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Vir Sanghvi

Vir Sanghvi

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Congress attacks on Ambani-Adani won’t fly. Nature of wealth has changed since Indira days

Sam Pitroda can help Congress by pasting some strong, sticky tape all over his mouth and then spending the rest of the 2024 Lok Sabha election...

25.04.2024 50

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Vir Sanghvi

The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: Top Indian Chefs elevating global gastronomy standards

In this week's ‘The Taste’, Vir Sanghvi rates world-class Indian chefs who are redefining fine dining across continents

23.04.2024 10

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Vir Sanghvi

It’s now clear. Modi wants a committed governmental, judicial machinery serving BJP vision

Indian politicians expect civil servants to suck up to them. Ireland envoy Akhilesh Mishra's hit-job on Congress and his admiration of PM Modi will...

18.04.2024 10

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: Should hotels run restaurants?

One reason why Indian hoteliers think they have to run four or five restaurants at every property is because they have been brought up on this model.

17.04.2024 10

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Vir Sanghvi

BJP is now Modi’s party the way Congress was Indira Gandhi’s. Is he prepared for the risks?

You could argue that some of the things Narendra Modi does or talks about are not meant to win the approval of elders at RSS. He is doing them with an...

11.04.2024 40

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: Indian chefs need to have discerning palates

Does this matter? Should we want to serve the best carrots? Or should we just accept that our food is about spice and not the quality of ingredients?

09.04.2024 10

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Vir Sanghvi

Every party is guilty in what Arvind Kejriwal is undergoing. Don’t see it in isolation

The timing of Arvind Kejriwal's arrest lends credence to the AAP’s accusation that the BJP is using the central government’s agencies against its...

04.04.2024 9

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

Taste By Vir: Are Indian restaurants taken more seriously globally than before

Nobody disputes that Indian food is now taken more seriously globally. But what about Indian restaurants? That’s a tough one but my instinct is to...

02.04.2024 5

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Vir Sanghvi

The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: Birkin bag, the most coveted bag in the world

The article narrates the tale of the Birkin bag, a symbol of understated elegance and timeless luxury.

26.03.2024 5

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Vir Sanghvi

Indian food is our soft power abroad. Sadly, it has become too politicised these days

The moment they start claiming moral superiority and imposing their preferences on others, they take us one step closer to a totalitarian state where...

21.03.2024 20

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: The story of Rathikant Basu

The article traces the story of Rathikant Basu, one of the most under-appreciated pioneers of the Indian television industry.

19.03.2024 6

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Vir Sanghvi

CAA has two agendas. One open and humanitarian, the other less so

Not only is CAA discriminatory, but it is 'meant' to be discriminatory. If the government broadens its scope to include Muslims, then the Act becomes...

14.03.2024 20

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: Delhi restaurant misuses the Michelin logo and its ratings

I have written many times about Michelin stars and how they are misused in India that it annoys me to repeat some of the points I have made so often...

12.03.2024 4

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Vir Sanghvi

If parties co-opt judges into political system, the last bastion of Indian democracy will fall

We live in an age when the whole country looks to the judiciary to keep the legislative and the executive branches in check. Should we allow political...

07.03.2024 20

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Vir Sanghvi

The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: Chefs deserve to be honoured and remembered

There were chefs in India but mostly, there were cooks. Very few standalone restaurants had proper chefs till the 1980s.

05.03.2024 3

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Vir Sanghvi

Ideology is dead. Rajya Sabha cross-voting shows politics is a livestock market now

I believed that getting rid of secret ballots ended the menace of money-fuelled Rajya Sabha elections. But this week’s polls show that we...

29.02.2024 10

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: Key codes and secret doors; antithesis of restaurants

In the era of key codes and secret doors, the article explores the true definition of hospitality and the joy of eating in restaurants.

27.02.2024 5

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Vir Sanghvi

Don’t expect Supreme Court to be India’s Opposition. Its job isn’t that

I’m glad the Chandigarh farce was called out. I’m pleased too that the SC went back to constitutional first principles in electoral bonds case....

22.02.2024 10

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: Remembering Chef Imtiaz Qureshi's impact on Awadhi cuisine

Explore the culinary journey of Chef Imtiaz Qureshi, a pioneer in Awadhi cuisine, whose innovative creations left an enduring impact on Indian...

20.02.2024 10

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Vir Sanghvi

Congress is drowning. Some heading for the door, others taking note of the emergency exits

We hardly remember politicians who opposed Roosevelt, Thatcher. They weren’t useless, but it became nearly impossible to fight their popularity. I...

15.02.2024 10

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: Why do people go to restaurants?

There is one kind of restaurant I rarely find in India. My needs are quite specific: it must be comfortably appointed and the food must be...

13.02.2024 9

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Vir Sanghvi

To understand Uttarakhand live-in rules, learn how authoritarianism & totalitarianism differ

Each time we allow the state to take control of our lives, we are following the path of Mao Zedong, Mullah Omar. It always starts small. But it’s a...

08.02.2024 10

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: Mumbai vs Delhi culinary showdown in the battle of palates

In this week's The Taste, Vir Sanghvi talks about Delhi's gastronomic pride at stake as Mumbai's culinary scene takes the lead. Who wins in the...

06.02.2024 8

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Vir Sanghvi

BJP sent Shivraj Singh Chouhan packing. Why would it make Nitish Kumar CM again?

The chaos at the inconsequential Chandigarh Mayoral election shows the absurdity of Indian politics today.

01.02.2024 20

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Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: 48 hours in Paris; a trip filled with challenges and delight

From navigating Parisian hotel rates during Couture Week to indulging in luxury dining, the 48 hours in Paris unfolds with surprises and culinary...

30.01.2024 6

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Vir Sanghvi

Is Ram a symbol of a united India or of Hindu victory? The answer will shape new India

Gandhi, Advani, now Modi—all of them mobilised people in the name of Ram. So, when did India’s liberals begin to be embarrassed by references to...

25.01.2024 10

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: Who should we credit for the invented dishes?

This article traces the dishes and the individuals who invented them. Are dishes invented by individuals or do they evolve over time?

23.01.2024 5

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Vir Sanghvi

Only person in Congress who recalls Rajiv’s contributions to India is Mani Shankar Aiyar

Just like BJP supporters don't praise Vajpayee enough because of his refusal to fully embrace Hindutva, Congress supporters fret when asked about...

18.01.2024 50

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Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: The rise of Udaipur as India's top luxury destination

Udaipur's rise as a luxury destination is driven by the opening of new hotels and the popularity of destination weddings, making it a top choice for...

16.01.2024 10

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Vir Sanghvi

Retaliating against terror is tricky. But India’s message after Balakot has worked so far

Since the 2019 Balakot air strike, we have been free of any major terror incident on the scale of the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2008 Mumbai...

11.01.2024 10

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: Tourism and India-Maldives row over anti-Modi posts

The relations between India and the Maldives are deep and long-standing. It would be a shame if inexperienced politicians damaged those ties.

09.01.2024 10

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Vir Sanghvi

If Rajiv Gandhi had listened to Arun Nehru, Ayodhya politics would look very different

Arun Nehru, who sought to be Court Chamberlain in the Rajiv Gandhi-era, argued to continue with Indira Gandhi’s policy of playing the Hindu card in...

04.01.2024 30

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: Why you should consider Bangkok or other Asian destinations

Domestic destinations did okay during pandemic when Indians could not travel abroad. But now that the Far East has opened up, places like Goa seem...

02.01.2024 9

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Vir Sanghvi

Don’t expect a gentler Modi in 2024. He’s already sure of his place in history

Narendra Modi's supremacy doesn't work in South India. Unless the BJP's next victory is more national in character, the Hindi belt vs the rest problem...

28.12.2023 20

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

Why no public outcry over suspended MPs? Indians love to vote but won’t guard institutions

We tend to romanticise the defeat of Indira Gandhi’s Emergency regime. Certainly, India didn’t rise up as a whole in 1977 to defend the...

21.12.2023 20

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Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: What do I like the least about Christmas?

Christmas, as we have seen, is a bit of humbug. And it is all commercially-motivated and sponsored nonsense.

19.12.2023 5

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Vir Sanghvi

Modi is following Indira Gandhi playbook—election wins are personal triumphs, CMs don’t matter

Modi's charisma and vision for India is the only mandate for elections. Local leaders become no more than facilitators. They are not expected to win...

14.12.2023 30

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Vir Sanghvi

Taste With Vir: Was the boom in Goa too good to last and is a bust on its way?

Unless you love Goa, it has become just another Indian destination distinguished by a few beaches. Which is a shame. I would love to see it attract...

12.12.2023 7

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Vir Sanghvi

Only Modi can defeat Modi in 2024. Squabbling INDIA coalition leaders are just a sideshow

Congress has no natural allies today, only enemies. But even after the opposition leaders have reunited under INDIA, it won't be enough to challenge...

07.12.2023 10

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: Forget the movie Casablanca, go and see the real thing

Drive into the Casbah in Tangier. And lose yourself in the gardens of Marrakech. It will be a holiday with a difference.

05.12.2023 4

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Vir Sanghvi

How do you tour a state and miss the BJP landslide? Congress believed its own propaganda

Only one thing unites the BJP’s victories in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and it has very little to do with the local factors that are...

04.12.2023 10

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

Stop fussing over ‘Khalistani’ targets. Is it beyond us to get real Pakistani terrorists?

What about Dawood Ibrahim? We have known for years where he lives, first in Dubai and then in Pakistan. Yet, he has suffered no retribution.

30.11.2023 10

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: Tasting menus vs a la carte menu

If a chef can cook like Gaggan or Heston, then he or she can deny guests all choice. They won't mind. But if a chef can’t, then it’s time to dial...

28.11.2023 2

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Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: Are restaurants too expensive?

Never forget the golden rule: Expensive is not a synonym for good. So always be suspicious of places that charge too much money.

21.11.2023 2

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Vir Sanghvi

Stop taking pride in Indian-origin politicians abroad. Many are phonies & racists

Many Indian politicians abroad are unscrupulous apologists for racism and empire. Look at Suella Braverman and Vivek Ramaswamy.

16.11.2023 10

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: The surprising science behind leftover food

The TV show Lessons in Chemistry and recent research suggest that leftovers can taste better and be healthier than fresh foods, especially those with...

14.11.2023 5

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Vir Sanghvi

Rahul Gandhi has got his act together, but is it enough? Modi is still a force of nature

Even the people who declare that the BJP will lose most states in this round of assembly elections seem convinced that Narendra Modi will be back for...

09.11.2023 9

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

The Taste With Vir: Should gastronomy become a weapon in war?

Food is about joy. It should unite not separate. And when it becomes part of a political battle, it loses its point and purpose.

07.11.2023 6

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Vir Sanghvi

Judge Israel and Hamas on their actions, not where your loyalties lie

If Hamas had attacked a military camp, we wouldn't have called it terrorism. You can see why those who want to whitewash Hamas’s actions are eager...

02.11.2023 30

ThePrint

Vir Sanghvi

If Bengalis eat mutton rolls at Puja pandals, good for them. Stop Talibanisation of Hinduism

The consumption of non-vegetarian food is not a big deal in West Bengal. As far as Bongs are concerned, it is just food. And they love it.

26.10.2023 20

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Vir Sanghvi

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