M.J. Akbar, Author at The Sunday Guardian Live

The shifting stories of five years

One useful aspect of a grand old house in Europe or America was the weathervane. Stuck at the apex, it did not look very...

The shifting stories of five years

One useful aspect of a grand old house in Europe or America was the weathervane. Stuck at the apex, it did not look very...

The shifting stories of five years

One useful aspect of a grand old house in Europe or America was the weathervane. Stuck at the apex, it did not look very...

Between a palace and a ploughing field

Livy, the ancient historian, records the remarkable story of Cincinnatus, whose memory has been reduced to an academic fringe instead of being made compulsory...

Between a palace and a ploughing field

Livy, the ancient historian, records the remarkable story of Cincinnatus, whose memory has been reduced to an academic fringe instead of being made compulsory...

Between a palace and a ploughing field

Livy, the ancient historian, records the remarkable story of Cincinnatus, whose memory has been reduced to an academic fringe instead of being made compulsory...

War: Purpose, perplexity, danger and possibility

America's track record in starting wars has been, shall we say, a bit unworthy of European Great Power standards. It lingered rather than leapt,...

War: Purpose, perplexity, danger and possibility

America's track record in starting wars has been, shall we say, a bit unworthy of European Great Power standards. It lingered rather than leapt,...

War: Purpose, perplexity, danger and possibility

America's track record in starting wars has been, shall we say, a bit unworthy of European Great Power standards. It lingered rather than leapt,...

Welcome to the Indian animal farm

Who says no one listens to Dr Manmohan Singh? The animals do. Ever since the Prime Minister of India ordered Indians to release their...

Welcome to the Indian animal farm

Who says no one listens to Dr Manmohan Singh? The animals do. Ever since the Prime Minister of India ordered Indians to release their...

Welcome to the Indian animal farm

Who says no one listens to Dr Manmohan Singh? The animals do. Ever since the Prime Minister of India ordered Indians to release their...

The media menu of a last supper

Newspapers are owned and published by rich men. Rich men all belong to the same club. Sure, there's competition — hard, tough competition for...

The media menu of a last supper

Newspapers are owned and published by rich men. Rich men all belong to the same club. Sure, there's competition — hard, tough competition for...

The media menu of a last supper

Newspapers are owned and published by rich men. Rich men all belong to the same club. Sure, there's competition — hard, tough competition for...

The evidence of humour

The fulcrum of a tipping point in public life is that mortal enemy of a politician: humour. A joke might not destroy reputation quite...

The evidence of humour

The fulcrum of a tipping point in public life is that mortal enemy of a politician: humour. A joke might not destroy reputation quite...

The evidence of humour

The fulcrum of a tipping point in public life is that mortal enemy of a politician: humour. A joke might not destroy reputation quite...

And the nominee for Best Hasty Pudding is….

Every industry must be permitted the luxury of self-congratulation, particularly if no one else is too eager to do the honours. The foundations of...

And the nominee for Best Hasty Pudding is….

Every industry must be permitted the luxury of self-congratulation, particularly if no one else is too eager to do the honours. The foundations of...

And the nominee for Best Hasty Pudding is….

Every industry must be permitted the luxury of self-congratulation, particularly if no one else is too eager to do the honours. The foundations of...

The Day of Judgement

Human nature, when in a good mood, takes pride in saving a fellow being from impending tragedy. A good case can now be made...

The Day of Judgement

Human nature, when in a good mood, takes pride in saving a fellow being from impending tragedy. A good case can now be made...

The Day of Judgement

Human nature, when in a good mood, takes pride in saving a fellow being from impending tragedy. A good case can now be made...

Money shouts, conscience merely murmurs

Would you walk?Think about it. You have time, which Stuart Broad did not, when he was batting for England on the third day of...

Money shouts, conscience merely murmurs

Would you walk?Think about it. You have time, which Stuart Broad did not, when he was batting for England on the third day of...

Money shouts, conscience merely murmurs

Would you walk?Think about it. You have time, which Stuart Broad did not, when he was batting for England on the third day of...

A history of the future

Life's most traumatic cemetery is surely the memory of pain, for it is buried but not dead. Neither amnesia nor vengeance is a solution,...

A history of the future

Life's most traumatic cemetery is surely the memory of pain, for it is buried but not dead. Neither amnesia nor vengeance is a solution,...

A history of the future

Life's most traumatic cemetery is surely the memory of pain, for it is buried but not dead. Neither amnesia nor vengeance is a solution,...

A bus ride to interesting times

It's the old London bus principle. Nothing happens for a long time, then suddenly three turn up at the same time. No decision is...

A bus ride to interesting times

It's the old London bus principle. Nothing happens for a long time, then suddenly three turn up at the same time. No decision is...

A bus ride to interesting times

It's the old London bus principle. Nothing happens for a long time, then suddenly three turn up at the same time. No decision is...

The business of politicians is politics

Very curious. When Barack Obama suspended his campaign for re-election to supervise relief for victims of a terrible hurricane on the East Coast, there...

The business of politicians is politics

Very curious. When Barack Obama suspended his campaign for re-election to supervise relief for victims of a terrible hurricane on the East Coast, there...

The business of politicians is politics

Very curious. When Barack Obama suspended his campaign for re-election to supervise relief for victims of a terrible hurricane on the East Coast, there...

On the special joys of airport trash

The joys of an airport book may not quite meet the escalating demands of an upwardly liberal sensibility, but who can deny it is...

On the special joys of airport trash

The joys of an airport book may not quite meet the escalating demands of an upwardly liberal sensibility, but who can deny it is...

On the special joys of airport trash

The joys of an airport book may not quite meet the escalating demands of an upwardly liberal sensibility, but who can deny it is...

The calm eye of an expanding storm

Amman: Jordan is as calm as the eye of a surrounding storm. As residents smoke shisham in cafes, and tourists trot out complaints without...

The calm eye of an expanding storm

Amman: Jordan is as calm as the eye of a surrounding storm. As residents smoke shisham in cafes, and tourists trot out complaints without...

The calm eye of an expanding storm

Amman: Jordan is as calm as the eye of a surrounding storm. As residents smoke shisham in cafes, and tourists trot out complaints without...

The negative side of positive

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged us all recently to shed "negativity". I kept looking long and hard for "positivity" between the rolling hills of...

The negative side of positive

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged us all recently to shed "negativity". I kept looking long and hard for "positivity" between the rolling hills of...

The negative side of positive

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged us all recently to shed "negativity". I kept looking long and hard for "positivity" between the rolling hills of...

Swimming in fluid politics

Politics is not always about hard facts, because it is difficult to decipher what precisely will happen in a fluid situation. It can be...

Swimming in fluid politics

Politics is not always about hard facts, because it is difficult to decipher what precisely will happen in a fluid situation. It can be...

Swimming in fluid politics

Politics is not always about hard facts, because it is difficult to decipher what precisely will happen in a fluid situation. It can be...

A cash-and-carry junket

The crisis that threatens to swamp Indian cricket has nothing to do with betting. It has everything to do with cheating.The essence of gambling...

A cash-and-carry junket

The crisis that threatens to swamp Indian cricket has nothing to do with betting. It has everything to do with cheating.The essence of gambling...

Will Wayanad give a landslide win to Priyanka?

Kailash Gahlot joins BJP; rift with AAP started in August

Kashmiri Pandits uncertain about returning to valley

M.J. Akbar

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