Author: Dilip

I'm a scholar, writer and teacher; and my blog is designed for intellectual exploration. It carries no advertisements and requires no cash subscription

Rebecca Solnit: The violence at the Capitol was an attempted coup / It took thugs roaming the halls of Congress for media to speak the truth / Reports & Photos of the Siege of the US Congress

I call it a coup attempt because, though I assume it will not prevent the Biden presidency, it certainly intended to, and is part of a campaign to delegitimize and thereby weaken the incoming administration. It was a long time coming, building up for years with white rage, especially white male rage fuelled by everyone… Read More Rebecca Solnit: The violence at the Capitol was an attempted coup / It took thugs roaming the halls of Congress for media to speak the truth / Reports & Photos of the Siege of the US Congress

Dilip

Donald Trump's gift to America: Realizing we've never been a liberal democracy. By PAUL ROSENBERG

NB: What America has been doing to the rest of the world for decades after the Second World War, it is now doing to itself. Four people are dead after a Trump-sponsored riot: see pictures. There’s so much to say its difficult to begin. Those who imagine the USA to be the leader of ‘the Free… Read More Donald Trump's gift to America: Realizing we've never been a liberal democracy. By PAUL ROSENBERG

Dilip

Amulya Ganguli – End of India’s “Howdy, Modi” Bonhomie with the USA

There are bound to be a few glum faces in India’s external affairs ministry over the news of seven American lawmakers approaching the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, for interceding with India on the farmers’ issue. The officials in the ministry will not mind Pompeo’s intervention in itself since he reports to a President… Read More Amulya Ganguli – End of India’s “Howdy, Modi” Bonhomie with the USA

Dilip

Isabelle Gerretsen: This company is making building tiles out of polluted air

India has the world’s worst air pollution. Home to 21 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities, its toxic air kills more than one million people each year. That’s partly because the South Asian nation is the world’s second largest brick producer. Brick kilns — which account for 20% of black carbon emissions globally — make a significant contribution to its terrible air. Indian architect… Read More Isabelle Gerretsen: This company is making building tiles out of polluted air

Dilip

Ramachandra Guha: Under cover of Covid-19, Modi regime has stepped up its attack on Indian democracy

2020 has been a bad year for the health of Indians and for the health of Indian democracy too. The Modi-Shah regime, which is authoritarian by instinct and belief, has used the pandemic to further undermine the processes of constitutional democracy and strengthen its hold over State and society. In pursuit of its ambitions, the… Read More Ramachandra Guha: Under cover of Covid-19, Modi regime has stepped up its attack on Indian democracy

Dilip

Julia Conley – Amid surging worldwide poverty, planet's 500 wealthiest got $1.8 trillion richer in 2020

Bloomberg’s year-end report on the wealth of the world’s billionaires shows that the richest 500 people on the planet added $1.8 trillion to their combined wealth in 2020, accumulating a total net worth of $7.6 trillion.  The Bloomberg Billionaires Index recorded its largest annual gain in the list’s history last year, with a 31% increase in the… Read More Julia Conley – Amid surging worldwide poverty, planet's 500 wealthiest got $1.8 trillion richer in 2020

Dilip

Bharat Bhushan – Himalayan chessboard: India fishes for advantage in unstable Nepal

A perception that India is supporting ongoing instability in Nepal is likely to alienate its people and political parties. Media reports in India indicate that “political and government sources” prefer mid-term general elections in Nepal. The current political turmoil in Nepal has grown out of a leadership challenge to Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli from… Read More Bharat Bhushan – Himalayan chessboard: India fishes for advantage in unstable Nepal

Dilip

Didier Fassin: The blind spots of left populism

NB: Aside from its useful political reflections, the most important theoretical insight in this essay is this one: ‘Populism is not an ideology but the discursive strategy that sets up an opposition between the elite and the people and is therefore able to accommodate various institutional frameworks.’ In other words, populism is a rhetorical style that… Read More Didier Fassin: The blind spots of left populism

Dilip