PinnedDoes Time Stand Still in ‘Riot-Prone’ India?In the Orientalist imagination, India was a timeless and changeless place that held on to its ancient religion and primitive customs, in stark contrast to the rapid social changes that had engulfed Europe. This idea, though thoroughly debunked, appears to ring true when it comes to the history of Hindu-Muslim…Indian Politics5 min readIndian Politics5 min read
PinnedFinding the Roots of Muslim Exclusion in Indian History“(A)ll nations, all nationalisms and nationalist discourses, are made in exceptional historical circumstances”, notes historian Gyanendra Pandey as he poses the provocative question “Can a Muslim be an Indian?”¹ For India, it was in the particular context of the Partition in 1947 that nationalism was constructed, building upon “more than…Indian Politics9 min readIndian Politics9 min read
PinnedLooking for Muslims in an Indian ‘State Nation’Recently, controversy erupted when Raj Thackeray of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) gave an ultimatum to the Maharashtra government to shut down loudspeakers in mosques. Though his demand was framed as a ’social issue’ concerning ’noise pollution’, chiefly on trial was the booming sound of the azan, the Muslim call…Poltics9 min readPoltics9 min read
Jul 28Rotterdam Convention: An OverviewThe Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent Procedures for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade is a multilateral agreement which establishes a procedure for obtaining and exchanging information between countries regarding certain hazardous chemicals that have been banned or severely restricted by Parties. …Rotterdam Convention8 min readRotterdam Convention8 min read
Jul 28Indian Agri-Exports Have a Quality ProblemIndia ranks among the top producers of over 80 per cent of agricultural produce items, including many cash crops such as coffee and cotton. However, it has not been able to capitalise on this production base to develop an export-led high-value agricultural economy.[1] In December 2018, the Ministry of Commerce…Pesticides5 min readPesticides5 min read
Jun 17Heavy Metal: How a Global Corporation Poisoned KodaikanalIn 1984, the US cosmetics brand Pond’s established a mercury thermometer family in the idyllic south Indian hill-station of Kodaikanal. The factory, which was acquired by Unilever in 1987, would operate for 17 years, during which it brazenly poisoned the workers, the native population and destroyed the local ecosystem. On…Mercury Poisoning4 min readMercury Poisoning4 min read
Mar 30Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance TogetherMost Indians’ first memory of healthcare includes an old biscuit tin converted into a medicine chest. Diseases were diagnosed by the vaguest of symptoms: “My stomach hurts”, and amma would dispense medicines with an air of self-assurance that would make anyone feel safe. Much of India, even today, keeps medicines…Antimicrobial Resistance4 min readAntimicrobial Resistance4 min read
Aug 14, 2022Vishwaguru: From Sri Aurobindo to PM ModiThe 75th anniversary of India’s Independence coincides with the 150th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo, who was best described in the words of Deshbandhu C.R. Das as “a poet of patriotism, a prophet of nationalism, and a lover of humanity”. The Amrit Mahotsav was put forth as a deadline to…Indian Independence Day4 min readIndian Independence Day4 min read
Aug 10, 2022An Unlikely Encounter - An account of my visit to Dausa, RajasthanI boarded a train to Dausa, Rajasthan as an inexperienced researcher looking to survey farmers on the use of a highly hazardous pesticide. The train got there before 5 in the morning and as I groggily made my way to my hotel I don’t remember being impressed. Dausa lit by…Indian Village5 min readIndian Village5 min read
Apr 21, 2022Looking for Muslims in an Indian ‘State Nation’This is a shortened version of my article on the exclusion of Muslims from public and political spaces in India Recently, controversy erupted when Raj Thackeray of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) gave an ultimatum to the Maharashtra government to shut down loudspeakers in mosques. Though his demand was framed…Politics6 min readPolitics6 min read
