‘India’s First Radicals’ argues for a generous assessment of 19th-century Indian intellectual life

NB: Those who bang on about Macaulay’s Minute on education (1835) should acquaint themselves with this early Indian patriot, whose work in education inspired a generation and who preceded Macaulay by many years. DS The men of Young Bengal emerge not as pale imitations of British liberals, but as creative political thinkers who addressed India’s… Read More ‘India’s First Radicals’ argues for a generous assessment of 19th-century Indian intellectual life

Mainstream, Dec 6, 2025

++++++Readers outside of India can donate hereto support Mainstream Weeklyhttps://tinyurl.com/2rsy4ss6++++++ In this issue DOCUMENTS: BOOKS IMAGE & SOUND Editor’s Picks: Books of Note

Zohran’s run

The enduring lesson of Zohran Mamdani’s victory is that the moderate Centre is invariably the respectable front for right-wing prejudice. The voices of the liberal Centre, the political ‘moderates’, the newspapers and the magazines responded to Mamdani’s candidacy in a way that was indistinguishable from Donald Trump’s denunciations Mukul Kesavan New York’s mayoral race was… Read More Zohran’s run

The Unmaking of Ladakh: RSS, Corporate Power, and the War on India’s Plural Soul

Since 2014, this has been the RSS–BJP’s consistent strategy: criminalize dissent, discredit activists, and rewrite constitutional morality. They know that a large-scale civil war is impossible in a subcontinent as vast and diverse as India. What they fear are small, localized movements, like Ladakh’s, that cannot be militarily conquered, but only silenced with force. The assault… Read More The Unmaking of Ladakh: RSS, Corporate Power, and the War on India’s Plural Soul

Zohran Mamdani elected mayor of New York City in historic win / NYC’s millionaires flee as Socialist surge sparks suburban bidding wars

Anna Betts in New York City Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani was elected on Tuesday as the 111th mayor of New York City, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and making history as the city’s first Muslim mayor. Current mayor Eric Adams, who had campaigned for a second term as an independent, dropped out of the race in September. When Mamdani… Read More Zohran Mamdani elected mayor of New York City in historic win / NYC’s millionaires flee as Socialist surge sparks suburban bidding wars

DU Cancels Delhi School of Economics Seminar Without Formal Reason, Convenor Resigns

NB: No wonder lacs of Indian students do their best to go abroad for higher studies. This government wishes to abolish the thought process completely. This is not national rejuvenation but a national disaster. DS ‘Since I can no longer guarantee the intellectual integrity of the research colloquium and that it will not be cancelled… Read More DU Cancels Delhi School of Economics Seminar Without Formal Reason, Convenor Resigns

Hundreds of prominent Jews and Israelis urge world powers to hold Israel accountable ‘for Gaza atrocities’

‘What’s happening in Gaza and the occupied territories is not Judaism – it’s a horrific religious and fanatic mutation. We must stand against it, speak truth to power, and refuse to be silenced‘ An open letter, signed by at least 460 Jewish and Israeli intellectuals, celebrities and political figures, calls on the UN and heads… Read More Hundreds of prominent Jews and Israelis urge world powers to hold Israel accountable ‘for Gaza atrocities’