Who was Nathu Vinayak Godse and why did he kill Mahatma Gandhi? Was he a fanatic, a man consumed by ideology, or a product of his time? The question is complex and, for an answer, we will have to delve deeper into the life of Godse. History does not offer simple answers. Mind you, Godse was not a mindless killer. He was articulate, politically aware, and deeply convinced of his beliefs. Yet his act—taking the life of an unarmed, elderly man who symbolised peace and non-violence—makes little...

In Kerala, Munroe islands are slowly sinking. Scientists believe that these magical islands may totally vanish in next three decades. The islands are nature’s gift to man and sadly nature has decided to take them back. As a matter of fact, two of the eight islands are already sinking and wear a deserted look. Climate change researchers call it, “India’s first sinking island.” We had come for rest and relaxation but what we found was a living poem—fragile, luminous, and trembling against time....

The child was extraordinary, full of wisdom and mature beyond his age. Villagers looked at him with awe and admiration. They were convinced that he had come to this earth with a divine purpose. They wondered how an eight-year-old child could recite the Vedas fluently. The name of the child was Shankara, and the village where he was born was Kalady in Kerala. The river Periyar flowed quietly by the side of this village. Shankara was part of a poor household. One day, the child was sitting in a...