The perception of China as an adversarial, hostile and arrogant country is largely stereotypical and not based on looking at China as another culture. Like India, China too is a civilisation: Shyam Saran in conversation with @ShekharGupta at #ThePrintOTC@ShekharGupta China has a 'visual' culture where the ideogram, image and word are important, but in India, the sound is important. Much of our history is oral, and this contrast determines the prism through which you are looking at the rest of the world: Shyam Saran at #ThePrintOTC
May 23, 2022 • 20 tweets • 16 min read
Putin’s accomplishment will have been to accelerate the decline of Russia in general terms and quite probably the end of his attempt to recreate a former imperial rule, says defence analyst François Heisbourg @FHeisbourg at #ThePrintOTC@FHeisbourg No Ukrainian government whether in place or in exile — should the Russians manage to overthrow it — are going to work with Russia. Ukraine is, in a way, the new Poland, says defence analyst François Heisbourg @FHeisbourg at #ThePrintOTC
Nov 6, 2021 • 25 tweets • 26 min read
We don't allow our kids to talk to a stranger from the balcony...but do you know who's talking to your child on the internet or on the phone?: author and columnist @chetan_bhagat tells @ShekharGupta at #ThePrintOTC@chetan_bhagat@ShekharGupta Every child has a device in their pocket which is a gateway to their mind. Anybody with mala fide intentions can reach them...I feel we are not discussing it enough, says author and columnist @chetan_bhagat at #ThePrintOTC
“Weaponisng of Punjab has happened in the past. But the quantum of weapons that is coming in now is certainly disturbing,” @capt_amarinder tells @ShekharGupta in #ThePrintOTC
“When it comes to national security, when it comes to securing Punjab, we are beyond political parties. It is the question of giving security to our people. India comes first. Other things come later,” @capt_amarinder tells @ShekharGupta in #ThePrintOTC
Jul 21, 2021 • 15 tweets • 18 min read
@vikramsampath@ShekharGupta "Western historians tell us Aurangzeb was a peace loving individual & protected more temples than he destroyed. This leads to a backlash from people who don't know how to respond intellectually so their responses get violent," @vikramsampath to @ShekharGupta in #ThePrintOTC@vikramsampath@ShekharGupta “Savarkar has hardly been academically analysed or studied. I am amazed by the singular lack of academic interest in him among historians, his political opponents or proponents," says @vikramsampath, author of 'Savarkar: A Contested Legacy', at #ThePrintOTC
Jun 5, 2021 • 14 tweets • 6 min read
Mainstream media led by two small group of virologists dismissed lab leak as a conspiracy; they were caught up in ideological struggles. Trump’s intervention was extremely unhelpful in polarising the issue: Nicholas Wade, author and journalist, tells @ShekharGupta#ThePrintOTC
There are 2 theories-that it came naturally from animals, that it leaked from a lab. Both are hypotheses, there is no conclusion for either. Existing evidence is explained better by lab leak. Lab leak does not mean biowarfare: Wade sums up his argument #ThePrintOTC
May 2, 2021 • 70 tweets • 59 min read
EC orders FIRs over celebratory congregations in anticipation of poll victories
On 8 May, I took charge at 7 pm and held meetings till midnight. That evening we coined the term ‘Chase the Virus,’ @mybmc Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal tells @ShekharGupta at #ThePrintOTC
I am a national level marathon runner, a swimmer and yoga instructor. I don’t feel fatigue, BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal says at #ThePrintOTC
Visuals from a counting centre in Guwahati. Exit polls have predicted a second term for the BJP in Assam.
