The most often used definitions of revolution have focused on a structural and institutional change in the society’s established institutional foundations and social relationships. Theorists of structural transformation believe that a revolution will bring about the replacement of one social structure with another. According to the Marxian tradition, it is specifically tied to the shifts…
When “peace” became the politics of power When María Corina Machado’s name appeared beneath the headline “Nobel Peace Prize, 2025,” the applause from Oslo echoed strangely hollow. It wasn’t shock that greeted the announcement—it was recognition. For many across the postcolonial world, the moment carried an uncomfortable déjà vu: another year, another moral prize consecrating political alignment…
Under the Modi government, development in Ladakh has taken place with a focus on enhancing infrastructure, improving connectivity, boosting its economy, and expanding social services. New Ladakh can only be built with trust and a sense of warm belongingness. It is necessary we trust our youth and provide them leadership roles, open new vistas of employment,…
I had divided the political campaign in Tamil Nadu for the 2026 assembly election into ‘before Karur’ and ‘after Karur’. Looks like it must also be split into ‘before rain’ and ‘after rain’. Not waiting for the Election Commission notification, major parties in the state launched their campaigns a few months ago. AIADMK general secretary…
For men, identities of caste, religion or ethnicity are always more prominent. Women’s gender disadvantage runs across all these identities. To that extent, they are a relatively less uneven voting bloc It was on the very day that Election Commission announced Bihar’s assembly election dates that Nitish Kumar transferred Rs 2,100cr directly into the bank…
The recent violent death of a gangster-turned-politician during the Bihar assembly election campaign highlights a persistent puzzle in Indian politics: why do candidates with serious criminal charges consistently win elections, and why do parties nominate them? The answers lie not merely in cultural acceptance or institutional corruption, but in a cold economic calculus that makes…
Scramble to woo youngsters ignores the price they pay to escape the stigma of unemployment As Bihar votes today on 141 constituencies, all eyes are on smaller parties like Chirag Paswan’s LJP(RV), Manjhi’s HAMS, Kushwaha’s RLM, and Sahani’s VSIP, that may hold the key to the final result. Bigger parties need to combine with these…
Former Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Chandrachud, while giving a speech after his retirement, had said that while the Ayodhya dispute petition was being heard, he used to pray to God to show them a way out of this complex issue. He believed that God would show them a way. Misinterpreting his speech, a senior…
When Narendra Modi rose to the national stage in 2014, Prashant Kishor also drifted out from the smoke of anonymity. Bihar, was long known for its odd industry- the production of civil servants. Its special economic zone was bureaucratic corridor. The arrival of Prashant Kishor paved the way for a new imagination which yielded no…
As frequent as elections are in India, some are bigger and juicier. In that the themes resonate across the country, the contest is tight, and a measure of the national mood is on tap India is a land of frequent – some would even say constant – elections. With nearly 30 states having their own…