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Bibhudatta Pradhan
For Bibhudatta Pradhan's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 27, 2023
India’s June heat wave deaths are a harbinger of worse to come
The numerous anecdotal reports of a spike in deaths among the most vulnerable in society have heightened concerns about both central and local government preparations.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 21, 2023
India to send federal help to areas hit by heat wave as deaths rise
This summer has not smashed last year’s blistering records, but India has for weeks been dealing with highs close to 46 degrees Celsius in some regions.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 28, 2023
Modi unveils new parliament as he reshapes India's power center
India’s corridors of power are getting a makeover — part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to cement his legacy as he looks to a third term in office in national elections next year.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 19, 2023
In India, poor-quality degrees create an unemployable generation
Thousands of small private colleges don’t have regular classes, employ teachers with little training, use outdated curriculums and offer no practical experience or job placements.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 23, 2023
How India’s hunt for a separatist preacher cut off the internet for 27 million people
The self-styled preacher, Amritpal Singh, has called on his followers to revive a banned secessionist movement that fought to create an independent state called Khalistan.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 29, 2023
Rahul Gandhi walks for 100 days in bid to challenge Modi in 2024 election
Once unbeatable in Indian politics, Gandhi’s Congress Party has struggled to overcome corruption scandals and an exodus of leadership.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Aug 18, 2022
Modi hails Indian ‘golden era’ in speeches when times get tough
In the face of high inflation and unemployment, Modi has been repeatedly telling voters that India is just beginning a 'golden era” that will run for the next quarter century.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
May 7, 2022
Modi faces a dilemma: Keep Indian voters happy or feed the world
He wants to be seen as a dependable global leader, but faces harvest-killing heat waves and inflation — the very issue that brought down the previous government.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Mar 6, 2022
Rising prices threaten Modi’s hold on India’s most crucial state
Soaring prices, joblessness and health complications from a vicious wave of delta-fueled COVID-19 infections last summer are high on the minds of voters in Uttar Pradesh.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 9, 2022
India’s Modi braces for tough local elections amid virus surge
Indian voters will head to the polls in several states in February and March, posing a key test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 29, 2021
Indian farmers pressure Modi for more after forcing his retreat
The administration has previously said it will find it difficult to adopt a minimum support price for farm crops as it involves huge budgetary expenditure.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 16, 2021
India’s prime minister gets a three-week birthday bash as popularity dips
The celebrations are in stark contrast to the everyday reality of millions of Indians left jobless by the pandemic.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 11, 2021
Indians still battling impacts of COVID-19 now burdened with medical debt
Even before the pandemic struck, India's out-of-pocket expenses on health care were among the highest in the world.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 18, 2021
‘Entire families’ wiped out as COVID-19 ravages rural India
As leaders in Delhi struggle to contain the crisis, horrifying scenes are playing out across the country.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 3, 2021
Modi experiences setback after loss in key India state poll
The prime minister's party lost big in a state he visited frequently before the recent virus surge forced him off the campaign trail.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Apr 30, 2021
How India’s vaccine push faltered and left a country in chaos
India has fully vaccinated less than 2% of its 1.3 billion-strong population, inoculation centers say they're running short of doses and exports have all but stopped.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 27, 2021
Indian politicians vow to pay women for housework as virus rages
If enacted, the stipends would be some of the first in the world to specifically address women's unpaid labor, which economists estimate accounts for up to 39% of global GDP.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 26, 2021
World's biggest COVID-19 crisis threatens Modi's grip on India
The political fallout of Modi's handling of the pandemic may become clear on May 2, when election results are due to be announced for the five states voting over the past month.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 19, 2021
There’s a new COVID-19 variant in India. How worried should we be?
Health experts worry that a new — possibly more virulent — coronavirus variant could be racing through the crowded nation of more than 1.3 billion people.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 17, 2021
Two of India’s richest men caught in crossfire over farming
The fight between the government and the farmers has revived the debate on what Modi's critics call the cozy nexus between the magnates and the popular leader.

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores