Indian Media’s Selective Silence on Durga Desecration
Does the Indian media have an unwritten code not to report atrocities on minorities in India’s neighbouhood? It appears that taking after the Narendra Modi government, Delhi media needs a “Look East” policy. What else explains the deafening silence on the violence against Hindu minorities and the desecration of Durga idols in Hooghly district More...
Revisiting Slumdog Millionaire
The output of the Mumbai film industry largely consists of superficial plots with light-hearted music and little contact with pressing social and political realities. By contrast, Danny Boyle’s movie Slumdog More...
The World of Wendy Doniger’s Translations
“Aldous Huxley once said that an intellectual was someone who had found something more interesting than sex; in Indology, an intellectual need not make that choice at all.” – Wendy Doniger, When the Lingam More...
An Open Letter to Gulzar
Dear Gulzar Sir, (Actually I wanted to address you as“Ji” or “Saab,” but you might have construed it as religious intolerance) When I read your recent statement that “We have never witnessed this kind More...
Rahul Just Doesn’t Have It
Every time I sit down at my computer to put down my thoughts on the present scenario of India I feel utterly dejected and disgusted — rather confused, that I give it up. For one I am at a loss on where to More...
Decoding the Honourable President’s Advice
Is the current holder of the executive power of the Union of India passing under a spell of divine or its opposite force? Are the media, the Congress Party, some 30-odd shitakes and some Nehruvian intellectuals More...
How California Gurudwaras have Cemented Hindu-Sikh Divide Created by the British
During a recent visit to California I visited Gurudwaras at Yuba City, Freemont and San Jose. The Yuba City Gurudwara was made in 1969, Freemont in 1978 and San Jose renovated in 2004. The first two are relatively More...
Acche Din for Economic and Political Weekly
From now onwards, a large section of the media in India could well be perceived to be a little less independent or, for that matter trustworthy. Pranjoy Guha Thakurta, 14 June 2014, EPW As far as advertising More...
UK’s Labour Party Stands against Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to make a much-anticipated visit to the UK on 12-14 November 2015. Of benefit to both countries, the visit is cause for great celebration to UK Indians. The 13 November event More...
Religious Pluralism and Distorted Notions of Secularism in Education
The events of the European Reformation and its aftermath in which the material power of the Christian Church was reduced, still hang heavy as a collective memory in social orders that have inherited this civilization. More...