “Operation Sindoor is
Tunguska and OSA-AK. The third and fourth layers have medi- a testimony to the power of a capable air force,” notes a
um- and long-range SAMs like Pechora, SPYDER, the indigenous senior defence analyst. “But no country can win future
Akash and the long-range S-400 Triumf and Barak-8 missile wars without continuous investment in modern air plat-
defence systems. India’s counter-unmanned aerial system (UAS) forms and integrated defence networks.” Despite its strong
technologies also played a major role in detecting and neutral- showing, experts argue that India must not become com-
ising Pakistani drones. This multi-layered air defence network placent. The IAF’s thinning squadron strength and the
not only protected Indian air bases, army installations, airports slow induction of next-gen air dominance fighters leave
and cities, but also protected Amritsar’s Golden Temple from a gaps that adversaries may exploit in the future. „

J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 4 1
SPECIAL REPORT BANGLADESH

THE ARMY
PUSHES BACK
THE BANGLADESH ARMY CHIEF’S CALL FOR AN EARLY ELECTION
SPARKS FRESH SPECULATION ON THE FATE OF THE PROF.
MUHAMMAD YUNUS-HEADED INTERIM GOVERNMENT
By Arkamoy Datta Majumdar

hen General Waker-uz-Zaman, chief of the It did little to clear the air. The BNP was
Bangladesh army, addressed a durbar at already on record demanding an election by

W
Senaprangan, the army central auditorium December. At the meeting with Yunus, party
in Dhaka, on May 21, speculation was rife leaders had reiterated this position and also
that he might call for the ouster of the coun- demanded the removal of three key figures
try’s ‘Chief Advisor’ Muhammad Yunus. But in his administration: National Security
that didn’t happen. Instead, Gen. Zaman Advisor Khalilur Rahman, and advisors
reportedly told senior officers that he hoped Asif Mahmud Bhuyian and Mahfuj Alam.
that by “January 1, 2026, Bangladesh will Rahman, in particular, has been in the thick
be governed by a new elected government”. of it of late, facing allegations of holding US
The statement, interpreted as a gentle ulti- citizenship, and rumours that he’s out to
matum rather than a threat, did not sit well depose Gen. Zaman—all of which he has de-
with Yunus’s interim government. nied. As for Bhuyian and Alam, both former COLD VIBES
By the evening of the next day, the pres- student activists-turned-advisors, the BNP Gen. Waker-
sure showed. Yunus reached out to former has long viewed them as conduits between uz-Zaman and
cabinet colleague Nahid Islam, one of the the government and the NCP. Prof. Yunus
faces of the July uprising last year and conve- There is also resentment over the interim at the latter’s
swearing in as
nor of the National Citizen Party (NCP), and government’s ‘reinstatement’ of some Awa-
‘Chief Advisor’
reportedly expressed a desire to step down. mi League beneficiaries. These individuals, on Aug. 8, ’24
Islam, of course, dissuaded him. Sources in accused of acts of violence and corruption
the NCP, which was born out of the student- during the Sheikh Hasina regime, were to
led protests that ousted the Awami League face inquiry or removal. Instead, their re-
regime last year, claim that Islam opened entry into the administration has invited
unofficial discussions with the Bangladesh accusations of betrayal from activists who
Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Bangladesh had helped bring down the old order. That
Jamaat-e-Islami to defuse the situation. On said, the Awami League itself has now been
May 24, Yunus convened a cabinet meeting banned, under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
to address the growing tensions between This disenchantment is mirrored with-
his administration, the army and political in the civil administration and business
parties, followed by meetings with BNP community too. Among the many sources
and Jamaat leaders. Later, Yunus’s press of frustration is the Yunus government’s
secretary Shafiqul Alam sought to calm the reform proposal, targeting the National
waters. “All political parties have expressed Board of Revenue (NBR). The plan, aimed
their faith in Yunus,” he said. “He is a man at overhauling tax assessment, auditing
of his word. Between December and June and compliance mechanisms, has met with
30 (2026), elections will be held. Dr Yunus fierce resistance from mid-level bureaucrats
will not remain [in power] after June 30.” and the influential trade bodies. Business

48 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 AFP
WAKER-UZ-ZAMAN IS A UNIQUE CASE. Corporation. The interim government
HE’S NOT TRYING TO STAGE A COUP. has resisted the move with a petition in
court arguing that all polls held under
RATHER, HE WANTS FAIR ELECTIONS, WHICH the previous Hasina regime should be
IS THE DEMAND OF MOST BANGLADESHIS. declared invalid. The standoff has now
SOUTH ASIA HAS NEVER SEEN SUCH A CASE” literally put the corporation in limbo,
with BNP protesters locking the gates
ALTAF PARVEZ, Political researcher and historian
of the Nagar Bhaban office. Meanwhile,
on the other side, government advi-
sor Bhuyian has greenlit the appoint-
ment of environmentalist Mohammad
leaders argue the reform is hasty and dent leaders had reached out to Tarique Azaz—who is alleged to have past links
punitive, while civil servants see it as Rahman, party chief Khaleda Zia’s son with the banned extremist outfit Hizb
an attempt to impose top-down control and the party’s acting chairperson, last ut-Tahrir—for the Dhaka North City
without consultation. year before they floated the NCP. “They Corporation, prompting fresh alarm.
admitted we were the most powerful Beyond elections, Gen. Zaman has
BNP-NCP Friction political force and requested us to give also taken a firm stand against several
While both BNP and the student activi- up some seats for them,” says a source. contentious policies floated by the in-
sts played a key role in the July uprising, “Our chairperson asked them to speak terim administration. These include
things have now soured between the to Mr Ahmed. But when he asked which the proposed privatisation of the Chat-
two. The NCP’s primary target has been seats they wanted, they named 12 but togram Port and plans to establish an
BNP veteran and former minister Sala- wanted nearly 100.” aid corridor to the conflict-hit Rakhine
huddin Ahmed for his “rigid” stand; Tensions escalated further over the region of Myanmar. At the durbar, the
he is even accused of being an “Indian appointment of BNP leader Ishraque army chief reportedly said, “Corridor,
agent”. BNP insiders say the rebel stu- Hossain as mayor of Dhaka South City ports and other policy-related decisions

J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 49

SPECIAL REPORT BANGLADESH

will be taken by a political [read elect- which, according to reports, doubled

ed] government.” Sources say he was
particularly incensed about “foreign
GENERAL up as recr uitment drives for the
extremists. The Islamists got a shot
actors” attempting to influence sensi- DRAWS THE LINE in the arm when, on May 27, the
tive national decisions—an apparent Bangladesh Supreme Court acquitted
jab at NSA Rahman. Ô Declares that Bangladesh Jamaat leader A.T.M. Azharul Islam,
must have a newly elected
This isn’t the first time national a death row convict charged with
government in place by
sovereignty has entered the spotlight. crimes against humanity during the
January 1, 2026
Even before her ouster, Sheikh Hasina 1971 Liberation War. The verdict
had alleged that “a nation of white in- has sparked outrage among the pro-
Ô Opposes interim govern-
dividuals” was pressuring her to cede liberation and other political forces.
ment’s plans to privatise
control of the St. Martin’s Island area,
Chattogram port, establish a

M
a charge she has been repeating in Myanmar aid corridor; insists eanwhile, India has also
her voice messages to party loyalists, such decisions must be taken been making strategic
claiming that Yunus was “trying to sell by an elected regime moves, widely seen as
off the country”. a response to Dhaka’s
Ô Warns against “foreign growing proximity to China and Paki-
A Tense Standoff influence” on national policy- stan. On May 17, it redirected all land
Zaman and Yunus have been circling making, indirectly criticising route imports from Bangladesh—worth
each other since the latter took over. The advisors like Khalilur Rahman $770 million annually—through sea-
army chief was appointed on June 23 ports, effectively pricing them out of its
last year, just weeks before the uprising. Ô Signals disapproval of ris- border markets. For Dhaka, the impact
To top it off, he is married to a distant ing Islamist influence, flags may be severe: small exporters relying
cousin of Hasina’s. Many believe Yunus controversial appointments on cheap, fast land routes to India’s
has tried to neutralise the general’s influ- linked to extremist networks eastern states now face delays and high-
ence by elevating Rahman from ‘high er costs. The message is clear—India
representative’ to NSA. As a govern- will weaponise trade to assert its strate-
ment source notes, “Gen. Zaman has gic priorities and signal that market ac-
been firm in thwarting a probe into the cess hinges on political alignment. On
military’s activities. Yunus was hoping to thing big. People here have accepted the other side, Yunus is also amplifying
bring him under scrutiny via Rahman.” that, for some time, we will have a pe- the bad neighbour narrative, alleging
Yet Zaman’s cautious handling of the riod of uncertainty.” an ‘Indian conspiracy’ to destablilise
political transition has won him some his government at a meeting with the
respect. His critics, though, point to Islamist Undercurrents political party Nagorik Oikya.
how he refrained from stopping the vio- Indian observers have seized upon Even the ousted Awami League
lence and, indeed, detaining the Hasina these developments across the border. appears to be recalibrating. Speaking
leadership. A source close to the general, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, former am- from an undisclosed location, party
though, justifies the actions. “By allow- bassador to Bangladesh, says, “Today, general secretary Obaidul Quader says,
ing safe passage to Hasina, he helped through the guise of a students’ move- “I do not want to blame the army or the
prevent bloodshed. Neither were people ment, Islamists have come to power in army chief…let us look forward.” He
murdered on the streets nor was Hasina Dhaka. Prof. Yunus is the face, but the refused to call Zaman a traitor unlike
attacked by the mob,” he points out. real force is an Islamist agenda hostile many of his colleagues and believes
Mainstream politicians—including to India’s security.” the current turmoil may turn out to be
from the BNP—are also appreciative Recent intelligence assessments “a blessing in disguise for the Awami
of his call for timely polls. As political support this view. A core group of League and the people of Bangladesh”.
researcher and historian Altaf Parvez Isl amist extremists are reportedly Whether the Yunus administration
put it, “Waker-uz-Zaman is a unique operating out of Dhaka, with active holds credible elections and step aside by
case. He’s not trying to stage a coup. links to Hizb ut-Tahrir, Islamic State December 2025 is debatable. But with
Rather, he wants fair elections, which and the Ansarullah Bangla Team. the military drawing clear red lines, re-
is the demand of most Bangladeshis. I Repor ts say they organise street surgent Islamists pushing their agenda,
don’t think South Asia has [ever] seen protests under the Towhidi Janata political stakeholders growing restless,
such a case.” But he does add a note of banner and orchestrate blockades and cracks emerging within civil insti-
caution. “This is a crucial time for the targeting police stations and prisons. tutions and the economy, Bangladesh’s
people of this country, he says. “Any Over 50 public religious seminars future remains in ferment—calm on the
small incident can snowball into some- have been held in the past six months, surface, but pregnant with peril. „

50 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 Sikkim CM
Prem Singh
Tamang

HIGH ON
AMBITION
THE SIKKIM@50 CONCLAVE REFLECTS ON THE
STATE’S TRANSFORMATION AND ITS FUTURE

Photograph by ARUN KUMAR

POLICY TALK
Tamang in conversation
with Raj Chengappa and
Arkamoy Datta Majumdar

A SMALL
STATE WITH
BIG VISION
The Sikkim@50 conclave showcased the Himalayan state’s transformative
journey, bold ambitions and its model of sustainable, inclusive development
Photographs by ARUN KUMAR
 PREM SINGH TAMANG
Chief Minister, Sikkim

Our GDP is Rs 52,555 crore; our

per capita income is the highest in India.
With the blessings of the Indian government,
we’ll do a lot more work, so that Sikkim sets
an example of how even a small state can
achieve greatness ”

“ Now our literacy rate is over 90 per cent.

We want to become a fully literate state
by 2027.... Our vision is to establish one
university in every constituency so that our
students do not have to go outside the state.
We aim to create an ecosystem where they
get world-class education at home ”

“ We are fourth in terms of poverty

alleviation. We will work to make Sikkim
poverty-free.... We want to continue as
a model for environmental protection,
inclusive growth and innovation

ment. He cited the transfer of the tion. His flagship ‘One Family, One

T
Sevoke-Rangpo stretch of the NH-10 Entrepreneur’ scheme has disbursed
from West Bengal to the central Rs 240 crore in collateral-free loans
authority and upcoming railway con- to over 25,000 applicants, fostering
nectivity by 2026 as transformative grassroots enterprise. Environmental
for trade and tourism. stewardship remains core to Sik-
On health, he shared that dialysis kim’s identity. The ‘Mero Rukh, Mero
The INDIA TODAY State of the States— services have now reached every Santati’ (My Tree, My Family) scheme
Sikkim@50 conclave, held in New district hospital, cancer treatment has links afforestation with financial
Delhi on May 22, marked 50 years begun in the state, and a new 500-bed security for newborns.
since the Himalayan state’s accession referral hospital is set to be inaugurat- The conclave also featured in-
to the Indian Union. Addressing the ed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi sights on strategic policy, sustainable
gathering, Chief Minister Prem Singh on May 29. Education, aligned early development and Sikkim’s vision for
Tamang—re-elected with a near-total with the National Education Policy, 2047. From women changemakers to
mandate last year—hailed the mo- is also central. The state already has educationists, from MPs, ministers
ment as historic not just for Sikkim, a literacy rate exceeding 90 per cent, and top officials to entrepreneurs and
but for the nation. and the government aims for univer- football icon Bhaichung Bhutia, the
Tamang outlined three core gov- sal literacy by 2027. Tamang also en- event showcased a 50-year-young state
ernance priorities: national security, visions at least one university in every determined to scale new heights.
connectivity and human develop- constituency to stem youth migra- —ARKAMOY DATTA MAJUMDAR

To watch the full session,

scan the QR code
 SIKKIM: A
STRATEGIC VANTAGE
POINT FOR INDIA
BUSINESS:

HARSH VARDHAN
SHRINGLA
Former Foreign Secretary

Sikkim is your sentinel

in the Himalayas…so
strategically important for
maintaining connectivity
between mainland India
and the northeast”

M. RAVI KUMAR DR KAJAL, Director,

Director, MSME, Commerce & Department of Promotion of
Industries Department, Sikkim Industry and Internal Trade, GoI

We are targeting Under Unnati scheme,

around 30,000 MSMEs we have proposed an
by 2030...working outlay of Rs 10,000 crore;
in multiple sectors. for Sikkim, it is Rs 514
Emerging sectors like 3D crore...it can really change
printing and animation the shape of Sikkim in the
are also coming up” coming times”
RAJWANT RAWAT

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
SIKKIM: A BIRD’S EYE VIEW

D.T. LEPCHA, Rajya Sabha MP, Sikkim

The way the Union government
Infrastructure develop- is overseeing Sikkim’s develop-
ment is linked to Sikkim’s ment since 2014, the state will
strategic importance— become a model for other states”
the state has seen huge
investments in roads,
railways...airfields and
supply lines from the rest
of India. Sikkim has greatly
benefited from this”

The great power game INDRA HANG SUBBA SANDEEP TAMBE, Principal
is playing out right at our Lok Sabha MP, Sikkim Secretary, Science & Tech., Sikkim
doorstep, and nothing is We aspire to create good Sikkim is a pioneer in
certain…so we must be leaders who will not only assessing and mitigating
agile and focus first on follow us but outdo us in the risks of glacial lakes in
getting our immediate every aspect. This is how the Himalayas…. Others are
neighbourhood right” we grow as a society” learning from our model”
CRAFTING ENTERPRISE IN THE HIMALAYAS

RAJ LAMA, Chief Coordinator, REWAJ CHETTRI, Founder, VIPUL GUPTA, Vice President & Head,
Sikkim Entrepreneurship & NE Taxi; OSD to CM for Skill Corporate Affairs & Policy, Cipla
Economic Development Cell Development & Entrepreneurship
Compared to other
Till now, no firm from In 2021, our company states, Sikkim offers a very
Sikkim has been listed on raised private equity from friendly environment where
national exchanges.... If northeast venture funds. problems can be quickly
we can attract just 10% By 2030, Sikkim could resolved. Improvements
of the [funds] invested in have 100 start-ups raising in transportation and road
start-ups nationally, that money and significantly infrastructure have
would be transformative” growing the ecosystem” boosted the industry”

TOURISM: SIKKIM’S GLOBAL MODEL

KARMA T. BHUTIA
C.S. RAO
MD, Tashiling Residency,
Additional Chief
Hotel & Spa, Gangtok,
Secretary, Tourism,
and Marcopolo World
Sikkim
Travels; Advisor, Travel
NH-10 is Agents Association
undergoing of Sikkim
final develop-
I’ve divided
ment...once
it is fully tourism into four
functional, As—Attraction,
Sikkim can Amenities,
comfortably SRADHA SHARMA, Founder & Director, Accessibility,
handle annual Skipping Stones Private Limited (SSPL) and Atithi
targets of The journey of the tourism industry in [Guest]...and as
2–3 million Sikkim has spanned over four decades, etched we get into the
tourists. This with hard work, blood and sweat…. Today, we next 50 years,
is a dream are poised to push this further and put a target what I see is a
destination” of about 20 per cent [of the GDP]” Golden Sikkim”

J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 57

 INSIGHT: EMPOWERING VOICES OF SIKKIM

RAJ KUMARI ANNAPURNA RINZING CHODEN SERNYA PALMO MANITA

THAPA, Deputy ALLEY, IPR BHUTIA, CEO & Founder, Palmo PRADHAN
Speaker, Sikkim Secretary, Sikkim Founder, Agapi Sikkim Handicrafts Mountaineer

In Sikkim, We have Digital The younger There is no

50% of the HoDs 1,333 women transformation generation is gender in the
are women... and 2,021 men has given taking a very mountains.
50% reservation in gazetted entrepreneurs active role in Whether you are
for women posts…that’s access to global promoting and male or female,
even in police truly a role markets at very preserving our you have equal
recruitment” model ” minimal cost” heritage” capability to go up”

FUTURE: SIKKIM@47 SIKKIM’S

SPORTING SPIRIT
Citizen participation We must ensure
is essential for a thriving that the benefits of

RAJWANT RAWAT
democracy.... Transparency development reach
and accountability have even the most remote
strengthened trust” corners of the state”
YOUGAN GAMANG BIKASH BASNET
Press Secretary to CM Political Secretary to CM

BHAICHUNG BHUTIA
Footballer

Football is like a
festival in Sikkim… the
problem is, after it ends,
nothing happens for the
MINGMA NORBU SHERPA PROF. MAHENDRA P. LAMA rest of the year”
Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Development economist; Founding
Assembly Vice-Chancellor, Sikkim University
Sikkim is green and
Good governance Unless connectivity beautiful—we can’t
means delivering on improves, Sikkim cannot spoil it in the name of
promises and ensuring fully realise its potential or development. We need
inclusive growth for all contribute meaningfully sustainable development
sections of society” to India’s 2047 vision” that protects forests and
our cultural identity”
58 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 SPOTLIGHT: EDUCATION IN THE HIMALAYAN FOOTHILLS

RAJU BASNET SONY VIRDI, Founder, Zion PROF. ASHIS SHARMA

Minister of Education, Sikkim Education Trust, and Chairman, Vice-Chancellor, Khangchendzonga
CII, Sikkim State Council State University, Gangtok
We used to send
children from humble Let’s think about the year [Under] the Chief
backgrounds to affluent 2045.... If our children are Minister Internship
schools outside Sikkim, not technologically driven, Scheme, graduates
but their integration was they will be left behind. are given hands-on
difficult. That’s why our CM Government jobs may not experience.... Colleges
started our own residential exist by then—they must be and universities are also
model school—fully free” market-ready” following the scheme”

GREEN GOVERNANCE: SIKKIM’S GLOBAL STANDARD IN

ORGANIC FARMING AND SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY

PRADEEP KUMAR BUDHA HANG

Forest Secretary, Sikkim SUBBA, Progressive
kiwi cultivator
Sikkim is an
example for the Kiwi is the
entire country— king of fruits—
not only how to go full of vitamins
organic, but how and potassium....
to stay organic...it The challenge is
has also managed marketing. That
to increase its is the gap we
forest cover” need to fill”

DR S. ANBALAGAN SWAPAN MEHRA

CEO, Sikkim Founder & CEO, IORA
Organic Farming Ecological Solutions
Development Agency
Sikkim can
We’ve shifted earn over Rs 150–
from production- 200 cr. annually
side policies to through carbon
marketing…linking and biodiversity
producers to buyers credit markets just
and ensuring fair for maintaining its
price discovery ” ecosystems”

60 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 LE!SURE
DOCUMENTARY: CHASING WINGS PG 66 THE LISTICLE: ART & PHOTO EXHIBITIONS PG 69

CINEM A

MUTED
MASTERPIECE
FILMMAKER DIBAKAR
BANERJEE TALKS ABOUT HIS
YET-UNRELEASED FILM TEES

A DISTINCT
OEUVRE
Banerjee has
been making
Hindi movies
for nearly two
decades
Photograph by BANDEEP SINGH
LE!SURE

SPANNING
GENERATIONS
Naseeruddin
Shah in a still
from Tees

had all the makings of a tri-

umph—an acclaimed director, a
powerhouse cast, and a standing
ovation at the film’s first Indian
screening at the Dharamshala
International Film Festival
(DIFF) last year. Dibakar
Banerjee’s Tees drew cinephiles

nes, Tees
from across the country. Yet, the
celebration carried the weight of
if ferent timeli
Across threesdprotagonists grapple with
heartbreak. In 2023, Netflix—
the platform that had commis-
sioned Tees in 2019 and to whom
unfolds as it e and systemic excision
identity, voicingly dystopian India
Banerjee delivered it in 2022—
had quietly pulled the plug on its
release, effectively locking away a
film that deserved to be seen.
in an increas
Led by Naseeruddin Shah,
Manisha Koirala, Huma
Qureshi, Shashank Arora, Zoya TODAY. Otherwise, unplayed, sitting Banerjee has been making Hindi
Hussain and Divya Dutta in on a hard drive, the film is as good as movies for nearly two decades—boast-
pivotal roles, the 55-year-old extinct. “In such a situation, an audi- ing an oeuvre that is both distinct and
filmmaker’s triptych of stories ence connecting deeply with the film is impossible to replicate. He debuted
follows three generations of a gratifying and saddening. You love the with Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006), a
Kashmiri Muslim family. Across fact that it moves someone but rue the sharp satire about middle-class aspira-
three different timelines—po- fact that it can’t move more.” tions; helmed Love Sex Aur Dhokha
litical unrest in 1989 Srinagar, To explore Tees’s complex themes— (2010), a found-footage style anthol-
communal violence in 2030 and rising communalism, generational ogy; and went on to direct a segment
censorship in 2043—Tees un- trauma and queer marginalisation in Netflix-backed anthologies Bombay
folds as its protagonists grapple under a surveillance state—Banerjee, Talkies (2013) and Lust Stories (2018).
with their identity, voice and who co-wrote, directed and produced In many ways, the expansive ambition
systemic excision in an increas- the film, pulled from both the personal of Tees was meant to be a culmination
ingly dystopian India. and the political. This included memo- of Banerjee’s evolution as a filmmaker.
With the film’s commer- ries from his childhood and neighbour- But with Tees buried, he became the
cial release in limbo, Banerjee hood, Indian television epics like Hum very figure his film mourns: an artist
spent the months since its DIFF Log and Buniyaad, Ashapurna Devi’s muted by the system.
premiere hosting private, non- Prothom Protishruti trilogy and Robert In between, the filmmaker kept
ticketed screenings across India. Harris’s speculative historical novel busy, directing a short film and releas-
Yet, it’s not something he has Fatherland, which he claims influenced ing a potent sequel to Love Sex Aur
done by choice. “The screenings him “subconsciously”. But the film’s ur- Dhokha. Yet, Banerjee still found him-
are a way of generating commer- gency came from the filmmaker watch- self grappling with waves of anger and
cial and critical interest in the ing young couples, especially Muslims, frustration. Navigating the emotional
hope that somehow Tees lives by trying to rent a flat in Mumbai and toll of the film’s shelving while continu-
being seen,” Banerjee tells INDIA from the murder of Gauri Lankesh. ing to move forward as a filmmaker was

64 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 CINEM A

Healing in the
Himalayas
a “gradual” process—one SUBHADRA MAHAJAN’S B&W FEATURE—SECOND
CHANCE—IS FINALLY HITTING INDIAN THEATRES
he credits to therapy and a
drive for inventive solutions.

B
“Choosing your workmates attling the like Mumbai, Delhi, in full colour in every
well is virtually half the trauma of an Bengaluru, Pune and season. As somebody
battle won,” adds Banerjee. illicit abortion, Kochi, and expanding born and raised there,
The disappearance of a woman retreats into in subsequent weeks. and I do a bit of pho-
Tees may be best under- the cold white of her Bora says, “We used tography, I noticed
stood in the context of the Himalayan hometown a similar model for that this particular
controversy that sur- in Subhadra Mahajan’s Anamika Haksar’s valley in the winter is
rounded Tandav (2021), poetic feature debut Sundance winner really beautiful.”
Second Chance. Ghode Ko Jalebi As inspirations,
the Prime Video series that
It has been doing Khilane Le Ja Riya Mahajan credits
drew right-wing ire for its the rounds of festi- Hoon, which had a suc- Iranian New Wave
portrayal of dissent and vals since last year. cessful run for 56 days filmmakers Majid
religious imagery. Despite Starring newcomers in Indian theatres.” Majidi and Abbas
edits, legal cases mounted, and non-actors, and Second Chance Kiarostami, particu-
and fear took hold. It sent a shot entirely in black was shot in January larly their use of non-
clear warning to streamers, and white, Mahajan’s and February of 2022 actors. While lead
who became increasingly microbudget film is in Himachal Pradesh’s actor Dheera Johnson
cautious about supporting having an unlikely the- Naggar and Lahaul. is a newcomer, Thakri
projects that might provoke atrical release across The opening scene Devi and Kanav Thakur
India on June 13. was shot when the are non-actor locals.
similar backlash. In such
“It was a dream temperature was Mahajan also took
a fragile climate, films like
that this could be -20°C. Battling the bit- inspiration from Ansel
Tees have arguably become seen in theatres,” says ing winter was a small Adams’s B&W pho-
collateral damage. Mahajan. “Something 12-person crew, plus tography and Andrea
According to Banerjee, like this could be three actors and three Arnold’s films such as
filmmaking is an expensive released in European drivers. American Honey and
art form that demands countries perhaps, About shooting Fish Tank, which have
“mediated investment” but Second Chance the film in black and “imperfect, young,
but which become an easy getting an Indian the- white, Mahajan says female protagonists”.
target because of its ability atrical release is all that is how she envi- “Black and white
to reach out to a massive because of distributor sioned it while writing. should not be consid-
Shiladitya Bora.” “The central protago- ered a limitation,” she
audience. Suppressing art
Bora’s resume nist is finding light at says. “There are million
that focuses on truth-telling, includes backing bold the end of a very long shades of greyness
questioning and challenging works such as Masaan and dark tunnel,” the and monotone that are
narratives is a surefire way and Newton. Second Shimla-born filmmaker the entire spectrum of
to condition audiences in Chance will first explains. “We always life in a way.” „
the practice of distraction. release in key cities see the Himalayas —Devarsi Ghosh
“A generation growing up
on moving images can be
better controlled if cruelty, A NEW WAVE
Shot in Himachal
misogyny and empty spec- Pradesh, the film
tacle are provided through stars newcomers
films regularly,” he argues. and non-actors
Simply by existing, Tees
defies that conditioning.
Invisibilising it makes clear
exactly which stories are un-
welcome in India today. And
yet, its disappearance has
only amplified the urgency
of what it had to say. ■
—Poulomi Das
LE!SURE

Chasing
NATURE

Wings
A new documentary puts the spotlight
on the remarkable life and work of Isaac
Kehimkar, the ‘Butterfly Man of India’

he Dutch butterflies, and me using

documentary butterflies to make people
filmmakers fall in love with nature,”
Sem Jones says Kehimkar. What was
and Dennis special, he observes, was
Van Ooijen that they had him record
were busy filming in Ma- his commentary in Marathi
harashtra last year. Their and have used it as is with
documentary, The Butterfly English subtitles.
Man of India, which is al- Growing up in a cottage
most ready to hit the festival in Govandi, a suburb of
circuit now, centres around Mumbai, in a time before
Isaac David Kehimkar, one TV or the internet had
of the country’s premier taken over people’s lives, Kehimkar started clicking
experts on lepidoptera, Kehimkar had a childhood Poster of The his cats, which started him
especially butterflies. After rich in pets, and plenty of Butterfly on the path of photograph-
a lot of to and fro online, pictorial books on Ameri- Man; (right) ing nature. This love for
Kehimkar’s
the duo landed in Mumbai can birds and African definitive field
nature later translated
and headed to the hills of animals. When his dad guide, Butterflies into his volunteering at an
Karjat where he lives. “The gifted him a camera in of India exhibition of snakes for the
film is about me and the the eighth grade, Bombay Natural History

I
t was the pre-quarterfinal SPORTS
at the WTT Star Contender
Chennai in March and in-
stead of celebrating his win
Snehit Suravajjula simply
PADDLE TIME
stepped aside after the match. It The new guard of Indian table
was a moment to cherish for his tennis is making its presence felt
defeated opponent, celebrated
Indian paddler Achanta Sharath
Kamal, as he called time on his him in his final tournament. I’ve grown up
glorious two-decade-long ca- watching Sharath anna, trained with him
reer. When they later teamed and reached out to him with all kinds of
up in the doubles to make the questions,” says Suravajjula.
semi-final, it was symbolic of the The tournament marked a transition
past and present of Indian table of sorts, the new guard making their pres-
tennis coming together for an ence felt. Suravajjula, who recently broke
encore. “It was an honour to play into the top 100 of the world, reached the
against him as well as partner quarterfinal. India’s highest ranked play-
 Q A

“BANU WRITES IN A
LANGUAGE OF THE PEOPLE”
Deepa Bhasthi on hand for yourself.
Society (BNHS), which then and Butterflies of India. translating Banu
Mushtaq’s Heart Q. Mushtaq’s protag-
led to an offer for a full-time It was Bittu Sahgal,
Lamp, which won the onists are often older
job there. “There I was, right editor of Sanctuary Asia 2025 International women re-evaluating
amidst a treasure of books as magazine, who got him writ- Booker Prize their lives. Is it fair to
a library assistant! I was lap- ing about butterflies. “While say redemption is a
ping up as much as I could working on the story of the Q. You’ve spoken major theme of Heart
from the library and watch- butterfly lifecycle, I became about how Banu Lamp?
ing people like celebrated fascinated with them and, Mushtaq’s Kannada That’s a nice way to put
ornithologist Dr Salim Ali then onwards, butterflies has generous doses it. These women, in their
at work when he visited took over my life,” he says. of other languages: 40s or 50s, are really
BNHS,” he recalls. “Working Today, as co-founder and Hindi, Urdu, Dakhni growing into their skins.
with the BNHS for 38 years et al. As a translator, They finally understand
director of the iNaturewatch
how did it affect your what they want and why,
Foundation, Kehimkar
work? what are the things/peo-
works on improving urban
Actually, it was easier for ple holding them back.
biodiversity and encouraging
me, because the Kan-
‘citizen science’. “Butterflies
nada that Banu writes Q. Your win will
are closely linked to the plant in is a language of the inevitably put the
people, of the streets. It spotlight on Kannada
“THE FILM IS follows the rhythms of literature...what will
actual speech...a living,
ABOUT ME USING breathing language that
new readers discover
about this world?
BUTTERFLIES TO you get to observe first- Like a lot of Indian lan-
MAKE PEOPLE FALL IN guages, Kannada has an
LOVE WITH NATURE,” extremely wide range of
SAYS KEHIMKAR genres and styles, includ-
ing a lot of experimental
writing as well. I hope
until I retired as the deputy population. It’s important new readers arrive at
director (Natural History), I to have areas left as wild that kind of writing,
got the opportunity to travel patches for butterflies to eventually—novels
to some of the places of my flourish. Even the establish- and short stories that
dreams,” shares the author ing of more open-air gardens break new ground in
of six books, including the would help the city’s butterfly terms of both form
definitive field guides, Com- population,” he points out. ■ and content.
mon Indian Wild Flowers —Priya Pathiyan —with Aditya
Mani Jha
AFP

er, Manav Thakkar made a deep run into Thakkar, Shah and Suravajjula have
the semis, the first Indian male paddler known each other since their junior days
to achieve the feat at a Star Contender and have been mentored by Achanta
tournament. By the end of the week, at different moments of their careers.
he achieved his career-best ranking of The trio has also been gaining vital expo-
World No. 47, the mark of a rapidly im- sure on the European club circuit—while
proving player, who is also the World Suravajjula plays in Austria, Thakkar and
No. 10 in doubles alongside his partner, Shah ply their trade in France and the
Manush Shah. “I was struggling in the Czech Republic, respectively. “Manav
initial matches. and I train independently, but we’ve
But over the last been playing together since our under-15
THE SIDESPIN few months, I’ve days,” says Shah, who was crowned na-
Suravajjula in been working tional champion in January. “If one of us
action at a WTT on my mental beats a top player, it motivates the oth-
event; (extreme preparations, for ers also, pushes them to target similar
left) Thakkar days when I’m results,” adds Suravajjula. „
celebrates a win not at my best,”
says Thakkar. —Shail Desai
AFP
LE!SURE

COLONIAL WRAP
Some pre-indepe-
ndence paper
labels with trade-
marks advertising
British textiles

A DV ERTISING

What’s in
a Label?
COLONIAL-ERA
ADVERTISEMENTS COME
ALIVE IN TICKET TIKA CHAAP,
AN EXHIBITION OF TEXTILE
LABELS AT MAP BENGALURU

A
woman in a gown rid-
ing a chariot pulled by
four tigers. A king and
queen perched on a
globe surrounded by horsemen. Two
elephants engaged in a tug of war. If EACH PAPER LABEL HAS A TRADEMARK, AND REFLECTS
you are wondering what they have in LEGENDS, BELIEFS AND TRADITIONS. THE CORE IS ABOUT
common—well, these are all chro- ADVERTISEMENT AND SHOWS THE APPEAL OF THE IMAGES
molithograph prints of textile labels
from the late 19th to the early 20th
century. On display as part of the ex-
hibition Ticket Tika Chaap at MAP
Bengaluru, these paper labels are chromolithography that allowed modernity,” says Maurya.
incredibly rich, detailed, colourful, mass printing,” explains Maurya. The images reflect legends, be-
and yet relatively forgotten. The la- Each of these paper labels is a liefs and traditions and show in-
bels were stuck on yardages of cloth trademark and has a striking image spiration, imitation and appropri-
that came to India from Britain. at the centre, a border space that ation. This exhibition tells a story
MAP houses a collection of over has the name of the selling agent of a world poised at the precipice
7,000 textile labels, and 300 have and their locations. The wide range of something new and the story
been selected for the show after two of imagery on these labels were of what inspired and appealed to
years of curatorial research by Na- chosen to appeal to the customer. people, making the labels invalu-
thaniel Gaskell and Shrey Maurya. Impeccably designed, the core is able markers of that time. ■
“Manchester was the centre of this about advertisement. “You appeal —Bindu Gopal Rao
industrial mill revolution, and these to people’s sense of devotion, their On until November. 2, at MAP
labels came post the passing of the desire for a beautiful woman or Bengaluru, Citi Gallery, Third
trademark act and the invention of man, to have a laugh, or feel part of Floor, Kasturba Road

68 INDIA TODAY J U N E 9, 2 02 5
 DELHI AHMEDABAD
Pleasing NATURE OF
Patchwork MAN
THE On view at C urated by art historian Uma
Nair, Purusha Prakriti is a

LISTICLE HUMAYUN
TOMB WORLD
HERITAGE
group show of 40 artists—from
modern masters to installa-
tion artists—on the interplay
Art and photography SITE MUSEUM
exhibitions to look out till August 30
of nature and the human form.
for this month Highlights include a dedication
to Himmat Shah; sculptures
by Dhananjay Singh and Jesús
Curia; a centenary celebration
n display currently at the of K.G. Subramanyan; works

O Humayun Tomb World

Heritage Site Museum are
five Roman Mosaics—for the first
by Jyoti Bhatt and Bhajju
Shyam; and Ankon Mitra’s ori-
gami butterflies.
time in India. Presented by the
Italian Embassy Cultural Centre, the
2,000-year-old mosaics are from
the Capitoline Museum in Rome.
Accompanying them is MOSAICO:
Italian Code of a Timeless Art, an
exhibition that takes visitors on a
journey through over 2,000 years of
Italian mosaic craftsmanship, spot- On view at BESPOKE ART
lighting iconic sites. GALLERY till June 10

DELHI
GLIMPSES OF MAXIMUM CITY
On view at ART EXPOSURE,
16/2, Lake Terrace, Kolkata-700029
J halak, Shahid Datawala’s exhibition of photographs at
Gallery Espace, explores the architecture and street life
of Mumbai, which he has been chronicling since the 1990s.
till June 15
The body of work on display is much more recent and show-
cases a year’s worth of shooting. An exploration of intimacy,
KOLKATA Jhalak offers thought-provoking pairings of images—“an ice
TRYST WITH cream cone juxtaposed with a shawarma spit…an earlobe
placed next to a hand holding a red rose, and such like”.
MODERNITY On view at GALLERY ESPACE till June 15

rt Exposure’s Indian Mod-

A ern Art: Evolution of Narra-

tives brings together a
wide-ranging assembly of artists whose
works trace the shifting contours of
modern Indian art. It covers a broad
swathe—from the early 20th-century
revivalists in Bengal to the late-century
modernists. The selection is anchored
in movements like the Bengal School
and extending to the radical mod-
ernism of the Bombay Progressives,
featuring works by Gaganendranath
Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Amrita Sher-
Gil, Ramkinkar Baij, F.N. Souza as well
as Arpita Singh, Jogen Chowdhury,
Bhupen Khakhar and Manjit Bawa.

—Compiled by Amit Dixit

J U N E 9, 2 02 5 INDIA TODAY 6 9
Q A Q. You
recently won the

STILL
women’s final at the Na-
Thirty-eight-year-old squash champion tional Doubles Champion-
Joshna Chinappa’s win at the National ships alongside Anahat Singh.
Doubles Championships shows Do you have a long-term plan with
she’s still in fine form this pairing?
Anahat and I were casually discuss-

SMASHING ing the doubles and decided to play

together. We will be playing the
Asian Doubles Championships in
Malaysia in June. She is a solid
player, so it makes it easier
and more fun.

Q.
How have you
modified your game
with age?
I have a deep appreciation and
respect for my body and what
it has done over the past three
decades for me to be able to play
squash professionally. I definitely
have to put in more work in terms
of how I prepare for a
game with my strength
training, fitness,
diet, etc.

Q.
You’ve been
playing squash for
three decades now. How
has the game evolved over
the years?
The game has definitely gotten a
lot more intense physically and you
have so many different players
with amazing skill to add to that
physicality. There are so many
tournaments happening all
around the world and
in India.

Q.
What do you
make of the next gen-
eration of Indian players?
There are a good crop of young
players doing well at the junior
and professional level. It’s so good
to see about 6-7 of them playing
the big PSA events consistently.
I hope more juniors make the
switch to go pro because
that’s where the real
test is.

—with Shail Desai

70 Volume 50-Number 23; For the week June 3-9, 2025, published on every Friday Total number of pages 72 (including cover pages)
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LIFE

MAY 2025

RETAIL
THE INDIA
DEBUT OF
MAYBACH’S

THE of
LIFESTYLE ARM

Food & INTERVIEW

Drink
Special TOMMY HILFIGER
ON THE LABEL’S
40TH ANNIVERSARY

TECH

ART
HOW TO DECK OUT
YOUR MAN CAVE

INDULGENCE
A Spirited Tour of Taste Treasures
 LETTER FROM
THE EDITOR-
IN-CHIEF

It was pure happenstance that one of the most glittering milestones

for Indian gastronomy was being celebrated on a global stage, even as
Spice’s Food and Drink issue went to press. Tresind Studio in Dubai
made culinary history by becoming the first-ever Indian restaurant
to be awarded three Michelin stars, in the Michelin Guide Dubai
2025. The restaurant, helmed by chef Himanshu Saini, shares this
prestigious honour with only a handful of restaurants globally. While chef
Himanshu’s reimagined nostalgic flavours represent a deeply personal
and immersive culinary journey, Spice begins its gourmet tour from
the other side of the world, in Girona Spain. Here, the Roca brothers
flagship restaurant, El Celler de Can Roca, in Girona not only boasts three
Michelin stars, but has topped the World’s 50 Best list twice.
Their latest attraction is Esperit Roca—a 19th-century restored
fortress turned majestic countryside retreat just 20 minutes outside
Girona. Perched atop the St Julia Mountain, it offers a 15-room hotel,
an exciting exhibition space, a distillery for the finest spirits, a wine
cellar with over 80,000 bottles and a fresh culinary gem of a restaurant,
which has already won a Michelin star. Almost every room of the hotel
opens onto a private garden, complete with an L-shaped swimming pool
surrounded by sun loungers, perfect for soaking in the Spanish sun, and
enjoying a whisky cocktail.
If the idea of whisky in summer sounds anomalous, just step into any
bar this season, and you’ll find that the rules of engagement have changed.
The brown spirit seems to have broken free of the confines of wintery ice
to celebrate reinvention and a dash of playful rebellion with tropical fruits,
garden herbs, crisp citrus, and even savoury twists thrown into the mix.
But it isn’t just whisky that is rewriting this simple narrative of seasons
and trends, beer is also on a colonising spree, with new-age brewers
challenging the status quo to infuse more flavours, producing daring
combinations such as a coffee-infused Weizenbock, a Belgian Dubbel
matured in ex-rum casks or an Imperial Stout aged in ex-whisky casks.
However, if whisky or beer isn’t your passion of choice, the elegant
Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in Switzerland brings the ultimate wine-dine
experience for the devoted oenophile with a paired dinner inside its
storied champagne bar, Krug Stübli. Once the garden house of Hans
Badrutt, Krug Stübli is now a cosy chalet, which can be booked for
exclusive dinners and tastings, allowing you to tailor your evening with an
expansive selection from 11 diverse restaurants.
While satiety may be tethered to food, the broader universe of
indulgence is a bit more diverse. For style tips, Spice found time for a tête- Esperit Roca offers a 15-room
à-tête with Tommy Hilfiger, fashion designer and icon of American prep. hotel, its own distillery and a
Michelin-starred restaurant (Top);
On the brand’s milestone 40thanniversary, he shares his inspiration, the
American fashion designer,
Indian connection, and why he believes logos will never go out of style. Tommy Hilfiger (Above)
For that rugged swagger of individualism, the legendary German brand
Maybach Icons of Luxury makes its India debut in Bengaluru with the
Mercedes-Maybach SL Monogram Series accessories. Eyewear using real
diamonds, specifically created for the Indian market, may also be on the
cards soon. Read on for more summer sparklers!
(Aroon Purie)

2 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

SPICE CONTENTS MAY 2025

Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Aroon Purie

Vice Chairperson and Executive Editor-in-Chief
Kalli Purie
Group Chief Executive Officer Dinesh Bhatia
Group Editorial Director Raj Chengappa
Chief Executive Officer Manoj Sharma
Group Creative Editor Nilanjan Das
Group Photo Editor Bandeep Singh
Deputy Editor Chumki Bharadwaj
Creative Editor Sanjay Piplani
Senior Art Director Angshuman De
Deputy Visual Research Editor Prabhakar Tiwari
Principal Photo Researcher Saloni Vaid
Production Harish Aggarwal (Chief of Production),
Naveen Gupta

IMPACT TEAM
General Manager Suman Sharma
Head Luxury North and East Sweta Kapoor

Group Chief Marketing Officer

Vivek Malhotra

Volume 21 Number 4; May 2025

Copyright Living Media India Ltd. All rights reserved throughout
the world. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited.
Printed and published by Manoj Sharma on behalf of
Living Media India Limited. Printed at Thomson Press
24
India Limited, 18-35 Milestone, Delhi Mathura Road,
Faridabad-121007, (Haryana). Indulgence
Published at F-26, First Floor, Connaught Place,
New Delhi-110001.
Editorial/Corporate Office: Living Media India Ltd., India Today A 19th-century restored fortress near
Group Mediaplex, FC-8, Sector-16A, Film City, Noida - 201301.
Editor: Raj Chengappa Girona houses a Michelin-starred
India Today does not take responsibility for returning unsolicited
publication material.
restaurant and the Hotel Esperit Roca

e-mail your letters to: [email protected] Cover Photograph Courtesy: Esperit Roca

4 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

 42
Sense and
Sensibility
Ornate placemats from
around the world
that offer more than skin
deep beauty

38
48 American
Glittering Silver Idol
Toasting some iconic looks—25 years The King of Prep:
of Lakme Fashion Week Tommy Hilfiger

INDIA TODAY SPICE SEPTEMBER 2024 5

 CONTENTS

30
The
Matchmaker
Beer goes on a
colonising spree

18
On the
¬

Watchlist
14 11 Some of the finest
timepieces
from independent
Shaken and Private watchmakers

Stirred Paradise
Summer’s new cocktail menu A man cave manual for
spotlights whisky some homme improvement

2
LETTER
FROM THE
¬ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

34 53
HOT
Packing LAUNCHES

a Punch
Why a power
breakfast is the
new power lunch
62
LAST
LOOK
OBJECTS OF DESIRE
Watches z Travel z L ifest yle z Ga dget s

COLLECTOR’S
EDITION

The Darling Buds of May

May kept its date with emeralds, just in time to celebrate the
burst of green buds. In the wake of nature’s blooming season,
Gemfields has collaborated with Ibiza-based jeweller,
Natasha Collis on two special collections: The Natasha Collis
Fine Jewellery x Gemfields Ludic and Dancing Duet. The
collections are a delightful showcase of Gemfields’ Zambian
emeralds that contrast beautifully against yellow gold to
summon both spontaneity and refinement to everyday
jewellery. The collections have been inspired by the dualities
of nature and represent the joys of spring. The designer’s
signature style highlights the raw beauty of gold where
hand-crafted nuggets are melded into organic shapes, with
carefully selected asymmetric gemstones to introduce a
quirky and playful element. The four-piece Ludic collection
is defined by its free-form shapes, a motif which also serves
as the design inspiration for the Dancing Duet range.
However, in the second collection, contrasting gold forms
create an intimate duality. Talk about the unity of opposites.
Price The Ludic collection ranges from GBP 3,663-
GBP 50,500 (`4.21 lakh-58 lakh approx.); Dancing
Duet collection ranges from GBP 1,265-GBP 13,360
(`1.45 lakh-15.36 lakh approx.);
Availability www.natashacollis.com

By Chumki Bharadwaj
 OBJECTS OF
DESIRE

BE AU T Y

The Glow Fest

Who doesn’t relish the idea of dewy soft,
glowing skin? With face oils achieving
almost cult status now, is the Noni Glow The Skin-ny on this
Face Oil yet another cog in the wheel? This Skincare revolution in a bottle is what Lancôme offers with its
certified organic face oil is a luxe blend New Génifique Ultimate. The next-generation serum is designed
of antioxidant-packed Noni fruit and to visibly reverse skin damage in just one week, or so claims the
vitamin-rich oils including Rosehip, Jojoba, brand. With 27 years of research under the belt, and enriched
Sunflower, Seabuckthorn, and Pomegranate with Beta-Glucan-CM, a cutting-edge active, this powerful
seed. It promises to nourish, brighten, and formula enhances the skin’s ability to self-repair, accelerate
smooth out rough skin texture, improving recovery, and restore youthful resilience. With each dropper
skin bounce and elasticity. Time to let out delivering an astounding 90 trillion Beta-Glucans, is it finally
your inner glow worm. time to splash out your Dorian Gray complex?
Price `7,600; Availability www.nykaa.com
Price `8,600 (50ml); Availability www.lancome.in

YSL THE INKS BLUR

The YSL Inks Blur is blurring the lines when it comes to
lip stains. Inspired by the delicacy of lace and silk, this
lip ink offers a matte finish with an air-light feel. With up
to 12-hour wear, it summons comfort, and intensity in
one seamless sweep of colour, featuring four families of
colours. Choice is queen here, allowing you to select the
finish, colour, and statement.
Price `4,000; Availability www.nykaa.com

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 9

 OBJECTS OF
DESIRE

A L C O BE V

18 TILL I DIE
Toasting its award-winning Highland single malt whisky,
Glenmorangie, introduces the Glenmorangie Infinita
18 Years Old to India. With an impressive array of 23
international awards, this masterpiece has been distilled
in the brand’s iconic giraffe-high stills, and matures for
15 years in American oak bourbon casks, with a portion
spending an additional three years in Oloroso sherry
casks. After 18 years, the result: Infinite complexity with
honeyed caramelised citrus, floral jasmine and gentle
spiciness. All in all, the honeyed gold colour adds to the
winning hand, while the all-new luxurious look, which
boasts a rich copper label and a bold blue gift box gives
the striking infinity symbol whole new meaning .
Price `9,500 (Haryana ) and `15,841 (Maharashtra);
Availability Select retail outlets

Time to Tequila
Agave based spirits are the new cause célèbre for the cognoscenti,
and with the launch of Las Maracas, it’s time to toast tequila
nights. Las Maracas is made with just two ingredients—100%
Blue Weber Agave and spring water. Completely additive-free
and sustainably produced, Las Maracas offers three expressions:
Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo.
Price Las Maracas Blanco (Crisp and agave-forward with hints of
pepper and clove) `5,300; Las Maracas Reposado (Aged in oak
barrels for a smooth, caramel-kissed depth, offering warmth and
complexity) `6,400; Las Maracas Añejo (Matured for 18 months
with rich notes of caramel, toasted oak, and vanilla for a refined,
indulgent finish) `9,500; Availability Select bars, restaurants, and
HIGH TEA retail stores in Delhi.

Just in time to toast the rising trend of zero

proof drinks, Copenhagen Sparkling Tea’s
official entry into the country couldn’t
have been more opportune. Brought
to India by Bebida Hospitality Private
Limited, the brand brings a curated range
of non-alcoholic sparkling teas through
online delivery. Crafted in Denmark using
up to 13 varieties of organic tea leaves
and a proprietary infusion technique,
Copenhagen Sparkling Tea includes award-
winning blends: LYSERØD, LYSEGRØN, and
BLÅ. A perfect companion for thoughtful
celebrations, curated meals, and mindful
indulgence.
Price `3,500; Availability
www.sparklingtea.in
 OBJECTS OF
DESIRE

T E CH

Samsung’s Neo QLED 8K

(65-inch)
Coming home to the mov-
ies (or your favourite game)

GENTLEMAN’S gets a new meaning with

Samsung’s 65-inch Neo

CAVE
QLED 8K—it’s not just a
screen; it’s a portal to other
worlds. Fuelled by the
2025 NQ AI Processor, it
instantly adapts to every
scene, boosting colour and
clarity beyond your wildest
Gadgets-deprived, dull lairs are so last century, dreams. Quantum Matrix
today’s designer dens don’t shy from pulling Mini LEDs deliver pinpoint
out all the tech stops. brightness and contrast.
Sound is next level, thanks
Sulabh Puri to Dolby Atmos and Object
Tracking Sound. You’re
right in the heart of every
Imagine stepping into your den where the speakers roar, whisper, and revving
blast your anthem, the TV plays your favourite engine. And with an ultra-
sports and even your coffee maker moonlights as a slim bezel and minimalist
bartender. All at a press of a button. It’s not magic. stand, it disappears until
It’s tech. Get ready to meet the gadgets that’ll turn the show begins.
your man cave from drab to downright legendary. Price upwards of `2,72,990

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 11

 Bang and Olufsen
BEOLAB 8
Tune up with B&O’s BeoLab 8, a tiny titan
that rebels against audio limitations.
Whether it’s mounted on the wall, perched on
your shelf, or standing tall as a floor speaker, it
adapts like a pro. Ground-shaking bass meets
crystal-clear highs, thanks to high-res wire-
less streaming and room-mapping tech. Swap
covers or upgrade parts to future-proof your
setup. One speaker, three roles: standalone
soloist, stereo star, or surround-sound hero.
Versatile elegance never sounded so addictive.
And it weighs just over 4 kilos—power
in a petite package.
Price `8,50,000

Nivona NICR 970

Combi coffee maker
Meet the Nivona NICR 970
Combi: your barista that never
sleeps. Boasting a 2.2 L tank
and 270 g hopper, it whips up
drinks at the touch of its extra-
large 5-inch touchscreen. Its
revolutionary grinder purrs
quieter than a whisper. Aroma
PreSelect’s barista settings and
Aroma Balance System offer
three extraction profiles. Need
two cappuccinos? OneTouch
Spumatore Duo handles both
simultaneously. Customize
nine MY COFFEE recipes in
real time. Bluetooth-enabled
NivonaApp integration seals
it. Built-in maintenance and
whisper-silent descaling make
cleaning easy.
Price `2,49,000

12 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

 Sony PlayStation 5 Pro
Gift yourself a Sony PlayStation 5 Pro,
the gaming beast that turns your sanctuary
into a digital gladiator arena. With a souped-
OBJECTS OF
DESIRE up CPU/GPU combo, it tackles 4K at 120 fps
like a champ. Ray tracing paints light and
T E CH shadow with cinematic flair. The DualSense
Pro controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive
triggers let you feel every punch, drift, and ex-
plosion. Plus, the lightning-fast 2TB SSD slash-
es load times so sharply, you’ll swear you’ve
hopped through dimensions. Game on.
Price `89,999

Dyson Ontrac Headphones

The name Dyson may conjure thoughts
of vacuum cleaning or air purification,
but Dyson’s OnTrac Headphones crash-
land into your private pad with a ton of
personalisation options (along with ex-
ceptional audio, of course). Choose from
2,000 colour combos for cushions and
caps—styling time might eclipse listening
time. When you finally press play, 40 mm
neodymium drivers pump out crystal-
clear audio (6 Hz–21 kHz), while eight mics
sample ambient noise 384,000 times per
second for up to 40 dB silence. And with
a 55-hour battery, reality can wait for this
wireless resonance masters.
Price `50,000

MyGate Lock Plus

Privacy is paramount for a man cave.
That’s where the MyGate Lock Plus—a gold-
en fortress that wards off unwanted
intruders and keeps your gadget stash safe
from sticky fingers—comes in. This smart
lock features fingerprint, PIN, RFID or app
unlock scheme plus a three-notch bolt sys-
tem, security is seriously sleek, effortlessly
stylish. Sure, it is bigger than the usual
manual locks, but six-month battery life and
one-tap guest PINs make clandestine cock-
tail raids distant history.
Price `22,990

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 13

 OBJECTS OF
DESIRE

M I XOL O GY

GOLDEN
HOUR
A fresh take on summer whisky cocktails

SANDEEP ARORA
Consulting Editor, Whisky Magazine (UK)

hisky in summer? At first glance,

it might sound like a one night
stand, but it’s turning out to be
an affair to remember. Step into
any bar this season, and you’ll
find that the rules have changed.
No longer confined to the clink of winter ice or the
comfort of leather armchairs, whisky is being shaken,
stirred, and crafted into something brighter, bolder, and
undeniably summery.
This season’s summer cocktail menu is an ode to rein-
vention. Crafted with care, intuition, and a dash of play-
ful rebellion, each cocktail on this list embraces whisky’s
rich soul while giving it space to breathe and surprise.
Think tropical fruits, garden herbs, crisp citrus, and
even savoury twists—all curated to complement the
whisky’s character.
At ITC Maurya, whisky takes a fresh turn—creative,
unexpected, and still rooted in solid craft. The Through-
way is a fine example—bold yet balanced, it layers whis-
ky with orange marmalade, citrus, falernum, and a hint
of spice. It is rich in flavour like a well-told story.
Then there’s Oliviya, the kind of drink that makes
you do a double-take. Bourbon meets olive brine, sweet
and sour, and ginger ale—an unlikely mix that somehow
works beautifully. It’s savory, intriguing and just the
right amount of offbeat.
OBJECTS OF
DESIRE

M I XOL O GY

Bay of Kaffir Whisky Orchard Cocktail Raspberry Sour

For those who like their cocktails with a bit of fire, The Bout goes all
in. Smoky whisky, honey, and grapefruit come together in a drink that’s
unapologetically bold and full of character. And if you’re after something vi-
brant and layered. Summer Ember is your glass of sunshine—whisky meets
passion fruit, lime, orange, and a surprising note of bell pepper. It’s juicy,
zesty, and just unpredictable enough to keep things interesting. WHISKY’S
Sample the Eastern Breeze served at The Leela Palace Hotel, which has SUMMER
bourbon whisky as its base. This drink adds peach syrup, lime juice, and AVATAR BRINGS
a generous splash of champagne. Served in a tulip glass with a twist of or-
ange, it’s everything you want on a languid summer afternoon—light, spar- TROPICAL
kling, and just a little indulgent. FRUITS, GARDEN
Then there’s Bay of Kaffir, where Scotch whisky is paired with pineapple HERBS, CRISP
juice and passion fruit syrup, shaken with lime, and finished with a fragrant
kaffir lime leaf. It’s tropical, textured, and beautifully balanced—a sip of CITRUS, AND
seaside in a glass. EVEN SAVOURY
Raspberry Sour leans into classic cocktail craftsmanship but with a juicy, TWISTS TO
berry-forward twist. With fresh lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and a silky
egg white foam, this is one of those cocktails that feels both familiar and THE GLASS.
completely new. THIS SUMMER’S
If you prefer your whisky with a little more depth, Passion Blossom is COCKTAIL MENU
your go-to cocktail. It mixes pomegranate juice and passion fruit syrup with
a whisky base, delivering a sweet-tart profile that plays beautifully against CELEBRATES
the warmth of the spirit. The garnish of fresh pomegranate seeds adds a REINVENTION.
visual sparkle and a burst of freshness.
Of course, no whisky-forward menu feels complete without a nod to the
modern icons. The Laphroaig Penicillin has a smoky, honeyed appearance.
Ginger-honey syrup and lemon juice balance the bold peat of Laphroaig for

16 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

The Throughaway Passion Blossom

Crafted with care, intuition, and a dash of

playful rebellion, each cocktail on this list
(Above) embraces whisky’s rich soul while
giving it space to breathe, surprise and
delight—shaken, stirred and crafted into
something brighter, bolder, and undeniably
summery.

a drink that feels both restorative and refreshing. And then there’s the
Whisky Paloma, reimagined from its agave roots. Grapefruit soda, lime,
and a touch of agave bring whisky into bright, fizzy territory—surprising
in the best way.
Joining this vibrant summer whisky renaissance is The Claridges, New
Delhi, with cocktails that speak of craft, freshness, and elegant restraint.
Their Sunlit Sour celebrates sunset in a glass—blending peaty whisky,
Campari, citrus, and raspberries, shaken with egg white for a soft, velvety
texture. It’s tart, smoky, and just sweet enough, topped with a dehydrated
strawberry that hints at its delicate finish.
Equally refreshing is Whisky Orchard, a garden-inspired cocktail that
marries bourbon with citrus juice, cucumber, and honey cordial. Mud-
dled with garden herbs and finished with bitters, it’s shaken and served
over clear ice in a rock glass.
Whether you’re lounging in linen, chasing the sunset, or simply look-
ing to elevate your evening, these cocktails offer a new way to meet an old
friend. This summer, whisky doesn’t smoulder—it sparkles.
The Bout

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 17

 WATCH
TREND

GENEVA’S OTHER
NARRATIVE
Watches That Spoke in a Different Tone
Rizwan Bachav

There’s a new energy coursing through Geneva each spring, and it’s not limited
to the hallowed halls of Watches and Wonders. Across the city, from polished
salons to discreet hotel suites, a wave of creativity emerges from brands that are
shaping the future of watchmaking on their own terms. Some of these timepieces
are unveiled at the fair itself, others revealed independently, but all of them share
a clear sense of purpose and personality. Whether rooted in legacy or led by fresh
perspectives, these are watches that aren’t just made to impress, but to express.

CZAPEK
ANTARCTIQUE
TOURBILLON
The Antarctique already enjoys cult
status, but the new tourbillon variant
pushes it into haute horlogerie
territory. The micro-rotor movement
remains slim and beautifully finished,
while the flying tourbillon adds
visual drama without overwhelming
the design. This is where sport and
sophistication find balance.
Price CHF 63,000
 HYT T1 TITANIUM
GUILLOCHÉ
Inspired by the water clocks of ancient
Egypt and decorated using a guilloché
technique dating back to the 1700s,
the T1 Titanium Guilloché is a study in
contrasts, and the unity of opposites.
It blends fluidic timekeeping with old-
world craft in a way that is unexpected
yet deeply considered. Just eight
pieces exist.
Price CHF 64,000
 WATCH
TREND

ANOMA
A1 SLATE
One of the most visually striking
watches I encountered this year, the
A1 Slate is sculptural in every sense. Its
rounded triangular case feels more like a
piece of mid-century art than a wristwatch.
But there’s substance beneath the style;
the vertically brushed lacquered dial
catches light beautifully, and is powered
by a reliable Swiss automatic movement.
Price CHF 2,000 approx.

J12 BLEU CHANEL

To celebrate 25 years of the J12,
Chanel introduced the J12 Bleu
at Watches and Wonders 2025,
and it’s a refreshing shift from
the monochrome norm. The
deep matte blue ceramic feels
fresh yet unmistakably Chanel.
It’s a watch that doesn’t shout for
attention but rewards a closer
look, especially with the limited-
edition Diamond Tourbillon model.
A strong, elegant reminder that
when Chanel leans into its codes,
it creates icons.
Price Upwards of CHF 8,000.
 RESSENCE
TYPE 7 XV
AQUAMARINE
Ressence continues to redefine
how we interact with time. Their Type 7 XV
Aquamarine is their first GMT and also their
first with an integrated titanium bracelet. The
display is pure Ressence: satellites, oil-filled
dial, and that now-iconic legibility. This one
feels like a proper evolution for the brand,
and for fans of clean, design-first horology,
it’s a dream.
Limited to 80 pieces,
Price CHF 36,000

F.P. JOURNE
NOMÈTRE FURTIF
Only F.P. Journe could make stealth this ARMIN STROM DUAL TIME
elegant. The Chronomètre Furtif—part of the GMT RESONANCE
LineSport collection in 2025—brings a fresh
perspective to understatement. Crafted from MANUFACTURE EDITION
tungsten carbide with tantalum accents, it’s Resonance remains one of the most captivating
both futuristic and grounded. The dial? A concepts in watchmaking, and Armin Strom has truly
mirror-polished anthracite Grand Feu enamel made it their own. This 2025 edition adds a clever
surface where the numerals appear only dual-time function, turning a mechanical marvel
when light hits just right. For collectors, this is into a travel companion. It’s niche, yes, but it’s also
Journe’s poetic take on stealth wealth. unapologetically brilliant.
Price CHF 85,000. Limited to 50 pieces, Price CHF 95,000.

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 21

 OBJECTS OF
DESIRE

DI N I NG

MOST
EXPENSIVE WINE
AT THE CELLAR
Romanée-Conti,
Grands Crus du
Domaine de la
Romanée-Conti 2009
(Approx. `3.80lakh
a bottle)

GRAPEVINE
BUZZ
Wine Cellar dining at Badrutt’s Palace, Switzerland

Rupali Dean

ucked away within the elegant Badrutt’s Palace

Hotel is a hidden treasure—a storied cellar
that boasts a collection of 30,000 exquisite
wines. Within this enchanting space, a new
experience awaits the devoted vinophile. A
seamless blend of charm and tradition, this
sophisticated wine-dine journey is enhanced
by service standards that literally anticipate
your every whim and fancy even before you’ve
had the time to outline them. This gastronomic
haven is curated by Sommelier Cristina Lucu-

22 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

 Krug Stübli is a cozy chalet that
can be booked for exclusive
dinners and tastings (Left);
Sommelier Cristina Luculano
(Bottom); The Wine Cellar (Below)

lano, a Sicilian native whose passion for wine is

deeply rooted in her family’s winemaking heri-
tage. Luculano, with her extensive background
in oenological agronomy, is your expert guide,
leading you through the wonderous journey from
grape to glass. Krug Stübli, the champagne bar,
is exclusively dedicated to crafting unforgettable
moments, allowing you to tailor your evening with
an expansive selection from 11 diverse restaurants.
From classic comfort to innovative cuisine, the
offerings are designed to tantalise every palate.
Among the highlights is the Stroganoff from Le
Relais, a dish that resonates with the heart-warm-
ing essence of comfort food. For a perfect match,
the 2016 Château Batailley Cinquième grand cru
classé does wonders to elevate the flavours, cre-
ating a memorable pairing. As you savour each
morsel and every sip, the extraordinary blend of
fine dining and exceptional service creates an
TOP WINE unforgettable experience that promises to haunt
PICKS your senses and linger in your mind long after the
evening is done—unless, of course, you indulge in
Domaine
a little too much Krug!
Romanée-Conti
Emmanuel KRUG STÜBLI
Rouget (Nephew Where? Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, 7500, St. Moritz,
of the iconic Switzerland
among Burgundy
Website: www.badruttspalace.com
winegrowers, Henri
Jayer) Restaurant Rental `50,000 approx.
Maison Krug Minimum spend per person `50,000 approx.
Château Pétrus (Excluding wines)
Giacomo Conterno Number of guests: up to 6
Reservations Events: +41 (0)81 837 2649 & F&B
Reservations: +41 (0)81 837 1100

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 23

 FOOD
Hospitality
with a Heart
SPAIN

Immerse yourself in the Roca brothers’ latest marvel—a

19th-century restored fortress near Girona which houses a
Michelin-starred restaurant and the Hotel Esperit Roca.
Rupali Dean

The castle of Sant

Julià de Ramis , where
Esperit Roca is located;
Suckling Pig with
Pig’s Feet and Sea
Cucumber (Top right)
With exquisite food, breath-taking views, and
unparalleled luxury on offer, it’s little wonder that
Esperit Roca, the latest enchantment from the
Roca brothers is making waves and not just in
Girona, Spain, where it is located. The culinary
wizardry of the Roca brothers has already been
well documented with the El Celler de Can Roca
in Girona—their flagship restaurant boasts three
glittering Michelin stars and has topped the
coveted World’s 50 Best list twice. Not among
those who rest on their laurels, these maestros
have opened charming ice cream parlours, the
boutique haven of Casa Cacao, and Girona’s
beloved Restaurant Normal, all of which inspire
awe. However, last year, the Roca brothers unveiled
their pièce de resistance: a grandiose countryside
retreat just a smidge north of Girona, perched
majestically atop the St Julia Mountain. This is not
just a passion project; we’re talking a sanctuary
featuring a 15-room hotel, an exhibition space to
ignite your imagination, a distillery for the finest
spirits, a wine cellar with over 80,000 bottles, a
glass recycling centre and a fresh culinary jewel of
a restaurant.
Top to bottlom: Loungers
outside the Junior Suite;
Old Book; Jordi’s Rose;
Esperit Roca Hotel Bar
TRANQUIL LUXURY RETREAT The junior
Suite Room
Esperit Roca is the embodiment of tranquillity. With with private
only a handful of rooms, each moment is bathed in garden.
serene quietude, and the panoramic vistas of the
surrounding landscape are simply soul-stirring. Nestled
atop the foundations of an ancient 19th-century fortress,
the location itself seems to whisper tales of its storied
past, offering views that stretch endlessly in every
direction. Ingenious, elegant, and picturesque, Esperit
Roca isn’t just a gem on the Roca brothers’ illustrious
crown; it’s a testament to their boundless genius.
Imagine a blend of James Bond’s chic hideout and a
Hollywood Hills mansion, all crowned with a sweeping
concrete roof slyly peeking from behind a venerable
stone fortress wall. Welcome to the mesmerising design
of Esperit Roca, where sophistication meets comfort.
The guest rooms? Each one is a sanctuary of its own,
appointed with private balconies, plush living areas,
sumptuous beds, and opulent bathrooms featuring free- FOOD
standing tubs. But that’s not all; most rooms open onto TREND
a private garden, complete with an inviting L-shaped
swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers, perfect

for soaking in the Spanish sun. Inside, the vibe is cool

and contemporary: Picture relaxing sofas, a plethora
of coffee table books (yes, including many of the Rocas’
tantalising cookbooks), and an intimate restaurant and
bar exclusively for hotel guests. It's a place where leisure
and luxury cohabit delightfully.

CULINARY ROCA MAGIC

For lunch the next day, we dined at the main Esperit Roca
restaurant, which is open to the public and considerably
more expansive than the hotel’s dining spot. Here, the
menu reads like a greatest-hits album of El Celler de Can
Roca’s nearly four decades of culinary genius. Unique to
this temple of gastronomy are the two tasting menus:
one conventional with six savoury courses and two
desserts, and the other, a whimsical twist with
two savoury dishes followed by six desserts, a
playground of the pastry sorcerer, Jordi Roca of
Chef ’s Table fame. Imagine a cake as light as
a cloud, dissolving into an aromatic drizzle
that enriches every element on the plate.
This magical creation, almost whimsical,
appears to defy gravity. Indulge in
‘Bosque lluvioso (‘Rainy Forest’)
a magnificent dessert conceived
by Jordi Roca, the youngest of
the Roca brothers. Inspired by his
tranquil morning walks with his dog,
Jordi captures the earthy scents of damp

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 27

 FOOD
TREND

View of the Hotel’s

swimming pool;
Surf & Turf (Right)

woods, mushrooms, and brooks, For those who haven’t yet

translating them into a dessert made the pilgrimage to El
FACT BOX that is a testament to his Celler, Esperit Roca provides a
innovative spirit and nature's more accessible way to savour
Where poetry. One of us opted for the the Roca magic. It’s not just
Esperit Roca, Carrer Major,
conventional 6/2 menu and a meal; it’s an experience
Entrada 1, 17481 Sant Julià de
were dazzled by the ‘All the well worth a dedicated trip
Ramis, Girona, Spain
Prawn’—a symphony of Palamos or an indulgent addition to
Contact red prawn marinated in seaweed a Barcelona weekend (the
esperitroca.com
vinegar and katsuobushi, paired quick and easy train between
Cost with prawn velouté, prawn head Barca and Girona makes it
A night stay with Breakfast: sauce, crispy prawn legs, citrus a breeze). Of course, the full
`32,000 (approx.) caviar, and prawn coral distillate hotel enchantment is highly
Meal concentrate. The langoustine recommended; who could
The 6/2 Savoury menu costs with sagebrush, vanilla oil, and resist waking up to a Roca
`15,200 (approx.) per person toasted butter was a revelation, brothers’ breakfast? What’s
and the 6/2 Dessert menu as was the iconic Poularde more, the forthcoming Roca
costs `13,500 (approx.) per
brioche with foie gras, seasonal Academy promises to elevate
person without alcohol. You
truffle, poularde parfait, and culinary education, sharing
can order a la carte as well.
fresh herb sauce—a signature their legacy in an innovative
dish of El Celler. master’s programme.

28 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

 SPIRITS
BEER

BEER
MEETS
ALCOHOL
From a coffee-infused Weizenbock, a
Belgian Dubbel matured in ex-rum casks to
an Imperial Stout aged in ex-whisky casks,
beer is on a colonising spree.
Gagan Sharma

You toy with wines and beers in any way, and it’ll irk the pur-
ists. They are considered sacrosanct, and disturbing their zen
could be punishable by an act of god. However, this simple
narrative is now changing. New-age brewers are challenging
the status-quo and injecting more flavours, through unprec-
edented means, producing daring combinations, that will
definitely raise eyebrows in suspicion, and maybe in awe too.

30 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

Elitaire at Call Me Ten, and
Siri at Fort City Brewing
in Delhi, use hops in their
cocktails (Opposite page);
Mridya, ex-rum barrel
aged Belgian Dubbel at
Fort City Brewing in Delhi
(Below)
 Clockwise from below:
Dhananjai Subramaniam’s
award-winning drink Trifecta,
finished with a stout beer
foam; Craftsman from
SPIRITS Fola, Chandigarh use stout
BEER beer syrup; Brain Freeze at
Boilermaker, Goa

The Beer Matchmaker

The term ‘beer-meets-alcohol’ signals beer
coming together with other alcohols, usually
to create a cocktail. Micheladas put beer
and tomato juice together, Boilermaker
has a shot of whiskey followed by chugging
a pour of beer, Margarita topped up with
lager is a Lageritas—you get the gist. Beyond
these, brewers are now taking matters in
their hands, and getting innovative. Delhi’s
FortCity Brewing was recently awarded the
best craft brewery in India, at the coveted
30BestBars show, and at its helm is lawyer-
turned-brewer Gautham Gandhi. He hasn’t
been shy at being touted as the unofficial
matchmaker of the beer world, finding suit-
able spouses for his own crafty brews. In the
recent past, FortCity has introduced a coffee-
infused Weizenbock, a Belgian Dubbel
matured in ex-rum casks, an Imperial Stout
aged in ex-whisky casks, and is on to make
one with limoncello.
“When I became a brewer, the idea was
to do something that makes everyone drink
beers. I could see Delhi bartenders’ dish-
ing out funky flavours, which moved me to
do something of my own. While we were
opening FortCity, we knew that spirits will
become an easy entry for those with a limited
exposure to craft beers. We reached out to a
few of our friends in the Indian craft spirits
space, and came up with these barrel-aged
beers. The intent was also to position beers
as the catalyst that puts everything together
in terms of what the industry has given to us Boilermaker
today”, says Gautham. The cocktail ‘Boilermaker’, puts beer and a shot of whiskey together.
From hesitantly experimenting with these And it’s only fitting that the two men behind this spot are a brewer
combinations, to now having a dedicated and a spirits brand evangelist. Goa’s namesake bar, is piloted by
full-time tap at the brewery for such gutsy Pankaj Balachandran, who has been at the helm of several bar
concoctions, Delhi has taken this brand of programmes, and brewer Nakul Bhonsle—the creator of Great State
matchmaking delightfully well. This has Aleworks. It’s a soulful taproom-meets-cocktail-bar in Siolim with a
been pivotal in breaking the ice for most who neighbourhood, dive bar essence.
didn’t know much beyond bottled lagers and Pankaj was first introduced to the boilermaker cocktail in 2016,
wheat beers that are unfortunately made while out with a bunch of industry professionals and whisky ambas-
with more chemicals than grains. sadors in London. They ordered the concoction at a busy bar, which

32 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

was a usual practice for them. It is also called the So they took the boilermaker drink a step further, and created
‘bartenders’ handshake’, which is a cautionary a full pairing menu. “We have a Cashew Feni and Cashew Sour (a
move to prevent inconveniencing the bartenders style of beer), Tequila works fantastically well with a Kokum Gose,
with a fancy cocktail order during busy times. there’s Scotch with a Scotch Ale, and there’s a Coffee Rum and a
Upon his return to India, he tried popularising Stout pairing brewing as well”, adds Pankaj, proudly continuing his
boilermakers in India, but with little success. It pursuit of turning India towards boilermakers.
was in 2024, that Pankaj and Nakul got together,
and while shooting some boilermakers, that they Beers In Cocktails
came up with the idea, and opened the bar. “We Mixologists are also owning the brews and their ingredients.
went around asking what the bartenders would Dhananjai Subramaniam is a rapidly growing phenomenon in the
drink after their shifts, and, beer was the unani- mixology world, claiming more awards at cocktail competitions,
mous choice. Now it was on to us to keep them than anyone else on the circuit. At the recent Campari Red Hands
excited, and add to the ritual”, say Balachandran. cocktail competition, he teamed up with a sommelier and a brewer,
to create a drink called ‘Trifecta’. It had Campari, a homemade late
harvest Chenin Blanc-based vermouth, and a stout beer foam. It
was among the most regarded drinks in the competition, and was
lauded for its unusual composition.
“Brewers and sommeliers look at drinks differently, and their
insights opened up opportunities to adopt their ingredients and
showcase them in cocktails. While curating their cocktail menus,
we had already used hops in a drink at Call Me Ten, and a hops-in-
fused whisky cocktail at FortCity, both in Delhi. We have used stout
beer syrup for a drink at Ourem, Goa, and at Fola, Chandigarh. At
the newly opened parTTwo in Bengaluru, we used a Witbier syrup
to create a cocktail”, explains Subramaniam.

The term ‘beer-meets-alcohol’ signals

beer coming together with other alcohols,
usually to create a cocktail. But some
experimental brewers are now taking
matters in their hands, and getting
innovative—and not just barrel-aged
beers, but beer as a catalyst.

Drinkers have only seen hops as an ingredient in beers,

without much ado about their characteristics. These drinks have
inspired an entire conversation about their usage and what they
deliver. Malts make for fantastic sodas, repurposed grains create
garnishes and dusts, reducing beers to syrups intensifies their
flavour, acidity, and structure, delivering depth, an unfamiliar
maltiness and texture to the drink. And there’s still a lot more
that can be done.

The Finish
Whisky brands have often turned to beer barrels to age their
spirits: Glenfiddich IPA Experiment Single Malt Scotch, Jameson
Caskmates Stout Edition Irish Whiskey, Grant’s Ale Cask Aged
Blended Scotch, New Holland Beer Barrel Bourbon, are part of
an increasing colony of such expressions. While spirits have often
turned to beers, it’s time for beers to marry spirits, liqueurs, and
cocktails to raise the bar. Whatever the outcome, there’s only one
winner—the consumer.

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 33

 Nivedita Jayaram Pawar

Breakfast, especially on a weekday, is usually an afterthought. Maybe, a banana while

sprinting out the door, a bowl of cereal, a dry toast or the aspirational avocado toast if
you are feeling truly ambitious. But that’s changing with mornings becoming a favoured
time for people to connect, or for breakfast meetings during the week. Turns out, a ‘power
breakfast’ is the new power lunch. Business professionals are finding that early morning
meetings are more effective for deal-making and networking,
Professionals are also increasingly using breakfast as an opportunity to combine friendship
and work, a trend reminiscent of Milan’s ‘Aperitivo Milanese’ phenomenon of the 90s,
where pre-dinner drinks served as a backdrop for business discussions and networking.
These days, breakfast is the new happy hour. It’s when we catch up with friends before
work and turn work buddies into actual friends. “Cafés offer consistency. You know exactly
what you are signing up for, whether it is a quick weekday bite or a leisurely weekend
indulgence. Then there is the social aspect—breakfast is no longer a private, homebound
ritual, but a meal to be enjoyed with friends, colleagues, or even alone
in a vibrant setting,” says Hussain Shahzad, Executive
Chef, Veronica’s (Hunger Inc. Hospitality).
Cafés are fast becoming the go-to
spots for young professionals
and freelancers believes
Soumojit Sinha, head

n a new lease
rea kfast o
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y. Wit re
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imagined assics.
da an d
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Br
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 FOOD
chef at Shelter Cafe x Coffee by Javaphile, Bandra. “With flexible work
TREND
hours and remote jobs, they prefer cafés for a change of environment. Plus,
the incredible diversity of choices allows people to indulge in dishes they
might not make at home.” Some credit is also due to the rise of specialty
homegrown coffee brands, particularly in metros such as Mumbai. A
truly satisfying breakfast experience is often anchored by a great cup of
coffee, and these local roasters are delivering just that. And it’s not just
the mornings. The trend of all-day availability of breakfast foods has
been mushrooming across restaurants, with most now offering various
breakfast dishes at all hours of the day. “Office meetings are often
a little cold. I prefer breakfast meetings at a café away from the
stuffiness of the office. It’s an informal and pleasant way to Mexican skillet eggs
meet and brainstorm ideas,” says Saudamini Shukla a at Veronica’s (Below);
Egg white omelette
Mumbai based advertising professional.
at Kuckeliku Breakfast
House (Below Left)

.
p for
u
Spice p waking
icks some h
morning meals wort
 FOOD
TREND

Beyond Bread
As the demand for ‘out of home’ breakfast gets
louder, chefs are putting a creative spin to
the timeless crispy fried eggs, buttery toast
and pancakes stacked high. The idea is
to balance comfort and creativity with
spoonfuls of indulgence, says Sinha. “It
should be light, familiar yet exciting,
with classic flavours done in a way
that feels fresh and new.” Something
like the Tiramisu French Toast at
Shelter Cafe x Coffee by Javaphile.
Think a soft brioche drunk on
rich coffee toasted to a golden
brown, crowned with a dollop of
mascarpone cream and drizzled
with cocoa powder! It’s French toast,
that tastes like tiramisu—a delightful
deception.
At the perpetually packed
Veronica’s in Bandra, chef Shahzad
serves scrambled eggs, the Homer
Simpson of breakfast draped in carbonara

36 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

 As the demand
for ‘out of home’
breakfast gets
louder, chefs are
putting creative spins
to timeless breakfast
items like eggs,
toasts and pancakes.

sauce with crispy bacon bits, parmesan

and pepper cream cheese. There’s also
tacos loaded with pastrami, and the
traditional golden toast topped with
creamy stracciatella and a sprinkle of
sea salt. The piece de resistance is the
French toast that comes with berry
compote, crème Chantilly and a drizzle
of maple syrup. Forget grabbing a quick
bite; this breakfast is an experience, a
delicious excuse to linger and savour.
Gauri Devidayal’s Mag St Café too
has been pushing boundaries with a true
international mash-up. The breakfast menu at this
Colaba café features hor fun noodles (thick, fat rice
noodles) with bacon, egg and cheddar. They also do huevos
rancheros (translated ‘ranch eggs’) a classic Mexican breakfast of fried
eggs served on a lightly fried corn tortillas smothered in zesty salsa. But
the real stars of the show are the pillowy Korean buns filled with a creamy
blend of garlic confit, cream cheese and parsley. Even chicken-and-waffle,
the hallmark of brunch food has found its way into the breakfast menu at
Kuckeliku Breakfast House in Mumbai’s Colaba. The combination of a
perfectly crispy piece of fried chicken with the cakeiness of a waffle
makes for the perfect comfort food.
Some chefs are even bringing back heirloom Indian
breakfast favourites to a luxe setting. Amninder Sandhu’s
Goa based restaurant Bawri champions this concept
with a breakfast menu of Kerala’s ultimate comfort
food appam with stew, Delhi’s legendary chole
bature; Surat’s quirky kheema ghotala with
buttered poe and Punjab’s quintessential
crunchy samosas and parathas. There’s also
bedmi puri (bread stuffed with lentils) with
rassawala aloo and halwa. It’s the kind of
breakfast that demands a post-meal stroll
and blurs the lines between breakfast and
brunch (which, let’s be honest, is now a
delightfully flexible affair between 10 am
and 3 pm). Breakfast is definitely plotting
its comeback! After all, “If you win your
morning, you win your day.”

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 37

 AN
AFTERNOON
OF FASHION
“I don’t think logos are going anywhere. People want to feel connected to something. It
might be a community, a tribe, or a fan base. While minimalism has its place, branding will
always be a big part of who we are.”
Rizwan Bachav

If the arched windows framing the Arabian Sea and Gateway

of India, of the iconic Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai’s sea-facing
suite didn’t summon enough drama, a conversation with
one of fashion’s most recognisable names, Tommy Hilfiger,
certainly did. Seated comfortably on a cream leather couch,
dressed in a classic navy blazer over a striped shirt, beige
trousers, and bright white sneakers, Tommy Hilfiger looked
every bit the icon of American prep he’s known to be. A pop
of red peeking from his pocket square added just the right
amount of flair. His easy going manner and calm composure
belied the clarity, and self assurance that he has honed over
the forty years at the helm of his namesake brand. Over the
next few minutes, he spoke about the brand’s milestone
anniversary, his creative collaborators, the Indian connec-
tion that dates back to his very first collection, and why he
believes logos will never go out of style.
© TOMMY HILFIGER
INTERVIEW
CEO

The iconic designer

(left); Tommy x
Zendya Fall 2019
collection (centre);
K-pop super group
Stray Kids at Met
Gala 2024, clad in
Tommy Hilfiger
(far left)
On the occasion of the label’s 40th anniversary, voice to the table. These are individuals who aren’t just
is there any unexpected pivot in terms of faces, but genuine contributors. We’ve done that with Gigi,
creative direction? Zendaya, Lewis, Shawn Mendes, and others. They brought
TH We are always looking for ways to elevate the brand. As their inspiration, energy, and point of view into our cre-
we step into this milestone year, our focus is on expanding ative process, and we blended that with our brand’s DNA.
the womenswear category while continuing to celebrate That kind of collaboration keeps the brand fresh, relevant,
forty years of being a lifestyle brand. and connected.

In this momentous journey of four

decades, what would you consider the QUICK TAKES
most important milestones?
PERSONAL STYLE SIGNIFIER:
TH One of the most defining moments
What you wear on top
was when we expanded beyond the United
States and began building the brand glob- ONE THING I WILL NEVER PART
WITH: My navy blazer
ally. That pivot set us on a whole new trajec-
tory. Another key milestone was opening TRUE LUXURY IS: Spending
our own stores and shifting our focus to- time with family
ward disruptive marketing. Those decisions RECENTLY DISCOVERED:
played a major role in shaping our growth The Maldives.
and taking the brand to where it is today. THE ONE THING I COULDN’T
DO WITHOUT: My iPhone
Is it your self-confessed love for pop cul- MY STYLE ICON: Karl Lagerfeld
ture that has seen the recent inclusion was an icon to me
of the likes of Gigi Hadid, Zendaya and
THE MOST RECENT ITEM OF
Lewis Hamilton as co-designers and
CLOTHING I ADDED TO MY
how has this impacted the brand ethos?
WARDROBE: The new Tommy
TH The idea has always been to collaborate
Hilfiger nautical varsity jacket
with people who bring their own creative
THE GROOMING STAPLE I CAN’T
DO WITHOUT: Skin moisturiser
INDIA FOR ME IS: Exciting
40 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025
 Gigi Hadid with designer
Tommy Hillfiger (left); INTERVIEW
Tommy x Zendaya CEO
collection co-designed
by actress Zendaya and
Tommy Hilfiger (centre);
racer Lewis Hamilton (far
left); Karl Lagerfeld (below)

Bold, recognisable branding has always been the

Hilfiger way. Given the global trend towards quiet
luxury, is that something that might impact the
brand’s sensibility?
TH I don’t think logos are going anywhere. People want to
feel connected to something. It might be a community, a
tribe, or a fan base. That sense of belonging is powerful. If
you look at major brands around the world, whether it’s cars,
handbags, or even beverages, the logo carries identity. It’s
a symbol, and symbols matter. While minimalism has its
place, branding will always be a big part of who we are.

What was it like to partner with K-pop super group

Stray Kids?
TH They’re incredibly talented. Dressing them for the Met
Gala in 2024 was a highlight. The response on social media
was overwhelming, with record engagement during the
event. We styled all eight members in Tommy Hilfiger-in-
Where does India fit into your scheme of things spired looks. Each outfit was unique, but together they made
and what, if anything, is specifically planned for a cohesive statement. That’s what made it so impactful. Each
its anniversary celebrations for this market? artist has their own identity, but together they came across
TH India is one of the most important markets for as a team. That energy, just like a sports team, was really
us globally. The size of the population is obviously powerful.
significant, but for me personally, the connection goes
deeper. I actually started my career designing in India What do you consider the core tenets of your success?
over forty-five years ago. My very first collection was TH Consistency, above all. Staying focused on who we are as
created right here in Mumbai. The energy, the creativ- a brand and never straying from that. When people connect
ity, the craftsmanship, it has always inspired me. And with a certain look, a feeling, an identity, they come back for
from the time we opened our stores in India, the people it. But they also expect it to evolve. That’s the real challenge
have embraced us in a big way. As we celebrate the and the secret. Knowing how to keep things fresh without
brand’s 40th anniversary, India is very much a part of losing what makes the brand recognisable. It’s about staying
that story. anchored, but always moving forward.

Now, sportswear has become a significant You have often said that Andy Warhol transformed
category in luxury fashion. However, the classic your approach to fashion. Does this inform your vision
Hilfiger aesthetic has long seen value in sports- for the future of fashion too?
wear. Where do you think this trend for athleisure TH Andy Warhol inspired me to think differently about
is headed? creativity and celebrity. He made me realise the power of
TH Athleisure is here to stay. People love sports, and working closely with artists and cultural icons. Whether he
they love dressing sporty. But above all, comfort is key. meant to give that advice or not, I took it to heart. And we’ve
Whether it’s travel, work, or leisure, people want cloth- continued with that approach ever since. I also believe that
ing that feels effortless but also looks good. In the U.S., if a brand stays in the same visual or creative space for too
we’ve always referred to our casual line as sportswear. long without evolving, it runs the risk of becoming stagnant.
Other markets may call it something else, but it’s essen- That’s something we’ve always tried to avoid. We want to
tially the same thing. Athletically inspired fashion with be dynamic, to grow and evolve, while never losing our
a relaxed yet elevated appeal. foundation.

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 41

The world heritage
site that is the
Blue Mountains
could have stepped
from the realm of
fantasy.

Blue Mountains, Australia

The world heritage site that is the Blue Mountains, gaze at cliff tops in the lush Jamison Valley and feel
a 45-minute drive from Sydney, could have stepped the icy spray of the Katoomba falls. In 2022, Beyond
from the realm of fantasy. The slate-colored haze Skyway was launched. This new innovation enables
that gives the mountains their name, derives from visitors to experience the changing colors of the
an oil-mist emitted by the tall Eucalyptus trees that Jamison valley, harnessed atop the roof of the
form a canopy across the landscape. Deep valleys cable car.
and sandstone outcrops stud this scene. Iconic land Once you’ve had an overview of the pristine scape,
formations like The Three Sisters adorn the face of take a guided walk. On a Buunyal Tour, you walk with
numerous postcards. an indigenous guide along a 2.4 km boardwalk through
Scenic World is an attraction that offers unique the ancient temperate rainforest. You can appreciate
ways into the compelling geology of these mountains. the wonders of the mountains – trees, birds, streams,
The world’s steepest railway chugging through the rocks, while listening to compelling indigenous stories.
rainforest, at a 52-degree incline, is one way to get The other gift of being in the Blue Mountains, is that
closer. The Cableway here is reputedly the steepest the skies here are among the brightest in New South
aerial cable car in the Southern hemisphere. A Skyway Wales and opportunities to identify Saturn’s rings, the
Cable Car allows you to stand on a glass floor, as you Orion Nebula and shooting stars, are abundant.
 TRAVEL
HERITAGE

FLIGHTS
OF FANCY
Travelling to any of the fairytale-pretty locales on this list, is a
little like winning a bucket list lotto. Far from just skin-deep
beauty, each of these sites safeguards their cultural and natural
heritage, which makes them not just accolade-winning,
but also sustainably unique.
Sonia Nazareth
 TRAVEL
HERITAGE

Courchevel, France
Courchevel is so much more than its glitter-
ing reputation for ski-bunnies, Michelin star
restaurants, luxury stores and an outstanding
après ski scene. Heritage is King here, and the
villages that constitute this ski-haven are gems
of Alpine architecture. In 2025, Courchevel
re-opened its heritage Sauliere Cable Car. Sus-
pended over snow, hemmed in by the Vanoise
Glacier and Mont Blanc Massif, I ascend from a
height of 2077 meters to 2710 meters. My heart
sores at the sight of the Three Valleys Universe
– the largest interconnected ski-area in the
French Alps.
Since 2009, Gallerie Bartoux and the
Courchevel municipality have created an artis-
tic haven in the Alps. Sculptural installations
punctuate the pistes and resort area. Works by
grand masters like Salvador Dali, as well as by
contemporary greats like Bruno Catelano, are
on display here. Between riding a snow-mobile
and trekking to a pristine lake, I stumble upon
a cluster of works by Leo Calliard. Using fluid Gems of Alpine architecture stud
organic forms, his art suggests perpetual trans- the villages of Courchevel (Above);
formation and motion. A fitting tribute to this Ski haven Courchevel is the
ever-evolving place. quintessential winter wonderland
 MAKE IT
HAPPEN

Courchevel,
Ecrin Blanc Resort
Every word to describe your
experience at this quirky stay
will fall under configurations
of the verb “to pamper.”
Doubles from `37,000 per
night.

Cusco, Monasterio, A
Belmond Hotel
This monumental building
dating back to 1592 shed
its former identity as a
monastery and is now a
national monument. 300-year
old cedar trees and stone
cloisters, accompanied by
Cusco, Peru stellar service, now define it.
Doubles from ` 46,000 per
In a country where superlatives run ragged, Cusco, an Andean city, for- night.
merly a capital of the Inca empire, and also the gateway city to Machu
Pichu, is an unfailing heartthrob. Dotting its cobblestone streets are
looming baroque churches, the ruins of centuries old Inca temples, mu- Blue Mountains, Parklands
seums of all permutations and the remnants of Spanish colonial architec- Country Garden & Lodges
ture. The locals do much of their living outdoors and Plaza de Armas, the Snugly ensconced in the
central square is no stranger to festivities. Between arcades, carved wood- village of Blackheath in the
en balconies and Incan wall ruins, I experience the feast of Corpus Christi, Blue Mountains, this getaway
a celebration in May, that has roots in the arrival of Catholicism during is a gateway to beguiling
vistas and an abundance of
the Spanish colonial era. But even when it’s not festival time, there’s al-
bush walking trails. Doubles
ways a sense of folk-art vitality observable in the music, art and fashion.
from ` 13,500 per night.
Here, ornately dressed women potter about with their llamas. There,
fiercely independent boutiques sell luxury Alpaca coats and scarves.
Wroclaw, Hotel Monopol
Conveniently located this Neo
Baroque building decorated
in Art Nouveau style has
Dotting the been no stranger to celebrity
cobblestone clientele, from Pablo Picasso
streets of old to Greta Garbo. Doubles from
town Cusco `10,000 per night.
are looming
baroque
Wurzburg, Rebstock Best
churches, old
Western Premium Hotel
Inca ruins and
all permutations Charmingly designed, well-
of museums located, with a fine-dining,
(Top); Locals gourmet restaurant – Kuno-
in Cusco like 1408, this one ticks the boxes.
to do their Doubles from `17,000
living outdoors, per night.
on occasion,
traditionally
dressed.

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 45

 TRAVEL
HERITAGE

Wroclaw, Poland
This capital city of Silesia, a southern region in
Poland, located picturesquely on the Odra River,
is filigreed with over 12 islands, bisected by over
100 bridges, and embellished with over 800 dwarf
statues, that lie scattered around the city. These
tiny inhabitants, erected and cherished by Wroclaw
dwellers, were born initially of the Orange Alterna-
tive, a movement that used satire to express local
dissidence to communism. Today these quirky crea-
tures commemorate the movement but also draw
attention to current affairs. Indeed, the whimsical
enters all facets of life in this cultural cauldron of
a city. This is no overstatement, for Wroclaw, a city
invaded frequently in times past, bears a unique
cultural and architectural heritage, with Prussian,
Bohemian, Austrian and Silesian influences.
 Wroclaw sprawls
picturesquely by
the Odra river;
The Raclawice
Panorama is a
monumental
cycloramic
painting

The main square of Wroclaw, bordered by a Gothic town hall, is wallpa-

pered with fairytale-like townhouses. The historic cathedral island continues
the tradition of lighting streetlamps at dusk. The University’s main hall with
its stucco decorations, frescoes and sculptures, will have your eyes at the edge
of their stalks. There’s an entire museum dedicated to a monumental paint-
ing—the Battle of Raclawice (a 15x114 meter cycloramic work). The UNESCO
listed Centennial Hall and the Four Domes Pavillion (where the Museum of
Contemporary Art is located) boast a spectrum of diversity in the Polish arts.

Würzburg, Germany
The siren call of Würzburg, (also known as Gateway
to the Romantic Road in Germany), has long been
the Residenz. Commissioned by two Prince Bish-
ops, and chiefly designed by star architect Balthasar
Neumann, this palace complex is now a UNESCO
world heritage site. Exquisitely ornate, with barely a
surface left unattended, everywhere the eye gazes are
elaborate and richly ornamented rooms. Across the
city, in museums, and art collections, masterworks
by artists like Tilman Riemenschneider and Giovan-
ni Battista Tiepolo are on display. Adding rapture to
this sensory feast, is the fact that the city is the Fran-
conian wine capital.
Visit the wine estate Juliuspittal to learn about
the soils and micro-climates responsible for the dis-
tinctiveness of the local wine. Silvaner is the
predominant grape variety, but classic grape variet-
ies like Riesling and Pinot are also cultivated.
Visit the historic cellar, for a glimpse at oak bar-
The Residenz—a compelling
rels, some of which date back over a century. palace complex and now a
The traditional method of bottling the wine in UNESCO world heritage site
a type of flattened, pronounced-bellied wine (Far left); The gardens that
bottle called “Bocksbeutel,” still goes strong. engulf the Residenz blend
There’s also a modern cellar here that features formal elegance and nature’s
the latest technology. bounty (Above); Baroque
style sculptures, with
intricate detailing (Left).

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 47

ANNIVERSARY

As Lakme Fashion Week, in association with FDCI, completes

25 years, here is a trip down memory lane with the most
iconic looks at the LFW grand finale.

Smita Tripathi

Glamour, glitz and grandeur marked a histor-

ic moment in the Indian fashion industry as
on the last Sunday of March, Lakme Fashion
Week (LFW) in association with the Fash-
ion Development Council of India (FDCI)
celebrated 25 years of fashion weeks in the
country. It was at the turn of the century
with India having been liberalised less than
a decade ago and having a rather nascent
fashion industry that the idea of setting up
a fashion week on the likes of the New York
Fashion Week was birthed to provide a plat-
form for Indian designers and help them with
large scale commerce. “We have come a long
way since then,” says Sunil Sethi, Chairman,
FDCI. “It’s not about creativity because the
Indian designer was equally creative then,
what has changed is the scale. It has gone up
manifold,” he says, adding, that today we are
a well-established industry competing on a
global scale. “The LFW today is a must-view
event for many people worldwide – from
the Middle East, the US and Europe. It’s for
global buyers to come and see what we are
doing. We celebrate our evolution and
journey,” says Sethi.

To mark the occasion, the final day saw two

styles from 30 grand finale designers of previ-
Gaurav Gupta’s ous years, including Rina Dhaka, Varun Bahl,
most iconic look is
Ritu Kumar, Tarun Tahiliani, Gaurav Gupta,
from his collection
The (Un)folding Suneet Varma, Anita Dongre, Amit Agrawal,
from 2019 Falguni & Shane Peacock, among others.
 Gaurav Gupta
“One of the most iconic moments for me at Lakmé Fashion Week was in 2019,
when Navkirat Sodhi, my life partner opened our show suspended mid-air,
OBJECTS OF reciting her poem ‘Kill Pain With Couture’. It wasn’t just fashion, it was a live,
DESIRE emotional performance,” says Gaurav Gupta. Sodhi wore a sculpted bustier and
a sheer, elongated skirt that flowed all the way to the floor. Doves in flight were
FASHION projected on to the skirt. “That moment captured the soul of our work -- poetry,
couture, and surreal storytelling all coming together. It also marked 15 years of
our brand, so it was deeply personal,” says Gupta who has been showcasing at
LFW since 2015. Gupta says the collection ‘The (Un)folding’ from summer 2019
was quite popular and used delicate hand embroidered chikankari and Benarasi
brocade in his signature style of gravity-defying pattern making. However, for the
LFW grand gala he showcased two looks from his 2015 collection.
 OBJECTS OF
DESIRE

FASHION

Tarun Tahiliani
For the grand finale, Tarun
Tahiliani chose to revisit two
archival pieces that represent
the essence of his design
journey. Dayena –a crystal
bodysuit encrusted with
Swarovski crystals, worn
under a corset that plays with
structure and shimmer. Sarah,
a concept saree in tulle,
intricately embellished with
Swarovski elements, paired
with a fluted Swarovski blouse
and a crystallised pave obi
belt. “With Sarah, the idea
was to take something deeply
traditional – the saree—and
reinterpret it in a more fluid,
sculpted form,”
says Tahiliani.

Anita Dongre
“While there have been many
favourites, the one look that comes
to mind is this beautiful red Bandhani
look from our 2009 show. Bandhani
is one of my all-time favourite crafts
and I loved how the billowy in-cut
silhouette was highlighted with gota-
patti. Contemporarising our heritage
crafts gives me immense joy as
a designer,” says Anita Dongre talking
about her favourite looks from
years past. At the LFW grand
gala, she showcased a look from her
2008 collection.
 Others
The celebration saw some other
significant archival looks including
Lisa Haydon and Carol Gracias who
stunned in Anamika Khanna’s 2004
pieces and Manish Malhotra who
recreated the iconic black and gold
arm sling designed for Shah Rukh
Khan in 2009, when he collaborated
with Kolkata Knight Riders. Bibhu
Mohapatra revived his celebrated
shiny latex dresses for the grand
gala, while Indrani Dasgupta walked
for Rohit Bal in the late designer’s
last collection, Kaaynaat.

Bibhu Mohapatra revived his

shiny latex dresses (Far left);
Indrani Dasgupta walked for
Rohit Bal in the late designer’s
last collection, Kaaynaat (Left)

Suneet Varma
¨ For Suneet Varma who has presented
three grand finales at LFW, it was a
throwback to his first solo show in
Ritu Kumar 1992. “I envisioned a silhouette that
celebrated both femininity and power
The grand dame of Indian — the golden metal bustier styled
fashion, Ritu Kumar with a sari. It was my artistic tribute to
showcased a selection Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, reimagined
of her archival pieces, through an Indian lens. At the time, the
paying homage to India’s idea of combining sculptural metalwork
rich textile heritage and with traditional drapes was considered
craftsmanship. While Lisa avant-garde, even radical,” he muses.
Ray walked the runway The golden metallic bustier remains one
in a rich burgundy silk of his most defining creations.
saree called Parampara
which was designed over
30 years ago, Candice
Pinto wore the hand-
embroidered Satnam
lehenga detailed with
delicate ari and tikki Shantanu & Nikhil
embroidery, celebrating
the perfect blend of Shantanu and Nikhil who went for a
artistry, heritage, and look from their 2019 collection say that
modern style. the ensemble paid homage to their
core design codes—drape, military
influences, leather, structure, and
androgyny. “In many ways, they were
not just silhouettes, but a narrative of
unshackling traditionalism over the
years—capturing both our heritage and
our distinct voice in Indian couture,” say
the designer duo.
 FINE
LIVING

WAT CH

TIMELESS
TRADITION
The Breguet Tradition
Seconde Rétrograde
7035 blends
history, style, and
technical bravado
in an anniversary
masterpiece.
Dhiram Shah

S
ome watches whisper, the gentle waves of the Seine, Every detail feels personal, from
others shout, but the merging Parisian charm with Swiss the retrograde seconds ticking
Breguet Tradition precision. mischievously between ten and
Seconde Rétrograde 7035 Beneath the stylish façade eleven o’clock to the subtly lavish
confidently converses. Celebrating lies a cleverly exposed heart: the satin finishes. This timepiece isn’t
250 years of horological flair, Tradition’s bold open-work design content simply marking hours, it
it arrives fashionably late and reveals the intricate mechanics celebrates individuality, blending
dressed to impress, decked out within, ensuring your wrist carries craft and charm into a watch that’s
in “Breguet gold,” an exclusive not just a watch, but a micro- not merely worn, but admired.
alloy blended especially for this engineering exhibition. The The Breguet Tradition Seconde
milestone. Pairing this radiant gold platinum crescent moon-shaped Rétrograde 7035 isn’t about telling
with a translucent blue grand feu oscillating weight adds a dash of the time; it’s about spending it
enamel dial, the watch features romantic nostalgia, harking back to magnificently.
a playful nod to Paris’s Quai de the pioneering days of automatic
l’Horloge, where Abraham-Louis winding. It’s not just horological Price on request;
Breguet first set up shop. The theatre, it’s a tribute to Breguet’s
guilloché engraving echoes legacy of innovation and elegance. Availability breguet.com

52 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

 Clockwise from right:
Curry leaf salmon;
Lamb chops; Kulfi
Falooda with rose ice
cream; Gucchi pulao

FINE LIVING
RESTAURA NT

Fig by any
other Name guests to experience Indian food in an immersive way that
is flavour- forward, yet free of excess that we have come to
expect of indulgent Indian food. For instance, Dal Anjeer, the
Anjeer, the freshly minted Indian restaurant’s signature clay pot dal offers the perfect titillation
restaurant in Gurugram steers away to the taste buds, without being a calorie jerker (read no butter
from progressive or fusion cuisine to or cream).
offer inspired Indian food. The menu stitches together regional and indigenous Indian
dishes. While the Chettinad Spiced Mushroom gyozas served
Chumki Bharadwaj with white sesame chutney and a soy chilli dip is a no-brainer;
the avocado tostada is a fun take on Avo toast and uses home-

T
made Mathri as a flaky base with spicy avocado chokha and
he time couldn’t be more opportune to crispy spinach. The prawns kali mirch use perfectly chargrilled
launch an Indian restaurant, given the jumbo prawns, flavoured with butter and garlic. The grilled
global praise and recognition being salmon, served with a curry leaf and tamarind emulsion was
heaped upon the cuisine currently. Obvi- a tad disappointing though, while the curry leaf and tamarind
ously, the fact is not lost on chefs and restau- sauce was delightful, possibly a different choice of fish may
rateurs if the rapid mushrooming of new Indian have carried it a little further. The breads are a menu spotlight,
restaurants is any indication. Where Anjeer suc- and offer delicious alternatives even for a gluten sensitive
ceeds is in its departure from the expected. It is palate such as the writer’s. As for liquid companions, the Kom-
Indian food that is familiar but non-conformist; buchas are an easy pair and come with variety and taste. The
refreshingly fuss-free but thoughtful, ingredient liquor licence is still to come through so indulge in dessert
led but layered, offering a dining experience that which are few but far reaching in flavour.
celebrates flavour through a creative lens. Where Ground Floor, Unit 6, Tower-A, Global Gateway Towers,
Much of its ethos echoes the mindful dining Mehrauli-Gurgaon Rd, Sector 26, Haryana;
that has outlined its sister venture Fig’s philoso- https://www.anjeer.restaurant/
phy. Small and intimate, the restaurant invites Cost `4,000 (Meal for two) ++

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 53

 FINE LI V ING Tech : St yle : Hot L aunches

RITUALS OF
REJUVENATION
Swastik, a new luxury ‘wellbeing sanctuary’ in Pune, takes a 360-degree approach to wellness.
Amit Dixit

here are no corners in my understated yet luxuri- Days at Swastik pass in a flurry of signature
ous accommodation at Swastik, a new wellness rituals. My arrival is marked with a ‘Swastik Swa-
retreat set among verdant hills on the outskirts of gat’, where I stand in a metal bowl while a bell
Pune with sweeping views of Khadakwasla Lake. above is rung, giving my off-key frequencies a
The idea, I’m told, is to create the comforting gentle reset. Instead of a conventional ‘namaste’,
sense of being in a womb. They’re called guhas I’m greeted with the heartfelt ‘Atma Naman’. As I
here, and while minimalistic, the cosy ‘caves’, settle in for the night, there’s a knock at the door.
done up in muted beige and off-white tones, Someone’s here to perform ‘Swastik Nidra’, a
come with all modern conveniences. ritual to tuck me into bed with aromatic oils and a

54 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

 Clockwise: The
stunning Dhyan Vihar
at Swastik; the pool
area; healthy food;
and minimalist-chic
accommodation

Photographs: HEMANT PATIL

quick foot massage.
Next day, I get into the flow of things. My first ‘therapy’ is
‘Swara Anantham’, a session of sound healing at Ninadika, a
dark chamber with a dramatic ceiling sporting celestial bod-
ies. As I lie on the floor, the therapist uses several objects and
instruments to recreate nature sounds. Sound does heal, and I
emerge transformed. The afternoon is reserved for ‘Arogyam’, a
session of deep-tissue massage so intense I think I’m discover-
ing new tissues!
Swastik has been conceptualised by Dr Nitin Nyati; the
founder’s vision has been realised brilliantly by architect Man-
ish Banker of TAO Studio. The harmonious design embraces
the five core elements or Panch Mahabhutas—Earth, Air, Water,
Fire, and Space—as its guiding force. Consequently, Swastik
is divided into five ‘vihars’: Ayu Vihar, where all treatments are
done; Sukh Vihar, where the guhas are clustered; Anand Vihar,
which has the reception, restaurant, and so on; Utsav Vihar,
with its amphitheatre and reflexology path; and Dhyan Vihar,
the spiritual core of Swastik. At the centre of Dhyan Vihar is
the stunning Dhyan Mandir, a column-less, 11,000-square-foot
meditation hall. This is where I had my ‘Swastik Shuddhi’, a
cleansing ritual to balance the body’s five elements.
Mirroring the architecture, Swastik takes a holistic approach
to healing and nurtures five key dimensions of wellness—
Health, Wealth, Love, Bliss, and Spirituality. That’s why they
have lectures on subjects as diverse as Ayurveda and wealth.

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 55

 Swatik Wellbeing
offers a range of
FINE LIVING
holistic treatments,
RETREAT from sound healing to
massage therapies

THE
COORDINATES
• Programmes range from an
introductory ‘Discover’ (3N
onwards) to more advanced
‘Holistic Detox’ (7N onwards);
‘Panchakarma’ (14N onwards);
‘Graceful Ageing’ (7N
onwards); and even a fertility
programme, ‘The Seed of
Life’ (7N onwards), among
others. The Yearly Signature
Programmes offer long-
term personal growth and
transformation.

• Accommodation ranges from

Aaram Guha (base suite) to
Maha Guha (duplex suite),
Bhavya Guha (one room and
living area suite) and Kutumb
Guha (for families). Stays start
at `57,000 plus taxes per
night on twin-sharing basis for
the base category (includes
all meals and therapies for
two people).

Contact info@
swastikwellbeing.com;
www.swastikwellbeing.com

They even have programmes specially tailored for ado-

lescents. Besides, there are activities as diverse as aerial
yoga, hymn chanting, and even cow petting (which I can
whole-heartedly recommend).
A word on the food, which plays such a pivotal role
on any healing journey. All meals begin with folded
hands and shloka chanting, in gratitude for the bounty
on our plates. Chef Arvind Joshi has created an inspired
menu which shows that healthy and nutritious food
does not have to be bland or boring. I had a series of
stellar meals through my stay, preferring the al fresco
seating at their restaurant Rasa. I especially loved the
ash gourd shorba, roasted cauliflower salad, raw banana
kofta with grain-free roti, bottle gourd fettucine, and the
sweet potato halwa. There was even a tiramisu.
Swastik is not your standard ‘two therapies a day,
sandwiched between meditation and yoga’ sort of
place. This is a deep, mindful dive into a 360-degree
healing journey, where no stone will be left unturned to
recharge your withered cells and send a ‘new you’ back
into the big bad world.

56 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

 FINE LIVING
RETAIL

MAYBACH
HAS ‘DESIGNS’
ON INDIA
The legendary German brand Maybach
Icons of Luxury, known for its handcrafted
elegance, makes its India debut with its first
store at Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bengaluru.

Bindu Gopal Rao

he latest addition to Bengaluru’s

burgeoning luxury retail space is
Maybach. Well, not the car brand
but its lifestyle arm that also of-
fers a preview of the Mercedes-
Maybach SL Monogram Series
accessories. The brand has been
brought to India in collaboration
with GKB Opticals and Eternity
Lifestyles, both known names in
the eyewear space in India. “Luxury in India is grow-
ing rapidly as people want something authentic, and
Maybach eyewear has been a fan favourite among the
discerning audience here. Quality, style, and crafts-
manship all come together in this first concept store in
India, making it more accessible,” says Priyanka Gupta,
Director of Brands, GKB Opticals. “Like the car, the
standard of luxury in eyewear is Maybach, which has
no parallel in terms of product or design,”adds Ronak
Sheth, Founder, Eternity Lifestyles.
Maybach Icons of Luxury aims to bring the best from
the very best. The brand has seen Indians shopping
for their products abroad and that is why they chose
to locate their 11th store worldwide in India. “Specifi-
cally, what makes this store unique is that we offer cus-
tomisation as well, and we want to work with what our

58 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

 customers really want. We can change colours and make
special sizes of leather goods as part of this, and while it
will take time, we believe it will add a bespoke touch,” says
Wolfgang Thelen, Founder and CEO of Maybach Icons of
Luxury GmbH.
The brand started out with eyewear and branched out to
become a luxury men’s brand and is now adding more seg-
Maybach Icons of ments. “For instance, in bags, we have briefcases, leather
Luxury brings the
bags, and travel bags. We also have a range of writing in-
Mercedes-Maybach
struments. Everything is produced in Germany and bears
SL Monogram
the excellence of craftsmanship,” says Thelen. In the eye-
Series accessories
to India in wear collection they use materials that no one else uses—a
collaboration with combination of wood, natural buffalo horn, and titanium.
GKB Opticals and “For Indian customers who appreciate craftsmanship and
Eternity Lifestyles in excellence, this is a perfect fit. We also use mother of pearl
first ever concept and solid gold and even have a real diamond collection that
store in India, the is specifically created for the Indian market,” adds Thelen.
brand’s 11th store “Every piece in our collection is made using the best
worldwide. materials and focusses on craftsmanship at its core. We do
not really have anything that is mass-produced or made in
large numbers. And the production is sustainable too,” says
Thelen. Ready to give your accessories a luxe makeover?

WHERE Phoenix Mall of Asia Bangalore

COST Eyewear upwards of `1.76 lakh; Writing instruments
upwards of `1.72 lakh

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 59

THE LAPTOP FINE
LIVING

YOU DIDN’T GI Z MO

KNOW
YOU NEED
With this nifty gizmo, you
will sail through lectures
and meetings on a single
charge, no lifeboat
necessary.
Sulabh Puri

H
ere’s the thing: Laptops
aren’t just important
extras you carry around,
they are essentials
that you need to make your
life smarter, better and easier.
So, when the ASUS Vivobook
16 (X1607QA) that brings
Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon
X platform to a surprisingly
accessible price point, came to
us, we had to find out if it ticks all you extra vertical real estate for
our boxes. At an MRP of `84,990, documents and spreadsheets.
it promises long battery life, solid Peak brightness clocks in around
everyday performance, and a 300 nits—perfect indoors, but
design that won’t embarrass you you’ll squint in direct sunlight.
in lectures or meetings. But does Colour coverage of about 60 per
it deliver? Let’s dive in. cent sRGB keeps Netflix binges
pleasant. The 60 Hz refresh rate
Design won’t thrill gamers, but everyday
The Vivobook 16 sticks to scrolling and video playback
ASUS’s tried-and-true minimalist remain smooth.
aesthetic. Its matte-finish lid
resists fingerprints better than Performance
your average smartphone screen, Inside lives Qualcomm’s custom
and the ErgoLift hinge tilts the Oryon-core Snapdragon X chip,
keyboard at a gentle angle for backed by 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM
more comfortable typing. At VERDICT and a 512 GB PCIe 4.0 SSD.
roughly 1.8 kg and 20 mm thick, Office apps open almost
it’s not an ultrabook, but it won’t TThe ASUS Vivobook instantly, and juggling 20
weigh down your backpack. The 16 (X1607QA) nails the browser tabs with video calls
mostly polycarbonate chassis essentials: portability, or music in the background
feels sturdy under normal use, battery endurance, and is a breeze. Battery life shines
with barely a whisper of flex everyday speed. For brightest here: expect 9–12 hours
when you try too hard. Bonus students and professionals of mixed use, and over 12 hours
points for the full-sized keyboard. who live in documents, of video playback. A
browsers, and video calls, two-hour full charge keeps
Display this Vivobook feels like a downtime minimal.
A 16-inch WUXGA (1,920×1,200) premium experience.
panel in a 16:10 aspect ratio gives Price `84,990

60 INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025

 FINE LIVING
HOSPITALIT Y

The Imperial offers an

expansive collection
of Indo-European art
(Right); Spa ritual at
the Imperial Spa &
Salon at the hotel

FLYING
SOLO
The Imperial has launched a special
travel package for solo travellers.

Chumki Bharadwaj

T
he power of one has definite- has recently launched a thoughtfully Delhi’s historic past and cultural
ly magnified its heft beyond crafted programme called Solo So- hotspots, a 60-minute Signature Im-
sloganeering to become the journ for those who seek a sponta- perial Spa ritual, personalised yoga
unofficial tagline for solo neous escape. This stay experience and meditation sessions with their
travellers. Apart from glorifying the is designed for free spirits and is yoga masters. And a tour of one
spirit of rugged individualism, those age and gender agnostic. “Whether of the world’s largest private Indo-
in the travel trade are recognis- you’re in need of a quick reprieve or European art collection in the hotel.
ing this as a reigning trend. In fact, a moment to reconnect with your- That’s not all, it also provides exclu-
some hotels have even started offer- self, our sanctuary offers elegance, sive access to The Imperial Lounge,
ing special packages. “We’ve seen history, inspiration, and comfort, all which offers delicious all-day gour-
a heartening rise in solo travellers, aimed at igniting your sense of ad- met dining, evening cocktails with
particularly women, seeking mean- venture or repose,” adds Sailer. The one airport transfer of your choice.
ingful, restorative experiences over immersive itinerary blends heritage, However, you need to sign up for a
the conventional. It’s a trend that wellness, gastronomy, and art, and minimum of three nights to avail the
inspires us deeply and reinforces includes luxurious welcome ameni- offer. Solitary Reaper 2.0?
our commitment to creating person- ties, a sumptuous breakfast at 1911,
alised journeys,” says Louis Sailer, their all-day dining venue, an exclu- Where The Imperial New Delhi;
Senior Executive Vice President of sive cooking class with their chefs; [email protected]
The Imperial New Delhi. The Imperial a guided 4-hour city tour exploring Cost Upwards of `89,999 ++

INDIA TODAY SPICE M AY 2025 61

 L AST LOOK

SWAN
DIVE
Coasting on the popularity of
the Seamaster Diver 300M,
OMEGA’s contemporised version
of the legendary model does a
delightful take on the original
launched in 1993. The current
collection generously embraces
the Seamaster’s famous ocean
heritage and updates it with the
brand’s most advanced innovation
and design. The 42 mm model is
crafted in OMEGA’s exclusive Bronze
Gold and includes a burgundy
oxalic anodised aluminium bezel
ring with a diving scale in vintage
Super-LumiNova. The dial
uses sandblasted black
aluminium, which
features PVD 18 carat
Bronze Gold hands
Price
and blackened
`28.91 lakh
indexes, all filled
Availability with vintage Super-
omega.com LumiNova. The other
markings, including
the OMEGA logo, have
been transferred in
light brown. The watch
is presented on a brushed
mesh bracelet with clasp, and is
driven by the OMEGA Co-Axial
Master Chronometer Calibre 8806,
which can be seen through the
sapphire-crystal caseback. Striking
in style, yet subtle in its statement,
this is yesterday once more—only a
lot more!

By Chumki Bharadwaj