August 14, 2026

​Delhi HC receives bomb threat ahead of Independence Day; US has reportedly lost nearly 45 Reaper drones in Iran war (Photo: Agencies) The Delhi High Court received a bomb threat email a day before Independence Day, with the message mentioning the Red Fort and khaki-clad attackers.The US military has reportedly lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during its war with Iran, representing about 25% of its fleet.Chief Justice Surya Kant strongly disapproved of the Bar Council of India’s now-revoked action against NALSAR students following their protest against the CJI’s invitation as chief guest.The Congress has questioned the Centre’s approach to the caste census, saying the absence of a pre-prepared list of castes raises “serious doubts on intent”.Former Manchester United and Aston Villa goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer has died at the age of 78.Here are the top 5 stories of the day‘Lal Qila ta nishana hove ga’: Delhi HC bomb threat ahead of Independence Day mentions khaki-clad attackersA bomb threat was received at the Delhi High Court through an email at around 11.43 am, prompting authorities to activate the standard operating procedure and carry out extensive security checks on the premises. The threatening email reportedly mentioned August 15 and contained the warning, “Lal Qila ta nishana hove ga” (the Red Fort will be targeted). The email also made a reference to those carrying out the bombing being dressed in khaki. Read full storyUS loses 45 Reaper drones in Iran war, representing 25% of fleet worth $1.3 billion: ReportThe US military has reportedly lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during its war with Iran, representing about 25 per cent of its fleet. The Reaper is used for surveillance and targeted strikes and can cost between $30 million and $50 million, depending on its sensors and weapons, according to the US Air Force. The losses could therefore represent more than $1.3 billion in equipment costs, according to three US officials familiar with Pentagon data, quoted by the Washington Post. Read full storyBCI action, U-turn and SC rebuke: How NALSAR students’ protest against CJI kicked up a rowChief Justice of India Surya Kant strongly disapproved of the Bar Council of India’s now-revoked decision to stop enrolment of 2026 graduates of Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law as advocates after students opposed his invitation as chief guest for the university’s convocation. The Supreme Court said students had a right to protest peacefully and stayed any coercive action against NALSAR students or faculty by the BCI or state Bar Council. Read full story’Serious doubts on intent’: Congress attacks Centre over caste census format; cites Telangana modelThe Congress questioned the Centre’s approach to caste enumeration in the upcoming Census, saying the decision not to provide a pre-prepared list of castes for respondents to choose from raised “serious doubts on intent”. The party also alleged that political parties had not been consulted on the questionnaire. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesCongress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said it was widely expected that the caste question would include a state-wise list, similar to the caste surveys conducted in Bihar and Telangana. Read full storyJimmy Rimmer dies at 78: Tributes pour in for the Manchester United and Aston Villa star, exploring the European Cup winner career’s best highlightsFormer Manchester United and Aston Villa goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer has passed away at the age of 78. The veteran goalkeeper enjoyed a career spanning more than two decades. He won the European Cup with both clubs. Rimmer was part of United’s 1968 European Cup-winning squad. He later became a key player for Aston Villa, started their European Cup campaign in 1982 and helped them reach the final against Bayern Munich. Read full storyGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based DelimitationThey Want To Disturb Punjab’s Peace’: Sukhbir Badal Flags Larger Conspiracy After Nanded Attack’The Great Transshipment Scam’: India Among 40 Nations Aiding China’s Tarrif Evasion, Says USUttarakhand Tunnel Landslide: 7 Workers Dead, 1 Missing; Rescue Operations Continue in Chamoli‘RSS Vs Congress Govt’: Karnataka Cabinet Clears Bill To Curb Events At Public Spaces‘Peaceful Revolution’ Needed: Sonam Wangchuk Seeks New Leaders To Transform India Before 2047Air India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | Watch123Photostories10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers5 red vegetables rich in fibre: Simple ways to add them to Indian mealsIndependence Day Special: 7 historic Delhi eateries that have been serving since before 1947Tara Sutaria’s lace drama meets Kiara Advani’s pantsuit power: Who really won the ‘Toxic’ album launch fashion face-off?5 yellow vegetables that may support eye health, immunity and healthy ageing10 foods that were once considered disgusting but became delicaciesIndependence Day: 10 rare photos that bring India’s freedom struggle to lifeLove dal, roti and dairy? These everyday foods could actually be upsetting your stomach123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins
​Delhi HC receives bomb threat ahead of Independence Day; US has reportedly lost nearly 45 Reaper drones in Iran war (Photo: Agencies) The Delhi High Court received a bomb threat email a day before Independence Day, with the message mentioning the Red Fort and khaki-clad attackers.The US military has reportedly lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during its war with Iran, representing about 25% of its fleet.Chief Justice Surya Kant strongly disapproved of the Bar Council of India’s now-revoked action against NALSAR students following their protest against the CJI’s invitation as chief guest.The Congress has questioned the Centre’s approach to the caste census, saying the absence of a pre-prepared list of castes raises “serious doubts on intent”.Former Manchester United and Aston Villa goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer has died at the age of 78.Here are the top 5 stories of the day‘Lal Qila ta nishana hove ga’: Delhi HC bomb threat ahead of Independence Day mentions khaki-clad attackersA bomb threat was received at the Delhi High Court through an email at around 11.43 am, prompting authorities to activate the standard operating procedure and carry out extensive security checks on the premises. The threatening email reportedly mentioned August 15 and contained the warning, “Lal Qila ta nishana hove ga” (the Red Fort will be targeted). The email also made a reference to those carrying out the bombing being dressed in khaki. Read full storyUS loses 45 Reaper drones in Iran war, representing 25% of fleet worth .3 billion: ReportThe US military has reportedly lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during its war with Iran, representing about 25 per cent of its fleet. The Reaper is used for surveillance and targeted strikes and can cost between million and million, depending on its sensors and weapons, according to the US Air Force. The losses could therefore represent more than .3 billion in equipment costs, according to three US officials familiar with Pentagon data, quoted by the Washington Post. Read full storyBCI action, U-turn and SC rebuke: How NALSAR students’ protest against CJI kicked up a rowChief Justice of India Surya Kant strongly disapproved of the Bar Council of India’s now-revoked decision to stop enrolment of 2026 graduates of Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law as advocates after students opposed his invitation as chief guest for the university’s convocation. The Supreme Court said students had a right to protest peacefully and stayed any coercive action against NALSAR students or faculty by the BCI or state Bar Council. Read full story’Serious doubts on intent’: Congress attacks Centre over caste census format; cites Telangana modelThe Congress questioned the Centre’s approach to caste enumeration in the upcoming Census, saying the decision not to provide a pre-prepared list of castes for respondents to choose from raised “serious doubts on intent”. The party also alleged that political parties had not been consulted on the questionnaire. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesCongress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said it was widely expected that the caste question would include a state-wise list, similar to the caste surveys conducted in Bihar and Telangana. Read full storyJimmy Rimmer dies at 78: Tributes pour in for the Manchester United and Aston Villa star, exploring the European Cup winner career’s best highlightsFormer Manchester United and Aston Villa goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer has passed away at the age of 78. The veteran goalkeeper enjoyed a career spanning more than two decades. He won the European Cup with both clubs. Rimmer was part of United’s 1968 European Cup-winning squad. He later became a key player for Aston Villa, started their European Cup campaign in 1982 and helped them reach the final against Bayern Munich. Read full storyGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based DelimitationThey Want To Disturb Punjab’s Peace’: Sukhbir Badal Flags Larger Conspiracy After Nanded Attack’The Great Transshipment Scam’: India Among 40 Nations Aiding China’s Tarrif Evasion, Says USUttarakhand Tunnel Landslide: 7 Workers Dead, 1 Missing; Rescue Operations Continue in Chamoli‘RSS Vs Congress Govt’: Karnataka Cabinet Clears Bill To Curb Events At Public Spaces‘Peaceful Revolution’ Needed: Sonam Wangchuk Seeks New Leaders To Transform India Before 2047Air India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | Watch123Photostories10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers5 red vegetables rich in fibre: Simple ways to add them to Indian mealsIndependence Day Special: 7 historic Delhi eateries that have been serving since before 1947Tara Sutaria’s lace drama meets Kiara Advani’s pantsuit power: Who really won the ‘Toxic’ album launch fashion face-off?5 yellow vegetables that may support eye health, immunity and healthy ageing10 foods that were once considered disgusting but became delicaciesIndependence Day: 10 rare photos that bring India’s freedom struggle to lifeLove dal, roti and dairy? These everyday foods could actually be upsetting your stomach123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke


Evening news wrap: Delhi HC gets bomb threat; US loses 45 Reaper drones in Iran war, & more
​Delhi HC receives bomb threat ahead of Independence Day; US has reportedly lost nearly 45 Reaper drones in Iran war (Photo: Agencies)
  • The Delhi High Court received a bomb threat email a day before Independence Day, with the message mentioning the Red Fort and khaki-clad attackers.
  • The US military has reportedly lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during its war with Iran, representing about 25% of its fleet.
  • Chief Justice Surya Kant strongly disapproved of the Bar Council of India‘s now-revoked action against NALSAR students following their protest against the CJI’s invitation as chief guest.
  • The Congress has questioned the Centre’s approach to the caste census, saying the absence of a pre-prepared list of castes raises “serious doubts on intent”.
  • Former Manchester United and Aston Villa goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer has died at the age of 78.

Here are the top 5 stories of the day

‘Lal Qila ta nishana hove ga’: Delhi HC bomb threat ahead of Independence Day mentions khaki-clad attackers

A bomb threat was received at the Delhi High Court through an email at around 11.43 am, prompting authorities to activate the standard operating procedure and carry out extensive security checks on the premises. The threatening email reportedly mentioned August 15 and contained the warning, “Lal Qila ta nishana hove ga” (the Red Fort will be targeted). The email also made a reference to those carrying out the bombing being dressed in khaki. Read full story

US loses 45 Reaper drones in Iran war, representing 25% of fleet worth $1.3 billion: Report

The US military has reportedly lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones during its war with Iran, representing about 25 per cent of its fleet. The Reaper is used for surveillance and targeted strikes and can cost between $30 million and $50 million, depending on its sensors and weapons, according to the US Air Force. The losses could therefore represent more than $1.3 billion in equipment costs, according to three US officials familiar with Pentagon data, quoted by the Washington Post. Read full story

BCI action, U-turn and SC rebuke: How NALSAR students’ protest against CJI kicked up a row

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant strongly disapproved of the Bar Council of India’s now-revoked decision to stop enrolment of 2026 graduates of Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law as advocates after students opposed his invitation as chief guest for the university’s convocation. The Supreme Court said students had a right to protest peacefully and stayed any coercive action against NALSAR students or faculty by the BCI or state Bar Council. Read full story

‘Serious doubts on intent’: Congress attacks Centre over caste census format; cites Telangana model

The Congress questioned the Centre’s approach to caste enumeration in the upcoming Census, saying the decision not to provide a pre-prepared list of castes for respondents to choose from raised “serious doubts on intent”. The party also alleged that political parties had not been consulted on the questionnaire.

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President Droupadi Murmu addresses the nation on Independence Day eve NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday addressed the nation and extended her greetings ahead of the 80th Independence day. On the eve of Independence Day, Murmu praised India’s growth and said that “every citizen is contributing to nation building”.Here’s are some of the key quotes from President Murmu’s national address:Duty of every person associated with judicial system to ensure that no one is deprived of justice due to lack of resources.Citizens across all walks of life are making valuable contributions to nation-building, with the Armed Forces, CAPFs, police personnel, sanitation workers and the Indian diaspora playing a special role. India remains committed to building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 through inclusive development, while drawing inspiration from its rich heritage and the ideals of the freedom struggle.Operation Sindoor demonstrated Indian Armed Forces’ capability for precision strikes against terror networks.People from different ideological streams shared one common goal, India’s independence. During the Swadeshi Movement, Vande Mataram became the song of the masses. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, countless Indians joined the freedom struggle, while Dr BR Ambedkar set high ideals of social reform and national commitment.Suspension of Indus Waters Treaty with country harbouring terrorism a decisive step in national interest, particularly for farmers.Terrorists and those supporting them will have to face consequences no matter where they hide.Making India Naxal-free is a major national achievement.Due to communal violence, millions of people had to become refugees and endure the horrors of Partition. Yet, they did not abandon their identity. When our country became independent, along with the serious consequences of Partition, integrating more than 550 princely states with the newly independent India was also an extraordinary challenge. Sardar Patel integrated the princely states into our independent republic.Over 25 cr people lifted out of poverty in past decade through inclusive development initiatives.Free ration programme ensuring food security for more than 80 cr beneficiaries.We are moving forward with a balance between heritage and development. The world’s largest and most advanced digital infrastructure has been developed in our country. Digital payments are being made even at small shops in villages and on roadside stalls. More than half of the world’s real-time digital transactions are taking place in India. Our citizens and the government, working together, have presented an example of a digital revolution to the global community.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based DelimitationThey Want To Disturb Punjab’s Peace’: Sukhbir Badal Flags Larger Conspiracy After Nanded Attack’The Great Transshipment Scam’: India Among 40 Nations Aiding China’s Tarrif Evasion, Says USUttarakhand Tunnel Landslide: 7 Workers Dead, 1 Missing; Rescue Operations Continue in Chamoli‘RSS Vs Congress Govt’: Karnataka Cabinet Clears Bill To Curb Events At Public Spaces‘Peaceful Revolution’ Needed: Sonam Wangchuk Seeks New Leaders To Transform India Before 2047Air India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | Watch123Photostories10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers5 red vegetables rich in fibre: Simple ways to add them to Indian mealsIndependence Day Special: 7 historic Delhi eateries that have been serving since before 1947Tara Sutaria’s lace drama meets Kiara Advani’s pantsuit power: Who really won the ‘Toxic’ album launch fashion face-off?5 yellow vegetables that may support eye health, immunity and healthy ageing10 foods that were once considered disgusting but became delicaciesIndependence Day: 10 rare photos that bring India’s freedom struggle to life123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

President Droupadi Murmu addresses the nation on Independence Day eve NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday addressed the nation and extended her greetings ahead of the 80th Independence day. On the eve of Independence Day, Murmu praised India’s growth and said that “every citizen is contributing to nation building”.Here’s are some of the key quotes from President Murmu’s national address:Duty of every person associated with judicial system to ensure that no one is deprived of justice due to lack of resources.Citizens across all walks of life are making valuable contributions to nation-building, with the Armed Forces, CAPFs, police personnel, sanitation workers and the Indian diaspora playing a special role. India remains committed to building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 through inclusive development, while drawing inspiration from its rich heritage and the ideals of the freedom struggle.Operation Sindoor demonstrated Indian Armed Forces’ capability for precision strikes against terror networks.People from different ideological streams shared one common goal, India’s independence. During the Swadeshi Movement, Vande Mataram became the song of the masses. Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, countless Indians joined the freedom struggle, while Dr BR Ambedkar set high ideals of social reform and national commitment.Suspension of Indus Waters Treaty with country harbouring terrorism a decisive step in national interest, particularly for farmers.Terrorists and those supporting them will have to face consequences no matter where they hide.Making India Naxal-free is a major national achievement.Due to communal violence, millions of people had to become refugees and endure the horrors of Partition. Yet, they did not abandon their identity. When our country became independent, along with the serious consequences of Partition, integrating more than 550 princely states with the newly independent India was also an extraordinary challenge. Sardar Patel integrated the princely states into our independent republic.Over 25 cr people lifted out of poverty in past decade through inclusive development initiatives.Free ration programme ensuring food security for more than 80 cr beneficiaries.We are moving forward with a balance between heritage and development. The world’s largest and most advanced digital infrastructure has been developed in our country. Digital payments are being made even at small shops in villages and on roadside stalls. More than half of the world’s real-time digital transactions are taking place in India. Our citizens and the government, working together, have presented an example of a digital revolution to the global community.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based DelimitationThey Want To Disturb Punjab’s Peace’: Sukhbir Badal Flags Larger Conspiracy After Nanded Attack’The Great Transshipment Scam’: India Among 40 Nations Aiding China’s Tarrif Evasion, Says USUttarakhand Tunnel Landslide: 7 Workers Dead, 1 Missing; Rescue Operations Continue in Chamoli‘RSS Vs Congress Govt’: Karnataka Cabinet Clears Bill To Curb Events At Public Spaces‘Peaceful Revolution’ Needed: Sonam Wangchuk Seeks New Leaders To Transform India Before 2047Air India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | Watch123Photostories10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers5 red vegetables rich in fibre: Simple ways to add them to Indian mealsIndependence Day Special: 7 historic Delhi eateries that have been serving since before 1947Tara Sutaria’s lace drama meets Kiara Advani’s pantsuit power: Who really won the ‘Toxic’ album launch fashion face-off?5 yellow vegetables that may support eye health, immunity and healthy ageing10 foods that were once considered disgusting but became delicaciesIndependence Day: 10 rare photos that bring India’s freedom struggle to life123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

Vamsikrishna 0
Modernisation of the defence forces, driven by a self-reliant and future-ready defence sector is the first and foremost priority of government, Rajnath Singh told the Armed Forces on the eve of 80th Independence Day. NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said India’s defence sector had undergone an “unprecedented transformation” over the past 12 years, with domestic defence production rising nearly fourfold to a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26.In his message to soldiers on the eve of Independence Day, Rajnath said India had reduced its dependence on defence imports while strengthening indigenous manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.””You all know that under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, our government has always accorded the highest priority to self-reliance in the defence sector. Over the past 12 years, you have witnessed unprecedented transformation in the defence sector through Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India,” he said.“Our domestic defence production, which stood at around Rs 46,000 crore in 2014, reached a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26. This means that over the past decade, our domestic defence production has increased nearly fourfold. This is proof of the structural changes that have taken place over the past decade,” the defence minister added.The union minister further highlighted recent tests and developments in indigenous defence technology, including the MIRV-equipped Advanced Agni missile, Rudram-II air-to-surface missile, Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile and Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket.“We have also made major advances in hypersonic technology. The successful demonstration of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology is equally significant,” he said.He also said the first successful test of the indigenous Kusha Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile had strengthened India’s air-defence capabilities.91% indegenisation in Army ammunitionsAs Rajnath hailed the growth in defence sector, the ministry of defence said India’s defence production reached a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, nearly four times the level of 2014. The government said defence exports have grown 56-fold, from Rs 686 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 38,424 crore in 2025-26, with Indian defence products now reaching more than 80 countries.The defence budget has increased 3.1-fold, from Rs 2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs 7.85 lakh crore in 2026-27, while capital expenditure has risen 2.3-fold to Rs 2.19 lakh crore. Defence R&D spending has more than doubled to Rs 29,100 crore in 2026-27 from Rs 13,716 crore in 2014-15.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe ministry said the Indian Army has achieved roughly 91% self-sufficiency in ammunition, having indigenised 159 of 175 ammunition variants.The government is targeting Rs 3 lakh crore in annual defence production and Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based DelimitationThey Want To Disturb Punjab’s Peace’: Sukhbir Badal Flags Larger Conspiracy After Nanded Attack’The Great Transshipment Scam’: India Among 40 Nations Aiding China’s Tarrif Evasion, Says USUttarakhand Tunnel Landslide: 7 Workers Dead, 1 Missing; Rescue Operations Continue in Chamoli‘RSS Vs Congress Govt’: Karnataka Cabinet Clears Bill To Curb Events At Public Spaces‘Peaceful Revolution’ Needed: Sonam Wangchuk Seeks New Leaders To Transform India Before 2047Air India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | Watch123Photostories10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers5 red vegetables rich in fibre: Simple ways to add them to Indian mealsIndependence Day Special: 7 historic Delhi eateries that have been serving since before 1947Tara Sutaria’s lace drama meets Kiara Advani’s pantsuit power: Who really won the ‘Toxic’ album launch fashion face-off?5 yellow vegetables that may support eye health, immunity and healthy ageing10 foods that were once considered disgusting but became delicaciesIndependence Day: 10 rare photos that bring India’s freedom struggle to life123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

Modernisation of the defence forces, driven by a self-reliant and future-ready defence sector is the first and foremost priority of government, Rajnath Singh told the Armed Forces on the eve of 80th Independence Day. NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said India’s defence sector had undergone an “unprecedented transformation” over the past 12 years, with domestic defence production rising nearly fourfold to a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26.In his message to soldiers on the eve of Independence Day, Rajnath said India had reduced its dependence on defence imports while strengthening indigenous manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.””You all know that under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, our government has always accorded the highest priority to self-reliance in the defence sector. Over the past 12 years, you have witnessed unprecedented transformation in the defence sector through Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India,” he said.“Our domestic defence production, which stood at around Rs 46,000 crore in 2014, reached a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26. This means that over the past decade, our domestic defence production has increased nearly fourfold. This is proof of the structural changes that have taken place over the past decade,” the defence minister added.The union minister further highlighted recent tests and developments in indigenous defence technology, including the MIRV-equipped Advanced Agni missile, Rudram-II air-to-surface missile, Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile and Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket.“We have also made major advances in hypersonic technology. The successful demonstration of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet technology is equally significant,” he said.He also said the first successful test of the indigenous Kusha Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile had strengthened India’s air-defence capabilities.91% indegenisation in Army ammunitionsAs Rajnath hailed the growth in defence sector, the ministry of defence said India’s defence production reached a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, nearly four times the level of 2014. The government said defence exports have grown 56-fold, from Rs 686 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 38,424 crore in 2025-26, with Indian defence products now reaching more than 80 countries.The defence budget has increased 3.1-fold, from Rs 2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs 7.85 lakh crore in 2026-27, while capital expenditure has risen 2.3-fold to Rs 2.19 lakh crore. Defence R&D spending has more than doubled to Rs 29,100 crore in 2026-27 from Rs 13,716 crore in 2014-15.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe ministry said the Indian Army has achieved roughly 91% self-sufficiency in ammunition, having indigenised 159 of 175 ammunition variants.The government is targeting Rs 3 lakh crore in annual defence production and Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based DelimitationThey Want To Disturb Punjab’s Peace’: Sukhbir Badal Flags Larger Conspiracy After Nanded Attack’The Great Transshipment Scam’: India Among 40 Nations Aiding China’s Tarrif Evasion, Says USUttarakhand Tunnel Landslide: 7 Workers Dead, 1 Missing; Rescue Operations Continue in Chamoli‘RSS Vs Congress Govt’: Karnataka Cabinet Clears Bill To Curb Events At Public Spaces‘Peaceful Revolution’ Needed: Sonam Wangchuk Seeks New Leaders To Transform India Before 2047Air India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | Watch123Photostories10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers5 red vegetables rich in fibre: Simple ways to add them to Indian mealsIndependence Day Special: 7 historic Delhi eateries that have been serving since before 1947Tara Sutaria’s lace drama meets Kiara Advani’s pantsuit power: Who really won the ‘Toxic’ album launch fashion face-off?5 yellow vegetables that may support eye health, immunity and healthy ageing10 foods that were once considered disgusting but became delicaciesIndependence Day: 10 rare photos that bring India’s freedom struggle to life123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

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CJI Surya Kant said his ‘cockroach’ remark was ‘misquoted and misused’ through clipped court videos, warning against misleading social media posts. NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has said that his oral remarks during a Supreme Court hearing were “misquoted” and later used with “malicious intent” to mislead the country’s youth, amid controversy over a comment that sparked the satirical online movement “Cockroach Janta Party”.”My comment was misquoted and misused. What was not said is presented as though it was said. This is extremely unfortunate. Particularly, it is a major malicious attempt to mislead the youth of the country,” Kant in a DD News interview.Kant expressed concern over short clips of court proceedings being circulated on social media without the necessary context. Watch CJI Justice Surya Kant का पहला TV Exclusive Interview | CJI | Supreme Court | DD News”You are on social media, print media or any form of media or you are simply a citizen. All of us have rights and constitutional duty and responsibilities,” he further said.”When we speak of rights, we must also possess the capacity to fulfil our obligations. Therefore, I would urge them to keep their responsibilities in mind; we must all make tireless efforts to ensure that harmony prevails in society,” he added.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesOn May 15, while hearing a case in the Supreme Court, Kant had compared certain individuals with fraudulent degrees to “cockroaches” who become social media or RTI activists to attack the system.The remarks triggered widespread backlash among young people and inspired the satirical “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP) movement.The CJP later led protests at Jantar Mantar over the NEET-UG paper leak. The over-a-month-long agitation culminated in a clash between protesters and police on July 20, leaving several people injured on both sides. The protests also preceded the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based DelimitationThey Want To Disturb Punjab’s Peace’: Sukhbir Badal Flags Larger Conspiracy After Nanded Attack’The Great Transshipment Scam’: India Among 40 Nations Aiding China’s Tarrif Evasion, Says USUttarakhand Tunnel Landslide: 7 Workers Dead, 1 Missing; Rescue Operations Continue in Chamoli‘RSS Vs Congress Govt’: Karnataka Cabinet Clears Bill To Curb Events At Public Spaces‘Peaceful Revolution’ Needed: Sonam Wangchuk Seeks New Leaders To Transform India Before 2047Air India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | Watch123Photostories10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers5 red vegetables rich in fibre: Simple ways to add them to Indian mealsIndependence Day Special: 7 historic Delhi eateries that have been serving since before 1947Tara Sutaria’s lace drama meets Kiara Advani’s pantsuit power: Who really won the ‘Toxic’ album launch fashion face-off?5 yellow vegetables that may support eye health, immunity and healthy ageing10 foods that were once considered disgusting but became delicaciesIndependence Day: 10 rare photos that bring India’s freedom struggle to lifeLove dal, roti and dairy? These everyday foods could actually be upsetting your stomach123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

CJI Surya Kant said his ‘cockroach’ remark was ‘misquoted and misused’ through clipped court videos, warning against misleading social media posts. NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has said that his oral remarks during a Supreme Court hearing were “misquoted” and later used with “malicious intent” to mislead the country’s youth, amid controversy over a comment that sparked the satirical online movement “Cockroach Janta Party”.”My comment was misquoted and misused. What was not said is presented as though it was said. This is extremely unfortunate. Particularly, it is a major malicious attempt to mislead the youth of the country,” Kant in a DD News interview.Kant expressed concern over short clips of court proceedings being circulated on social media without the necessary context. Watch CJI Justice Surya Kant का पहला TV Exclusive Interview | CJI | Supreme Court | DD News”You are on social media, print media or any form of media or you are simply a citizen. All of us have rights and constitutional duty and responsibilities,” he further said.”When we speak of rights, we must also possess the capacity to fulfil our obligations. Therefore, I would urge them to keep their responsibilities in mind; we must all make tireless efforts to ensure that harmony prevails in society,” he added.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesOn May 15, while hearing a case in the Supreme Court, Kant had compared certain individuals with fraudulent degrees to “cockroaches” who become social media or RTI activists to attack the system.The remarks triggered widespread backlash among young people and inspired the satirical “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP) movement.The CJP later led protests at Jantar Mantar over the NEET-UG paper leak. The over-a-month-long agitation culminated in a clash between protesters and police on July 20, leaving several people injured on both sides. The protests also preceded the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based DelimitationThey Want To Disturb Punjab’s Peace’: Sukhbir Badal Flags Larger Conspiracy After Nanded Attack’The Great Transshipment Scam’: India Among 40 Nations Aiding China’s Tarrif Evasion, Says USUttarakhand Tunnel Landslide: 7 Workers Dead, 1 Missing; Rescue Operations Continue in Chamoli‘RSS Vs Congress Govt’: Karnataka Cabinet Clears Bill To Curb Events At Public Spaces‘Peaceful Revolution’ Needed: Sonam Wangchuk Seeks New Leaders To Transform India Before 2047Air India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | Watch123Photostories10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers5 red vegetables rich in fibre: Simple ways to add them to Indian mealsIndependence Day Special: 7 historic Delhi eateries that have been serving since before 1947Tara Sutaria’s lace drama meets Kiara Advani’s pantsuit power: Who really won the ‘Toxic’ album launch fashion face-off?5 yellow vegetables that may support eye health, immunity and healthy ageing10 foods that were once considered disgusting but became delicaciesIndependence Day: 10 rare photos that bring India’s freedom struggle to lifeLove dal, roti and dairy? These everyday foods could actually be upsetting your stomach123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

Vamsikrishna 0
In a Dec 19, 1901 letter, Gandhi described the restrictions in the Transvaal, where Indians could not hold land, were required to live and trade only in designated areas, and were barred from footpaths. A fast unto death announced by Mahatma Gandhi in Pune’s Yerawada jail in 1932 was to change the course of India’s political history. Imprisoned for the Civil Disobedience Movement, Gandhi announced the fast in a Sept 13 letter to British PM Ramsay MacDonald that was shared with the press. His aim was to oppose a separate electorate for Dalits, proposed under the Communal Award of August 1932.“I have to resist your decision with my life,” Gandhi wrote, saying his fast would begin on Sept 20. “As a man of religion that I hold myself to be, I have no other course left open to me.”The award classified Dalits as a minority whose representatives would be elected only by Dalit voters, just as Muslims, Christians and Sikhs would elect their own representatives. Gandhi believed this would divide Hindu society; BR Ambedkar supported it as a safeguard for Dalit political representationGandhi acknowledged that he might be wrong. If his judgement was “warped”, he wrote, his death would be “a penance for my error” and would lift the burden from those who had “child-like faith” in his wisdom.His week-long fast led to the Poona Pact, negotiated by Madan Mohan Malaviya and Ambedkar and accepted by Gandhi. It abandoned a separate electorate but reserved seats for Dalits within the general electorate, becoming a milestone in Dalit representation and a precursor to reservations for SCs and STs in independent India.Suspending SatyagrahaGandhi also used a letter to the press to announce the suspension of Satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act. Writing on July 21, 1919, he asked satyagrahis to “swallow the bitter pill” and halt their campaign after protests had turned violent.The act allowed the colonial government to detain political prisoners for two years without trial. Gandhi’s campaign against it, launched in March 1919, was his first nationwide political mobilisation after returning from South Africa. Despite his appeals for peaceful hartals, fasts and prayers, violence erupted in several places. Gandhi was prevented from entering Punjab and arrested; the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13 made the situation explosive. Attacks on police stations and railway property, and deadly clashes between protesters and authorities, led him to pause civil disobedience.For Gandhi, non-violence was not merely tactical. Amid divisions within Congress and Subhas Chandra Bose’s different course, he wrote from Sevagram on July 21, 1941In the July letter, published under the headline “SATYAGRAHA. Civil Resistance Suspended”, Gandhi disclosed that the governor of Bombay had conveyed “a grave warning” from the Government of India that renewed civil disobedience could threaten public security.Writing from Mani Bhavan in Bombay, Gandhi conceded that the suspension was painful. Yet he remained unyielding on the law: “Satyagrahi will pay for its removal with their lives if it cannot be removed by lesser means.” He also warned the Raj: “If my occasional Civil Resistance be a lighted match, Rowlatt legislation…is a thousand matches scattered throughout India.”For Gandhi, non-violence was not merely tactical. Amid divisions within Congress and Subhas Chandra Bose’s different course, he wrote from Sevagram on July 21, 1941: “With me, no doubt non-violence is an end in itself, though it is also a means for the attainment of the freedom of the country.” A year earlier, he had underlined its voluntary nature: “Non-violence cannot be imposed upon anyone. It has to come from within.”The South Africa YearsGandhi’s letters to the editor predated his emergence as a leader of India’s freedom struggle. During his 21 years in South Africa, where he first used Satyagraha as a method of resistance, he repeatedly drew attention to discriminatory laws against IndiansIn a Dec 19, 1901 letter, he described the restrictions in the Transvaal, where Indians could not hold land, were required to live and trade only in designated areas, and were barred from footpaths. In the Orange River Colony, he wrote, an Indian could not even enter without special permission, except as a domestic servant or labourer.After returning to India, he continued to write about the poor conditions of Indians legally settled in South Africa. In an Aug 29, 1919 letter, he blamed the “greedy Europeans of Natal” for importing Indian indentured labour at miserably low wages while ignoring local Zulu workers, all in pursuit of “enormous profits”.Cow Slaughter And EidGandhi’s correspondence also addressed social fractures, particularly Hindu-Muslim relations. In a 1919 letter written around Bakrid, he recounted a conversation with Maulana Abdul Bari of Lucknow’s Firangi Mahal, a prominent supporter of the Khilafat Movement.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesGandhi quoted the Maulana as saying: “Islam will fall to pieces if it ever takes and never gives…. If we take from you, we must give to you.” Abdul Bari had urged his followers to abstain from cow slaughter. On Bakrid, he sent Gandhi a telegram: “In celebration of Hindu-Muslim unity, no cow sacrifices in Firangi-Mahal this Bakri-Id.”More than a century later, these letters are more than historical records. They reveal Gandhi not only as a politician confronting colonial power but as a public figure wrestling with representation, violence, communal division and moral responsibility. Through TOI’s pages, his words travelled beyond the immediate battles of the freedom struggle, leaving an intimate record of how he tried to shape public opinion — and India itself.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based DelimitationThey Want To Disturb Punjab’s Peace’: Sukhbir Badal Flags Larger Conspiracy After Nanded Attack’The Great Transshipment Scam’: India Among 40 Nations Aiding China’s Tarrif Evasion, Says USUttarakhand Tunnel Landslide: 7 Workers Dead, 1 Missing; Rescue Operations Continue in Chamoli‘RSS Vs Congress Govt’: Karnataka Cabinet Clears Bill To Curb Events At Public Spaces‘Peaceful Revolution’ Needed: Sonam Wangchuk Seeks New Leaders To Transform India Before 2047Air India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | Watch123Photostories10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers5 red vegetables rich in fibre: Simple ways to add them to Indian mealsIndependence Day Special: 7 historic Delhi eateries that have been serving since before 1947Tara Sutaria’s lace drama meets Kiara Advani’s pantsuit power: Who really won the ‘Toxic’ album launch fashion face-off?5 yellow vegetables that may support eye health, immunity and healthy ageing10 foods that were once considered disgusting but became delicaciesIndependence Day: 10 rare photos that bring India’s freedom struggle to lifeLove dal, roti and dairy? These everyday foods could actually be upsetting your stomach123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

In a Dec 19, 1901 letter, Gandhi described the restrictions in the Transvaal, where Indians could not hold land, were required to live and trade only in designated areas, and were barred from footpaths. A fast unto death announced by Mahatma Gandhi in Pune’s Yerawada jail in 1932 was to change the course of India’s political history. Imprisoned for the Civil Disobedience Movement, Gandhi announced the fast in a Sept 13 letter to British PM Ramsay MacDonald that was shared with the press. His aim was to oppose a separate electorate for Dalits, proposed under the Communal Award of August 1932.“I have to resist your decision with my life,” Gandhi wrote, saying his fast would begin on Sept 20. “As a man of religion that I hold myself to be, I have no other course left open to me.”The award classified Dalits as a minority whose representatives would be elected only by Dalit voters, just as Muslims, Christians and Sikhs would elect their own representatives. Gandhi believed this would divide Hindu society; BR Ambedkar supported it as a safeguard for Dalit political representationGandhi acknowledged that he might be wrong. If his judgement was “warped”, he wrote, his death would be “a penance for my error” and would lift the burden from those who had “child-like faith” in his wisdom.His week-long fast led to the Poona Pact, negotiated by Madan Mohan Malaviya and Ambedkar and accepted by Gandhi. It abandoned a separate electorate but reserved seats for Dalits within the general electorate, becoming a milestone in Dalit representation and a precursor to reservations for SCs and STs in independent India.Suspending SatyagrahaGandhi also used a letter to the press to announce the suspension of Satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act. Writing on July 21, 1919, he asked satyagrahis to “swallow the bitter pill” and halt their campaign after protests had turned violent.The act allowed the colonial government to detain political prisoners for two years without trial. Gandhi’s campaign against it, launched in March 1919, was his first nationwide political mobilisation after returning from South Africa. Despite his appeals for peaceful hartals, fasts and prayers, violence erupted in several places. Gandhi was prevented from entering Punjab and arrested; the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13 made the situation explosive. Attacks on police stations and railway property, and deadly clashes between protesters and authorities, led him to pause civil disobedience.For Gandhi, non-violence was not merely tactical. Amid divisions within Congress and Subhas Chandra Bose’s different course, he wrote from Sevagram on July 21, 1941In the July letter, published under the headline “SATYAGRAHA. Civil Resistance Suspended”, Gandhi disclosed that the governor of Bombay had conveyed “a grave warning” from the Government of India that renewed civil disobedience could threaten public security.Writing from Mani Bhavan in Bombay, Gandhi conceded that the suspension was painful. Yet he remained unyielding on the law: “Satyagrahi will pay for its removal with their lives if it cannot be removed by lesser means.” He also warned the Raj: “If my occasional Civil Resistance be a lighted match, Rowlatt legislation…is a thousand matches scattered throughout India.”For Gandhi, non-violence was not merely tactical. Amid divisions within Congress and Subhas Chandra Bose’s different course, he wrote from Sevagram on July 21, 1941: “With me, no doubt non-violence is an end in itself, though it is also a means for the attainment of the freedom of the country.” A year earlier, he had underlined its voluntary nature: “Non-violence cannot be imposed upon anyone. It has to come from within.”The South Africa YearsGandhi’s letters to the editor predated his emergence as a leader of India’s freedom struggle. During his 21 years in South Africa, where he first used Satyagraha as a method of resistance, he repeatedly drew attention to discriminatory laws against IndiansIn a Dec 19, 1901 letter, he described the restrictions in the Transvaal, where Indians could not hold land, were required to live and trade only in designated areas, and were barred from footpaths. In the Orange River Colony, he wrote, an Indian could not even enter without special permission, except as a domestic servant or labourer.After returning to India, he continued to write about the poor conditions of Indians legally settled in South Africa. In an Aug 29, 1919 letter, he blamed the “greedy Europeans of Natal” for importing Indian indentured labour at miserably low wages while ignoring local Zulu workers, all in pursuit of “enormous profits”.Cow Slaughter And EidGandhi’s correspondence also addressed social fractures, particularly Hindu-Muslim relations. In a 1919 letter written around Bakrid, he recounted a conversation with Maulana Abdul Bari of Lucknow’s Firangi Mahal, a prominent supporter of the Khilafat Movement.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesGandhi quoted the Maulana as saying: “Islam will fall to pieces if it ever takes and never gives…. If we take from you, we must give to you.” Abdul Bari had urged his followers to abstain from cow slaughter. On Bakrid, he sent Gandhi a telegram: “In celebration of Hindu-Muslim unity, no cow sacrifices in Firangi-Mahal this Bakri-Id.”More than a century later, these letters are more than historical records. They reveal Gandhi not only as a politician confronting colonial power but as a public figure wrestling with representation, violence, communal division and moral responsibility. Through TOI’s pages, his words travelled beyond the immediate battles of the freedom struggle, leaving an intimate record of how he tried to shape public opinion — and India itself.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based DelimitationThey Want To Disturb Punjab’s Peace’: Sukhbir Badal Flags Larger Conspiracy After Nanded Attack’The Great Transshipment Scam’: India Among 40 Nations Aiding China’s Tarrif Evasion, Says USUttarakhand Tunnel Landslide: 7 Workers Dead, 1 Missing; Rescue Operations Continue in Chamoli‘RSS Vs Congress Govt’: Karnataka Cabinet Clears Bill To Curb Events At Public Spaces‘Peaceful Revolution’ Needed: Sonam Wangchuk Seeks New Leaders To Transform India Before 2047Air India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | Watch123Photostories10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers5 red vegetables rich in fibre: Simple ways to add them to Indian mealsIndependence Day Special: 7 historic Delhi eateries that have been serving since before 1947Tara Sutaria’s lace drama meets Kiara Advani’s pantsuit power: Who really won the ‘Toxic’ album launch fashion face-off?5 yellow vegetables that may support eye health, immunity and healthy ageing10 foods that were once considered disgusting but became delicaciesIndependence Day: 10 rare photos that bring India’s freedom struggle to lifeLove dal, roti and dairy? These everyday foods could actually be upsetting your stomach123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

Vamsikrishna 0