Festive season is over, was it fun? Was it real? Or did everything- the social media stories, the ethnic outfits, the 'family time', the celebrations and even the objections-- did it all feel like carrying the spontaneity & verve of staged, choreographed "candid" picture.

As an outsider to Diwali festivities, I am wondering is there any authenticity left in post-retail, post-rehearsed cultural hellscape where everyone is an emotional infant needing cues from ads & shows to navigate life.

Clickbait-y title aside-- these are ominous times. Like a precursor to bad things, most folks dont think it will get so bad before it rapidly does. Let's hope this is not one of those. A ramble through just how possible a dictatorship is in India with lessons from Pakistani-history, who know a thing or two about this jig.

Yep, now we are dealing with potential proof of electoral fraud. Nope, it wasn't the EVM. It was good old fashioned list manipulations. Why can't AI & techies make our frauds more high-tech at least? We can't do anything classy in this country. Sigh!

Iran-Israel War, RCB wins IPL, India-Pak drone wars, Kannada language pride, Justice Yashwant Verma, Gaza, Ukraine, Daddy SRK's fit, Air India Crash, Thala forever, Manipur, Govt policy on AC temperature, Great Nicobar island, Anant 'Dada' Ambani, to hot mayor Mamdani.

There is too much.
There is collective memory fatigue.
There is collective memory failure.

Caste census announcement is probably one of the biggest policy interventions in independent India-- now that the fog of war is lifting, the incredibly talented Sumit Samos breaks it down for us. Also breaking a few savarna academic egos along the way for fun.

PS. Apologies for the bad network & technical difficulties. This show has no budget for better production levels.
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Link to Sumit & Arjun's article on Caste Census in The Print (mentioned in the episode): https://theprint.in/opinion/caste-enumeration-market-liberty-private-sector-reservations/2626120/

It is episode 50 of the show. That is a staggering number of hours of hearing mostly me talk to myself. The perfect way to commemorate this milestone is to hear me talk about my book. 'Meet The Savarnas'-- now out for pre-order on Amazon.

Link: https://www.amazon.in/Meet-Savarnas-Millennials-Mediocrity-Everything/dp/0143465716/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EUL6NB7KQNVM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7rSSA2N3Xc2XLynJOOsPHXl1x16tkYmYEGpRqXuUFrA.aFdYUpplisamuN-fA6-gtwAnZJCn7D8vaXGjWmLU_FI&dib_tag=se&keywords=ravikant+kisana&qid=1746354250&sprefix=%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-1

This needs to be said. Caste-based reservation in Indian private universities & higher education institutes is the need of the hour. This is a deep dive on the political economy of higher education & how it intersects with electoral funding of parties, policy-agenda-setting and caste gatekeeping.

Nations, around the world often tend split and fall apart. One of the major reasons for countries breaking is language & ethnic/cultural identities (which circle back to language). East & West Pakistan split over language. India seems to be developing a North-South divide. 

Often the seeds of a split are buried years/decades before it actually happens. We may be dangerously flirting with one such moment no. It is not too late yet, but with delimitation looming, the point-of-no-return maybe closer than we think.

As the Mahabodhi agitation gains momentum in Gaya, Bihar-- we talk to Mangesh Dahiwale, one of the most important Ambedkarite scholars of history Buddhish history and culture. He breaks down for us the historical & civilizational context of Buddha & his Dhamma. The current agitation needs to be seen historically & sociologically, and not as a one-off event. 

A true masterclass in Buddhist epistemology!

AAP didnt just lose the Delhi elections-- it also brought to close an era (which began in the mid 2000s) where liberal elite savarns had a fantasy that they could politically & economically bring India to greatness. Well that dream is over. Swades, that fantasy of the educated savarnas that they could fix India IF they applied themselves & got hands dirty-- typified most by none other than Kejriwal-- that fantasy also died with the election results. Welcome to the end baby!