Latest News & Analysis
View All
Ayodhya’s donation scandal tests Sangh Parivar’s most powerful symbol
The alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya has become more than a criminal investigation. It has evolved into a political and institutional test for the organisations that spent decades building the Ram Janmabhoomi movement into the defining cause of Hindu nationalism. What began with allegations of theft from donation boxes has, within days, produced an expanding chain of consequences: a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government, growing demands for accountability, resignations of three members of the the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust , including that of its general secretary, Champat Rai —and, finally, an unusually direct intervention by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale. The chronology itself is revealing. For several days after the allegations surfaced, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the…
The Sacred Heist: How Devotees’ Offerings to Lord Ram Vanished in Ayodhya
In the shadow of the majestic Ram Mandir in Ayodhya where millions of devotees have poured their faith and savings into hundi boxes as offerings to Lord Ram, a betrayal unfolded that has shaken the very foundations of one of India's most revered religious institutions. What began as whispers of missing cash and unaccounted valuables has erupted into a full-blown criminal investigation, exposing alleged systematic pilferage of crores in donations, the arrest of eight individuals—including close aides of top trust officials—and the dramatic resignation of the temple trust's powerful general secretary, Champat Rai, who is also a senior functionary of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). This is not just a story of greed; it is a crime against faith itself, where the pious contributions of ordinary Hindus—notes tucked into donation…
Top Stories
View All
RSS Breaks Silence on Ayodhya Temple Donation Theft, Seeks Strict Action and Greater Transparency
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Friday has alleged embezzlement of donation at Ram temple in Ayodhya had "deeply hurt"…
BJP will fight municipal polls from booth level, says Nitin Nabin in Hyderabad
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin on Sunday called on party workers in Telangana to strengthen the organisation…
Editor's Choice
View All
The Body Never Whispers Without Reason: Why One Indian Doctor Wants Us to Listen Before It Is Too Late
In an age obsessed with treating illness, Dr Aakanksha Gupta argues that we have forgotten a more important skill —…
India’s Dramatic Power Shift: New Stars, Old Bastions Fall
In a week that has reshaped India’s political map, assembly elections across Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry…
Why Ancient Indian Philosophers Treated Sleep as a Window Into Consciousness
Sleep is usually framed as a biological necessity — a period of rest during which the brain resets, consolidates memory…
Government Decisions & Policy
View All
A Temple Tarnished: How a Scandal at Ayodhya Threatens the BJP’s Hold on Uttar Pradesh
In the sacred town of Ayodhya, where a grand temple to Lord Ram was inaugurated in January 2024 amid fervent celebration, an uncomfortable drama is…
Southern drawl in the courtroom
A federal court in Alabama delivered an unexpected rebuff to Republican mapmakers on Tuesday, blocking a congressional redistricting plan that would have pared back Black…
India’s Sacred Cows and Shifting Sensitivities
As Eid-ul-Azha approaches, a festival centred on sacrifice and submission to God, Muslim leaders in several Indian states have issued an unusual plea: forgo the…
End of an Era in Lutyens’ Delhi: Iconic Gymkhana Club Ordered to Vacate for Defence and Security Needs
In the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi, where power, history, and privilege have long intertwined, one of India’s most storied institutions faces an uncertain future. The…
India & Neighbourhood
View All
The Shadow Over Ayodhya: Faith, Politics, and the Embezzlement Scandal at India’s Ram Temple
For more than five centuries, the dusty town of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh has been a crucible of Hindu yearning and Muslim grievance. At its…
Political Theatre
View All
Travel & Tourism
View AllIndian authorities warn travellers of harsh new drug penalties in Maldives, including possible death sentence
India's Narcotics Control Bureau has issued a strong advisory cautioning citizens travelling to the Maldives that even small quantities of…
A bumpy ride ahead
As summer 2026 looms, the travel industry is confronting an uncomfortable truth. Jet-fuel prices in America averaged $8.63 a gallon…
Trends
View All
The Sacred Heist: How Devotees’ Offerings to Lord Ram Vanished in Ayodhya
In the shadow of the majestic Ram Mandir in Ayodhya where millions of devotees have poured their faith and savings into hundi boxes as offerings…
States & Cities
View All
The Sacred Heist: How Devotees’ Offerings to Lord Ram Vanished in Ayodhya
In the shadow of the majestic Ram Mandir in Ayodhya where millions of devotees have poured their faith and savings…
BJP will fight municipal polls from booth level, says Nitin Nabin in Hyderabad
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin on Sunday called on party workers in Telangana to strengthen the organisation…
Saints of the flame: Rajasthan ascetics ready to renounce earthly life for a sacred grove
In the blistering heat of Rajasthan’s Dudu district, a group of Hindu seers have chosen fire and fasting over comfort.…
From Workshop to Encrypted Chat: How Four Ordinary Men Allegedly Built a Toy Car Bomb Plot Targeting India’s Heart
In the dim glow of a private automobile workshop on the outskirts of Thane, just north of Mumbai, Mosaib Ahmad…
Life & Culture
View All
Trending Now
View All
Economy & Markets
View All
The Quiet Battle for the Heart of India’s Greatest Business Empire
In the polished corridors of Mumbai’s legal and philanthropic world, a discreet but intense struggle is unfolding over one of India’s most storied institutions. On…
