High above the tree line, where the eastern Himalayas form India’s natural frontier, the resonant sound of yak bells continues to echo across the alpine meadows of Tawang. These timeless melodies narrate a story far older than modern nationhood—a story of the Brokpas, Arunachal Pradesh’s indigenous nomadic yak herders, whose unique pastoral tradition represents one of India’s most enduring yet increasingly vulnerable living heritages and a centuries-old traditions remain an integral part of India’s Himalayan heritage. The Sentinels of India’s High-Altitude Frontier: For centuries, the Brokpas have traversed the rugged high-altitude pastures of India’s Tawang and West Kameng, practising transhumant…
Author: Pratyusha Mukherjee
Pratyusha Mukherjee
Ms Pratyusha Mukherjee, an Independent Sr. Broadcast Journalist working for British media with 25 years of experience in covering the east and northeast, with specialisation in Defence, Sports & Current Affairs. In her illustrated career she has covered many major events and achieved International and National media awards for Journalism.
An Assam Rifles soldier was killed and four others were injured after a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast targeted an Assam Rifles vehicle near Sukhovi in Nagaland’s Chümoukedima district today. The fallen soldier has been identified as Havildar Mohd Iqbal, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty while on an operational deployment. The four injured personnel were evacuated for medical treatment, while their condition has not been officially disclosed. Following the explosion, security forces cordoned off the area and launched an extensive search and sanitisation operation to trace those responsible. An investigation is underway to ascertain…
Indian Naval Sail Training Ship (INS) Sudarshini arrived in Boston on July 12 following its successful participation in the Sail4th 250 celebrations in New York, continuing its transoceanic Lokayan 2026 expedition aimed at strengthening maritime diplomacy and international engagement. The ship participated in the Grand Parade of Sails, the ceremonial opening event of Sail Boston 2026, joining an international fleet of more than 60 tall ships representing over 20 nations. The participation underscores the Indian Navy’s growing role in fostering maritime cooperation, cultural outreach, and goodwill across the globe. During the ceremonial entry into Boston, Raghuram Sastry, Consul General of…
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan was briefed on the functioning and expansion of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Sainik Schools by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials of the Ministry of Defence at the Vice President’s House today. The presentations highlighted the NCC’s growth into a nearly 20-lakh-strong youth organisation, its training programmes, nation-building initiatives, and the roadmap for expanding and strengthening the network of Sainik Schools across the country, including through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Appreciating the NCC’s contribution to nation-building, the Vice President described the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Camps as an…
India and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defence co-operation and advancing a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, as senior officials from both countries convened for the 8th India–Japan Defence Policy Dialogue in Tokyo today. The dialogue was co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Japan’s Vice Minister of Defence for International Affairs, Kano Koji, reflecting the growing strategic significance of the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership amid an evolving regional security landscape. The two sides conducted a comprehensive review of bilateral defence engagement since the previous policy dialogue, covering military-to-military exchanges, cooperation between joint headquarters,…
As the Indian Army maintains a robust armoured presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, public attention has recently shifted from military deployments to an interesting detail—the names painted on individual T-72 and T-90 main battle tanks. Images circulating on social media have shown tanks bearing names such as Maharana Pratap, Tipu Sultan, Aurangzeb, and other historical figures, prompting debate over their significance. Military sources, however, emphasise that these names are part of a long-established regimental tradition rather than a reflection of any historical, political, or ideological position. Across armoured regiments, assigning names to tanks has…
In a significant step towards modernising military traditions and reinforcing a distinct Indian military identity, the Indian Army has introduced a comprehensive revision of its dress regulations. The new policy aims to simplify uniform standards, enhance uniformity across formations and gradually phase out several colonial-era customs and ceremonial practices that no longer align with the ethos of a contemporary, self-reliant force. Among the key changes, senior officers will now wear the traditional Indian bandi jacket during designated official functions, reflecting India’s cultural heritage while maintaining military decorum. A new 3B Winter Dress has also been introduced to provide a standardised…
International Hockey Federation (FIH) has just launched ‘Hockey Scores Live’, a new digital platform that will become the global home for hockey scores, statistics, standings, and competition information, including in real-time. Powered by data from FIH’s new global Tournament Management System (TMS), the platform delivers live scores, player statistics, standings, schedules, and competition information in one fast, easy-to-use destination. Designed as a companion to FIH’s OTT platform Watch.Hockey, Hockey Scores Live brings together every match recorded in the global TMS, creating a single home for hockey competitions around the world. Through this new and utterly comprehensive platform, hockey fans will…
The FIFA Foundation has pledged USD 1 million from its Humanitarian Fund to support emergency relief efforts for communities affected by the recent earthquake in Venezuela. The funding will be used to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to those impacted by the disaster, supporting emergency response operations and early recovery initiatives through trusted local and international humanitarian partners. Announcing the assistance, FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed solidarity with the people of Venezuela, highlighting football’s role in bringing communities together during times of crisis. “The people of Venezuela have the full solidarity of the global football family during this incredibly difficult time,”…
As the annual Amarnath Yatra-2026 continues with thousands of pilgrims undertaking the sacred pilgrimage through the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal, Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Shri Praveer Ranjan, carried out an extensive review of the security architecture at key operational locations to assess preparedness and strengthen coordination among security agencies. Accompanied by Additional Director General (North) Shri Sudhir Kumar and DIG/NZ-II Shri M. K. Yadav, the DG first visited the Nunwan Base Camp in Pahalgam, where he reviewed the overall deployment strategy and the operational framework established to ensure the safe movement of pilgrims.…