As large Protest Movements, the JP movement (1974-75) and the Anti- corruption movement (2011-13) stand out as good precedents to compare the Cockroach movement.. 1/15 The Cockroach movement is much more unorganized than the other two and relies more on spontaneity and suppressed anxieties. It's also less nationally spread out-- though its reverberations may now be felt beyond Delhi 2/15

And yes, by the way, using the SC verdict is a great 'academic' idea for distorting political history, but didn't the SC verdict in Ayodhya case specifically say that vandalizing the mosque was a criminal act? How about mentioning this in textbook? 9/9
@Y Violence in destroying Babri Mosque was not mere violence. It was weaponizing of a historical dispute for advancing politics of majoritarianism. 2/9

Rather long thread: It's often believed that humour, sarcasm and irony are effective instruments of critique available in undemocratic environment. These are also believed to be weapons of mobilization. More contemporary experience may push us to question these beliefs. (1) Posing this issue despite myself being a fan and weak practitioner of sarcasm, not just in undemocratic situations, but even otherwise. (2)

Electoral autocracies would normally be careful in handling media. Experience of India shows, this may not be true. An earlier electoral autocracy imposed censorship right at the beginning of its undemocratic adventure. 1/8 The second electoral autocracy (EA) treated media with contempt, maligned and abused it, coerced it to publush its wisdom, made arrests of media persons at will, kept media jealously away from facts and now has come out with a more direct attack. 2/8

BJP will undoubtedly unleash a campaign that Washington Post is anti Hindu, Soros funded etc. Our media will report those accusations without reporting what the Washington Post says. 1/7 While not exactly unknown, the details are worth knowing. That literally a digital army was unleashed to shape Hindu hurt. Will analysts in India still wax eloquent about subaltern Hindutva? 2/7

Some curiosity about Talking Indians. A pity about our national imagination: leave out political parties, as a society, we and in particular the 'talking' citizens don't bother about: 1/7 Manipur. Not just violence, complete segregation of two communities --talking Indians not concerned. 2/7

A painful thought. We are blaming founders, funders and governing council of Ashoka. That has its genuine reasons. Can we think of the environment they operate in? 1/6 Having created this rather excellen institution, they find themselves surrendering on their dreams. Why? 2/6

Finally, the cat is out of the bag. Action for opposing the govt
means democracy! There are continued challenges against analyses that India is turning undemocratic. In fact, claims that India's democracy is robust. Is it really so? Judges are accused via innuendo and through ministers and trolls alike, established procedure of appointing judges not being followed; opposition not allowed to speak in parliament; these are now relatively older stories...

We will not allow discussion of alleged scam by a corporate house, expunge refs to it from legislative proceedings, barricade MPs from marching together, and yet, cry hosrse that we are a vibrant democracy. Why? The defence is that ruling party has a majority & it's elected by a majority.

Some questions on hijab ban--
How everything gets polarized , shrinking the space for nuance and /or third and fourth positions-- turning everything into black and white..... Why the argument about hijab being essential part of Islam was relied upon and why the court did not heed to the argument about hijab as practiced religion?

Can there be a more nuanced debate on the issue of holding elections amidst pandemic? 1/9 Imagine ECI postponing state elections. That would have meant president's rule through governors. Office of governor and its holders have long lost credibility. Of four states, three had non-BJP govts to be replaced by governors. 2/9

The Param Bir Singh episode once again tells us why autonomy of police and professionalism of the force are important. Sadly, it also tells us which is the most organized extortionist force around.

With one more reported resignation by a faculty member from Ashoka, serious cracks begin to appear in the dream of combining excellence and academic freedom. (1/7) The trustees and founders will be criticized and surely they will have to accept part of the blame. But isn't there more than that to this situation? (2/7)

When a corporate house suddenly begins to exhibit servility to a party or leader, does it mean degeneration of that one house or distortion of capitalist logic? Small and medium industry often remained obligated to regional political heavyweights. But even after three decades of so called liberalization what does servility of big corporates tell us?

There are unmistakable similarities. But as we get to experience the Modi regime and Modi persona more and more, it's time also to distinguish between the two.

https://twitter.com/waglenikhil/status/1329279405114310656

First is a foundational contempt of democracy as opposed to Indira Gandhi's cynical use of non democratic methods.

1. How many passionate and complicated issues one 'arrest' generates? A quick Google search will show names and instances of journalists arrested FOR REPORTING in India in recent years. This present arrest ostensibly is for abetment for suicide. 2. Yet undeniably a clever ploy used only after the alleged journalist raised the issue of exactly abetment to suicide in another case!