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You've always been mean to me, Mom. I vividly remember that day when I played so hard in the hot sun. I think I was about 7 years old. With love filled in my heart, I came running home to hug you, thinking you would serve me food. Instead, you snapped at me and told me to serve myself. I was so hurt, Mom.

WedMeGood

Whether it's a flouncy white gown or an elaborate lehenga, an elegant reception or a raucous sangeet, weddings absolutely anywhere are nothing short of special. That being said, there are always some things we can learn from the West, and others they could pick up from us.

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Now that the IPL's governing council has made a strong pitch to shift the IPL to either the UAE or South Africa, it is time to sit back and reflect. You could shrug and say, how does the venue matter? But would the English Premier League (EPL) be as popular if it was, say, played in Singapore? Will someone in South Africa be as proud as apna Delhiite watching the Delhi Daredevils walk in?

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Was the iconic monument created with a single error on purpose? Or, did the artists and craftsmen make an honest mistake because of a lack of advanced scientific equipment? Did Shah Jahan know?

Christie's London

Environmentalists all over the world are talking about the vital role of trees in the world's ecosystems. But there's another aspect to it: their beauty and cultural value. A sale of Indian miniatures at Christie's in London echoes the power and primary import of trees in the lives of Indians who lived in centuries past. It also celebrates the love of collecting Indian miniatures, with some paintings dating back nearly 300 years, amongst European families.

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Afghan authorities have not directly accused Pakistan of involvement in the Kabul attack of 19 April, but many senior government and security officials have blamed the hostile neighbour for providing sanctuary to terror groups -- most notably the notorious Haqqani Network -- attacking Afghanistan. Kabul intelligence chief Omar Aziz, addressing a press conference, said the attack was orchestrated "outside the country", stopping short of mentioning Pakistan.

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The outrage perpetrated In Bangladesh against headmaster Shyamal Kanti Bhakta, who was beaten by a mob and forced to do squats while holding his ears for allegedly insulting Islam, is unfortunate to say the least. The entire country's show of solidarity with this man is proof that Bangladesh is not a fundamentalist country. However, one "tiny" detail seemed to have gotten lost in the din.

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Professor Raj Raghunathan's book, If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Happy?, is a thought-provoking analysis backed by detailed research on the habits we need to cultivate to find joy amidst the highs and lows of our daily lives. These habits provide the antidote to the "seven deadly sins" that are the enemies of happiness.

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On an average a glass of sugarcane juice costs anywhere between ₹10-20 in India. On a hot summer day the refreshing solace it provides to thirsty souls is nothing short of bliss. Those who stop by the roadside to enjoy a glass of sugarcane juice take quick gulps of this nectar, pay their dues and zoom past the vendor. Yet, yesterday, when I tried to understand the true cost of the one glass of sugarcane juice that I drank, I was shattered.

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One may disagree with the views Bhagat expresses in his columns and other public forums. I myself, on most occasions, find it difficult to agree with him. However, it is perfectly possible for one to disagree with him and yet appreciate his positive contributions to the public space. Depriving him of this credit, which he has duly earned, would be criminal to say the least.

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California textbooks have become ground zero for an alliance of organizations led by right wingers such as the Hindu American Foundation who are working to erase caste (and its relevance to the slavery-like conditions suffered by caste-ed subjects) from the curriculums of California textbooks. The organization's goal seems to be to achieve in the US what has been difficult to do in India -- erase caste, diminish its violence and remove the assertion of Dalits.

Namrata Tanna

A week-long immersion into rural Maharashtra with a grassroots NGO after a particularly difficult personal challenge proved to be a transformational journey for me. This three-part series showcases the challenges, successes, strategies and innovation of a unique organization that is trying to bring a holistic change to the villages of Mokhada and Jawhar talukas (districts)--much as I'm trying to do in my personal life.

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Yes, I am fat, healthy, plump and everything else you want to call me. I will use the word "fat" without feeling sorry for myself and without cringing. Fat is fat, but fat is not ugly, funny or unacceptable.

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India's decision to cancel a travel visa issued to Dolkun Isa, a leader of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), a dissident group that advocates for the nearly 12 million Muslims living in the Chinese region Xinjiang, could have unintended repercussions. Mr. Isa believes that India revoked his visa at the behest of China, which has suffered a number of attacks by Uyghur separatists. India's inserting itself into the Xinjiang controversy, though, is more likely to enflame Kashmir-obsessed Pakistani Islamists than Uyghurs.

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There have been intense politics around caste identity, linguistic identity, regional identity, religious identity and a lot of other identities that can be manufactured but there's hardly a whisper about the electoral potential of gender as an identity.

BCCL

It's a pity to see the most capable of our society being consumed in the wilderness of India's babudom, when they could've tried to explore better options internationally. That would've been more rewarding for them as individuals and for Kashmir as a whole. I find it quite logical when I say I want to see the best and brightest of Kashmir to prove their mettle in international competitive exams, rather than restricting themselves to serving the Indian administration.

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And if you, like me, have been wondering just how in the world Trump (and others in a similar mould) manage to rise to power, you may find The True Believer - Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements by social philosopher Eric Hoffer particularly illuminating. In this critically acclaimed work, Hoffer lays bare the thoughts, emotions, and justifications that go through the minds of the masses who coalesce to make a movement.