The Emperor Has No Mask: The Indian State in the Time of COVID-19
| | |

The Emperor Has No Mask: The Indian State in the Time of COVID-19

Ramaa Vasudevan As the COVID-19 virus races across countries and continents, taking its deadly toll, states across the world are scrambling to deal with what has become the most wide-spread pandemic outbreak since the 1918 Spanish flu. As states grapple to navigate this uncharted territory, the pandemic has also become a lens that is bringing…

As India Faces One of its Toughest Challenges, Who Holds the Reins?
| | |

As India Faces One of its Toughest Challenges, Who Holds the Reins?

Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay As COVID-19 has unleashed an information epidemic, or infodemic – as a result of which we are constantly plied with an overabundance of information, some accurate and others misleading – it has become very difficult to stay fixated on one ‘window’ on whatever device we’re using. Consequently, commonplace queries get pushed to the…

Why India’s Founders Championed a State-Dominated Healthcare System
| | | | |

Why India’s Founders Championed a State-Dominated Healthcare System

Kiran Kumbhar In 1943, after decades of criticism from Indian intellectuals and leaders, colonial British officials decided to finally embrace the question of the health of around 300 million native Indians. A committee was formed to undertake a grand survey and suggest recommendations. This committee became known after its chairman as the Joseph Bhore Committee….

As the Pandemic Accelerates, How Equipped Is India’s Healthcare System?
| | | |

As the Pandemic Accelerates, How Equipped Is India’s Healthcare System?

Soumitra Ghosh As per recent data, India now has 1,117 active COVID-19 cases and 32 deaths due to the outbreak of coronavirus in the country. Quite alarmingly, the known respiratory disease COVID-19 cases have increased exponentially in the last couple of weeks. Even in a mild scenario with an attack rate of 5-10% and a…

How Some States are Looking After Their People Better in These Crisis Times
| | | |

How Some States are Looking After Their People Better in These Crisis Times

1. Kerala Govt Running 65% of Shelter Camps for Migrants After Lockdown: Centre to SC Courtesy: The Wire Staff The Centre has told the Supreme Court that out of the 6.3 lakh migrant workers being sheltered in government run-camps, around half – 47% – are housed in Kerala. The southern state is also running 65%…

‘After Justice Gogoi’s Nomination, All Judges and Their Verdicts Will Be Questioned’
| |

‘After Justice Gogoi’s Nomination, All Judges and Their Verdicts Will Be Questioned’

Arfa Khanum Sherwani interviews Justice Anjana Prakash [The nomination of former chief justice of India Ranjan Gogoi as a member of the Rajya Sabha has come under criticism of from judges and political parties. It is even alleged that he was bestowed the favour for giving pro-government verdicts. Arfa Khanum Sherwani speaks to former judge…

Judicial Independence: Three Developments that Tell Us Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair
| |

Judicial Independence: Three Developments that Tell Us Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair

Madan B. Lokur I’d like to ask Bob Dylan a question for which the answer is not blowing in the wind: How many straws does it take to break a camel’s back? This question arises in the context of the independence of the judiciary which has been tested over the last couple of years as…

Academics, Activists Express Anguish at Akhil Gogoi’s Continued Incarceration
| |

Academics, Activists Express Anguish at Akhil Gogoi’s Continued Incarceration

Gaurav Das More than 30 academics, intellectuals, advocates, senior journalists, writers, activists, advocates, former parliamentarians and others from across India issued a statement on Thursday (April 2) expressing their deep anguish over the incarceration of Assamese peasant leader and activist Akhil Gogoi. They worried about the consequences “for Indian democracy and the callous attitude of…

Myths, Rumours and Spectacles in India’s Fight Against COVID-19
| | |

Myths, Rumours and Spectacles in India’s Fight Against COVID-19

    Brahma Prakash The act could have been named divine comedy, but it was not poetic. In fact, it was anti-poetic. Let’s call it India’s divine formula to defeat COVID-19. The play can be named Burning Corona Down. It was April 5, 2020. As soon as the clock struck 9 pm, the nation that…

Don’t Pity Anand Teltumbde, Pity the System that Incarcerates Him
| |

Don’t Pity Anand Teltumbde, Pity the System that Incarcerates Him

Anirban Goswami, Anupam Banerjee When he surrenders on April 6, 2020, as per the Supreme Court’s directions, professor Anand Teltumbde will be the first alumnus of the hallowed IIM, Ahmedabad, the first IIT professor and the first CEO of a company to be charged under the dreaded Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which renders a person…