| Greetings from India! You're reading Meanwhile, Back Home, our daily newsletter specially curated for our overseas readers. While you were asleep, it was a whirlwind of a day here in India. We've got the top highlights lined up for you.
Welcome back, reader A fist slam. Two apologies. A pat on the back. And a history-making win. World Champion Gukesh just did what few ever have—defeated Magnus Carlsen in classical chess at Norway Chess 2025! In a game that swung from near-resignation to triumph, the 19-year-old Indian prodigy held his nerve as Carlsen, in a rare meltdown, blundered away a winning position. "I was about to resign," Gukesh admitted later. But he fought on, capitalising on Carlsen’s time-pressure mishap to seal a 62-move stunner. The Norwegian’s furious fist bang and stunned walkout said it all. A year after Praggnanandhaa beat Carlsen here, another Indian has repeated history. "99 out of 100 times, I lose," Gukesh grinned. But not today.
💡Spotlight Back home, hidden for over two decades, 25 rare paintings by MF Husain will finally go under the hammer. Locked away in a Mumbai bank vault due to a loan default case, these artworks are now set for auction on June 12. The backstory In 2004, Husain sold the canvases that were part of his grand project titled OPCE (Our Planet Called Earth) to Mumbai businessman Swarup Srivastava. The series was Husain’s ambitious attempt to paint the story of the 20th century. The deal was meant to include 100 paintings worth ₹100 crore. But, Srivastava and his group were later investigated for misusing a ₹235 crore loan from NAFED. With ₹150 crore allegedly diverted to personal use, the Central Bureau of Investigation got involved, and by 2008, the 25 Husain canvases were seized as part of asset recovery. Legal limbo These paintings have remained in legal limbo until now. The Bombay High Court cleared their sale earlier this year, rejecting Srivastava’s ₹25 crore buyback offer and opting for a public auction instead. Valued conservatively at ₹25 crore, the actual sale could far exceed this, especially after another Husain work recently sold for ₹118 crore at Christie’s in New York. What makes these works special? Painted in 2003–04 in Mumbai and Dubai, the pieces capture 20th-century icons and moments—from World Wars, space exploration, and Hollywood legends like Humphrey Bogart and Charlie Chaplin to Gandhi and Husain’s signature horses. They were briefly exhibited in Dubai and Paris before vanishing from public view. Public preview For the first time in India, these unseen works will be displayed at Hamilton House, Mumbai, from June 8 to 11, ahead of the auction by Pundole’s on June 12.
☕ Spill the Expresso Kamal Haasan goes to court Amid backlash over his "Tamil gave birth to Kannada" remark, Kamal Haasan has approached the Karnataka High Court to ensure the smooth release of his film Thug Life on June 5. Pro-Kannada groups and the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) have demanded an apology, threatening to block the film’s release over the actor’s remark. Haasan clarified his statement was made with "love" for languages, citing historical context. However, Karnataka’s Kannada & Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi said all his films would be banned unless he apologises. CM Siddaramaiah and BJP’s Vijayendra also criticised the actor, calling his remarks disrespectful. The controversy continues as Thug Life’s release hangs in the balance.
🚨 Must Read The Day Indira Gandhi was shot: On October 31, 1984, as Prime Minister Indira Gandhi fell to assassins' bullets, two women professionals witnessed history unfold from different vantage points. Dr Sneh Bhargava, newly appointed AIIMS director, oversaw the desperate attempts to save Gandhi's life while fearing impending violence against Sikhs. Meanwhile, rookie reporter Ritu Sarin breached security cordons to document the tragedy firsthand, later tracking down the only existing photo of assassin Satwant Singh. Their intersecting accounts, separated by four decades yet united in detail, reveal untold dimensions of that fateful day - from the operating theatre's tense whispers to Delhi's streets simmering with a coming vengeance.
📚 Book Nook Arundhati Roy's memoir will be released on September 2. Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy's deeply personal memoir, exploring her complex relationship with activist mother Mary Roy, arrives on September 2. While we wait for this intimate portrait of Roy's formative years, check out five of her seminal works. That’s all for now. Until next time, Aishwarya Khosla
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