Festive season is over, was it fun? Was it real? Or did everything- the social media stories, the ethnic outfits, the 'family time', the celebrations and even the objections-- did it all feel like carrying the spontaneity & verve of staged, choreographed "candid" picture.

As an outsider to Diwali festivities, I am wondering is there any authenticity left in post-retail, post-rehearsed cultural hellscape where everyone is an emotional infant needing cues from ads & shows to navigate life.

Clickbait-y title aside-- these are ominous times. Like a precursor to bad things, most folks dont think it will get so bad before it rapidly does. Let's hope this is not one of those. A ramble through just how possible a dictatorship is in India with lessons from Pakistani-history, who know a thing or two about this jig. 

Yep, now we are dealing with potential proof of electoral fraud. Nope, it wasn't the EVM. It was good old fashioned list manipulations. Why can't AI & techies make our frauds more high-tech at least? We can't do anything classy in this country. Sigh!

Iran-Israel War, RCB wins IPL, India-Pak drone wars, Kannada language pride, Justice Yashwant Verma, Gaza, Ukraine, Daddy SRK's fit, Air India Crash, Thala forever, Manipur, Govt policy on AC temperature, Great Nicobar island, Anant 'Dada' Ambani, to hot mayor Mamdani.

There is too much.
There is collective memory fatigue.
There is collective memory failure.

Caste census announcement is probably one of the biggest policy interventions in independent India-- now that the fog of war is lifting, the incredibly talented Sumit Samos breaks it down for us. Also breaking a few savarna academic egos along the way for fun.

PS. Apologies for the bad network & technical difficulties. This show has no budget for better production levels.
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Link to Sumit & Arjun's article on Caste Census in The Print (mentioned in the episode): https://theprint.in/opinion/caste-enumeration-market-liberty-private-sector-reservations/2626120/

It is episode 50 of the show. That is a staggering number of hours of hearing mostly me talk to myself. The perfect way to commemorate this milestone is to hear me talk about my book. 'Meet The Savarnas'-- now out for pre-order on Amazon.

Link: https://www.amazon.in/Meet-Savarnas-Millennials-Mediocrity-Everything/dp/0143465716/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3EUL6NB7KQNVM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7rSSA2N3Xc2XLynJOOsPHXl1x16tkYmYEGpRqXuUFrA.aFdYUpplisamuN-fA6-gtwAnZJCn7D8vaXGjWmLU_FI&dib_tag=se&keywords=ravikant+kisana&qid=1746354250&sprefix=%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-1

This needs to be said. Caste-based reservation in Indian private universities & higher education institutes is the need of the hour. This is a deep dive on the political economy of higher education & how it intersects with electoral funding of parties, policy-agenda-setting and caste gatekeeping.

Nations, around the world often tend split and fall apart. One of the major reasons for countries breaking is language & ethnic/cultural identities (which circle back to language). East & West Pakistan split over language. India seems to be developing a North-South divide. 

Often the seeds of a split are buried years/decades before it actually happens. We may be dangerously flirting with one such moment no. It is not too late yet, but with delimitation looming, the point-of-no-return maybe closer than we think. 

As the Mahabodhi agitation gains momentum in Gaya, Bihar-- we talk to Mangesh Dahiwale, one of the most important Ambedkarite scholars of history Buddhish history and culture. He breaks down for us the historical & civilizational context of Buddha & his Dhamma. The current agitation needs to be seen historically & sociologically, and not as a one-off event. 

A true masterclass in Buddhist epistemology!

AAP didnt just lose the Delhi elections-- it also brought to close an era (which began in the mid 2000s) where liberal elite savarns had a fantasy that they could politically & economically bring India to greatness. Well that dream is over. Swades, that fantasy of the educated savarnas that they could fix India IF they applied themselves & got hands dirty-- typified most by none other than Kejriwal-- that fantasy also died with the election results. Welcome to the end baby!

An absolute masterclass by Dr Rahul Sonpimple~ diagnosis of the crossroads where the anti-caste movement finds itself. Babasaheb's name is everywhere, but Ambedkarite parties at their weakest. What happens to the movement? Where does it go? What questions we need to ask? 

In this Post-Bahujan Era-- what is the future of Dalit assertion & identity?
A must-watch, agenda-setting episode!

Student suicides in top educational institutions have been peaking, there is rampant casteism across Indian universities. Against this backdrop we talk to Advocate Disha Wadekar who moved the Supreme Court on behalf of the mothers of the Dr Payal Tadvi & brother Rohith Vemula. Her interventioned resulted in the Supreme Court asking for data on caste discrimination on Indian campuses. 

What this means for SC ST OBC students in Indian institutions, caste discrimination & law-- she unpacks for us in this stellar episode! 

Oi happy new year babies, only 2 ways out from here-- grow up OR go crazy.

There is no other way out of here, we cannot keep pretending things are great-- everything is falling apart. We cannot keep pretending Vir Das is talented/hot/funny. We cannot. We must not.

High time children! Grow up OR grow crazier. Lean into the dark side. Be demented, be unhinged. Be interesting. Don't be like Vir Das.

For the first time in 25 years, Indian urban (savarna) elites are no longer relevant to the discourse in politics, economy, society and culture. From woke hipsters to hustle tech bros-- all soft elites are now irrelevant.

It's that beautiful time of the year when sad, single, savarna millennials will get together for the 'Diwali Party' while savarna gen Z monsters will take a break from demanding action & accountability to return home from Sonepat colleges to take selfies in ethnic wear with their bigoted, fascist-minded parents ~and all this playing out to the tune of 'Chaiyaa Chaiyaa' in the background. Truly a blessed time!

Coldplay concert tickets are unavailable and elite savarns are very very angry about it. Ladoos at Tirupati have been found to be tainted and a young woman died of overwork at E&Y. An action packed episode. 

Folks are "accidentally" killing people on "suspicion" of transporting beef, an old uncle is bullied by dudes on a moving train, elite schools are banning non-veg tiffin boxes & kids think Kalki 2898 AD is based on history-- in the middle of this social breakdown, your therapist asks you to ground yourself by touching grass.

Welcome to hell!

Our esteemed Lordships at the Supreme Court has spoken. SC/ST "creamy" layer should be skimmed they have suggested helpfully. An utterly, butterly episode deliciously unpacking the judgement on SC ST subcategorizing & privilege.

A deep dive on US 'Empire' from Gramsci, Adorno, Chomsky & Howard Zinn with special mentions to Kurt Vonnegut & Malcolm X ~ the Buffalo puts on his US history/politics "hat" literally & figuratively & breaks down Trump's rise, Biden's descent, Kamala aunty stepping up.
Is this the collapse into 'big' evil or have we seen that already under smoother (war) criminals like Obama, Clinton & Bush.

Airports are falling apart, streets are flooded, air is unbreathable, its so hot that ACs are blowing up-- who is responsible for this? who created this mess?

PS. stop blaming the politicians & enjoy the IPA!