Verdict 2024: Expectations, Great and Little

After two ‘extraordinary’ elections where Narendra Modi was able to create a charismatic appeal, India has had a ‘normal’ election in which a Ceasarian appeal could not be generated. With a return to coalition government, the Opposition must now press for a greater balance in centre-state relations.▶19-Jun-2024
Partha Chatterjee

July 5, 2024

Verdict 2024, Why government canteens are important, Renaming caste and retaining privilege, and more

Book
Book Review

Indonesia's Struggles Against Many Colonialisms

A well-thought out and well-researched book on the history of Indonesia and its struggle for independence amidst colonial brutalities.
▶17-Jun-2024
K. Vela Velupillai

NSSO 77th Round: What does it tell us about India’s Irrigation Economy?

Data from the National Sample Survey Office’s 2018-19 survey give a view of the Indian irrigation economy that confirms some widely held beliefs but also challenges others. India seems to have done…
▶16-Jun-2024
Tushaar Shah

Renaming Caste, Retaining Privilege

Attempts to 'invisibilise' caste through definitional alterations – whether in terms of an organic community or of a cultural community – are enmeshed in long-range socioeconomic…
▶15-Jun-2024
Ankur Barua, Vishal Vasanthakumar

Coalition Government: A Return to What We Were Missing

A parliamentary democracy thrives on diverse representation and opinion. The strong leader syndrome of the past decade is antithetical to such a democracy. Coalition governments have historically…
▶10-Jun-2024
Ankur Bisen

What Stops Indian Regional Parties from Becoming National Parties?

The return of regional parties to the political centre stage notwithstanding, their origins and histories hold them back from becoming pan-Indian national parties.
▶10-Jun-2024
Rahul Jayaram
Book
Book Review

Understanding Policy through Economic History

This student-friendly book admirably accomplishes its task of helping the reader understand economic policy changes in India since 1947. It suggests reforms helped the urban rich, but it does not…
▶23-May-2024
Rahul Menon