The news media is sometimes called the "fourth pillar of democracy" but at a time when its business model is under attack thanks to large internet companies, and its credibility at risk in the age of "#fakenews", existential questions about its role in a modern democracy are bound to rise. In this episode, we speak to Dr Aasim Khan of IIIT - Delhi about the past, present and future of the news media in a Democracy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information ..read more

We're releasing this special episode of Ganatantra today to talk about the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act, fears over a proposed all India National Register of Citizens and the government's response to it through internet shutdowns and imposition of Section 144. In this episode we try to explain why the CAA is problematic whether or not it's linked to NRC, why the NRC will be an all round disaster however it's implemented and how our colonial laws allow govts to gag peaceful protests. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information ..read more

Alok and Sarayu discuss the big political events of 2019 - Article 370 in Kashmir, the Supreme court judgment on Ayodhya and the CAA/NRC - and examine their political implications. References are made to relevant episodes and material from previous episodes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information ..read more

The political and constitutional crisis in Maharashtra, which unfolded after the 2019 Assembly elections once brought to the public glare the potential for misuse of the office of the Governor. It has prompted calls to abolish the office or reform it in some fundamental ways. In this episode Sarayu and Alok discuss this constitutional position and unpack the source of the recent political controversies that have taken place as a result of the Governor's actions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information ..read more

Unlike India's neighbouring countries, the Indian Armed Forces have never intervened in any manner in the affairs of civilian government. The reasons for this have been explored by scholars and has been attributed to a range of factors from the sociological to the historical to the institutional. However, that does not mean that Armed Forces are entirely apolitical. Not least when they are invoked repeatedly by civilian rulers to justify political actions. In this episode, we speak to Srinath Raghavan, Senior Fellow at Carnegie India to talk about the complex relationship between the Armed For ..read more

In the last decade or so, the Indian higher judiciary and its functioning have come under the scanner like never before. The Supreme Court's proceedings are covered daily, often minute by minute in important cases and its judgements dissected minutely. Although it is supposed to be a judicial body, the political role of courts cannot be denied. Whether in its judgements or even choosing to hear certain cases and not others, the higher judiciary has an impact on the political landscape in various ways. Part of this has to do with the changing role of the court, and the ways in which judges are ..read more

Large scale migration has been a feature of life in the Indian subcontinent in the last two centuries, both within and out of the region. In his book, "India Moving" Chinmay Tumbe calls it the 'Great Indian Migration Wave' - an ongoing process that is probably the largest and longest migration stream in history. This is a process that both contributes to and is a consequence of marginalization. In this episode, we speak to Dr. Tumbe to unpack some of the themes in his book and see how migration and marginalization intersect and impact. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information ..read more

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of India ordered state governments to begin eviction of Adivasis and Forest dwellers whose claims for forest rights under the Forest Rights Act had been dismissed. Following a backlash against the move from Adivasi communities, the Supreme Court put this order on hold. In this episode, we're joined by Rajni Soren an advocate-activist who works in issues related to forest rights and practices in the Chhattisgarh HC to talk about how the Adivasi movement have used the law and political institutions to protect their rights. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv ..read more

Across India, radical Dalit movements have dipped their toes into electoral politics as they have tried to represent their communities in institutions of governance. What challenges do they face? Why has the BSP been more successful at electoral politics in Uttar Pradesh and not say, the VCK in Tamil Nadu? How does the current system of reserved seats affect the electoral prospects of Dalit parties across India? Would the scenario have been different if the Poona Pact was never entered into? We are joined by Hugo Gorringe, author of "Panthers in Parliament", as we try to answer these questions ..read more

The platform gig economy has brought several changes in the way work is performed and organised. Some kinds of work challenge the very underpinnings of labor and industrial laws - such as the need for a place of work and the space for collective bargaining. Tech mediated platform gig work while offering flexibility to those who seek it and low entry barriers, may also in its own way be expanding the margins of society leaving those who are doing such work with little recourse in the law or little opportunity to negotiate futures. In this context, Alok and Sarayu discuss futures of workers and ..read more