Essays
34 essays since May 2026 on world affairs, India, society and culture. The newest is at the top.
Fields of study
Pick a spoke.
Every field the Society studies runs out from Cuttack. Choose one on the globe, or below, to see what has been written on it.
Series
- 4 Oct 2026Russia, EU & NATO, part 2Putin's War: Ukraine's X-FactorWhy Ukraine?6 min read
- 3 Oct 2026BRICSBRICS Summit: A Festival for the Global SouthThe New Delhi Declaration, debunked and deconstructed1 min read
- 1 Oct 2026BRICSBRICS 2026: The Rush for the Global SouthBRICS Summit 2026, simplified5 min read
- 30 Sept 2026ManifestoA New Age Intellectual RevolutionWelcome to The Iconoclastic Society2 min read
- 30 Sept 2026Russia, EU & NATOThe Tussle for KyivRussia, EU, NATO Theater1 min read
- 27 Sept 2026Russia, EU & NATO, part 1Putin's War: Why, What and How Long?Russia, EU and NATO Theater7 min read
- 25 Sept 2026USA & spheres, part 1The Cuban Missile CrisisUSA and the Sphere of Influence4 min read
- 21 Sept 2026SUDARSHAN, part 3Why a Great Nation Should Have a Great ArmySUDARSHAN series3 min read
- 20 Sept 2026Middle East, part 2An Era of VengeanceMiddle East Theater5 min read
- 16 Sept 2026Middle East, part 1The Levantine CarnageMiddle East Theater6 min read
- 15 Sept 2026China & East Asia, part 2China's B.R.I: Chinese Economy and Strategic MotivesChina and East Asia6 min read
- 13 Sept 2026China & East Asia, part 1China's B.R.I: Beginning of a New World OrderChina and East Asia6 min read
- 29 Aug 2026Bihar, part 2Bihar: The Lost Indian Jewel (Part II)8 min read
- 16 Aug 2026Fiction, part 1If He Rose From the DeadPart 1: Shaheed-e-Azam5 min read
- 11 Aug 2026Bihar, part 1Bihar: The Lost Indian Jewel (Part I)We laugh, we troll, we roast, but they are Indians too10 min read
- 9 Aug 2026SocietyIndia's WonderwomenFrom Lakshmi Bai to the Dangal ladies4 min read
- 5 Aug 2026SocietyThe Civil-Military Ideological DivideDecoding the 'Brigadier Pratap' syndrome4 min read
- 2 Aug 2026SocietyThink Before You Speak, ft. Gen-ZStop living in delusion4 min read
- 31 Jul 2026Culture & filmFarzi: Black and WhiteAn iconoclastic review4 min read
- 31 Jul 2026SocietyThe Story of TigersOn World Tiger Day5 min read
- 30 Jul 2026OdishaJagannath: From a Lens of Realist StatecraftIntegrating religion with statecraft5 min read
- 28 Jul 2026Indian Ocean, part 1I.O.R: An Ocean of OpportunitiesSouth Asia series7 min read
- 28 Jul 2026PersonalTulsi in CyberpunkChange is the only constant2 min read
- 28 Jul 2026PersonalA Glitch to Be RememberedA Rath Yatra evening in Cuttack3 min read
- 25 Jul 2026SUDARSHAN, part 2How Does a Terror Inc. Operate? Part 2SUDARSHAN series5 min read
- 24 Jul 2026SUDARSHAN, part 1How Does a Terror Inc. Operate? Part 1SUDARSHAN series7 min read
- 18 Jul 2026Culture & filmShaurya: The Hero WithinIt takes courage to make right, right5 min read
- 17 Jul 2026Culture & filmWhat's Wrong With the Indian Film Industry?A perilous trajectory4 min read
- 17 Jul 2026Culture & filmThe Thin Line Between Fundamental Civility and EntertainmentDoes it really make you laugh?3 min read
- 17 Jul 2026OdishaThe Jewel That Never Became the CrownThe untold story of Kalinga9 min read
- 17 Jul 2026SocietyReligion: A Civilisational Paradox7 min read
- 4 Jul 2026SocietyThe Invisible Driver, ft. Indian DemocracyCrony capitalism and the state4 min read
- 30 Jun 2026SocietyWhy I Hate Gen Z3 min read
- 10 May 2026PersonalThe Golden DaysWhere it began3 min read
Dear Iconoclast,
Every essay is the briefing I would want to receive myself: one region, its history and its stakes, and the part nobody is saying out loud. Join 2,000+ readers in 64 countries and get each one by email, free.
Subscriptions run through Substack. You can unsubscribe from any email.
Brahma
Russia, EU & NATOPutin's War: Ukraine's X-Factor4 Oct 2026, 6 min read