As the world celebrates Valentine’s Day with roses and chocolates, the city of Agra, home to the iconic Taj Mahal, offers a deeper reflection on love, one that transcends fleeting gestures and commercialized rituals.

For decades after independence, the Indian media played an adversarial role in holding those in power to account. Major exposés brought down state governments, and cartoonists openly mocked political leaders. The 1970s were both a golden and dark age for press freedom. Before and after the Emergency, the media used its liberty to the fullest.

The Indian agricultural sector, the lifeblood of our nation, is poised for a period of unprecedented growth and prosperity, thanks to a series of transformative initiatives unveiled in the Union Budget 2025-26.

The 10-day-long Taj Mahotsav, a celebration of Agra’s art, culture, and heritage, has become a permanent fixture on the city’s event calendar. However, despite its long tenure and fanfare, the festival’s effectiveness in attracting foreign tourists and its overall impact on the local tourism industry remain subjects of debate.

The Yamuna is now dry, polluted, and diseased. Most city residents are unaware of the significance and contributions of Mother Yamuna. Even Nazir Akbarabadi would be heartbroken to see the Yamuna’s plight. Emperor Shah Jahan would surely be devastated by the river’s current state!

In a world where independent journalism is threatened by vested interests, besieged by violent suppression and technology's ‘Big Brotherly’ manipulation, the echoes of history resonate loudly.