The year 2023 did not start well for me. For several reasons, I was not in the best headspace. My poor mental health often reflects in my ability to put out my work. Therefore, the focus of 2023 was not only to get better but also to develop mechanisms to be able to work and write when facing a brain fog or a mental block. Over the next weeks, I shall share more tips on doing the same for people who might be going through something similar.
I should also mention that writing actually helps my mental health. It's a two-way relation.
So here is the collection of my words published this year.
Pokhran-II: A moment of profound epiphany (The Hindu)
Even though I remain morally against nuclear weapons, in this piece, co-authored with Professor Amitabh Mattoo, we discuss the significance of the tests that declared India as a nuclear weapons state. We also bust some myths about the tests and India's nuclear policy.
NATO's Renaissance or Momentary Revival? (The Financial Express)
A great focus of 2023 was on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There was a revival of cold-war-style politics and institutions like NATO. In this article, I discuss the developments at the much anticipated Vilnius Summit and the trajectory for NATO's revival.
How Saudi Arabia under MBS is disrupting the football landscape (The Indian Express)
While I enjoy writing, most of the topics I write on are triggered by humanitarian tragedies (so that kills the joy). In this Explained article for the Indian Express, I got to combine my two interests -- football and geopolitics. I explain the model of Saudi's inroads in the football landscape and also compare it with the now-failed Chinese Super League.
India’s Myanmar quandary, its paradoxical policy (The Hindu)
If there is any issue to which I have devoted more time than even my PhD, it is the crisis in Myanmar. In this opinion piece for the Hindu, I reflect on India's short-sighted Myanmar policy.
This article was an opportunity to collaborate with an excellent emerging scholar and a friend, Shivani Singh. We explore the different perspectives in studying the Japanese decision to discharge water from the Fukushima plant. We also highlight the history of nuclear waste and testing in the Pacific Ocean.
This chapter in the Palgrave Handbook on Performative Leadership and Political Communication is directly out of my doctoral work. I encourage everyone to look at not only my contribution but even other chapters in this brilliant volume.
Looking forward to putting more work out in 2024! Happy Reading and Writing!