In this episode, we speak with journalist Ayush Tiwari about how Indians participate in the voting process and the challenges they face. Our conversation comes as journalists, activists, and politicians raise serious questions about the integrity of the election process, particularly the Election Commission of India. We discuss the basics of the voting process, the complaints made by opposition parties, and current concerns about voter suppression in India’s second-largest state, Bihar. Ayush brings his insights from his ground reporting in this timely discussion about how the Indian government’s attacks on democracy are affecting Indians’ fundamental right to choose their leaders.AN UPDATE: In the time between recording and publishing this episode, a wave of new allegations of electoral fraud has emerged, including an investigation by Scroll into allegations of election fraud in the state of Uttar Pradesh. We will release an update on this topic in the coming weeks, once the dust settles from what continues to be a dynamic issue.
Reading List
Electoral Irregularities in the World’s Largest Democracy - Sabyasachi Das
“Manual on Electoral Rolls” and “Handbook for Returning Officer” - Election Commission of India
Assessing the Integrity of India’s 2024 Lok Sabha Elections - Milan Vaishnav
The Verdict: Decoding India's Elections - Prannoy Roy & Dorab R. Sopariwala
Why India’s Election Commission is facing a test of credibility - Nikhil Inamdar, BBC
ECI Skipped its Fraud-Busting Software, Flooding Bihar Voter Roll With Lakhs of Suspect Duplicates -Ayushi Kar, and Vishnu Narayan, Reporters’ Collective
Guide to the 2024 Indian Elections - Hindus for Human Rights
India After Gandhi - Ramchandra Guha
Ayush’s work
In this episode of Going South, we talk to legal scholar Arpeeta Shams Mizan about Bangladesh as it enters a new era. In this episode, we discuss the legacies of genocide and colonialism on the people of Bangladesh today, and how mass movements, in particular, have driven the country forward. Mizan provides compelling insights into the experiences of Bangladesh’s cultural and religious minorities, and argues that Bangladesh must shake off its colonial legacies to truly build an inclusive society. Join us for a wide-ranging discussion about how Bangladesh’s history informs its current challenges and future possibilities.
Reading List
“The Cruel Birth of Bangladesh” - Archer K. Blood
“Bangladesh: Legacy of Blood” - Anthony Mascarenhas
“A History of Bangladesh” - Willem Van Schendel
“Ekattorer Dinguli” (The Days of ‘71) - Jahanara Imam
“Ekattorer Diary” (The Diary of 1971) - Sufia Kamal
“The Golden Age: A Novel” - Tahmima Anam
“The Blood Telegram: Nixon, Kissinger and a Forgotten Genocide” - Gary J. Bass
In this inaugural episode of Going South, we delve deep into the evolving socio-political landscape of India with Aakar Patel, renowned journalist, author, and human rights advocate. From his incisive critique of India's shift toward Hindu majoritarianism in Our Hindu Rashtra to the metrics of democratic decline detailed in Price of the Modi Years, Patel provides a compelling overview of a nation at a crossroads.
The conversation explores the structural transformation of India’s democracy, the weaponization of laws like UAPA and anti-conversion statutes, and the erosion of freedoms under a growing ethnonationalist agenda. Patel shares his personal experience leading Amnesty International India through a period of unprecedented state crackdowns on civil society.
This episode also addresses the global ramifications of India’s political trajectory, its reception in international fora, and the challenges faced by the diaspora advocating for human rights. Through Patel’s insights, we examine the broader implications of these developments on freedoms of expression, movement, and religious practice, alongside a critical look at recent criminal code reforms.
Join us for an eye-opening discussion about India’s present and future, set against the backdrop of elections, human rights struggles, and international diplomacy.
Bio: Aakar Patel is an Indian journalist, author and social activist. He was the head of Amnesty India between 2015 and 2019 and since then has been the Chair of Amnesty International’s Board in India. His book, Price of the Modi Years has become a popular socio-economic entry point to understand ‘Modinomics’. In his first book, Our Hindu Rashtra: What It Is. How We Got Here he talks about the arrival a Hindu majoritarian India using its existing constitutional apparatus. As a journalist, Aakar has written pieces reflecting on the declining state of India’s institutions, attacks on civil society, state of human rights and regressing democracy. His works have appeared in several notable platforms like The Wire, Livemint, National Herald and Business Standard.Reading List:
House Resolution 745 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Urges India to restore communication and end mass detentions in Jammu and Kashmir while safeguarding religious freedom.
Library of Congress, State Anti-Conversion Laws in India: Overview of state-level laws regulating religious conversions in eight Indian states.
The Guardian, “Amnesty to halt work in India due to government witch hunt”: Amnesty International ceased operations in India in 2020 after facing financial and political harassment.
European Parliament, Motion for a Resolution on India’s Citizenship Amendment (Act): Critiques the law for violating international norms and highlights government crackdowns.
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Kashmir: Developments in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir from June 2016 to April 2018, and General Human Rights Concerns in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan:TDocuments human rights violations in Indian and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including excessive force by Indian security forces.
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Update of the Situation of Human Rights in Indian-Administered Kashmir and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir from May 2018 to April 2019: Follow-up report detailing continued human rights abuses in the Kashmir region.
U.S. Department of State, International Religious Freedom Report: Examines the decline of religious freedom in India, focusing on anti-conversion laws.
USCIRF , Annual Report: Tracks India’s status as a country of concern for religious freedom since 2020.Aakar’s work
Why I Write: Essays By Saadat Hasan Manto (Tranquebar, 2014)
Our Hindu Rashtra: What It Is. How We Got Here (Westland, 2020)
Price of the Modi Years: A History of India Since 2014 (Westland, 2021)
Welcome to Going South—a podcast that dives deep into the heart of South Asia, exploring its rich cultures, complex histories, and dynamic political landscapes.
Hosted by me, Ria Chakrabarty, Senior Policy Director at Hindus for Human Rights, this podcast is your guide to understanding one of the world’s most diverse and influential regions. In a time when South Asia’s impact on global politics, culture, and economics is growing, Going South invites you to engage with the stories that shape the region and its people.
Each episode brings you conversations with leading voices—historians, journalists, scholars, and activists—who unpack issues like constitutional freedoms, human rights, grassroots movements, and the fight against extremism. Our goal is to provide expert insights in an approachable way, helping you connect with the realities and resilience of South Asia.
Whether you’re curious about the geopolitics of the region, the vibrancy of South Asian culture, or the struggles and triumphs of its people, Going South is your space for meaningful dialogue and discovery.
