Parul Chandra

PM Modi’s visit to Israel was clearly ill-timed. Amid the widening #USIsraelIranWar war, India must ensure that its ever-tightening clinch with Israel does not jeopardise its broader strategic interests in the volatile #WestAsia region. My OpEd piece.

On what grounds? Has he commanded a regiment/battalion? Will he be given command of an infantry brigade? The COAS should have disapproved on administrative grounds. Also indicted by the Court on grave suspicion of guilt. A blot on the army. @adgpi

India’s #NuclearTriad just got more potent with induction of 3rd #SSBN INS Aridhaman. The 1st much larger S-5 class SSBN, in turn, is expected to be ready by 2030. Their missile arsenal, however, requires further development. #NuclearDeterrence My piece: thefederal.com/the-federal-sp…

Chanchal did not die in isolation. She was painted for a PR stunt after years of forced rides, a grotesque reminder of how normalised cruelty against elephants has become. This is not just about one death. It is about a system that has failed. India’s wild elephant population has declined by nearly 25% since 2017 (from ~30,000 to ~22,446). At the same time, over 200 elephants have been killed by trains in the last decade, as highways, mining, and unchecked urbanisation continue to fragment elephant corridors and push them into conflict zones. And yet, Project Elephant, created to protect them in 1992, has been steadily weakened. Funding remained at just ₹30–35 crore annually, with only ₹16.36 crore spent in 2022–23. Its eventual merger with Project Tiger has further diluted focus and accountability. Meanwhile, captive elephants like Chanchal continue to be exploited for tourism, festivals, and PR spectacles in violation of basic welfare norms. Chanchal’s death must force urgent course correction: stronger enforcement, real funding, and a clear end to the everyday cruelty we have chosen to ignore. @byadavbjp @moefcc

Absolutely scintillating solo by noted Bangladeshi flautist Jalal Ahmed during the #BangladeshNationalDay celebrations this evening at the High Commission. Holding the mike for Ahmed is Bangladesh’s envoy in New Delhi @hamidullah_riaz

Honoured to receive special mention at the Kamla Mankekar Award. Thank you @FreeMedia_In This recognition for queer journalism comes at a critical time, when the Indian govt is set to roll back trans rights. I condemn the regressive bill. #saynototransamendmentbill2026

Watch P Sainath, Journalist and Founder-Editor of People’s Archive of Rural India, deliver the 12th BG Verghese Memorial Lecture On “Freedom of the Purse and the AI of the Affluent”. Presented by The Media Foundation in association with @IIC_Delhi youtu.be/laRD40h3yGM

THE MEDIA FOUNDATION JOURNALISM AWARDS 2025 The WINNERS. With the jury. From L: Jury member @rupa_jha, @shivnarayan01, @sukanyashantha, chief guest @PSainath_org, @annavetticad, @NidhiSuresh, @ekta_sonawane, @teajust, jury member Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr Congrats, winners!

Congrats @annavetticad for getting the #ChameliDeviJain award for Outstanding Woman Media Person of the Year

Do come for this event folks which will honour journalists for their stellar work. TMF, founded in the aftermath of the Emergency, with the aim of upholding freedom of speech, expression and information in the country gives away three journalism awards annually. #pressfreedom

BG Verghese Memorial Lecture, by P Sainath, founder-editor of PARI | IIC March 20, 6 pm In memory of BG Verghese (Econ '46 @StStephensClg), editor and Magsaysay awardee. Supported by Rahul Verghese (Econ. '80.) & Vijay Verghese (Hist. '77) | @rahulsverghese @ShumaRaha

THE MEDIA FOUNDATION JOURNALISM AWARDS 2025 The Shortlist 20 March | 6 pm | IIC Delhi @annavetticad, @ekta_sonawane, @NidhiSuresh_, @shivnarayan01m @sukanyashantha, @teajust @queerbeat_media, @newslaundry, @thewire_in @bbcnewsgujarati

Images of the heroic martyrs from the Dena vessel. We are a nation of Shahadat (martyrdom), and it is our eternal source of dignity.

Her credentials were well known. Why was she invited?

Meet the jury of The Media Foundation Journalism Awards -SEEMA CHISHTI, Editor, The Wire -PARSA VENKATESHWAR RAO Jr, Senior Journalist -RUPA JHA Editor-in-Chief, Collective Newsroom (BBC India’s sole content provider) Awards Event: March 20, 6PM, IIC-Delhi @seemay @rupa_jha

One set of sources say Iran to allow India-flagged tankers to pass through the #StraitOfHormuz. Another set deny it. On crucial matters that affect the common people, the Govt must come on record and clear the air! And, of course, allow questions! #IranIsraelUSwar

True to form, the government decides no questions will be taken by officials at the first inter-ministerial briefing on the recent developments in #WestAsia! Shows it in a poor light!

PM Modi’s visit to Israel was clearly ill-timed. Amid the widening #USIsraelIranWar war, India must ensure that its ever-tightening clinch with Israel does not jeopardise its broader strategic interests in the volatile #WestAsia region. My OpEd piece.

Two notifications in three days from X as they received 'order' from the govt to block two of my cartoons. Though this govt has lots of 'tejaswi log', let me share a pro-tip. My experience for the last 15 years on social media teaches me that whenever any govt/politician tries to stop a cartoon by force, that cartoon normally reaches ten times more readers!

Wild animals are not political gifts or corporate assets to be transferred at will. Leopards belong to their forests, their territories, and the ecosystems that shaped them, not to private enclosures built for spectacle. This is not even funny anymore.

Please join us for the Media Foundation Journalism Awards and the BG Verghese Memorial Lecture By P SAINATH Journalist. Founder-Editor, PARI On ‘Freedom of the Purse and the AI of the Affluent’ Friday, March 20, 6 PM CD Deshmukh Auditorium IIC, Delhi