Kerala

Professor Fearless

V Shoba

Islamic fundamentalists chopped off his right hand. His college dismissed him. The government abandoned him. His wife ended her own life when she could not take the trauma any longer. And his son was hounded by the police for no reason. Open met TJ Joseph in his hometown in central Kerala. The indefatigable teacher is in the midst of writing his memoir

PRAISE THE LOST SHEEP

Shahina KK

It is not easy to be a former priest or nun in Kerala

The Fall of Mani Saar

Ullekh NP

He was considered the ultimate political survivor. Now, Kerala’s 82-year-old finance minister and the country’s longest-serving MLA stands disgraced

THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN

V Shoba

Zen and the art of being the emperor of a jewellery business in India. The man from Thrissur in Kerala has set the gold standard for transparency in the industry

The Comrade Who Dared: MV Raghavan (1933 to 2014)

Ullekh NP

A firebrand leader, Raghavan used his sturdy, film-star looks, alpha male image, rugged nature and ruthless ambition to rustle his way through the ranks of the party

THE LAST FOSSILS

PR Ramesh

How the Left lost the fight against inequality to the Right

Bridge over Songs

Shahina KK

A stretch on NH 47 in Kerala has become a synonym for great music. Meet Thaikkudam Bridge

The Blood Sport of Malabar

Ullekh NP

As the murder politics of CPM and RSS in northern Kerala continues to seek martyrs in the most gruesome ways, ULLEKH NP in Kannur traces the origins of the violence to a martial tradition of fearlessness and honour