In the bustling yet indifferent heart of Delhi, at Jantar Mantar, a lone figure embodies the fading spirit of non-violent resistance that once defined India’s freedom struggle. Sonam Wangchuk, the visionary climate activist and educator from Ladakh, continues his indefinite fast, now pushing his body to the brink. As reports suggest his health deteriorates with each passing day, the...
The Lethargy and Implosion of Congress: A Drag on Goa Forward’s Political Prospects
In the compact yet fiercely competitive political landscape of Goa, the Goa Forward Party (GFP) has carved out a niche as a vocal advocate for regional identity, environmental concerns, and Goan-centric governance. Led by the charismatic , articulate and energetic Vijai Sardesai, GFP positions itself as a fresh alternative capable of bridging local aspirations with broader anti-incumbency sentiments against...
The “Goa Congress Party”: An Old Name in a Familiar Game of Division?
Goa’s political theatre has always thrived on drama, defections, and the occasional resurrection of old names. As whispers and public notices swirl around the proposed registration of a new outfit called the Goa Congress Party, it is worth pausing to remember that this label is no fresh invention. It harks back directly to the factional experiments of the 1980s,...
Nehru, Patel, and the Foundations of Indian Democracy
As the Narendra Modi-led government marks a significant political milestone, completing more than twelve years in continuous power and surpassing the record previously held by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, the occasion has sparked both celebration and controversy. Supporters hail it as a testament to stability, decisive governance, and transformative policies in a noisy democracy. Yet, alongside the...
The Giant and the Ropes: Hindutva’s Paradox in Modern India
Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels offers a timeless lens for understanding power and perception. In Lilliput, the giant Gulliver lies pinned to the ground by hundreds of tiny threads and stakes. The Lilliputians, small in stature but grand in their self-importance, treat him as both a miraculous asset and a dangerous force to be managed. They tie him down with...
The Trial of the Specters: Kafka in Contemporary Goa
In Franz Kafka’s The Trial, Josef K., an ordinary bank clerk, is arrested one morning without explanation. No specific crime is named. The authorities remain vague, the procedures opaque, and his repeated efforts to understand or defend himself only tighten the noose. The system does not require evidence of wrongdoing; the accusation itself creates the guilt. By the end,...
The Power of Being In-Between : How a Party Without a Party Forges Transgressive Movements
In the psychoanalytic landscape of Indian politics, the ruling dispensation under the BJP has often been likened to a towering Super-Ego that stern, internalized authority demanding conformity, national unity, and unwavering allegiance. Citizens, positioned as subjects in this symbolic order, are expected to navigate an Oedipal drama: submit to the Law of the Father or risk excommunication as “anti-national.”...
Goa’s Political Cauldron: Defections, Distrust, and the Search for Alternatives
Goa, the jewel of India’s western coast, known for its golden beaches, rich cultural heritage, and laid-back lifestyle, is currently witnessing intense political activity. As the state prepares for the next assembly elections, likely in early 2027, the atmosphere feels charged. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government under Chief Minister Pramod Sawant appears steady on the surface, yet...
Breaking Demo-Absurdy: Rewriting the Script of Democracy from Below
Democracy in India has entered an era that may be best described as Demo-absurdy, a theatrical spectacle where the rituals of representation persist, yet genuine accountability dissolves into curated optics. Leaders deliver polished speeches, stage-manage public appearances, and perform empathy through carefully edited videos, while systemic failures accumulate without consequence. Governance feels increasingly top-down: decisions descend from insulated corridors...
The Cockroach Janta Party: Memes, Satire, and the Political Discourse
In the digital age, political discourse no longer unfolds primarily in legislative halls or editorial pages. It thrives through rapid-fire memes, ironic hashtags, and participatory satire that spread virally across social media platforms. Philosopher Glenn Anderau, in his work on the function of memes in political discourse, explains how these cultural units act as powerful tools for framing narratives,...
