Introduce a good-looking, heroic, male protagonist and a pretty girl with an antagonistic father. Develop a flimsy love story, throw in some brawls with slo-mos and replays, and add scenic cuts to the lovers’ singing and dancing in Switzerland. Make the father abruptly realize the protagonist is the best option for his daughter and conclude […]
Tag: BJP
A Litmus Test Of Modi’s Political Tradecraft
In a matter of weeks, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will find himself awaiting poll results for the nation’s General Election, wondering whether he will be reelected to office for a third time. This time, however, will be very different from Modi’s previous runs—in 2014, the man was a fresh face to Indian national politics, […]
How India’s Hyper-Nationalist BJP Regime Enables its Femicide Epidemic
On May 20, 2023, a 16-year-old girl was stabbed 21 times on a busy street in New Delhi, India. At one point, the knife was lodged into her skull, rupturing it. She was then bludgeoned with a cement block as passersby slowed, watched, and walked on. The entire scene was captured on CCTV. In March […]
Targeted (government) harassment: The kind a Hijab can’t protect you from
The Hijab is a headscarf or veil worn by Muslim women in the presence of males, as per their religion. Open to several interpretations, some women also find wearing the Hijab liberating and a means of avoiding harassment. Because of the complexities in how the hijab is viewed, there are often violent reactions to the […]
Legalized Discrimination: India’s NRC and CAA
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status […]
Kashmir Amidst Neighbouring Political Gains
The following article was written for Berkeley Political Review as part of a collaboration with Davis Political Review. Legend says that on the great Mughal Emperor Jahangir’s deathbed, he was asked what his life’s most treasured experience had been? To this he replied; “Kashmir – everything else is worthless.” Given to his deep love for Kashmir, he […]
No Nation For Indian Women
With India nearing general elections in 2019, one is forced to look back on where Modi’s revolutionary government has brought us. While it has been generally accepted that the status of ethnic groups such as Muslim and Dalit minorities have declined, another group that has arguably faced increased marginalisation is women. Hindu nationalism or Hindutva […]
‘The Creeping Iron In The Soul’ : Babri Masjid in 2018
“It is not madness; not lunacy. It is the creeping iron in the soul.” In December 1992, India was shaken awake by the news of 150,000 Hindu nationalists ruthlessly tearing down a mosque built in the 16th Century- Babri Masjid (Babri Mosque)- in order to build a temple on the disputed land. Secular segments of […]
The Beef Ban: A Symbol of Hindutva and a Threat to Indian Democracy
Contrary to what one might imagine associated with no-meat and no-beef movements in the West, such as animal rights and veganism, the connotations of restrictions on cow slaughter in India are very different. Instead, the news conjures up images of murder and lynchings, of executions without trial for a crime that isn’t legally penalized. […]
Kashmir: One of the World’s Longest Ongoing Conflicts Re-Ignited in 2016
Since July, tensions between India and Pakistan have flared up over the disputed region of Kashmir. While tensions never fully go away, given that there have been three wars over the region, this bout has lasted longer and been more deadly than other recent incidents. The most recent clash saw 7 Pakistani soldiers killed, the […]