India’s democracy continues to puzzle the West — thriving amid diversity, faith, and chaos, yet repeatedly misjudged by global indices and foreign intellectuals. In this wide-ranging conversation, Prof. Salvatore Babones joins host Roshan Cariappa to unpack the bias behind Western democracy rankings, the cultural roots of India’s political resilience, and why dharma, not rights, is at the heart of the Indian way. Babones explains why India’s model of democracy isn’t an imitation of the West but an expression of its 5,000-year-old civilizational ethos — a system built on duty, pluralism, and self-restraint. From press freedom myths to the Muslim question and Hindu civil society, this episode explores how India can redefine democracy for the world on its own terms. 00:00 – Intro & Hook: Why India Ranks Below Gaza 01:15 – What is Dharma Democracy? Duty over Rights 03:20 – India’s Liberal Democracy & Western Misreadings 10:40 – Press Freedom & Media Bias Explained 19:00 – How Western Rankings Distort India’s Image 21:15 – Dharma, Duty & the Indian Idea of Citizenship 23:00 – Yogi Adityanath: The Untranslatable Indian Leader 26:30 – Hindu Civil Society: Temples, Pluralism & Democracy 31:45 – Faith & Inclusion: The Muslim Question 36:40 – Partition’s Hangover & Identity Politics 41:30 – Intellectuals, Migration & the Elite Disconnect 47:00 – Race, Discrimination & Lessons from America 52:10 – Can Dharma Include Islam? Paths to Belonging 57:00 – The Future of Dharma Democracy 01:03:25 – Party Modernization: BJP vs Congress 01:09:15 – If You Could Meet One Leader… (Rajendra Prasad) 01:11:10 – Closing Remarks & Sign-Off 👉 If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe to Bharatvaarta! We bring you deep, thoughtful discussions on politics, policy, and culture every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6tqY8tbgQ6nGb4ZQwjX6NH 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/bharatvaarta/id1636240449 📢 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bharatvaarta 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/Bharatvaarta 👤 Follow the Host – Roshan Cariappa 📢 Twitter/X: https://x.com/RoshanCariappa 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carygottheblues/ Chapters