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How Victor Hugo Met Ali Khamenei

Although Ali Khamenei was an avid reader, well versed in works such as The Divine Comedy, Shahnameh,Gulistan, the poetry of Rumi, and One Thousand and One Nights, he regarded Les Miserables by Victor Hugo as an achievement in itself, even describing it as a miracle in the history of the novel and a profound book of love and feeling. His admiration suggests that he saw literature not merely as aesthetic expression but as moral pedagogy.

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‘Delhi Renaissance’: A Brief Introduction

The person who coined the term ‘Delhi renaissance’ was CF Andrews. During his first exposure to Delhi, he noticed that Urdu prose was developing, scientific works were being translated into Urdu, and the Urdu printing press was making rapid strides. Moreover, he became aware of an entirely new development in Indian Islam, ‘which eagerly embraces modern science, and of the ‘silent changes’ taking place at Aligarh College.

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As war in Ukraine enters a 5th year, will the ‘Putin consensus’ among Russians hold?

As the war following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 enters its fifth year, the attitude of the Russian public remains difficult to gauge: Just over half of Russians, according to one recent poll, expect the war to end in 2026; yet a majority say that should negotiations fail, Moscow needs to “escalate” with greater use of force.

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Crop Insurance Scheme: A Shield for Farmers or a Goldmine for Insurance Companies?

A scheme funded by public money must primarily benefit the public particularly farmers. Only through transparent auditing, swift claim settlements, strict oversight of insurance companies, and greater farmer representation can the true spirit of the scheme be revived and trust restored.

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