Literature

John Milton’s ‘Areopagitica’, published 380 years ago, was one of the first defences of free speech and quest for truth — its arguments remain valid even today

Humans find robot sadness compelling because its intelligence makes it sad, just as intelligence makes us sad too

Hungary’s 1,000-year-old Pannonhalma Archabbey is battling a severe beetle infestation threatening its historic library. Restoration teams are removing and disinfecting 100,000 books to preserve centuries-old manuscripts, with climate change believed to have worsened the infestation risk

We read Mein Kampf in its hundredth anniversary year with the wisdom of hindsight but also horror-struck at the Israeli state’s own actions now, fully aware of the nightmare reality Hitler’s vision spread across 700 pages produced

There may be no poetry in the pits but poetry can bring up what lies below: fear, greed, devastation

Despite being a celebrated author, Frederick Forsyth, who died at 86, always considered himself a journalist first and often joked that he turned to fiction only when he found himself broke and jobless

The saas-bahu dynamic has been a source of amusement, annoyance and, of course, inspiration, especially in the Indian subcontinent

The International Booker Prize’s practice of sharing credit and prize money equally between author and translator is commendable, especially when translators are ignored in publishing rights, award credits, book reviews, and promotions

Muddupalani, an 18th century Telugu poet and Devadasi, composed Radhika Santvanamu, a bold and emotionally resonant work that remains one of India’s most significant, yet largely forgotten, contributions to women’s literature

Banu Mushtaq’s ‘Heart Lamp’, winning the 2025 International Booker Prize — the first ever for a Kannada work, marks the triumph of the power of vernacular literature over systemic biases

The other five books on the shortlist included ‘On the Calculation of Volume I' by Solvej Balle, ‘Small Boat' by Vincent Delecroix, ‘Under the Eye of the Big Bird' by Hiromi Kawakami, ‘Perfection' by Vincenzo Latronico, and ‘A Leopard-Skin Hat' by Anne Serre

The period of Sir Salar Jung I from 1853 to 1883, a watershed moment in the history of Hyderabad State, saw the feudal princely State metamorphosed into a progressive, forward-looking administrative unit

World Book and Copyright Day on April 23 reminds us of literature’s power in shaping minds, building inclusive cultures and advancing SDGs in the age of AI

A three day Sampoorna Shatavadhanam of Dr. Marepalli Venkataramana Patwardhan organized by Telugu University, Avadhana Vidya Vikasa Parishad and Praja Padyam began today in Telugu University

This celestial sighting is more than just an announcement of festivities; it is a moment of collective anticipation, an age-old tradition that brings together faith, hope, and poetry

Torn from worship and reduced to spectacle, temple dance lost its sanctity to colonialism, reform, and exploitation. Beginning from Hyderabad’s Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Swapnasundari continues her relentless journey to revive the art and restore it to sacred ritual

In the digest, the story on Holi is titled ‘Celebration Surprise', with Archie and his beloved friends Betty and Veronica learning about Holi and the traditions of fun and food associated with it. The story is based on the Archie Publications cofounder's experiences in India

The oceanic in much contemporary fiction is the place of multispecies belonging and new becomings, and decentres the human

Chief Justice of India JS Khehar, former chief of Suzuki Motor late Osamu Suzuki, Ram temple architect Chandrakant Sompura, hockey player PR Sreejesh among 139 Padma awardees announced on the eve of the 76th Republic Day

Hyderabad Literary Festival 2025, a mix of engaging plenaries, interactive workshops, cultural performances, and inspiring talks captivated audiences, leaving a lasting impact

With an exciting array of events, including lit stream, Kaavya Dhaara, stage talks, Youngistaan nukkad, storytelling sessions, cultural events, workshops, exhibitions, and film screenings, the HLF offers something for everyone

Beginning January 18, the series is conceived and designed by Mohammad Ali Baig as a tribute to his mother and co-founder of the theatre foundation

When one acts in a thoughtful way celebrations will no longer be empty. You will find meaning in the mundane.

The book caused a furour against its author and content as it was deemed blasphemous by Muslim organisations the world over