Samar Halarnkar

Freedom of expression: Despite Trump, it is alive and kicking in the US

Among democracies run by populists, the United States is unique in its rule of law, popular defiance and the power of its institutions. Even the paranoia of the Trump era brings no threat of censorship, an enduring fear in India.

‘Recall heritage of love, tolerance’: As new India rises, a father pens open letter to daughter

As a new India rises, a father urges his daughter to stay true to her country’s fading foundations

There’s a market for shared experiences, as Hussain Haidry shows

The almost euphoric adulation that Hussain Haidry attracts is a reflection that, as easily as hatred and separation are expressed these days, so too are common bonds and the feeling of being in it together

By banning NGOs from foreign funds, the govt is crippling its own services, laws

What’s at stake when NGOs are banned from foreign funds to implement India’s public services, laws? A doctor’s story

Who cares about the facts? How transient rage is driving India’s politics

Pakistan or black money, smartphone-driven anger is shaping India’s politics, prompting swift, visible action

Hindu republic: India is being recreated into a majoritarian state

The justice system is undermined. Minorities are shown their place. India moves inexorably towards a Hindu republic

Mind your languages

As Indian cities grow more diverse, public services shun inclusiveness

Vast migration should encourage Indian cities to be more multilingual and overall more inclusive. Instead, the opposite is happening. It is ironic that as our cities grow more diverse, public services are becoming linguistically less diverse than ever

Hate and hope in Kashmir

Can Modi discard policy that has brutalised Kashmir?

The brutalising of Kashmir’s people is also reflected in a brutalisation of the security forces, a particularly disquieting development in a conflict where men in arms now largely represent the Indian State

Kashmir unrest: More autonomy for states is the only answer

To address Kashmir’s fury — and unrest elsewhere — India would do well to embrace more azaadi from New Delhi.

Why girls must make trouble

India needs women to stand firm and know that they are right

The latest diktat against women shows education isn’t enough. Indian women must break the rules — and know they are right

The past cannot be our present

What India can learn from Masada

A new national narrative is unfolding in India, but the Israeli experience warns us why ideas rooted in exclusion tend to fail

Unrest in Kashmir: Threat to the idea of India

Many Kashmiris may not want to be Indian, but denying them rights that are due to all Indians only increases their alienation

The lunatic fringe is now the Hindutva mainstream

The empowerment of popular hate began after the Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992. Instead of taking a stand, the Congress often pandered to emerging prejudice

India’s progress is crippled by Indians holding back Indians

Protect the strong, persecute the weak. The RBI governor reminds us that India’s progress is crippled by Indians holding back Indians.

Nearly half of India’s districts drought-hit as crisis accelerates

Half the country is drought-hit and the poorest areas edge towards famine. But it would seem India is otherwise engaged.

Big city or village, India is waging a war against women

Educated women, despite the restrictions on them, flood India’s workplaces, only to eventually find that whatever else they may desire or achieve, they must ensure ‘there are hot chapatis on the table’.

On India’s roads, there's a scary surge of rage

Congestion, stress and indiscipline push Indians to argue, fight, even kill, each other on the roads. Are we like this only? Writes Samar Halarnkar.

Make-or-break century: India must choose right options

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his supporters are fond of saying that the last 60 years of Congress rule has been disastrous for India. They are right about the time period. Except for the eight years of Janata and BJP rule, the Congress has held sway since the first post-Constitution general election in 1951.

Just posturing: Yoga blitz won't solve India's health crisis

It’s hard to oppose the yoga blitzkrieg, but we need to focus at least half as much attention on a quietly worsening national crisis

Desperate for 'timepass', Indians seeking the great outdoors

Desperate for ‘timepass’, Indians have overwhelmingly limited leisure spaces, most created before Independence.

Govt's indiscriminate crackdown on NGOs will affect the 'marginalised'

An indiscriminate crackdown on NGOs will affect those on India’s margins like children, the poor and disabled

Concerns of India's underclass could drive country's political narrative

Since India’s growth rate shot past China’s, it is easy for the Twitter-happy, mall-roaming, ever-aspirational urban Indian to believe that reports of cows on the roads are a western conspiracy and poverty may soon be a thing of the past. It would be even harder, for this proud person, to believe that there are Indians without a radio or bicycle, let alone a television or scooter.

What a movie, cabbie, saint, viral post tell about faith in India

A new film tries to exploit street bigotry, but it will be hard for bigots to pull apart fraying but still strong bonds among communities, writes Samar Halarnkar.

Let's be adults, let's talk about tackling porn

There are three questions around banning porn: How do you define porn? Is porn responsible for violence against women? Can you really stop the flow of porn? Asks Samar Halarnkar.

Impatience creeps in, aspiring India stressed and dissatisfied

A feeling of impatience appears to be spreading among Indians; perhaps, emerging in the form of ever-rising political expectations, writes Samar Halarnkar.

Moment of truth: Floods expose the great divide in J-K

Natural calamities are times of great truth, of togetherness, of closing ranks, of forgetting hatred and bitterness. Unfortunately, the J-K floods initially appeared to be enhancing the bitterness between Kashmiris and other Indians, writes Samar Halarnkar.