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Ep. 19: What drives pre-poll coalitions to work (and what doesn't) feat. Dr. Christiane Andersen

U/A 13+ • News • Society & Culture • Government

Even though the Bharatiya Janata Party managed to cross the halfway mark for the second successive time in the 2019 elections, the coalition era of Indias politics is well and truly entrenched, arising partly from the high degree of fragmentation in the Indian party system. Parties spend enormous amounts of time and energy in working out the minute details of prepoll alliances, and are driven y a range of factors the network brought by the alliance partner, the local caste dynamics, and concerns about perception. Were joined by Dr. Christiane Andersen to talk about the findings in her doctoral work which explores this question and offers some surprising results on what makes parties chose each other in a prepoll alliance. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • Ep. 00: Introduction to Ganatantra
    1 min 23 sec

    The Ganatantra podcast is about politics in India, but steering clear of intrigue and personalities, and the everyday news cycle. Join political science thinker Dr Sarayu Natarajan, the founder of Aapti Institute, a think tank which looks at issues of technology and policy and policy lawyer Alok Prasanna Kumar, Senior Resident Fellow at the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy in Bengaluru, as we bring data, academic works and nuanced perspectives into understanding how politics in India works, apart from identifying and making sense of the broader trends taking place.

  • Ep. 01: Understanding Indian politics
    15 min 54 sec

    How can we understand how to understand Indian politics In this debut episode, we Alok and Sarayu talk about what this podcast will be about we explore how and why politics is not just about elections but also what happens in between, how politics is not just about intrigue and personalities, and why it is important to look at the big picture. We also explore how policies that drive change can be political and what the Government is trying to do with such policies. We will tell you a bit about ourselves and the focus of this podcast, what future episodes hold and what you can look forward to on this podcast. Follow Ganatantra on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GanatantraP Follow and like Ganatantra on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GanatantraIVM You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

  • Ep. 02: Farmers Mobilization & Agricultural Distress in India
    27 min 20 sec

    Why are farmers in India mobilizing and agitating What are the politics behind the waiver of Farm Loans by State Governments across the country In this episode, Sarayu and Alok go in depth into the economic and political causes for rural distress in India, talking about why we have seen farmer mobilizations in Mumbai and Delhi and the political calculus that goes into some of the measures that are seen as profarmer, perhaps how even mobilization by farmers may be hiding more issues than what are being talked about. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

  • Ep. 03: Political Violence & Riots
    18 min 53 sec

    Does promoting violence give political parties in India electoral gains Steven Wilkinsons book Votes and Violence: Electoral Competition and Ethnic Riots in India seems to suggest so, looking at electoral data. While Wilkinson looks primarily at ethnic riots, political violence is expressed in other methods as well, for the same ends of polarization but at a lesser cost. In this episode, Sarayu and Alok unpack how political violence works in India and why the absence of large scale communal riots does not necessarily indicate social harmony. Follow Ganatantra on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GanatantraP Follow and like Ganatantra on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GanatantraIVM You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

  • Ep. 04: Social Media and Political Parties (with Venkat Ananth)
    45 min 28 sec

    What is the landscape of social media in India How are political parties using social media to cement narratives and organise voters What are different types of media And what is different from broadcast media In this episode, we talk to Venkat Ananth, Senior Assistant Editor at the Economic Times to unpack these questions. Venkat is based out of Bengaluru and writes indepth stories on technology and policy. He puts into context the increasing use of social media by political parties, and what it means for the upcoming elections, and for our polity as a whole. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

  • Ep. 05: Women's representation in politics (feat. Shruthi Viswanathan)
    36 min 29 sec

    There has been a long standing demand for reservations in legislatures in India for women. Currently, fifty percent of positions in panchayati raj institutions are reserved for women. If womens issues are to come to the fore in politics, is increased representation the only way forward What has been the experience of countries where women have greater representation in political institutions Have they had an impact on the patriarchal nature of the society Shruthi Viswanathan, Governance Specialist with the Oxford Policy Group joins us as we unpack all issues surrounding womens representation in politics. Also check out: Performing Representation by Shirin M. Rai Carole Spary You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

  • Ep. 06: Indira Gandhi, Welfare and Politics (feat. Dr. Diego Maiorano)
    52 min 1 sec

    In this episode we speak to Dr. Diego Maiorano, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore about two fascinating topics. First we ask him about his book Autumn of the Matriarch: Indira Gandhis Final Term in Office which examines Indira Gandhis last term in office, and the political and social implications of her last term. We also ask about the residues of her politics in contemporary India. Second, we touch upon Diegos current work on the NREGA program, and his fieldwork in Andhra Pradesh, and the politics of welfare. It is a longish episode, but we cover a lot about history, contemporary politics, and the complex political economies of welfare delivery on the ground. Discussed on this episode: Autumn of the Matriarch PostClientelistic Initiatives in a Patronage Democracy: The Non Distribution of Pork in India’s MGNREGA You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

  • S02 E30: Season Finale and Wrap Up
    32 min 9 sec

    This week on Ganatantra Sarayu Natarajan and Alok Prasanna Kumar discuss the second season of Ganatantra and how Covid19 has impacted the subjects they spoke about.

  • S02 E14: Ganatantra Year End Special Part 1 - Events
    53 min 26 sec

    Alok and Sarayu discuss the big political events of 2019 Article 370 in Kashmir, the Supreme court judgment on Ayodhya and the CAA/NRC and examine their political implications. References are made to relevant episodes and material from previous episodes.

  • S02 E21: Federalism and State Politics
    31 min 15 sec

    In the third series of episodes of Season 2, well be discussing federalism and State politics in India going indepth into the politics of certain states and some larger themes to understand politics at the state level. In this episode, Sarayu and Alok introduce the topic and outline whats in store for the rest of the season.

  • S02 E20: The Politics of Police Reforms
    29 min 6 sec

    In this episode celebrating one year of the Ganatantra, Sarayu and Alok talk about the problems with police in India why theres low trust in then, why theyre failing at law and order and investigation functions and why there have been almost no serious attempts at reform.

  • S02 E16: Ganatantra Year End Special Part 2 - Elections
    39 min 5 sec

    As we head towards the end of 2019, Sarayu and Alok discuss the General elections and State Assembly elections of the year and what they told us about the state of politics in India. We use the various insights given to us by the experts who joined us over this year. Think of this as an analysis episode that builds on what we have learnt over the year in speaking to our guests and researching for this episode.

  • S02 E12: Elections, Citizenship and Democracy (feat Dr Ornit Shani)
    48 min 45 sec

    The Indian Constitution guaranteed universal adult franchise from the moment it came into force. In a country with inequalities and divisions based on caste, gender, language, and ethnicity, this was a radical move that speaks of the vision of the founders. Yet, the process by which universal suffrage became a reality remained shrouded in obscurity until recently. The credit for bringing to light the fascinating process of the preparation of the first electoral rolls in independent India goes to Dr. Ornit Shani who, on the basis of her painstaking original research, wrote the awardwinning book, How India Became Democratic. In this episode, were joined by Ornit Shani to speak about her book, The insights and revelations about Indian democracy we get from the process by which electoral rolls were first prepared and why, perhaps, theres more reasons to be optimistic about Indias democracy than we think.

  • S02 E08: Maoists and Adivasis (feat Alpa Shah)
    43 min 3 sec

    Popular discourse about Maoists in India veers from the extremes of heroism to demonization with little attempt to address the nuances of the situation. Given that the movement draws its support from some of the most Marginalised communities in India, theres a need to unpack its appeal and its limitations. In this episode, we speak to Alpa Shah of the London School of Economics and Political Science about her recent book, Nightmarch. On the shortlist for the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay New India Foundation Book Prize, 2019 it is a deep examination of the contradictions of the Maoist movement in 21st century India, told in an accessible and engaging manner.

  • S02 E07: The struggle for Adivasi Rights (feat. Rajni Soren)
    28 min 19 sec

    Earlier this year, the Supreme Court of India ordered state governments to begin eviction of Adivasis and Forest dwellers whose claims for forest rights under the Forest Rights Act had been dismissed. Following a backlash against the move from Adivasi communities, the Supreme Court put this order on hold. In this episode, were joined by Rajni Soren an advocateactivist who works in issues related to forest rights and practices in the Chhattisgarh HC to talk about how the Adivasi movement have used the law and political institutions to protect their rights.

  • S02 E01: Introduction to Season 2
    27 min 48 sec

    Ganatantra Season 2: Were back from hiatus and we have an exciting new lineup of episodes for you In this intro episode, Sarayu and Alok outline what you can look forward to, the three themes around which episodes will be structured and why weve chosen the topics we have.

  • Ep. 22: Failed alliances and national narratives in Uttar Pradesh (feat Sanjay Kapoor)
    41 min 13 sec

    With the Bharatiya Janata Party and the National Democratic Alliance managing to almost repeat their 2014 performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, from the looks of it the Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party failed to stitch up an effective alliance to counter them. Even though issues of agricultural distress, jobs, and law and order featured prominently in discussions about the state, somehow the Gathbandhan failed to capitalise on it to reduce the BJPs tally by much. In this episode, we are joined by veteran journalist and editor Hard News, Sanjay Kapoor to make sense of the way in which UP voted in 2019.

  • Ep. 20: Caste, political recruitment and party systems in Tamil Nadu feat. Dr. Andrew Wyatt
    42 min 35 sec

    Tamil Nadu was one of the only states the others being Kerala and Punjab to resist the otherwise comprehensive sweep by the National Democratic Alliance in 2019. Yet, in the simultaneously held Assembly bypolls, the statelevel ruling AIADMK was not as comprehensively routed. TN is state that has seen seen some political upheavals lately, with the passing of two senior leaders, J Jayalaithaa and K Karunanidhi. Why did TN resist the NDA sweep In this episode, Dr Andrew Wyatt from the University of Bristol joins us to talk about how the DMKCongres alliance managed to hold off the BJP, the historical trajectory of TN politics, and the impetus of regionalism in the state. We talk to him about what the TN assembly elections 2021 in the last segment. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • Ep. 08: General Elections 2019: What's on the minds of voters and candidates (feat. Astha Kapoor)
    1 hr 4 min 20 sec

    Starting this week we hope to discuss important themes and issues that might inform how voters choose and how parties reach out to voters in the upcoming elections. Before each phase of election, we will pick one state going to the polls and break down the political issues and trends in that state. Each episode will feature an expert who has studied the state for decades to offer in depth insight on the state were discussing. In this introductory episode, we break down the major issues that have come up in surveys and conversations with voters and why. What are the economic issues on voters minds and why Will national security concerns have a bearing These are some of the questions we hope to address here. Alongside, the issue of a Universal Basic Income has also entered the conversation in the run up to the elections. We are joined by Astha Kapoor to make sense of the UBI and promises of political parties in this respect. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

  • Ep. 12: Anti-incumbency at the State and Centre (feat. Roshan Kishore)
    28 min 19 sec

    Contrary to popular perception, Rajasthan is a diverse state which features everything from well irrigated agricultural regions to deserts, large urban centres, to a significant tribal belt along the border with Gujarat. It was also the state where it was possibly the Modi wave began in 2013 leading to the eventual clean sweep of the State by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2014 elections. In that context, what should we make of the Congress victory in the Vidhan Sabha elections in 2018 Will the State vote in the same manner in the Centre as it did for the State or are their reasons to believe that the vote will be different this time How do local political economies play into the electoral calculus We are joined by Roshan Kishore, Data Political Economy Editor at Hindustan Times to look at what the data tells us about the State and what we might expect going ahead. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • Ep. 10: Assam and North East: NRC and sub-nationalism (feat. Kham Khan Suan Hausing)
    51 min 9 sec

    As parts of Assam and the North Eastern states of India go to the polls we take this opportunity to discuss some of the issues which have caused much discussion, debate and anxiety in the region. Specifically the implementation of the National Register of Citizens in Assam and the proposed introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Bill which aims to give accelerated citizenship to nonMuslim refugees from Muslim majority countries around India. We are joined by Dr Suan to understand the background of the issue, why it has come to the fore at this time and what it means for the politics of not just Assam but the rest of India as well. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

  • Ep. 14: Haryana - Caste competition and conflict (feat. Ankur Bhardwaj)
    34 min 13 sec

    In this episode, we are joined by Ankur Bhardwaj, Senior Editor at Business Standard to talk about the State of Haryana which goes to the polls in the 6th phase of polling. Assembly elections are also scheduled a few months after Lok Sabha polls suggesting that both could be impacted by the same trends and patterns. While the Jat community has dominated politics in the state of Haryana, the intercaste violence that broke out in 2016 over reservation and many other issues exposed the political and social fault lines among the chattis biradari of Haryana. How have political parties moved to consolidate their support among various communities Are we seeing a realignment among communities along very different party lines Join us as we discuss these and more issues with Ankur. You can follow Ankur Bhardwaj on twitter here: https://twitter.com/Bhayankur You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • Ep. 07: The Politics of Land ownership in India (featuring Raksha Kumar)
    40 min 18 sec

    Concerns about land and land rights have been key political issues from the beginning of the republic. Even as India urbanizes, these issues have not receded but taken new forms and new dimensions. Issues of land acquisition and redistribution, and forest rights have prompted mobilization in the recent past. How do we understand these movements and what are peoples relationships with land To answer these questions and more, we have independent journalist Raksha Kumar join us for a discussion on these issues, talking about her reportage and field experience in these matters. Read the Scroll piece Raksha speaks about here: https://ivm.today/2TLZ6al You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

  • S02 E22: Social Welfare and Political Violence in Kerala (feat. Prem Panicker)
    53 min 45 sec

    The image of Kerala politics contains two dissonant and contrary images that of a state with some of the best human development indicators in the world but also high numbers of targeted killings.In this weeks episode, were joined by journalist and editor, Prem Panicker, to understand these two phenomena in the context of Keralas politics.

  • S02 E13: State Governors - Colonial relics or Constitutional symbols?
    45 min 37 sec

    The political and constitutional crisis in Maharashtra, which unfolded after the 2019 Assembly elections once brought to the public glare the potential for misuse of the office of the Governor. It has prompted calls to abolish the office or reform it in some fundamental ways. In this episode Sarayu and Alok discuss this constitutional position and unpack the source of the recent political controversies that have taken place as a result of the Governors actions.

  • S02 E27: Federalism in India (feat. K K KAILASH)
    27 min 22 sec

    This week on Ganatantra Sarayu Natarajan and Alok Prasanna Kumar talk to Dr. Kailash in their continuing series on Federalism in India.

  • S02 E25: India's new party system (feat Rahul Verma)
    42 min 10 sec

    As a recent set of results shows, Indias voters choose very differently in state and national elections. What explains this pattern across the country and what implications does it have for federal politicsIn this episode, hosts Alok and Sarayu are joined by Rahul Verma of CPR, coauthor of Ideology and Identity: The Changing Party Systems of India  to talk about Indias party systems.

  • S02 E10: Politics and the Indian Judiciary (feat Aparna Chandra)
    46 min 4 sec

    In the last decade or so, the Indian higher judiciary and its functioning have come under the scanner like never before. The Supreme Courts proceedings are covered daily, often minute by minute in important cases and its judgements dissected minutely. Although it is supposed to be a judicial body, the political role of courts cannot be denied. Whether in its judgements or even choosing to hear certain cases and not others, the higher judiciary has an impact on the political landscape in various ways. Part of this has to do with the changing role of the court, and the ways in which judges are appointed to the bench. In this episode we are joined by Dr Aparna Chandra of the National Law University, Delhi to dissect the recent functioning of the courts, the process of appointment, and the political role of the court.

  • Ep. 23: Political Islams: Muslims, Indian politics and the 2019 verdict feat. Dr. Hilal Ahmed
    46 min 15 sec

    Arguably, a central issue in the 2019 elections was the idea of India. The right, notably the BJP, imagine an idea of India at whose centre is a Hindu, and where Muslims and others are excluded. But who is a Muslim To discuss issues such as the homogenising tropes of the pukka mussalman, the notion of representation, presence and voice in democracy, and the interplay between law and politics, we are joined by Dr. Hilal Ahmed, Associate Prof at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, and the author of Siyasi Muslims: A Story of Political Islams in India 2019. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • S02 E23: Fiscal Federalism- 2.5 lakh governments and how to fund them (feat. Pranay Kotasthane)
    45 min 49 sec

    All governments need to raise and spend money but in Indias complex three tier government, the process by which this money is raised and spent is a subject with serious political and constitutional implications.We are joined by Pranay Kotasthane of the Takshashila Institution to talk about the how money flows between various governments in India and what this means for governance.In this episode we also refer to YV Reddy and GR Reddys Indian Fiscal Federalism

  • S02 E11: The Indian Armed Forces and Civilian oversight (feat Srinath Raghavan)
    50 min 37 sec

    Unlike Indias neighbouring countries, the Indian Armed Forces have never intervened in any manner in the affairs of civilian government. The reasons for this have been explored by scholars and has been attributed to a range of factors from the sociological to the historical to the institutional. However, that does not mean that Armed Forces are entirely apolitical. Not least when they are invoked repeatedly by civilian rulers to justify political actions. In this episode, we speak to Srinath Raghavan, Senior Fellow at Carnegie India to talk about the complex relationship between the Armed Forces and the civilian government. Book mentioned in this episode : Army and Nation by Steven I. Wilkinson

  • S02 E06: Dalit Political Representation
    36 min 12 sec

    Across India, radical Dalit movements have dipped their toes into electoral politics as they have tried to represent their communities in institutions of governance. What challenges do they face Why has the BSP been more successful at electoral politics in Uttar Pradesh and not say, the VCK in Tamil Nadu How does the current system of reserved seats affect the electoral prospects of Dalit parties across India Would the scenario have been different if the Poona Pact was never entered into We are joined by Hugo Gorringe, author of Panthers in Parliament, as we try to answer these questions and understand how Indias Westminster style of Parliamentary democracy affects the electoral aspirations of Dalit parties.

  • S02 E02: Migration, Marginalization and Citizenship: The NRC in Assam
    50 min 18 sec

    The preparation of the final list of the National Register of Citizens has stirred up more than its share of controversy with two million or so people in Assam suddenly facing the prospect of being rendered stateless. The antimigrant read antiBengali rhetoric which informed the legal structure for the NRC has had many unintended victims women, transgender persons, scheduled tribes and even native Assamese who couldnt prove citizenship. In this episode, were joined by Smitana Saikia of FLAME University, Pune to talk about the history and impact of this exercise and how it has caused and has the potential to cause further marginalization. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • Ep. 26: Patronage networks in urban housing in Bengaluru
    27 min 57 sec

    Over the last six months we have discussed the macro of Indian politics, addressing large themes and looking at the politics at State level. In this episode, the last before we take a short hiatus, we go into the micro of India’s politics where we talk about Sarayu’s doctoral thesis on how people’s voting choices in an urban setting may be determined more by a very specific type of service delivery on the part of politicians rather than larger questions of ideology, caste or national concerns. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • Ep. 25: The Political War over Judicial Appointments
    29 min 36 sec

    In this episode, we talk about the institutional tugofwar that has taken place between the judiciary and the political executive over who controls the procedure to appoint judges to the High Courts and the Supreme Court. In this episode we try to unpack why governments have been concerned about exercising some sort of control over the process and why we are presently stuck in an unacceptable situation where almost no one is happy with the way judges are being appointed. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • Ep. 21: Gendered Parliament - Women, elections and our democracy feat. Dr. Carole Spary
    46 min 40 sec

    Political institutions, be the elected assemblies or political parties have not had the presence of women in their ranks, and not in senior levels. Is that too sweeping a statement How does one parse presence, representation and voice for women in an electoral democracy To discuss this, we are joined by Dr Carole Spary, coauthor with Dr. Shirin Rai of Performing Representation 2018, which is a commentary on women in Indian politics, to talk about how to think about women in electoral politics, and whether, some parties are better able to incorporate women into their fold. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • Ep. 17: Social Media, Political Messaging and Branding (feat. Dr Joyojeet Pal)
    39 min 25 sec

    The results of the 2019 elections have shown that brand and personal messaging on the part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi played a large role in the massive victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Going forward, social media platforms, both established ones such as Twitter and Facebook, and newer entrants such as Tik Tok and Sharechat, will play a key role in political messaging and election campaigns. In this episode were joined by Dr Joyojeet Pal, Associate Professor at the University of Michigan to explain how individual politicians use social media to build their personal brands with voters and citizens, and how political parties messaging reflects this. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • Ep. 16: Voter Turnout
    29 min 35 sec

    Election commentators and nerds of all hues pore over turnout numbers to see if they can read the tea leaves that point to the eventual verdict. It has been no different in the 2019 general elections, with discussions about phase by phase turnouts and what it implies. The final turnout in Elections 2019 are not very different from 2014. In this episode, Sarayu and Alok discuss what turnout can tell you, the factors that influence it, and the impact of structural factors on the ground and institutions in mediating turnout. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • S02 E19: The Public University as a Political Space (feat Jean Thomas Martelli)
    38 min 20 sec

    As Indian public universities become both spaces for and subjects of political disputes often breaking out into violence its worth examining what it means for such universities to be political especially in the face of increasing privatization of higher education.In this episode, we are joined by Jean Tomas Martelli who has studied the processes by which students cut their political teeth in Jawaharlal Nehru University, to explore this subject and understand how students in the public universities become political.

  • S02 E17: The Future of News Media in a Democracy (feat. Dr Aasim Khan)
    38 min 27 sec

    The news media is sometimes called the fourth pillar of democracy but at a time when its business model is under attack thanks to large internet companies, and its credibility at risk in the age of fakenews, existential questions about its role in a modern democracy are bound to rise. In this episode, we speak to Dr Aasim Khan of IIIT Delhi about the past, present and future of the news media in a Democracy.

  • S02 E09: Migration and Marginalization (feat. Chinmay Tumbe)
    41 min 27 sec

    Large scale migration has been a feature of life in the Indian subcontinent in the last two centuries, both within and out of the region. In his book, India Moving Chinmay Tumbe calls it the Great Indian Migration Wave an ongoing process that is probably the largest and longest migration stream in history. This is a process that both contributes to and is a consequence of marginalization. In this episode, we speak to Dr. Tumbe to unpack some of the themes in his book and see how migration and marginalization intersect and impact.

  • S02 E04: The Transgender movement: Understanding marginalisation (feat: Nadika Nadja)
    40 min 56 sec

    The historic NALSA judgment National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India, 2014 was historic in that it read in major rights to be applicable to the transgender community, including specific directives to the government around social and economic welfare. The implications of this judgment were diluted with the Transgender Persons Bill 2018. The legislation has faced significant resistance and criticism within the community. To discuss the voices within the movement, claims for social welfare, the particular challenges faced by transmen, and multiple marginalities and the ways these play into shaping the transgender movement and the broader societal implications we are joined by Nadika Nadja, who is a translesbian feminist and a writer and researcher with interests in History and Archaeology, Entertainment, Gender and Internet.

  • Ep. 09: Telangana & Andhra Pradesh - Welfare, Caste and Regional aspirations (feat. KK Kailash)
    47 min 56 sec

    Indias newest state goes to the polls tomorrow in the first phase of polls alongside its parent state. Though Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were once the same state, their political trajectories have been very different and likewise the socio economic concerns. In this episode we are joined by KK Kailash to discuss the evolution of politics in the two states, attempting to understand the policies of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, the appeal of Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena and the difference between regional and regionalist parties. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

  • Ep. 24: Bihar: the Modi wave and welfare delivery in bihar feat. Parth MN
    35 min 31 sec

    The NDA in Bihar faced antiincumbency at both the State and Union levels when it went to the polls in 2019. Its stunning performance in the elections, improving on its performance from 2014 suggests that the alliance was able to in fact benefit from proincumbency in favour of Narendra Modi and possibly, Nitish Kumar. Just how was this achieved and what happened to Bihars famed caste calculus We are joined by Parth MN, a freelance journalist who covered the State of Bihar among other Hindi belt states extensively before the elections, to talk about why Bihar voted the way it did. You can find Parths writing in the run up to the elections here: https://www.firstpost.com/author/parthmn You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • S02 E29: Policy in the shadow of Covid 19
    34 min

    This week on Ganatantra Sarayu Natarajan and Alok Prasanna Kumar discuss the impact of the Covid19 pandemic on public policy.

  • S02 E28: Politics in West Bengal (feat. Shaoib Daniyal)
    59 min 10 sec

    This week on Ganatantra Sarayu Natarajan and Alok Prasanna Kumar welcome back Shoaib Daniyal to talk about the politics of West Bengal.If you would like to hear Shoaibs previous appearance you can find that here: https://ivmpodcasts.com/ganatantraepisodelist/2019/5/5/ep13westbengalpolarizationandmobilizationfeatshoaibdaniyal

  • S02 E26: Delhi Politics and the rise of the AAP (feat Dr Manisha Priyam)
    46 min 10 sec

    In this weeks episode, Dr. Manisha Priyam joins us to discuss Delhi politics. She walks us through her fieldwork and her prediction of the rise of the AAP, the new politics of Delhi post the violence at JNU and the deeply communal campaign, and the importance of urban services in thinking about political change in India.

  • S02 E24: Caste, language and politics in Karnataka (feat. Chandan Gowda)
    45 min 32 sec

    As a state with came into existence on the basis of a demand for linguistic reorganization, its somewhat of a mystery that Karnataka has not yet seen a mass movement or major political party based on linguistic identity.Were joined by Dr Chandan Gowda of the Azim Premji University to unpack this mystery and understand the cultural and caste politics of Karnataka.

  • S02 E05: At the margins of work: Understanding the platform gig economy
    35 min 46 sec

    The platform gig economy has brought several changes in the way work is performed and organised. Some kinds of work challenge the very underpinnings of labor and industrial laws such as the need for a place of work and the space for collective bargaining. Tech mediated platform gig work while offering flexibility to those who seek it and low entry barriers, may also in its own way be expanding the margins of society leaving those who are doing such work with little recourse in the law or little opportunity to negotiate futures. In this context, Alok and Sarayu discuss futures of workers and discuss the ways in which politics and law needs to be imagined.

  • Ep. 13: West Bengal: Polarization and Mobilization (feat Shoaib Daniyal)
    52 min 22 sec

    In this episode, we are joined by Shoaib Daniyal of Scroll.in’s team to talk about politics in West Bengal and learn about how the BJP is mobilising in this critical state that goes to polls tomorrow. We learn about the trajectory of left politics in Bengal and its entrenchment, and then its gradual dissipation. We learn about the rise of the Trinamool, and now the right. The BJP seems to be gaining from the Left strongholds, building on disillusionment to implant a macho, panHindu identity. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • Ep. 11: Gujarat: Jobless growth, marginalization and caste mobilization (with Aarefa Johari)
    37 min 5 sec

    Gujarat goes to the polls in the third phase of elections. In the last five years it has seen economic upheaval as a result of demonetisation and implementation of the GST. It has also seen mass agitation by Patidars and Dalits over reservations and atrocities respectively, and a resurgence of the Congress in the last Assembly elections. What are the issues on voters minds this time Will the economic downturn and agricultural distress play a role in determining the outcome Were joined by Scroll.ins Aarefa Johari, an award winning journalist who has extensively covered the state in the last few years, to give us her thoughts and insights You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios.

  • S02 E15: The CAA, NRC and Censoring Protest
    25 min 38 sec

    Were releasing this special episode of Ganatantra today to talk about the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act, fears over a proposed all India National Register of Citizens and the governments response to it through internet shutdowns and imposition of Section 144. In this episode we try to explain why the CAA is problematic whether or not its linked to NRC, why the NRC will be an all round disaster however its implemented and how our colonial laws allow govts to gag peaceful protests.

  • S02 E03: Combating marginalization: Reservation of seats and jobs
    52 min 42 sec

    Few issues in post independence India have caused as much heated debate as the issue of reservation in government jobs and college seats. The purpose of this move as the SC famously put it, was parity and not charity. However, with the 103rd Constitutional amendment allowing reservations on purely economic criteria, that too beyond the 50 limit the SC had enforced in the past, does this goal of reservation policy still hold true To talk about this, were joined by Dr Gopal Guru, editor at the Economic and Political Weekly and former professor at JNU. In this episode we go into history of reservations in India, the evolution of the term Dalit and the future path of social justice movements in the country.

  • Ep. 28: Article 370: The history and future of Kashmir
    28 min 27 sec

    In this episode, were joined by Dr Andrew Whitehead to frame the debate over Article 370s abrogation in the context of Kashmirs complicated history. We look at the circumstances of Kashmirs entry into the Indian Union and why the provision exists as it does. At the same time, the reactions around the repeal of Article 370 and the downgrading of JK to a Union Territory has already elicited a range of reactions in India and elsewhere. We end this episode with a look at what lies ahead for the region

  • Ep. 27: Article 370: The constitutionality and politics of repeal
    29 min 22 sec

    The abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution has been a long standing promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party and it would not surprise too many that they chose to act on it. Yet, what surprised everyone was the manner in which it was done, and the circumstances in Kashmir which were prevailing when this move took place. In this episode, Sarayu and Alok discuss the Constitutional and political implications of the abrogation of Article 370 and the potential implications for the future of Indian federalism. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • Ep. 18: Caste and networks in Maharashtra feat. Sarthak Bagchi
    46 min 52 sec

    The National Democratic Alliance managed to repeat its 2014 election performance in Maharashtra winning 41 seats the United Progressive Alliance, despite the alliance with the NCP did worse than 2014. This, in a state which has seen farmer mobilisations and caste based agitation by Marathas and Dalits, but for different reasons needs to be unpacked. In this episode, Sarthak Bagchi, Assistant Professor at Ahmedabad University joins us to talk about how the Bharatiya Janata Party Shiv Sena alliance managed to hold on in the state through careful incorporation of disparate caste groups, the importance of entrenched networks and the role of turncoats, and the impact of the Bahujan Vanchit Aghadi and MIM alliance on DalitBahujan politics, and what lies ahead in the Assembly elections for Maharashtra later this year. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.

  • S02 E18: Politics and Cinema (feat MK Raghavendra)
    48 min 51 sec

    Indian cinema has had a complex relationship with politics, reflecting prevailing political trends and having provided the base for the launch of many a political career.This week were joined by MK Raghavendra, award winning film Critic and author of several books on Indian cinema to talk about how cinema and politics are intertwined.

  • Ep. 15: Exit Polls and Surveys : Accuracy and Transparency (with Sanjay Kumar)
    43 min 16 sec

    In a couple of days, discussions about the 2019 General elections will hinge on the release of exit poll numbers put up by various survey and media agencies. We explore what it takes to go from a good track record in calculating vote shares to problems in predicting how many seats a party will win. Why do opinion and exit polls struggle in India Is it just a matter of resources, the complexity of the firstpastthepostsystem in a diverse country, or the difficulty in integrating social theory into polling questions How do you tell if an opinion or exit poll is credible And perhaps most importantly, why does it matter To discuss this and more, we are joined by one of Indias leading pollsters, Sanjay Kumar of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies to help us make sense of the numbers and what lies behind them.

Language

English

Genre

News, Society & Culture, Government

Author

IVM Podcasts