Rajesh Sharma

‘Star Wars’ weapons: India’s laser warfare capability takes it to an elite club

After the US, Russia and China, India has successfully demonstrated a directed energy weapon or DEW — a 30KW laser beam capable of neutralising drones and static targets. It can also blind surveillance devices

How 100 Indian jawans stopped 3,000 Pakistani troops in 1965

Sixty years ago, a small band of Indian jawans thwarted President Ayub Khan’s plan to redraw the border in the Rann of Kutch — halting a brigade, holding the line, and forging a legacy now honoured every Valour Day

How Kunal Kamra was targeted should not surprise anyone, especially Uddhav Thackeray

The state has a history of targeting artists, and even common folk, who speak against the powerful. Uddhav’s father took considerable pride in unleashing this sort of violence. Now, others have learnt from him.

Could Gandhi have saved Bhagat Singh? Did he do enough?

Could Gandhi have saved Bhagat Singh? Did he do enough?

In 1931, as Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev faced execution, desperate pleas and high-stakes negotiations unfolded. Gandhi intervened — but was it enough? Some say he failed them. Others say he chose India’s future over their lives

Why Fadnavis wants a Shivaji memorial in Agra to rival Taj

Why Fadnavis wants a Shivaji memorial in Agra to rival Taj

Shivaji Maharaj’s daring escape from Aurangzeb’s captivity in Agra is now at the center of a fresh political storm. As Maharashtra unveils plans for a grand memorial near the Taj Mahal, critics argue it’s a bid to reshape the city’s historical narrative

In charts: Shehbaz Sharif says Pak will beat India. Can he defeat poverty, unemployment and illiteracy first?

In charts: Shehbaz Sharif says Pak will beat India. Can he defeat poverty, unemployment and illiteracy first?

Pak PM recently declared that he would change his name if Pakistan didn’t beat India in every development parameter. Was he talking sense? Here’s what the numbers reveal about the gap between India and Pakistan’s progress

This brave soldier won India the 1965 war. Why is his legacy under attack?

This brave soldier won India the 1965 war. Why is his legacy under attack?

Abdul Hamid’s bravery in the 1965 war made him a national hero, but decades later, his legacy faces an unexpected battle. A school renovation in his village removed his name, sparking outrage and raising questions about how India remembers its war heroes

Killer in the kitchen: Beware the dark side of cooking oils

Killer in the kitchen: Beware the dark side of cooking oils

Excessive oil consumption is driving India’s lifestyle diseases. Experts warn of hidden dangers in popular cooking oils, urging households to cut intake and switch to healthier alternatives

After five stampedes at Kumbh melas, are we still making the same mistakes?

After five stampedes at Kumbh melas, are we still making the same mistakes?

The last time there was a stampede at the Kumbh, it was on Mauni Amavasya in 2013. The CAG report from back then highlighted exactly what went wrong. But did we learn our lesson since?

Why your brightly coloured food can hold some dark secrets

Why your brightly coloured food can hold some dark secrets

Artificial food colours — the kind you find in candies, drinks and processed meats — are now under international scrutiny for possibly causing cancer, allergic reactions and behavioural issues. What can you do to keep your food safe?

How Mumbai got the Wankhede stadium and why its first game saw a riot

How Mumbai got the Wankhede stadium and why its first game saw a riot

The iconic stadium in South Mumbai was built 50 years ago despite the fact that the city already had a stadium to host cricket matches. It’s first Test also didn’t quite go as intended.

The untold ‘James Bond’ story of India’s first Antarctic mission

The untold ‘James Bond’ story of India’s first Antarctic mission

43 years ago, on January 9, 1982, India hoisted its flag in Antarctica in a top-secret mission, marking its entry into polar exploration. This historic expedition laid the foundation for Dakshin Gangotri, cementing India’s place in global Antarctic research

1998 nuclear tests: How India dodged US spy satellites

1998 nuclear tests: How India dodged US spy satellites

A look at the role of Rajagopala Chidambaram, the genius behind India’s nuclear programme, and how his covert strategy during Pokhran-II cemented India’s position as a nuclear power. Chidambaram, who operated under the code name Major Natraj as India prepared for the nuclear tests, passed away on January 4. He was 88

Why Trump’s desire to buy Greenland is not outlandish

Why Trump’s desire to buy Greenland is not outlandish

The US and many other countries have bought and annexed foreign territories, although not in recent years

When Mujibur Rahman nailed Pakistan’s lie and thanked Indira

When Mujibur Rahman nailed Pakistan’s lie and thanked Indira

On January 8-9, 1972, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s release and return, as revealed through TOI archives, marked a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s independence, affirming his legacy as its founding leader

Is this China’s new defence strategy: peace on land, war with water?

Is this China’s new defence strategy: peace on land, war with water?

China’s move to build the world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra has sparked concerns in India. The $137bn dam will allow China to flood Assam if it so wishes or turn off the tap and run it dry

The day Indira Gandhi went from Parliament to prison

The day Indira Gandhi went from Parliament to prison

In December 1978, Indira Gandhi’s expulsion from Parliament and imprisonment rocked Indian politics, igniting protests but also quietly setting the stage for her remarkable political comeback two years later

How India liberated Goa from Portuguese rule in 40 hours

How India liberated Goa from Portuguese rule in 40 hours

India’s swift liberation of Goa in 1961 exposed Western hypocrisy, while Portugal’s colonial claims crumbled at the UN, marking a historic triumph of diplomacy, military precision, and national integration

How India destroyed Ghazi, Pakistan’s secret weapon, in 1971

How India destroyed Ghazi, Pakistan’s secret weapon, in 1971

Pakistan’s only long-range attack submarine was tasked with a critical mission – to hunt and destroy India’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. But India found out about it and set in motion its own plan to fool the Pakistanis and sink Ghazi

40 years after Bhopal gas tragedy, why people continue to fall ill & die

40 years after Bhopal gas tragedy, why people continue to fall ill & die

Four decades after the Bhopal gas tragedy, survivors still grapple with injustice, chronic illness, and neglect. TOI archives reveal the systemic failures, corporate negligence, and broken promises that continue to haunt India’s worst industrial disaster

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