Decoding Democracy

Is Democracy Dying? Ignore Doomsayers, It’s Self-Correcting

Is democracy dying? The answer to this depends on whom you ask. The diehard supporters of the current dispensation in…

August 23, 2020

A Nation In Churn: Being A Moderate In A Bristling Low-Trust Society

"I am rediscovering myself. And I am indeed amused by what I am," says the friend without a trace of…

August 20, 2020

The Crisis Of Trust: When Truth Loses Legitimacy

The happy early childhood memories of this middle-aged friend comprises to a large extent experiences with a couple of Muslim…

August 17, 2020

Modi Vs None: The Missing X Factor In New Generation Leaders

Je ne sais quoi -- in French it means a unique, indecipherable quality. It roughly translates into 'X factor' in…

August 14, 2020

Travesty Of Democracy: How Big Money Is Slamming The Doors On Free Politics

Politics is a game multi-millionaires play. The entry gates are firmly shut for the poor and even the reasonably well-off.…

August 11, 2020

The Rise Of Populists: Vision Of Dystopia Vs Logic Of Masses

The rise of populism has led many to paint a dystopian vision of the future, for India and for the…

August 9, 2020

Social Media Vs Democracy: How We Become Willing Pawns In Bigger Games

Ever wondered why social media conversations turn nasty so quickly and why friends appear so different on social media from…

August 7, 2020

Ram Mandir & Beyond: Why Secularism Needs To Be Saved From Secularists

Why is explaining secularism so difficult in a country where secular tradition runs deep? That the idea stands thoroughly discredited…

August 5, 2020

The Politics Of Cynicism: When Distance Breeds Distrust

Tucked safely in his well-equipped home in the suburbs of the capital city Bhubaneswar during the pandemic, this young man,…

August 4, 2020

How Institutions Lost Trust: Process Over Purpose In Justice System

Social media, powered by networks and 'we' communities and armed with irreverence and belligerence, has exacerbated the popular distrust of…

August 3, 2020