When the newly elected New York mayor Zohran Mamdani was recently mocked for eating with his hands, it exposed the enduring afterlife of colonial hierarchies. www.theindiaforum.in/tiffin/finge...

In Assam's detention centre for suspected foreigners, the state wages an attritional assault against the lives of the detained. But that is only one part of a majoritatian fantasy to create a sinister ethno-racial utopia. www.theindiaforum.in/politics/dea...

The so-called “Holistic Development” of Great Nicobar Island threatens irreversible ecological damage through massive infrastructural expansion in an area under permanent tectonic strain. www.theindiaforum.in/environment/...

India’s approval of gene-edited rice trials under relaxed GMO rules marks a push for self-reliance with climate-resilient seeds. Yet concerns over patents, costs, transparency, and public trust persist. Ambika Subash writes www.theindiaforum.in/forum/gene-e...

Mamidi Rama Reddy championed grassroots, community-owned cooperatives in Telangana, empowering people through facilitative engagement rather than patronage. He shaped generations of cooperatives while remaining outside the spotlight. www.theindiaforum.in/tiffin/obitu...

Higher education in India no longer guarantees decent work in a changing and shrinking job market, even as its investment in liberal values is being challenged. Our universities face an uncertain future under an uncaring state. Satish Deshpande wrote in 2022 www.theindiaforum.in/education/tu...

In SIR in Bihar, the Election Commission, once responsible for enrolling every eligible voter, shifted the burden onto citizens. Extending this approach nationwide heightens concerns about fairness in a political climate where all parties resist accountability.

Tracing the rise and decline of Chettiar businesses across Asia challenges the idea that caste-based capital can always deliver fortunes. CJ Kuncheria on Raman Mahadevan's 'Fortune Seekers' www.theindiaforum.in/book-reviews...

was a pleasure to review Charu Gupta's latest work @theindiaforum.bsky.social

"Unless the large states in the Hindi-speaking heartland and western India are divided—a demand that has resurfaced from time to time—achieving genuine equality within the federation will remain out of reach."

Hindi Hindu Histories brings to life a dynamic social world & its deep ambiguities. They signal plural modes of Hindu being & belonging as their eclecticism hark at a distinctly conservative cosmopolitan. Somak Biswas on Charu Gupta's book www.theindiaforum.in/book-reviews...

‘This is precisely the moment, when budget cuts are affecting research, when we need to reassure ourselves—and the public—that the risks of caring for one’s work are worth taking, worth supporting, and worth rallying around.’ www.theindiaforum.in/tiffin/risks...

There are two interconnected root causes for the travails of Bihar’s school education system—a paucity of resources & ineffective policies. It is similar in Jharkhand. There is hardly any public discussion about the status of govt schools in the two states. www.theindiaforum.in/forum/bihar-...

Despite advances in digital finance, India’s gender gap in financial inclusion endures. Their true inclusion requires financial literacy, independent account ownership, and control over earnings—not merely opening bank accounts in women’s names.

The COP30 summit must reaffirm the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, linking it to nations’ per capita carbon emissions. Countries should outline net-zero pathways, ensuring emissions stay within the limits...

Dear friends, today is the last day of our month-long campaign to raise Rs 30 lakhs for 'The India Forum'. We just need Rs 1.8 lakhs to reach our target. Help us cross the finish line. Donate here: the-india-forum.danamojo.org/dm/donate-to...

The COP30 summit must reaffirm the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, linking it to nations’ per capita carbon emissions. Countries should outline net-zero pathways, ensuring emissions stay within the limits of the agreed goal on temp rise. www.theindiaforum.in/climate-chan...

The Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls in Bihar has concluded and a similar exercise is proposed for all States in a phased manner. Rangarajan R. explains what is SIR, what are the concerns and what could be the way forward. www.theindiaforum.in/politics/exp...

Last 2 days left of our campaign! Readers, with the generosity you have shown, we have achieved 90% of our target for the year. There is still a few lakh rupees to collect. Help us reach Rs 30 lakhs to cover 6 months of our expenses. LInk: the-india-forum.danamojo.org/dm/donate-to...

Despite advances in digital finance, India’s gender gap in financial inclusion endures. Their true inclusion requires financial literacy, independent account ownership, and control over earnings—not merely opening bank accounts in women’s names. www.theindiaforum.in/gender/closi...

A fascinating discussion of Indira Gandhi’s political career from the late 1960s to her assassination in 1984, linking the changes in India's democracy to her leadership. Srinath Raghavan offers a nuanced, original analysis of her policies. www.theindiaforum.in/book-reviews...

We just have a few days left before our campaign ends on October 31. If you haven’t donated yet, would you consider making a donation? It’s easy, all you need to do is go to our campaign page below. We’ll be eternally grateful! the-india-forum.danamojo.org/dm/donate-to...

The 2025 Economics Nobel for explaining how innovation fuels growth was half-a-century in the making, in the process reimagining the mechanics of progress within economics itself. www.theindiaforum.in/public-polic...

We are in the last week of our campaign. If ‘The India Forum’ has added value to your reading and helped you form better opinions, help us cross the finish line and meet our target. Please donate generously. the-india-forum.danamojo.org/dm/donate-to...

India’s authoritarian turn may be driven by the BJP’s illiberal character but it serves the needs of Indian capital. Indian capital is likely to want more of Modi/Modi-types in the future and Congress will have to turn left-of-centre to gain popular support

The air pollution crisis of the Indo-Gangetic plain runs deep. Quick fixes won’t work — it demands systemic change, bold reforms, and multi-pronged action.

Modi's decade in power has seen an erosion of democracy and soaring inequality. While religious nationalism diverts public attention, the super-rich add to their wealth. Economic performance remains lacklustre and authoritarian tactics silence dissent. www.theindiaforum.in/politics/ind...

Examining the history of genetically modified crops in India, this analysis notes that debates on GMOs are not always well-informed. It argues for a clearer naming system reflecting each crop’s unique traits, which would benefit farmers, regulators, and consumers

Policies and interventions, relying on political rhetoric and incentives, that do not take into account the existing evidence on fertility control are destined to fail.

With just two weeks before our campaign ends we are still Rs 8 lakhs short. If you were waiting to donate, can we ask you to help us on this last lap? All of your donations will be matched and instantly double for us! the-india-forum.danamojo.org/dm/donate-to...

India’s approach to fertility control was never premised on women’s health, as a result of which the fertility decline was achieved w/o any significant improvement in their health. Fertility decline should be the means to an end and not an end in itself. www.theindiaforum.in/health/south...

If The India Forum has added value to your reading and helped you form better opinions, stand with us and donate generously. See your support double and help us meet the target. Thank you. the-india-forum.danamojo.org/dm/donate-to...

The EBCs have been the unsung heroes of Bihar’s economy. Yet their political influence has not matched their nos. The '23 caste census highlights their demographic significance & ignites a fierce competition among Bihar's political alliances to win their support. www.theindiaforum.in/politics/imp...

‘Framing the Media’ offers a comprehensive overview of India’s media policies, laws and court rulings since Independence, showing how governments and corporate forces have persistently undermined free speech. These curbs have intensified under the current regime. www.theindiaforum.in/book-reviews...

please donate to India Forum! offering sane and sage writing in these trying times

History shows how previous attempts have only continued to deny Palestinians the right to self-determination. With its silence on Palestinian statehood, the US plan -- now in its first phase of implementation -- deceives; it will not bring peace on equal terms. www.theindiaforum.in/internationa...

Readers, with your support and matching grants we have reached the halfway target in our campaign. We still have the other half to raise. Do donate generously and see your donation double with more matching grants. the-india-forum.danamojo.org/dm/donate-to...

The fig leaf of urban development has produced a ‘Bulldozer Raj’ that wrecks democracy, undermines citizenship, and polarises society. Akash Bhattacharya writes www.theindiaforum.in/politics/ind...

India should embrace these lessons—not to stop migration, but to ensure that migration does not lead to exclusion and precarity. Migrants are not outsiders; they are citizens whose labour fuels both state and national growth.

Migrant workers fuel India’s growth yet remain excluded from its rewards. Policy silences and regional inequalities sustain their exploitation and caste hierarchies have been reconfigured to normalise their exclusion from the nation’s systems. www.theindiaforum.in/economy/indi...

The Ganga is more than a river. It is a lifeline, a sacred symbol, and a cornerstone of South Asian civilisation. But it is drying faster than ever before, and the consequences of inaction are unthinkable. Mehebub Sahana writes www.theindiaforum.in/environment/...

#Malayalam cinema is undoubtedly experiencing a creative burst, with its engaging stories attracting both national and international attention. But have Malayalam films truly fulfilled the cosmopolitan hopes and secular ideals of Malayali society? www.theindiaforum.in/society/mala...

Malayalam cinema’s fidelity to Kerala’s secular ideals remains uncertain. New-generation films often neglect history and dwell on violence, casting doubt on their ability to confront the darker forces shaping today’s world. CS Venkiteswaran writes www.theindiaforum.in/society/mala...

A true celebration of India’s dharmic heritage would not be a centenary of the RSS, but of Arjuna. It would be a nation that institutionalises hesitation, protects dialogue, and recognises that the first duty of a citizen is not to obey, but to interpret. www.theindiaforum.in/society/recl...

The centenary of the #RSS celebrates a century of obedience. Pradeep Bhargava argues that this project is a fundamental betrayal of the Bhagavad Gita it claims to venerate.

The centenary of the #RSS celebrates a century of obedience. Pradeep Bhargava argues that this project is a fundamental betrayal of the Bhagavad Gita it claims to venerate. www.theindiaforum.in/society/recl...

The RSS has sought to replace Arjuna’s ethical hesitation with ritualised obedience, recasting the Gita to sanctify unthinking certainty. This is India’s present crisis: the swayamsevak’s unquestioning loyalty pitted against the citizen’s conscientious doubt. www.theindiaforum.in/society/recl...

To understand Gandhi’s motives in taking his khadi endeavours outside the Congress mainstream, we need to briefly recapitulate the story of khadi in the preceding years. Venu Govindu writes

Gandhi saw justice and equity as indivisible from non-violence, linking mass politics with social reconstruction. His focus on khadi highlights democracy’s deeper task—building a non-violent social order by addressing enduring inequities through steady work. www.theindiaforum.in/politics/les...

We The India Forum are running a campaign to raise Rs 30 lakhs from our readers to cover six months of our expenses. We request our readers to donate generously and ask others to do so: the-india-forum.danamojo.org/dm/donate-to...