We asked colleagues, present and past, to reflect on a man who has made such a difference to their lives and careers. Here it is then, a rich collection of memories that offer enchanting glimpses of the enigmatic Ajit Balakrishnan.

'Sri Ayodhyaji will emerge as the greatest centre of cultural togetherness, universal harmony, vasudeva kutumbakam, compassion, and love for every single living being on this Earth.'

Jawan is disproportionately extolled for making political comments, but it is a small film like Bhagwan Bharose that usually sticks its neck out, notes Deepa Gahlot.

As much as we enjoy and write reams and reams about our amazement at the Kantara climax, 30 years on from now, will we remember these portions more fondly or the ones where Shiva is simply hanging out with his friends, mulls Rohit Sathish Nair.

The aftermath of Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan has led to an argument that there was no religion as Hinduism in Chola times.
Instead, there was only Saivism, Vaishnavism, etc, and that the Cholas were Saivites, and hence not Hindus, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Important for India was Xi's meeting with representatives of PLA officers and soldiers stationed in Tibet. The video of the encounter was interesting to watch, especially the large number of lieutenant generals and major generals, observes Claude Arpi.

Former England spinner Monty Panesar dismissed Sachin Tendulkar four times in 11 Tests but says the Indian legend was the best batsman he played against alongside Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Virender Sehwag was the "most destructive" of that era, Rahul Dravid was "The Wall", but the ability to change gears made Tendulkar the best.

'...by combining religious and political missions -- to destroy the Babri Masjid and establish Ram Rajya.' 'Hindutva was successful in creating synergy with the aspirations of devotees,' Dhirendra K Jha, author of Ayodhya: The Dark Night, tells Kanika Datta.

This theory of 'Hindus vs the rest' sees the two communities as two separate blocs. Isn't that the two-nation theory? What of the deep bonds that the communities have on the ground? asks Jyoti Punwani.

The 'Shatrughan Sinha of the South' plunges into politics.

'If Rahul wants to pick up the sacred thread where his 'daadi' left it, especially when the BJP, which reduced his party to 44 in 2014, claims monopoly over Hinduism, it's smart politics.' 'Why cede your Gods to your rival?' asks Shekhar Gupta.

You'd wonder what madness seized Rahul that he has decided to play to the BJP's strengths, says Shekhar Gupta.

'Mumbai's killings in January 1993 came at the tail end of two outbursts of vicious communal violence, whereas today, it's peacetime in a 'new India'.' 'At that time, the perpetrators warned onlookers to keep their mouths shut.' 'Today, the perpetrators take videos of their attacks, such is their confidence.' 'The mobs have succeeded in terrorising an entire community and indeed, all those dealing in the transport of cattle, whatever their religion,' says Jyoti Punwani.

'The judge said that anybody who does not believe in the RSS ideology is not acceptable to you. You have terminated his contract because he thought differently.' 'The Modi government has no accomplishment to show. Therefore, they are using the tool of nationalism to divert the country's attention from very serious things like farmers suicides and the water crisis.' 'You cannot simply dismiss anyone because they are not willing to raise a slogan and not think like you.'

'Modi and Shah know their politics. That is why the alarmed switch to reservations, and raising the threat from 'vote bank' politics,' says Shekhar Gupta.

The only thing more dangerous than a killer who thinks he is acting to protect his faith or community is the killer who knows he is acting with the sanction of his faith or community

Crackdowns on bloggers often signal the ominous rise of religious fundamentalism

The Missionaries of Charity are unaffected by the recent comments of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat questioning Mother Teresa's motives

The rationalist has proved to be a greater voice of reason in death than he was during his lifetime.

Reason must triumph over blind faith, says Praful Bidwai in this tribute to murdered rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.

If you are more than your rhetoric about a strong and united country, give us our due -- treat us as countrymen, says an ordinary Muslim in this open letter.

The decline in society began when we reduced the message of Gita to fatalism. We are forever waiting for a messiah to come and rescue us as promised in Gita. But we have forgotten the central message of Gita to do our 'karma' or duty without the attachment to rewards and its fruit, says Colonel (retd) Anil Athale.

In India democracy is only notional. One can see the discriminatory nature of policies for different classes of citizens. The policies adopted have increased the gap between the rich and the poor. This is not just corruption, it is a big scam! says Sandeep Pandey.

A handful of Pakistani Muslim youths are beginning to question the existence of God and are in the process of giving up Islam to become atheists.

The Hindu American Foundation -- comprising mainly second generation Indian American Hindu professionals, including several physicians and lawyers- -- has condemned the increasing vandalism and protests against mosques across the United States and even violence against Muslim Americans in the wake of the controversy over a proposal to build a mosque near Ground Zero in New York, saying, "These displays of bigotry are despicable."

Individuals following this approach need to be more disciplined, optimistic and need some serious luck.

Hemant Mehta's atheism-oriented blog works, finds P Rajendran, because of its non-confrontational tone.

One wonders whether the Communists in India are still at their old game: ostensibly nurturing democracy (in Nepal) but in reality waiting for the right moment and the right circumstances to launch an armed bloody revolution in India via Nepal with the backing of China.

'People are much more afraid,' Salman Rushdie said, speaking of the years following the fatwa Iranian clerics had declared against him. 'There has been a chilling effect. Now people think twice before they make... almost any remark about Islam. They think twice in case somebody decides to be offended.'

In a country like India, where religion has deep roots, it is important for the party to make the stand clear on religion. It is not a question you can shy away from. The party should be open for a debate and then publicly announce a renewed stand, says Marxist MP Abdullakutty

Rushdie's comments came at a time when extremists have again driven a literary figure into hiding -- this time Martin Rynja, a Dutch-born London publisher who had agreed to release The Jewel of Medina, a controversial novel about the Prophet Muhammad.

Mohit Suri, the director of Raaz 2, clears the air about his much-speculated break up with Udita Goswami, his penchant for hard-hitting, intense films from Zeher to Awarapan and of course the Emraan Hashmi connection.

If Prachanda is prudent and mature, he won't let relations with India be marred by anti-India posturing. Will he be able to do that? India's long border with Nepal has seen an unusual growth in madarssas and jihadi activities. Will Prachanda's Nepal help handle that?

Author Deborah Baker discusses her new book on Allen Ginsberg with Arthur J Pais.

Choosing the next Dalai Lama is too profound a tradition to be controlled by the Communists in Beijing.

Would Americans have endorsed the war of terror if they were not so scared of death, wonders George Soros in his latest book.

'Terrorism itself is as old as the human species; it goes back at least as far as the biblical story of Cain and Abel. Terrorism is much older than Islam, or Christianity.'

'It is wrong to put Savarkar's portrait in Parliament. Young people should not be told to emulate him as their role model,' says historian Bipan Chandra.