| 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 Back home – from Mumbai's chawls to Delhi's metro, from Chennai's tea stalls to Kolkata's clubs – screens glow in every corner as cricket fever grips the nation. At the Indian Premier League final underway in Ahmedabad (at the time of writing this newsletter), Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer elected to bowl first after winning the toss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Catch live updates/highlights.
💡Spotlight Back home, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of surrendering under foreign pressure. 📌 ‘Narendra surrendered’ Firing a salvo at the PM, the senior Congress leader claimed that Modi backed down during Operation Sindoor following a phone call from US President Donald Trump. Recalling Indira Gandhi’s defiant stand during the 1971 war, he said, “That’s the difference. That’s character.” 📌 On caste census & BJP u-turns Gandhi said the BJP’s sudden support for a caste census was further evidence of caving under pressure. “Modi ji used to say there are no castes. A little pressure — and they surrendered,” he said 📌Racehorses, wedding horses, and the lame In a colourful metaphor aimed at Congress’s own ranks in Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi said leaders should be categorised as racehorses (capable of real political fight), wedding horses (ceremonial but not strategic) and lame horses (“retired” from active roles).
☕ Spill the Expresso How Gukesh stunned the chess world Two epic comebacks in two days! First, world champion Gukesh shocked Magnus Carlsen, then outlasted Arjun Erigaisi in a 92-move marathon. Both from losing positions. Ask his coach his secret, and Grzegorz Gajewski says, "Gukesh fights like a lion even when the position looks hopeless." Against Carlsen, he nearly resigned but kept pushing. Versus Arjun, he turned the tables despite being low on time. How does he do it? Meticulous calculation under time pressure, Djokovic-like mental resilience, and ability to capitalise on the opponent’s tiniest mistake. From 0/2 start to second place, Gukesh has proved why he's world champ. As Susan Polgar said, "This was Carlsen's greatest strength too."
‘Honour killing’ Now, some disturbing news from neighbouring Pakistan, 17-year-old social media star Sana Yousaf was shot dead inside her home in Islamabad, in what Pakistani police suspect may be honour killing. The rising influencer, known for her viral TikTok and Instagram content celebrating Chitrali culture and women’s rights, was reportedly gunned down at close range by a male relative who fled the scene. With nearly 5,00,000 followers, Sana used her platform to advocate for girls’ education and challenge conservative norms. Her murder follows the January killing of 15-year-old TikToker Hira in Quetta.
🚨 Must Read Semantics Funny how words travel, isn’t it? Today, calling someone a "pariah" means they’re shunned. Vladimir Putin was called a “paraiah” after he invaded Ukraine and Harvey Weinstein post-#MeToo. But the word’s roots are buried deep in Tamil Nadu’s caste history. The Paraiyars, a Dalit community, were traditionally drummers (parai = drum) and treated as "untouchables." When European colonisers arrived, they latched onto the term, spinning it into a slur for anyone deemed "lowly." By the 1800s, French and German writers turned "pariah" into a symbol for all outcasts. Incidentally, the Paraiyars themselves are Tamil Nadu’s largest caste, with a rich history of resistance and art. Yet their name, stripped of context, became shorthand for exclusion worldwide.
📚 Book Nook Your Pride Month reads This Pride Month, explore the rich tapestry of Indian queer literature with these compelling reads. From heartfelt memoirs to groundbreaking fiction, these books by Indian authors dive deep into love, identity, and resistance. That’s all for now. Until next time, Aishwarya Khosla
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