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Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From Salman Rushdie to Mira Nair: Where these 9 Indian-origin global media and literary icons studied
Indian-origin writers, poets, and media personalities have left an indelible mark on global storytelling — from reshaping modern fiction to redefining how marginalized voices are heard. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now What's often overlooked is how their academic journeys helped shape their perspectives, sharpen their language, and fuel their global influence. Here are 9 Indian-origin literary and media icons — and the schools and universities that helped launch them into the world stage. Salman Rushdie A towering figure in global literature, Salman Rushdie is known for blending magical realism with deep political and historical themes. Notable works: Midnight's Children , The Satanic Verses Education: School: Rugby School, UK Rugby School, UK University: King's College, University of Cambridge – BA in History Rushdie's classical British education combined with his South Asian roots created the perfect storm for his postcolonial and magical realist fiction. His time at Cambridge exposed him to historical frameworks that would shape the narrative structure of Midnight's Children . Jhumpa Lahiri Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has redefined diaspora fiction with her elegant, introspective storytelling. Notable works: Interpreter of Maladies , The Namesake Education: Undergrad: Barnard College, Columbia University – BA in English Literature Barnard College, Columbia University – BA in English Literature Graduate: Boston University – MA, MFA, and PhD in English and Comparative Literature Lahiri's deep academic grounding in English literature, followed by formal creative writing training, allowed her to develop her precise style — one that powerfully explores diaspora identity. Arundhati Roy Arundhati Roy is both a celebrated novelist and a fearless activist, using her voice to challenge injustice through fiction and non-fiction alike. Notable works: The God of Small Things , The Ministry of Utmost Happiness Education: Schooling: Corpus Christi School, Delhi Corpus Christi School, Delhi College: Delhi School of Architecture Roy's background in architecture taught her how to structure space and story — evident in her complex, multi-layered narrative style. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Her formal training gave her an artistic eye and an activist's soul, both of which define her work. Amitav Ghosh A global literary figure, Amitav Ghosh is known for weaving history, politics, and ecology into sprawling, ambitious novels. Notable works: The Ibis Trilogy , The Shadow Lines Education: Undergrad: St. Stephen's College, Delhi – History St. Stephen's College, Delhi – History Postgrad: Delhi School of Economics – MA Delhi School of Economics – MA PhD: Oxford University – Social Anthropology Ghosh's work is deeply informed by his academic journey across history and anthropology. His novels are meticulously researched, and his educational foundation allows him to write richly about colonialism, trade, and climate. Kiran Desai The daughter of celebrated author Anita Desai, Kiran made her own mark in the literary world with a Booker Prize-winning novel at just 35. Notable works: The Inheritance of Loss Education: Undergrad: Bennington College, USA Bennington College, USA MFA: Columbia University – Creative Writing Desai studied creative writing at some of the top literary programs in the U.S., developing a quiet, nuanced voice that explores displacement, immigration, and postcolonial identity. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni A poet, novelist, and academic, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is known for blending mythology and feminism into stories that resonate globally. Notable works: The Palace of Illusions , The Mistress of Spices Education: Undergrad: University of Calcutta University of Calcutta Postgrad: Wright State University (MA), University of California, Berkeley (PhD in English) Divakaruni's fusion of mythology and feminist storytelling is backed by decades of literary education. Her writing bridges East and West, offering Indian narratives to a global audience with poetic precision. Mira Nair An award-winning filmmaker, Mira Nair has brought Indian stories to international audiences with emotional depth and social commentary. Notable works: Monsoon Wedding , The Namesake Education : Undergrad: University of Delhi – Sociology University of Delhi – Sociology Graduate: Harvard University – Visual and Environmental Studies Though primarily known as a filmmaker, Nair's roots are in storytelling and social analysis. Her studies at Harvard helped her merge documentary realism with cinematic narrative — a style seen in her adaptations of literary works. Fareed Zakaria Fareed Zakaria is a globally recognized political commentator and journalist, known for his intelligent, balanced analysis of world affairs. Notable works: The Post-American World , In Defense of a Liberal Education Education: Undergrad: Yale University – BA in History Yale University – BA in History Graduate: Harvard University – PhD in Government Born in Mumbai, Zakaria pursued history at Yale, where he was editor of the Yale Political Monthly and a member of the prestigious Scroll and Key society. He later earned a PhD in government from Harvard under the mentorship of Samuel P. Huntington. His elite academic training in political theory and international relations laid the foundation for his globally respected journalism. Meera Syal An accomplished writer, actress, and comedian, Meera Syal's work explores the British-Asian experience with humour, empathy, and sharp social insight. Notable works: Anita and Me , Goodness Gracious Me (TV) Education: University: University of Manchester – English and Drama With a degree in both literature and performance, Syal blends comedy, cultural commentary, and emotional depth in her work. Her education helped her develop a unique voice in both literature and screenwriting that resonates with diasporic audiences. Education played a powerful role in shaping the worldviews and voices of these literary and media icons. Whether through literature, screenwriting, poetry, or journalism, their words continue to travel across cultures — reflecting their roots and reimagining the future.
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Shekhar Kapur recalls a request by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur recalled a strange request by legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan during the shoot of his movie 'Bandit Queen'. The incident took place just after the unfortunate passing away of another musical legend, R D Burman. Sharing the incident with this Insta Fam, Shekhar said, 'There were tears in Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's voice.' Revealing what request Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan made, the director added, 'Shekhar ji.. you look at your film and I will look into your eyes. And I will sing.' They were doing a background score for 'Bandit Queen'. 'The scene was the Behmai Massacre and its aftermath. With row upon row of funeral pyres with the sound of women on the bank lamenting in high rustic voices ..' Shekhar added. Describing what happened as the mike was turned on, the 'Mr India' maker penned, 'We turned the mikes on and I found Khan sahib looking.. no, staring into my eyes.. as if he could find my soul, and look deep into it. He knew how close I was to R d Burman too. He had created the music for my first film, Masoom.' 'His eyes and his voice arrested me. I was transported to a far deeper realm. For Khan Sahib was taking me closer to God and into the space where life and death merged into one,' he further went on to reveal. 'If you ever see Bandit queen again... look for the scene of the aftermath of the Behmai Massacre... that music will transport you too ..', he added. Shekhar concluded the post by saying what it was like working with the music maestro, 'That's what it was like working with Nusrat Ali Khan .. and that's why I make films. To find space between life and death ..For in that space exists creativity ..' Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan passed away on 16 August 1997, at 48 after suffering a cardiac arrest. Shekhar was born on 6 December 1945 in Lahore, Punjab, British India, in a Punjabi Hindu family to Kulbhushan Kapoor, a doctor with a flourishing practice, and his wife Sheel Kanta Kapoor. Whilst travelling on a train from the newly-created Pakistan to India, a massacre took place; Kapur's mother Sheel played dead and hid both him and his sister under her body. Reflecting on this, Kapur stated that the partition of India happened through 'the blood of one people'. The nephew of famous Indian actor Dev Anand (Kapur's mother Sheel Kanta was the sister of actors Chetan, Dev and Vijay Anand), he was discouraged from getting into films by his father. Kapur is the only son of his parents and he has three sisters. One of his sisters, Neelu, was the first wife of actor Navin Nischol, while another sister, Aruna, is the wife of actor Parikshit Sahni. His third and youngest sister is Sohaila Kapur. Kapur attended Modern School of New Delhi. He studied economics at St. Stephen's College. At 22, he became a Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW in England, having studied accountancy at the behest of his parents. He then started his career working with a multinational oil company. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1970, and spent several years working as an accountant and management consultant. He turned director with the family drama Masoom (1983), starring Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and a young Jugal Hansraj and Urmila Matondkar. The plot followed the story of an illegitimate boy who struggles to find acceptance from his stepmother. He then directed the 1987 science-fiction film Mr. India, starring Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Amrish Puri in his most famous role as the villain Mogambo. Puri's most famous dialogue in this film 'Mogambo Khush Hua' is still remembered. In 1994 he directed the critically acclaimed Bandit Queen and played a cameo in the film as a truck driver. Kapur was infamous for abandoning several films in which he was originally the director. He was originally the director of the 1989 film Joshilaay, which starred Sunny Deol, Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Meenakshi Sheshadri before leaving the production halfway, and its producer Sibti Hassan Rizvi stepped in to complete the film. Agencies
India Today
07-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
When Mahua Moitra met Pinaki Misra
In a country where political affiliations often harden into personal barricades, the quiet marriage of Mahua Moitra and Pinaki Misra has offered a rare moment of grace—where lives intersected not just across parties, but personal histories, geographies and two members of Parliament—one still in active office, the other a seasoned legislator who did not recontest in 2024—tied the knot in a private ceremony in Berlin on May 30. It was a deeply personal affair, far removed from the usual pomp of political unions. The news broke only on June 5 when Moitra shared a photograph of the couple on social media, captioned: 'Here's to new beginnings.'advertisementThe story of how Moitra, the fiery Trinamool Congress MP from West Bengal's Krishnanagar, came to marry Misra, the erudite former parliamentarian from Odisha's Puri, is not one of grand declarations or ideological convergence. It is a story of lives lived in parallel, then increasingly in separated by age and background—Moitra was born in 1974 and educated at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts while Misra, born in 1959, studied at Delhi's prestigious St. Stephen's College and later at the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi—the two shared an understanding of what it meant to navigate Indian public life on their own terms. Both had experienced the vicissitudes of power and public scrutiny. Moitra, who began her professional journey as an investment banker in New York and London, left the corporate world for Indian politics in the 2000s, first with the Youth Congress and then Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress. Known for her powerful interventions in Parliament and unflinching critiques of majoritarianism, Moitra is a polarising but widely admired figure, especially among younger voters and civil liberties trajectory was more classically establishmentarian. A four-time MP from Puri—first elected in 1996 on a Congress ticket and then thrice with the Biju Janata Dal—he built a career on his legal acumen and dignified parliamentary conduct. His legal expertise spans constitutional, corporate and environmental law, and his record in the Lok Sabha includes chairing the Standing Committee on Urban Development and serving as leader of the BJD parliamentary had been married before. Moitra's former husband, Danish financier Lars Brorson, rarely made public appearances during her political career, and she has mostly kept that part of her life private—except when correcting misinformation on social media. Misra had married Sangita Misra, a respected judge of the Odisha High Court, in 1984. They have two children and later divorced say the connection between Moitra and Misra grew gradually, based on conversation, shared values and a mutual appreciation of intellect and independence. Their interactions grew more frequent in recent years, and their bond deepened through a mutual understanding of solitude and resilience—qualities common to those who survive long in politics without surrendering their was not a union forged in haste. With both individuals having rebuilt themselves after complex personal journeys, it was a relationship grounded in maturity and choice of Berlin for their wedding was telling. Cosmopolitan, historic and a city of reinvention, it offered them privacy and symbolic resonance. The ceremony was intimate—attended only by close friends and family. Moitra wore a pale pink Varanasi brocade saree with an off-shoulder blouse, striking a balance between classic tradition and modern elegance. Misra appeared in a simple, cream-toned kurta, understated as photograph she later posted captured not just the joy of the moment, but also the ease and depth of a relationship that had grown out of the public speculation swirls about what this alliance could mean politically, neither Moitra nor Misra has offered comment. Misra, having not contested in the 2024 parliamentary elections, appears to be stepping back from electoral politics, though he continues to remain a prominent figure in legal and intellectual circles. Moitra, on the other hand, returned to the Lok Sabha in 2024 after a turbulent period that included her expulsion in December clear, however, is that theirs is not a political alliance but a deeply personal one—built on affection, shared experiences, and a willingness to step away from the din of public life when an age of performative relationships and curated public personas, Moitra and Misra have rewritten the script—proving that even in the most polarised of landscapes, connection and companionship can thrive. Their union reminds us that politics, for all its storms, is still inhabited by human beings—with hearts, histories and hopes of their to India Today Magazineadvertisement
India Today
05-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Meet Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-founder of Ashoka University and Naukri
Sanjeev Bikhchandani is one of the most revered entrepreneurs and philanthropists in India. He is widely known as the founder of India's first online job portal, but he has also created a huge impact in India's education sector by co-founding Ashoka University. From building businesses to supporting social causes, Sanjeev Bikhchandani represents a compelling story of how innovation, vision, and meaning can overlap to drive real is Sanjeev Bikhchandani?Sanjeev Bikhchandani is one of the most respected entrepreneurs in India. He is most known for founding India's first and most popular online job portal. Today, he is also known as a powerful investor, philanthropist, and startup mentor. His efforts have improved the lives of millions of jobseekers across India and helped shape the digital economy.A Look at Sanjeev Bikhchandani's Professional JourneySanjeev Bikhchandani is an Indian entrepreneur and the founder of Info Edge. He was born in New Delhi, India. Bikhchandani went to St. Columba's School, New Delhi, and graduated from school in obtained a Bachelor of Arts with Economics as his main subject from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, graduating in 1984, and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad) in completing his MBA from IIM Ahmedabad in 1989, Sanjeev Bikhchandani began his career in marketing at Hindustan Milkfood Manufacturers (now GlaxoSmithKline), working on the Horlicks 1990, he left his job to pursue entrepreneurship. He founded Info Edge in 1995, which would become a leading online classifieds company in 1997, he launched which quickly grew to become India's largest web-based employment site, revolutionising job search and recruitment in the his leadership, Info Edge expanded its portfolio with other classified sites, including (real estate), (matrimonial), and (education).Bikhchandani is recognised as an astute investor, having made successful investments in startups such as PolicyBazaar and is also part of the 'Vision Circle' of FYI (Foundation for Young Innovators), a non-profit organisation supporting young has received several honours, including the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2008) and the Padma Shri (2020).Awards and honours received by Sanjeev Bikhchandani 2008: Received the Ernst and Young – Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Business Transformation.2008: Honoured with the Dataquest Pathbreaker Award and Teacher's Achievement Award for Business.2011: Conferred the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A).2012: Received the CF Andrews Distinguished Alumnus Award from St. Stephen's College, Delhi.2012: Honoured with the Lakshmipat Singhania – IIM Lucknow National Leadership Award as Young Leader in the Business Category.2017: Featured in Outlook Magazine's list of India's fifty greatest CEOs ever.2019: Awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in IT by the Financial Express.2020: Conferred the prestigious Padma Shri Award by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Sanjeev Bikhchandani stands not just as the founder of a successful internet company but as a symbol of how entrepreneurship can be a powerful force for change. From enabling millions of Indians to find jobs through to investing in the country's digital and educational future, Bikhchandani continues to inspire a new generation of change India's startup and innovation ecosystem evolves, leaders like him remain a guiding light for building businesses that are both purposeful and impactful.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Political Line newsletter: Old Boys and New Men: people in the India-Pakistan conflict
The fact that India and Pakistan (and Bangladesh) were part of the same country until August 1947 has become so remote to most of the people living in these countries that many of them might even find it difficult to believe. These modern countries were formed as a result, at least partly, of British imperial policies which accentuated and aggravated social divisions. American scholar Jeffrey Sachs recently noted that several conflicts of the world currently — in South Asia, West Asia and East Asia (China and Taiwan) — are legacies of British and western imperialism. In the Indian subcontinent, the conflicts began as 'fraternal violence' — to borrow from historian Shruti Kapila. The long history and myth of violent fraternity goes all the way back to the Mahabharata in which the war was within the family. As of today, the rivalries have acquired a new edge that is sharper and more dangerous than in the past. A key factor in the current tone and character of this conflict is the generational shift in both countries. For the first time in history, India and Pakistan are led by people who were born after Independence and the Partition. Three generations — 78 years — have passed since the Partition. In 2014, Narendra Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to be born after Independence (1950). In Pakistan, this shift had happened seven years earlier. Pervez Musharraf was the last ruler/army chief of Pakistan who was born before the Partition. Ashfaq Kayani, who succeeded Musharraf, was born in 1952; The current army chief of Pakistan, Asim Munir, was born in 1968. Musharraf and Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq — who tilted Pakistan irreversibly in the direction of radical Islamisation — were both born in Delhi, and both left the city in 1947. Musharraf as a four-year old and Haq as a graduate of St. Stephen's College. K. Natwar Singh, who joined St. Stephen's a year after Haq left, went to Islamabad as India's High Commissioner when the latter was the ruler of Pakistan. Singh later recounted how Haq would give his private jet to a group of students from St. Stephen's who went to Pakistan. This was not a one-sided affair — Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani were both born in what would later become Pakistan. Singh, as PM, would famously dream of a day when one could have 'breakfast in Amritsar, lunch in Lahore and dinner in Kabul'. In 2005, Mr. Advani went to Pakistan, and also visited the St. Patrick's school in Karachi where he studied. He would nostalgically recall stories of his childhood. When Musharraf came to India, he visited his family's home in Old Delhi. Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto shared 'pedigree and degree', as a commentator put it; it was his mother and her father who signed the Simla Agreement. In her last book that she finished before her assassination in 2007, Benazir wrote that Pakistan's ISI suspected her to be an Indian asset and sabotaged her ties with Rajiv. The military leadership of both countries also had personal contacts in the early decades. In 1947, Sam Manekshaw was a Lieutenant Colonel and Yahya Khan was a Major in the British Indian Army. Military assets were partitioned — two-thirds of the personnel going to India and one-third going to Pakistan. Khan purchased from the future Field Marshal a red motorcycle but apparently did not pay the promised amount of ₹1,000 around the time of Partition. During the 1971 war, Manekshaw was the Indian Army chief and Yahya Khan was the President of Pakistan. As per an account by Pakistani columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee in 2008, Field Marshal Manekshaw said after the 1971 Bangladesh war, half in jest: 'I waited for 24 years for ₹1,000 which never came, but now he has paid with half of his country.' Even more dramatic is a slice of the story of the surrender of the Pakistani army in Dhaka. Lieutenant General Kuldip Singh Brar gave this account in an interview to an online news portal about the eventful day of December 16, 1971. Major General Gandharv S. Nagra was leading a contingent of Indian troops to Dhaka. He and Lieutenant General A.A.K. Niazi, the commander of Pakistani forces in East Pakistan, had gone to college together. There was no direct communication between the two armies. The Indian Army chief was asking the Pakistani troops to surrender, over a radio broadcast. Nagra's convoy approached an abandoned post of the Pakistani army near Dhaka, and used the phone there to connect to its command headquarters. Niazi was on the line. 'He (Nagra) said, 'Abdullah, this is Gandharv here' and General Niazi asked, 'Gandharv, where are you?' He said, 'I am at the gate of Dhaka and waiting for you to surrender.' General Niazi said, 'We are ready to surrender, but we don't know who to tell.' General Nagra said, 'We are here.' General Niazi said, 'I'm sending a few cars, you come into Dhaka and we'll work out the surrender terms.' We then went into Dhaka in Pakistani vehicles and saw the hospital, university, airfield en route. We arrived at the HQ, Pakistan Eastern Command. General Niazi came out and embraced General Nagra. They went into the office to talk. Meanwhile, we informed Calcutta that we were in Dhaka, and the Pakistan army was ready to surrender.' The rest of the formality followed. Even through wars, terrorism and continuing conflicts, leaders of both countries had some memories of these countries being one, and this was very personal too. Not only did they share the same country in their memories, all of them were also trained in the western education system. With the complete passing of those generations, the India-Pakistan conflict is in a new phase.
