That combination—fearlessness plus a straight face that keeps cracking into a grin—is what is worth talking about this Independence Day. That said, freedom of that kind runs into a specific difficulty in this era, and it isn’t political in the obvious sense. If you want to know what happens to a country when that discipline gets neglected at the institutional level, Aashima Dogra’s new Frontline piece, “How to Build a Scientific India”, is essential reading this week. It’s a necessary one, and it belongs on your list this Independence Day week. Wishing you a free, breathe-easy fortnight ahead, and a very happy Independence Day to our beautiful, contradictory, still-becoming country.