Nationalism and Democracy in India Lecture: https://youtu.be/5ZvXmBp4Low?t=558  Pratap Bhanu Mehta,  May 15, 2024
The UC Davis Middle East/South Asia Studies Program presents the India at the Crossroads Lecture: "Nationalism and Democracy in India" delivered by Professor Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Laurence S. Rockefeller Visiting Professor for Distinguished Teaching from Princeton University.

Discussion and Questions with Ashutosh Varshney and Pratap Bhanu Mehta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foY80_G5b1U  Camden Conferences Apr 11, 2024
A Q&A session from the 2024 Camden Conference following talks by Princeton Professor Pratap Bhanu Mehta, "India's Post-Colonial History," and Brown Professor Ashutosh Varshney, "India's Politics and Governance." Moderated by American Public Media's David Brancaccio.

Navigating our Times : Keynote Address by Pratap Bhanu Mehta | G5A  Sep 1, 2023 https://youtu.be/n0sYaDukpBE?t=487  Should Art 2022 | G5A Culture Festival
Keynote Address by Pratap Bhanu Mehta | Navigating our Times
Pratap Bhanu Mehta is one of India’s leading academics, and the Laurence S Rockefeller Visiting Professor at Princeton University. Dr Mehta delivered the keynote address to open this edition of our culture festival Should Art 2022. Here is a thought-provoking lecture on India’s social and cultural upheaval, and the unique abilities and opportunities that India has in moving forward into the future. He was joined by Kalpana Sharma in conversation.

भारतीय लोकतंत्र का रिपोर्ट कार्ड। The state of our Democracy ft. Pratap Bhanu Mehta

Puliyabaazi Hindi Podcast on Politics & Policy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng7HVkQy8zQ 
Aug 31, 2023 Puliyabaazi Hindi Podcast पुलियाबाज़ी हिंदी पॉडकास्ट
For the 200th episode of Puliyabaazi, we discuss the state of India’s democracy with one of the most prominent public intellectuals of our times, Pratap Bhanu Mehta. Is India truly an outlier? What are the root causes of the political and social changes we are witnessing today? How do we look at the issue of the Uniform Civil Code? We discussed many such questions that puzzle us with Dr. Mehta in this thought-provoking Puliyabaazi. Do listen in and share your thoughts and comments with us.

इस हफ़्ते, एक ख़ास पुलियाबाज़ी हमारे समय के एक प्रमुख बुद्धिजीवी प्रताप भानु मेहता जी के साथ। क्या भारत वास्तव में एक अपवाद है? आज हम जो राजनीतिक और सामाजिक परिवर्तन देख रहे हैं, उन

Burden Of Democracy Paperback – January 1, 2017 by Pratap Bhanu Mehta (Author)

 Pratap Bhanu Mehtareminds us what a bold experiment bringing democracy to a largely illiterate and unpropertied India was. He argues that the sphere of politics has truly created opportunities for people to participate in society. Looking at various facts, he also finds that persistent social inequality on the one hand and a mistaken view of the state's proper function and organization on the other have modified and hindered the workings of democracy and its effects in innumerable ways. Posting the quest for self-respect as democracy's deepest aspiration, this essay explores how inequality and the crisis of accountability have together impeded collective action to achieve such an end. To recover this sense of moral well-being and responsibility, Mehta suggests, is the core of the democratic challenge before us.

Optimistic, lively and closely argued, The Burden of Democracy offers a new ideological imagination that throws light on our discontents. By returning to the basics of democracy it serves to illuminate our predicament, even while perceiving the broad contours for change.

List of all the names: The ED casebook – during UPA (2004-2014) and NDA (2014-present) https://indianexpress.com/article/express-exclusive/full-list-ed-casebook-during-upa-and-nda-8162567/ September 21, 2022
The Indian Express investigates court records, official documents, agency statements and its coverage of the agency to piece together this comprehensive list.

Labour rights activist Karamat Ali passes away at 78 https://www.geo.tv/latest/550110-labour-rights-activist-karamat-ali-passes-away-at-78
Piler executive director has played significant role for peace in South Asia particularly between Pakistan, India
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Web Desk
June 20, 2024Ali has played a significant role for peace in South Asia particularly between Pakistan and India," said the Piler. He is a founding member of People’s SAARC and Pakistan Peace Coalition. He also served as the convener of South Asian Labour Forum, Pakistan Chapter.

He was a member of the International Advisory Committee, Hague Appeal for Peace, and International Council World Social Forum (WSF). He was the focal person of Labour Rights Regional Thematic Group of South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), which is an alliance of trade unions, civil society organisations, journalists, academics, trade unionists and human rights activists.

 India's Thriving Scam Industry: Before You Call Tech Support  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CZReZ24-to  CNA InsiderJul 31, 2022 
We go deep into the vast world of India’s scam call centers, meeting those behind the deception and the new breed of international scambaiters who are trying to bring these scammers down.

After seven years of running tech support scams, ‘Leo’ has leveled up. He is now an entrepreneur or a scam call center consultant who sets up scamming outfits for those with money to invest. From hiring to hardware, he has it down to a science, especially on how long it will take to generate returns for the investors.

At the other end of the spectrum, we follow an Indian scambaiter ‘Sven’ as he investigates a local company that’s running a scam call center. The majority of their victims are English-speaking foreigners overseas. Through reverse tracking, he has managed to get into the company’s systems, securing access to their confidential files and real-time CCTV footage of scams taking place.

Will ‘Sven’ be able to find enough evidence to submit to the police and conduct a crackdown?

SFI Protests at Education Ministry: Calls to Scrap NTA Over NEET UG 2024 Controversies https://www.shiksha.com/news/medicine-health-sciences-sfi-protests-at-education-ministry-calls-to-scrap-nta-over-neet-ug-2024-controversies-blogId-168395
https://www.shiksha.com/news/medicine-health-sciences-petition-filed-in-supreme-court-over-nta-s-controversial-grace-marks-in-neet-ug-2024-blogId-168371
SFI has always pointed out the conspiracy behind the creation of NTA under the vision of the NEP, which is to cultivate private coaching centres under a centralised umbrella and kick out the marginalised students from academics. Now this has been evident with the continuous degradation of the standards of the exams. The BJP led union government are undoubtedly responsible for this massive corruption. - SFI statement on NEET

The Demand:  that the Government control the Back Water Level of the Dam to 122 meters, so that the Project Affected Families are not subjected to submergence once again this monsoon 

https://www.livehindustan.com/madhya-pradesh/story-activists-farmers-body-extend-support-to-medha-patkar-agitation-10269589.html  

10th day (23-6-2024) Th fast was called off, as the govt has promised to take up the key demands. 

Protest at Dadar: 

On the 16th and 17th of September, 2023, the backwaters of the Sardar Sarovar Dam submerged the homes, farms and forest resources of 15,946 families in M.P. This area was calculated as being above the submergence level of the Sardar Sarovar Dam and therefore these families were not to be Rehabilitated.

Read more …

Google’s $2 Trillion Business Model | How Google Earns Money? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISc5_x_3MWM | Dhruv Rathee Jun 19, 2024
If you own a small business and want to rank higher organically, it's time to take your SEO strategy to the next level with ThatWare. ThatWare is offering a comprehensive SEO audit and a personalized strategy tailored specifically for your website at an incredibly affordable rate

Interview: Political strategists are overhyped, says STC Director Shantanu Singh, who scripted TDP win in Andhra https://thesouthfirst.com/andhrapradesh/interview-political-strategists-are-overhyped-says-stc-director-shantanu-singh-who-scripted-tdp-win-in-andhra/  Sumit Jha Jun 11, 2024
Regarding the future of political consulting firms, the political space is becoming more competitive. The BJP’s spread has shrunk a bit, so other parties will try to gain a better share or ride on the momentum that suggests the BJP is not the same as in 2014. This shift will likely lead to the emergence of new ventures.

One significant development could be the resurgence of regional parties outside of BJP and Congress, and their attempts to regain the power they had in the 1990s and early 2010s. In this ecosystem, political consultants will play a significant role.

Offering money doesn’t guarantee loyalty, and resorting to administrative pressure is risky, especially considering how quickly political fortunes can change.

It’s like going to war with soldiers who are ready to defect at the first sign of weakness. Instead, I approach leaders by understanding their political ambitions and offering them a better path to achieving their goals.

not every negotiation will end in agreement. Mature politicians understand that personal grudges have no place in politics unless there’s a significant breach of trust. If our interests align, we work together; if not, we move on.

Successful politicians are thick-skinned and understand the importance of self-awareness and what they bring to the table.

Thick skin is essential in any field, including politics. Successful politicians understand their strengths and weaknesses and navigate the competitive landscape of Indian democracy without holding personal grudges. Our elections are highly competitive, leaving no room for long-term egos.

Lecture on Political Implications of Elections 2024 by Prof. Suhas Palshikar  https://youtu.be/xN6RXWu-I58?t=332 Pune International Centre
Jun 17, 2024 
Dominant party system.. does BJP qualify for that.. 

After Lok Sabha election verdict 2024: INDIA’s challenge has just begun https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/lok-sabha-election-results-2024-opposition-congress-9371843/ 
With a truncated strength of the BJP, the politics of isolating it may gain momentum but the critical question is whether the non-BJP parties — in Opposition or in power — have the energy and will to attack the BJP on a front where it is far too strong

First, its strength in the Lok Sabha will be reduced compared to the past five years — unless it opens moneybags and adds to its seat tally. Two, in contrast, its vote share will remain robust. With a nearly 38 per cent vote share, it would be an ostrich-like response to celebrate the outcome as the defeat of the BJP. Third, in order to form the government and remain in power for five years, the party will have to strike many compromises — internally and among its so-called allies — something its leadership is utterly incapable of. This scenario will bring more intrigue, repression and revenge into our politics. While cutting the dominant party to size, the outcome may have posed a challenge before the country’s bruised institutions and blinkered politicians.

 'There is No Modi Wave But...' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3qCJ62wB1Q | The Quint