News and Views

Days after winning the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, Abhijit Banerjee spoke to The Quint about the state of Indian economy, what can be done to fix it and his latest book Good Economics for Hard Times.

Banerjee’s economic views have drawn criticism from some BJP leaders. Responding to the criticism, Banerjee said he is “neither able nor willing to be involved in slanging matches.”

Listen to the podcast with The Quint's Aditya Menon.

Laal Kaptaan has an ambitious setup and an intriguing premise. It’s the kind of film that would sound great on paper. It has all the ingredients, after all. It features Saif Ali Khan in a kind of role we haven’t seen him essay and it’s a period drama set in the 18th century about a Naga sadhu seeking revenge.

Tune in to the podcast for the full review.

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Laal Kaptaan has an ambitious setup and an intriguing premise. It’s the kind of film that would sound great on paper. It has all the ingredients, after all. It features Saif Ali Khan in a kind of role we haven’t seen him essay and it’s a period drama set in the 18th century about a Naga sadhu seeking revenge.

Tune in to the podcast for the full review.

India was not partitioned for the first time in 1947, but almost 40 years before that, in 1905. Kolkata, then known as Calcutta, was the jewel in the crown of the British Raj and Bengal was the biggest province. But who knew that this glory was about to fade.

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India was not partitioned for the first time in 1947, but almost 40 years before that, in 1905. Kolkata, then known as Calcutta, was the jewel in the crown of the British Raj and Bengal was the biggest province. But who knew that this glory was about to fade.

On 14 October 1956, Dr BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, took a life-altering decision. The Dalit strongman decided to quit Hinduism and take up Buddhism, along with close to 3,65,000 of his followers, in Nagpur.

Six decades later, we look at the reasons behind Ambedkar’s decision to alter not just his own path but also the lives of a largely marginalised Dalit community.

Why Convert?

Ambedkar had long decided to change his religion to escape what he considered a “threat to freedom” – the varna or caste system, propagated by Hinduism. Frustrated by what he believed was an inherent part of the Hindu religion, Ambedkar opined that conversion was the only method for Dalits to denounce the caste system.

Almost 20 years before he actually converted, Ambedkar addressed the Mahars – a section of the community considered untouchable – in Mumbai, apprising them of his decision to convert. In a lengthy yet heavily influential speech, Ambedkar urged:

On 14 October 1956, Dr BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, took a life-altering decision. The Dalit strongman decided to quit Hinduism and take up Buddhism, along with close to 3,65,000 of his followers, in Nagpur.

Six decades later, we look at the reasons behind Ambedkar’s decision to alter not just his own path but also the lives of a largely marginalised Dalit community.

Why Convert?

Ambedkar had long decided to change his religion to escape what he considered a “threat to freedom” – the varna or caste system, propagated by Hinduism. Frustrated by what he believed was an inherent part of the Hindu religion, Ambedkar opined that conversion was the only method for Dalits to denounce the caste system.

Almost 20 years before he actually converted, Ambedkar addressed the Mahars – a section of the community considered untouchable – in Mumbai, apprising them of his decision to convert. In a lengthy yet heavily influential speech, Ambedkar urged:

As per WHO, as of today, India is the most depressed country in the world.

At any given point of time, nearly 50 million Indian children suffer from mental disorders,

and this number will increase if the adolescent population is considered as well.

The impact of mental illness is far beyond the imagination of society, in which the awareness about the severity of these diseases is the least.

India has one of the highest suicide rates among those aged 15 to 29 and accounts for over a third of global suicides among women each year.

Despite such scary figures, Indian parents either worry about 'Log kya kahenge?' and suppress the need for psychological care.

Others believe that depression and anxiety are an influence of 'western culture' and don't accept mental illness as a health concern and

confirm to social stigma around it.

Kushank Negi and Akshara Bharat shared their stories of battling with their disorders in an environment where parents didn't understand mental illness.

Listen to the podcast now!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As per WHO, as of today, India is the most depressed country in the world.

At any given point of time, nearly 50 million Indian children suffer from mental disorders,

and this number will increase if the adolescent population is considered as well.

The impact of mental illness is far beyond the imagination of society, in which the awareness about the severity of these diseases is the least.

India has one of the highest suicide rates among those aged 15 to 29 and accounts for over a third of global suicides among women each year.

Despite such scary figures, Indian parents either worry about 'Log kya kahenge?' and suppress the need for psychological care.

Others believe that depression and anxiety are an influence of 'western culture' and don't accept mental illness as a health concern and

confirm to social stigma around it.

Kushank Negi and Akshara Bharat shared their stories of battling with their disorders in an environment where parents didn't understand mental illness.

Listen to the podcast now!

After its premiere about a month back at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Sky is Pink is set for a worldwide release on 11 October, 2019.

The film is based on the real-life story of Aditi (Priyanka Chopra) and Niren Chaudhary (Farhan Akhtar) and their daughter Aisha (Zaira Wasim), who was diagnosed with a serious immune deficiency that eventually dictated the course of her life and her entire family.

Director Shonali Bose, who made the brilliant film about a girl with cerebral palsy, Margarita with a Straw, here focuses on the love story of Aisha’s parents and how their marriage and lives get affected while tending to their daughter.

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