Mukul Kesavan – Kumbh vs Corona The logic of Hindu nationalism / Milind Murugkar: The political project of Hindutva is up against many contradictions

The government’s willingness to hold the Kumbh Mela in the middle of the worst health emergency in a hundred years and its unwillingness to curtail it despite a tsunami of second wave Covid infections raise an interesting question. Is Narendra Modi a rational actor on his own terms? Rational, here, doesn’t mean ‘secular’ or ‘progressive’.… Read More Mukul Kesavan – Kumbh vs Corona The logic of Hindu nationalism / Milind Murugkar: The political project of Hindutva is up against many contradictions

Shyam Saran: If Modi really sees India as a democracy, then he must stop the labelling exercise / Sukhbir Badal says BJP is ‘real tukde tukde gang, has smashed national unity’

At the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the country’s new Parliament building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that in a vibrant democracy like India, there was room for differences, but not disconnect. This is a welcome acknowledgement of the Argumentative Indian who loves debate, who is curious about the world around them and is open to… Read More Shyam Saran: If Modi really sees India as a democracy, then he must stop the labelling exercise / Sukhbir Badal says BJP is ‘real tukde tukde gang, has smashed national unity’

Diwali: The Various Shades of the Festival of Lights. By Silpisikha Baruah

Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of the Indian subcontinent. Diwali, as celebrated in various parts of the country today, has regional variations and is often adapted to the traditions of the respective communities. For instance, Brahmanical Diwali celebration offers homage mainly to Goddess Lakshmi;… Read More Diwali: The Various Shades of the Festival of Lights. By Silpisikha Baruah