Vasudevan Sridharan

Bangalore

Digital Journalist at Freelance

Digital Journalist. Words in @SCMPAsia @dwnews @ecobusinesscom @thisisinsider @InRetailAsia @scroll_in @TheSouthFirst @earthjournalism @mongabay @TheKenWeb

Articles

How India is waiting in the wings to seize China-rejected Boeing planes

2 weeks ago | scmp.com | Vasudevan Sridharan

India’s airlines are circling dozens of Boeing jets rejected by Chinese carriers, in what aviation analysts describe as a rare convergence of geopolitics and market timing that could give Indian aviation a decisive edge amid global supply constraints and surging passenger demand.
How India is waiting in the wings to seize China-rejected Boeing planes

2 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Vasudevan Sridharan

NowCNN — In the space of a few hours, Donald Trump went from hailing America’s new “golden age” to warning parents their kids would have fewer toys — and they’d cost more. The president’s dizzying switch this week epitomized the hype surrounding his “Make America wealthy again” promise and the pain it …
India’s patchy heatwave preparedness sparks fears of rising death toll

1 month ago | eco-business.com | Vasudevan Sridharan

In late March, an Indian teenager, Saheba Dehury, was undergoing physical tests for a home security job in the eastern state of Odisha. The 19-year-old collapsed abruptly, presumably due to extreme heat, when the temperature was hovering around 35°C. Already subscribed? Sign in There's something for everyone. We offer a range of subscription plans. Access our stories and receive our Insights Weekly newsletter with the free EB Member plan.
Is India’s regional clout waning over Bangladesh cosying up to China?

Feb 4, 2025 | scmp.com | Vasudevan Sridharan

As Bangladesh continues to strengthen its ties with China and Pakistan, India risks being shut out from wielding any influence on Dhaka and the broader South Asian region. Since the downfall of Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina last year, China has held several talks with Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.
'Brown colonialism': India's Nicobar port project imperils isolated Indigenous people

Jan 30, 2025 | eco-business.com | Vasudevan Sridharan

In 2022, a team of Indian government officials met with a tribal leader from the Nicobar Islands to discuss a proposed development project. The authorities sought the leader’s approval to acquire “unused” lands for the initiative. Already subscribed? Sign in There's something for everyone. We offer a range of subscription plans. Access our stories and receive our Insights Weekly newsletter with the free EB Member plan. Unlock unlimited access to our content and archive with EB Circle.
Shock and gore: why Indian street plays resort to the outrageous and grotesque

Jan 4, 2025 | scmp.com | Vasudevan Sridharan

When Bimbadhar Gouda stepped onto the stage last November in a small town in Odisha, his portrayal of a demon in a retelling of the Ramayana took a shocking turn that would echo across India. As the audience watched, he tore open the skin of a live pig hanging in front of him and consumed its raw meat. A video of the visceral act went viral, sparking outrage among animal rights activists and igniting a national debate about the state of Indian street theatre.
India’s BJP accuses the US ‘deep state’ of meddling - is it a ploy to cover its flaws?

Dec 29, 2024 | scmp.com | Vasudevan Sridharan

Allegations by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that the US “deep state” is interfering in India’s affairs are seen by analysts as a move by the ruling party to bolster domestic support even if it risks worsening bilateral ties. The American “deep state” is accused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP of wrongdoings ranging from helping to disrupt parliamentary proceedings and manipulating stock markets to undermining the judiciary.
Will India’s undersea cable overhaul make it a global data powerhouse?

Dec 24, 2024 | scmp.com | Vasudevan Sridharan

With several advanced undersea cable systems poised to go live by 2025, India is positioning itself as a major player in global data infrastructure, bolstering its technological clout amid growing concerns over the security of these networks. Multiple next-generation systems – including IAX, IEX, 2Africa Pearl, Blue Raman and MIST – are due to become operational by 2025, replacing ageing cables nearing the end of their 25-year lifespans.
In southern India, the push for home births carries health concerns

Dec 20, 2024 | scmp.com | Vasudevan Sridharan

Venkateshwari Manish, a woman from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, was supposed to travel to the neighbouring state of Kerala for her delivery in 2019. However, those plans were disrupted when she experienced labour pains early one morning while still at home. Her water broke and, as her husband checked on her in the bathroom of their small home, he discovered she was bleeding. Minutes later, their firstborn son had arrived.
‘It was hell’: is India losing its fight against eradicating TB by 2025?

Dec 13, 2024 | scmp.com | Vasudevan Sridharan

India’s anti-tuberculosis drive has been slowed by social stigma, superstition, poor public awareness and widespread tobacco usePublished: 3:00pm, 14 Dec 2024For months, a relentless spiral of coughing, fever and fading strength defined Sivaranjani’s life. The 24-year-old from Barur, a quiet village in Tamil Nadu, had seen doctor after doctor, endured test after test, yet no one could explain why her body was wasting away. By early 2020, her weight had plummeted to a shocking 28kg (62lbs).