democracy Archives

India’s Real Gully Boys & the Art of Protest Poetry: Rapping Up Election 2019

At a time when there is a trust deficit in India’s news media and chilling deaths of RTI activists and journalists are par for the course, the guardians of democracy appear to be India’s street rappers. Their fire rhymes are lighting up an election year. Meet the new breed of “citizen rappers”.

Nair Da July 28, 2016

POV

Why Is Our Government Insistent on Changing the Constitution?

BJP ministers Anant Kumar Hegde and Yogi Adityanath have made it amply clear that they’d like to change the Constitution, the word secular particularly. They should listen to what advocate-activist Menaka Guruswamy has to say: The beauty of the Constitution is it compels us to unlearn the prejudices that we hold true.

Dushyant Shekhawat July 26, 2016

Pop Culture

Laal Singh Chaddha review: A Faithful Adaptation that Never Quite Soars

Laal Singh Chaddha is a faithful remake of Forrest Gump but besides a couple of heartfelt moments it imports no language or perspective of its own.

Pradeep Menon July 8, 2016

POV

Dear Indians Who Turned into “Land Buyers” Post Article 370, Can You Please Calm Down?

I received a forward with a picture of a ready-to-move-into 6 BHK house overlooking the Dal Lake priced at ₹3.5 crore. Though the image was fake, the desire most Indians have to own a beautiful holiday home in the mountains is very real. But are we ready for a “Kanakia Paris” in Srinagar?

Aditya Bhalla July 4, 2016

Pop Culture

Veep Gave Us What Game of Thrones Might Not: A Climax We Enjoyed

Last Monday, as King’s Landing turned into a literal metaphor of the dropping writing standards in the Game of Thrones team, Veep delivered a spectacular series finale. It hit the right emotional beats, delivered a scathing critique of modern-day American politics, and tied its seven-season long storyline to a logical end – all while being laugh out loud hilarious.

Prthvir Solanki June 24, 2016

Pop Culture

Kundan Shah’s Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro is a Prophetic Film in a Post-Truth World

Watching Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro is a reminder that while the internet may have exposed the many facets of our “heroes” in the recent times, the system, including the media has always been diabolical and self-serving. Integrity has always been an exception, and will perhaps forever be.

Runjhun Noopur June 19, 2016

POV

The Fake News Factory Must Shut Down: Here’s Where to Begin

Earlier this week, Narendra Modi withdrew an order from the I&B Ministry proposing to cancel the accreditation of journalists who were spreading fake news. But if we are serious about combating fake news, let’s begin with the IT cells of political parties.

Manik Sharma June 8, 2016

POV

Shouldn’t the People of Kashmir Have Had a Say in the Revocation of Article 370?

I am not going to debate whether the revocation of Article 370 is going to be good or bad for Kashmir and India. The result of this action will only be clear with time. But what we must consider is the way this whole manoeuvre was orchestrated. And what that might portend for the future of our democracy.

Karan Mujoo June 5, 2016

POV

From 1947 to 2089: What Will India Look Like in Another 71 Years?

In the India of the distant future, will caste still matter? Will democracy as we know it persist, or be replaced by a newer form of government? Predicting the future is hard, even more so for a country like India.

Sajith Pai May 11, 2016

POV

With a Surge in the Modi Wave, What Choices Are Indian Liberals Left With?

That liberals were not in touch with ground realities was established as a fact back in 2014 itself. That they have been trying to fight a new battle with the same old tools of intellectualism and self-importance is perhaps the takeaway of the 2019 election.

Manik Sharma April 20, 2016