Aakar Patel: How India is similar to its theocratic neighbours – but different too

An excerpt from ‘Our Hindu Rashtra: What It Is. How We Got Here’.

Aakar Patel

· Dec 21, 2020 · 08:30 am

Republic Day chief guest Cyril Ramaphosa has failed to uphold civil rights – just like his host Modi

It falls to ordinary Indians and South Africans to ensure their governments do the right thing.

Aakar Patel

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Shenilla Mohamed

· Jan 26, 2019 · 08:00 am

India’s Transgender Persons Bill undermines the rights of the individuals it seeks to protect

This Bill does not go far enough to protect transgender persons who are subjected to abuse relentlessly, and with relative impunity.

Aakar Patel

· Dec 25, 2018 · 08:00 am

The Nehru whom today’s India does not know

Unlike most of India’s political leaders, Jawaharlal was not a one-dimensional man.

Aakar Patel

· Jul 23, 2015 · 08:30 am

If Muslim groups are opposing Surya Namaskar, the government is partly to blame

Many groups feel under siege due to the words and actions of the BJP. If they feel provoked by the International Yoga Day, we should not be surprised.

Aakar Patel

· Jun 15, 2015 · 09:15 am

Podcast: Aakar Patel on whether Bollywood actors are overpaid and Modi's challenges

Also featuring Wendy Doniger, Yogendra Yadav and movie critic Kamal R Khan.

Aakar Patel

· Jun 12, 2015 · 01:00 pm

Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman: BCCI keeps its players close but its possible critics closer

Why did the Indian cricket board ask the three recently retired batting greats to act as ‘advisors’? One guess: it’s not to take suggestions on reforms.

Aakar Patel

· Jun 08, 2015 · 09:00 am

Aakar Patel on why Baroda is boring, the failure of Abhishek Bachchan and more

Smart cities, the virtues of mutton vs beef, thoughts on Kyoto and Banaras.

Aakar Patel

· Jun 04, 2015 · 01:30 pm

Instead of resorting to bluster, Manohar Parrikar should get Indian military a big stick

The defence minister broke his oath as minister when he bragged, as it were, about officially using terrorists to neutralise terrorists.

Aakar Patel

· Jun 01, 2015 · 09:00 am

Modi doesn’t understand what Gandhi did: cultural change can’t come only through legislation

To empower Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the government has introduced spot fines for littering. Will this work? Experience says not.

Aakar Patel

· May 25, 2015 · 09:05 am

Podcast: Aakar Patel on whether Anurag Kashyap is a tormented genius or an insufferable bore

Also featuring Julius Ceasar, Kumar Gandharva and, as always, Narendra Modi.

Aakar Patel

· May 22, 2015 · 01:00 pm

Why did the Supreme Court place restrictions on government ads?

The court largely didn't have any problem with the ads. Why then did it limit the individuals whose photographs can be carried in them?

Aakar Patel

· May 18, 2015 · 09:05 am