10. Sorry, no holiday
Who doesn't want a holiday? That too when it is likely to extend the festive mood. A news of the Tamil Nadu government declaring the 100th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran as a public holiday garnered many views. But here is the catch. This article was published in 2017, and January 17, 2018 was not a holiday. When the article surfaced in search results, The Hindu received numerous calls to verify if the day after the Pongal holidays was actually a holiday.
9. The many worries of Indians
The headline of this article was more than enough to read it. The data article was based on a Goalkeepers Global Youth Outlook Poll. The worry about joblessness was highest in India, according to the poll. It also found that 28 per cent globally worried about security, while the percentage was relatively less in India.
8. The story behind an heart rending photograph
Here is a heart-rending incident reported from Hyderabad of a young boy admitting his mother to a government hospital. "Sameena Sultana’s five-year-old son falls asleep beside her, unaware that death has snatched his mother from him for ever," read the caption. Moved by the scene, a group of volunteers traced the woman's family and helped them with the legal formalities. The boy's custody has been handed over to his uncle.
7. From demanding ban to feeling proud after watching the film
When Sanjay Leela Bhansali decided to make a biopic of Queen Padmini of Mewar, he may not have foreseen the controversies. Protests erupted even before the shots reached the editor's table. The filmmaker had to change the name from Padmavati to Padmavat, and delete and alter a couple of scenes even after the Censor Board cleared it. However, protests continued in many parts of India, especially in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat which have a sizable presence of the Rajput community. Shri Rajput Karni Sena, an organisation that was spearheading the protests, finally decided to withdraw the agitation after watching the movie. A few members declared that they "found that that the movie glorifies the valour and sacrifice of Rajput and every Rajput will be feeling proud after watching the film."
6. What's the fuel price today?
On April 22, petrol price hit ₹74.40 a litre in Delhi, the highest since September 14, 2013. The article explained the multiple factors that contributed to the price hike, including global crude oil prices, excise duty, and other taxes. Fuel prices continued to fluctuate the rest of the year, reaching a high of Rs. 90.22 a litre in Maharashtra on September 24.
5. Anatomy of an outbreak
In the month of May, Kerala witnessed an epidemic spread by a virus till then unknown in India. Kerala's healthcare system managed to contain the outbreak. The Hindu published this long-form piece on the way Kerala handled the Nipah virus outbreak, and how that holds crucial lessons for the rest of India.
4. Modi's Rajpath walk
On India’s 69th Republic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to break protocol and walk down the road till India Gate, waving to the crowd. Seeing him close to their enclosures, the spectators chanted ‘Modi, Modi’. The security guards had a tough time managing the crowd as well as covering the Prime Minister.
3. Chinmayi on her life after #MeToo
The #MeToo movement caught up with India too, with several women opening up on their traumatic experiences. One such person from the Tamil film industry was singer Chinmayi. She named eminent poet and lyricist Vairamuthu, accusing him of harassing several women and describing how she managed to escape from him. Her Twitter page was buzzing with activity, withmany people supporting her and many questioning her claims. Days later, when The Hindu interviewed her, she spoke about how her life changed after #MeToo.
2. India's performance at Gold Coast Commonwealth Games
It was a remarkable Commonwealth Games for the Indian contingent. The Indian team returned with 26 gold, 20 silver, and 20 bronze medals, and finished third in the medal tally. The multi-sport event for the erstwhile and present Commonwealth nations were held in Gold Coast, Australia from April 4-15.
1. Karnataka Assembly elections 2018 results live updates
May 15, 2018 was a day of twists and turns in Karnataka politics. The Karnataka Assembly election threw up a hung Assembly with the BJP emerging as the single largest party and the Congress and the JD(S) securing the second and third positions respectively. As the BJP tried to woo JD(S) to extend support, Congress quickly announced unconditional support to the JD(S) to form the government. The kingmaker suddenly became the king. More political drama in the following days ensured Karnataka politics grabbed national attention.
