This paper is an inquiry into the perplexing ‘silence’ in the Indian sociopolitical public
spher... more This paper is an inquiry into the perplexing ‘silence’ in the Indian sociopolitical public sphere despite witnessing one of the most severe rural distress, culminating into a crisis, in recent times. Compared to the assertive reactions, leading to even upheavals, in other nations or, even in Indian history, there has been a notable absence of ‘noise and bustle’, a least likely scenario in the world’s largest democracy where there are institutions, mechanisms and spaces to take due cognizance of articulations and reactions. It’s not that there is “no crisis”. In fact, it’s one of the most catastrophic ones in the Indian context – as marked with empirical and field evidences. Taking further the investigation into – the current intricacies of the ‘First Estate’, the government and its policymaking, where the changing political economy, with the immensely embedded impressions of Globalisation and Neoliberal ‘reforms’, has – structurally – squeezed Indian Agriculture out of policy’s focus; the ‘Second Estate’ – consisting of the intermediary community leaders and the Civil Society – which has been morphed and, hence, has been muffled in its response; the ‘Third Estate’ of populace, especially the rising Indian Middle Class, displaying a near absence of social consciousness and empathy, bordering on apathy; and, the dumbing-down of the ‘Fourth Estate’ – the print and the electronic media, and the Popular Culture, there is an evident marginalized public discourse about the rural distress, when all of these were most expected to be the saviours in raising ‘the voice’ or, at the least, ‘Listening Posts’ to it. It seems – there has been an enforced ‘shrinkage’ about the ‘Bhárat’ in political, economic and social Public Spheres, culminating into its ‘invisibility’ in front of a shining ‘New India’, putting the foundational democratic ethos itself in peril. The paper would conclude on a hopeful note about finding a way out by taking inspiration from a recent innovative development in ‘Civil’ Society resistance, and see if it could be a guiding light for a Democracy 2.0 itself, particularly in the context of the Global South.
Coming from the heady days of the 1960s, when Space became the next ‘over-the-sky’ evolutionary f... more Coming from the heady days of the 1960s, when Space became the next ‘over-the-sky’ evolutionary frontier to fight the Cold War, and culminating into the 1980s’ dystopian proposal of the Strategic Defence Initiative, infamously known more as ‘Star Wars’, there was a ‘war/race’ which securitized the more benign space of ‘Space’, imitating – intriguingly - the first two models of Sagan’s on ‘Why do States Build Nuclear Weapons’. But, the end of the Cold War put an end to this frenzied behaviour – as a resultant of the existence of a Unipolar world. After a relative ‘peace’, there has been a recent spate in activities in the realm of space as a consequence of – rise of new emerging powers, changing geostrategic scenarios, developments in technology, integration with globalization, and – even – entry of individual actors, leading to – increasing demands of making space from a zone of contestation to a zone of cooperation, mimicking Sagan’s third model about – norms, identity, and behaviour. The paper would trace the evolution of the ‘conflict’ in space till the end of the Cold War, the apparent relative calm, the renewed vigour, in recent times, for both – ‘contestations’ and ‘cooperation’; and thus – proving that the Space will be, always, an arena of securitization – even after the demise of the Cold War, which – initially – fuelled the confrontation, and was – conventionally – considered the root cause for it.
Keywords: War, space, Space War, Space Race, Cold War, security, USSR, USA, China, India.
The paper was borne on the quest to find the causes and effects of post-truth, which has culminat... more The paper was borne on the quest to find the causes and effects of post-truth, which has culminated into everyday existential insecurity for the general populace. The fabrication of an alternative facts-laden discourse by the politicians, as in post-truth politics, and the media, especially in and of the Information Age, has put the lives of common people under peril. The study has been accentuated and enhanced by the case study of the Dadri lynching incident, in 2015, accompanied with a field trip and a survey based on a questionnaire. A corrective discourse of suggestions, to tackle this menace, concludes the paper.
Taking the conventional cartographic representation of the sub-region, comprising Bhutan, India, ... more Taking the conventional cartographic representation of the sub-region, comprising Bhutan, India, Nepal and China – as the point of departure, the paper – drawing upon an evolved schematic diagram of the said region – proposes the formulation of integration of the said region, based on – its historical and cultural similitudes, geographical proximity and contiguity further facilitated by the two smaller Himalayan nations acting as ‘bridges’, and contemporary geostrategic and geoeconomic requirements. Making use of a theoretically eclectic approach, empirical justifications and turning the usual connotation of politics on its head, the paper intends to validate the argumentation about this posited conception. Concludingly, emanating from the same schematic representation, it offers the proposition as a ‘fissile’ trigger for the concomitant fusion of the entire region, and – thus, acting as a model of integration for the still-frenzied world.
What makes Bhutan unique in a neighbourhood which has seen a multitude of political metamorphoses... more What makes Bhutan unique in a neighbourhood which has seen a multitude of political metamorphoses – peaceful or confrontational? Do the Bhutanese rulers were entranced with the Humanist idea of bringing peace and overall development through established, or – evolved, institutions and processes? Or, whether they were guided by more self-seeking interest? Does Bhutan have some unique inherent traits within its system which define this exceptional behaviour? Do we see manifestations of pluralist voices in this democratic transformation of the concerned state?
This research paper would look into the issues afflicting the Global Governance of Anti-doping in... more This research paper would look into the issues afflicting the Global Governance of Anti-doping in sports, a supposedly altruistic field of humanistic endeavour, thus – creating a perplexing paradox. The theoretical and conceptual frameworks behind the global governance, in general, and anti-doping in sports, in particular – would be discussed to assign the necessity of it in the rapidly-evolving modern world. The historical progress of anti-doping measures, initially, and mechanisms, later, would give us an insight about the empirical journey related to universal governance when it comes to regulating doping in the domain of sports. The case study of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the most visible and concrete manifestation of global governance in sports for checking and obliterating doping, would be analysed to fathom out the pathological reasons behind less-optimum realization of intended goals of WADA, specifically, and global governance of anti-doping in sports, principally – which does give a sense of congruity when one dissects the issue of global governance in any other realm, giving it a common virulent character. The paper would look for remedial measures to overcome the inherent obstacles – including a redefinition of the ‘menace’ of doping itself, in the end.
This paper aims to look into the policy stratagems of two ‘greats’ in the pantheon of distinguish... more This paper aims to look into the policy stratagems of two ‘greats’ in the pantheon of distinguished Indian rulers – Ashoka and Akbar, which were ‘Dhamma’ and ‘Sulh-i-Kul’, respectively. When we think of negotiations and coalitions, most of the times, we tend to ignore their manifestations in history, and, even then – give little weightage to the events, negotiations and policies which happened in the ‘Eastern’ realm. ‘Dhamma’ and ‘Sulh-i-Kul’ were devised, innovatively, to bind the diverse pluralities in harmony and generate order. These novel policies would be discussed under the lenses of – ancient Indian board strategy game of Chess and the existing theoretical frameworks of – negotiation-analysis and coalition-building, leading to a concluding denouement which would highlight their relevance for the policymakers in the modern world.
The paper is intended to visualise the distinct region of South Asia, with its demographic consti... more The paper is intended to visualise the distinct region of South Asia, with its demographic constituents forming an imagined community of sorts, when looked through the lens of cinema, as emanating from this part of the world. Taking off through the theoretical frameworks of – Cinema and Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities, the differentiation would be analysed and marked historically. The signifiers of distinguishment– sovereignty (especially, in the process of nation-making in the post-colonial South Asia) and identity, as visualised in the medium of South Asian Cinema, would be looked into critical detail. The depiction of recent, contemporary themes – which are features of the region – and, thus – help in building the image of a South Asian community and region will, also, be discussed. The denouement will be delivered with an assessment of the subject of the paper.
This paper looks into the issue of the origin of the Modern Olympic Movement through the various ... more This paper looks into the issue of the origin of the Modern Olympic Movement through the various inferences gained by the interpretations of the intentions and actions of its founder – Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Segregated into three distinct sections – with each showing a diverse facet of Coubertin’s personality and his resultant intention, leading to a consequent distinguishable character of the Olympic Games – it is followed, at the very end, by an evaluated deduction of it being true (and, fighting for it) to the noble, establishing motive of – being a medium of interaction across divides.
The paper delves inside the spectacular and meteoric rise of the Karachi Stock Exchange as one of... more The paper delves inside the spectacular and meteoric rise of the Karachi Stock Exchange as one of the best-performing stock markets in the world in recent times, despite its location in one of the most politically unstable, and geostrategically volatile regions of the world. With the review of past and contemporary contextual literature, the reasons – behind the confounding performance – are found to be dynamically interlinked with the measures and actions being undertaken in the realm of Political Economy, at both – the national and the international levels.
The paper proposes to challenge the authoritative conception of a photo essay, itself – as an int... more The paper proposes to challenge the authoritative conception of a photo essay, itself – as an interpretive visual text for the depiction and study of life – in general, and culture – in particular, where the ‘focus’ of the visual is blurred by the inefficacy of – the camera, its produced and constituted image, and the sighted photographer’s relationship with the subject. The unwonted, but – substantial ‘view’, as ‘visualised’ by blind photographers, shows the lacuna in preponderant understanding of detection of culture, giving us a conceptual push to look for, and inside, the ‘other’.
The paper, titled – CONFLICT, EDUCATION, AND YOUTH: THE RELEVANCE OF STUDENT ACTIVISM IN CONTEMPO... more The paper, titled – CONFLICT, EDUCATION, AND YOUTH: THE RELEVANCE OF STUDENT ACTIVISM IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA, takes its roots from the recent skirmishes, in the last two years, between the establishment, governmental plus academic, and the students in India. The debates, this confrontation has generated, are, primarily, situated between – if the students, in the academic space, should limit themselves to Friere’s ‘Banking Concept of Education’, where Eliot’s ‘Hollow Men’ are getting ‘stuffed’, or – should they adhere to the ‘Problem-posing Education’, which makes them interrogate the existing contradictions for a better, progressive world. The paper will look into these two conceptual models of dissemination of education so as to get a better understanding of the knowledge distribution mechanism, best suited for the Indian context, in particular, and the Global South, in general. The process of student activism, as an extension of critical engagement, would be analysed, with the aid of contextual literature review, in its – conceptual, historical, social, and cultural contexts, for gaining insights into the escalating conflict it has turned into recent times, which may have been the resultant of the structural transformations in the domains of – politics, economy, and society, especially post-1991. Interviews with the stake holders – the students, the teachers, the parents, and the establishment – should assist in acquiring the gist of contemporary pervading thoughts for an effective critical perusal. The paper will conclude with the ways to transform this conflict into a better constructive apparatus, with the aid of discernment attained – from the thoughts of thinkers, like Gandhi; (CTPB) discipline’s literature, intervention mechanisms designed by the specific agencies, for the benefit of all its constituents.
This is a book review of the work authored on the origins of the Indian Railways by Bibek Debroy,... more This is a book review of the work authored on the origins of the Indian Railways by Bibek Debroy, Sanjay Chadha, and Vidya Krishnamurthi.
This paper is an inquiry into the perplexing ‘silence’ in the Indian sociopolitical public
spher... more This paper is an inquiry into the perplexing ‘silence’ in the Indian sociopolitical public sphere despite witnessing one of the most severe rural distress, culminating into a crisis, in recent times. Compared to the assertive reactions, leading to even upheavals, in other nations or, even in Indian history, there has been a notable absence of ‘noise and bustle’, a least likely scenario in the world’s largest democracy where there are institutions, mechanisms and spaces to take due cognizance of articulations and reactions. It’s not that there is “no crisis”. In fact, it’s one of the most catastrophic ones in the Indian context – as marked with empirical and field evidences. Taking further the investigation into – the current intricacies of the ‘First Estate’, the government and its policymaking, where the changing political economy, with the immensely embedded impressions of Globalisation and Neoliberal ‘reforms’, has – structurally – squeezed Indian Agriculture out of policy’s focus; the ‘Second Estate’ – consisting of the intermediary community leaders and the Civil Society – which has been morphed and, hence, has been muffled in its response; the ‘Third Estate’ of populace, especially the rising Indian Middle Class, displaying a near absence of social consciousness and empathy, bordering on apathy; and, the dumbing-down of the ‘Fourth Estate’ – the print and the electronic media, and the Popular Culture, there is an evident marginalized public discourse about the rural distress, when all of these were most expected to be the saviours in raising ‘the voice’ or, at the least, ‘Listening Posts’ to it. It seems – there has been an enforced ‘shrinkage’ about the ‘Bhárat’ in political, economic and social Public Spheres, culminating into its ‘invisibility’ in front of a shining ‘New India’, putting the foundational democratic ethos itself in peril. The paper would conclude on a hopeful note about finding a way out by taking inspiration from a recent innovative development in ‘Civil’ Society resistance, and see if it could be a guiding light for a Democracy 2.0 itself, particularly in the context of the Global South.
Coming from the heady days of the 1960s, when Space became the next ‘over-the-sky’ evolutionary f... more Coming from the heady days of the 1960s, when Space became the next ‘over-the-sky’ evolutionary frontier to fight the Cold War, and culminating into the 1980s’ dystopian proposal of the Strategic Defence Initiative, infamously known more as ‘Star Wars’, there was a ‘war/race’ which securitized the more benign space of ‘Space’, imitating – intriguingly - the first two models of Sagan’s on ‘Why do States Build Nuclear Weapons’. But, the end of the Cold War put an end to this frenzied behaviour – as a resultant of the existence of a Unipolar world. After a relative ‘peace’, there has been a recent spate in activities in the realm of space as a consequence of – rise of new emerging powers, changing geostrategic scenarios, developments in technology, integration with globalization, and – even – entry of individual actors, leading to – increasing demands of making space from a zone of contestation to a zone of cooperation, mimicking Sagan’s third model about – norms, identity, and behaviour. The paper would trace the evolution of the ‘conflict’ in space till the end of the Cold War, the apparent relative calm, the renewed vigour, in recent times, for both – ‘contestations’ and ‘cooperation’; and thus – proving that the Space will be, always, an arena of securitization – even after the demise of the Cold War, which – initially – fuelled the confrontation, and was – conventionally – considered the root cause for it.
Keywords: War, space, Space War, Space Race, Cold War, security, USSR, USA, China, India.
The paper was borne on the quest to find the causes and effects of post-truth, which has culminat... more The paper was borne on the quest to find the causes and effects of post-truth, which has culminated into everyday existential insecurity for the general populace. The fabrication of an alternative facts-laden discourse by the politicians, as in post-truth politics, and the media, especially in and of the Information Age, has put the lives of common people under peril. The study has been accentuated and enhanced by the case study of the Dadri lynching incident, in 2015, accompanied with a field trip and a survey based on a questionnaire. A corrective discourse of suggestions, to tackle this menace, concludes the paper.
Taking the conventional cartographic representation of the sub-region, comprising Bhutan, India, ... more Taking the conventional cartographic representation of the sub-region, comprising Bhutan, India, Nepal and China – as the point of departure, the paper – drawing upon an evolved schematic diagram of the said region – proposes the formulation of integration of the said region, based on – its historical and cultural similitudes, geographical proximity and contiguity further facilitated by the two smaller Himalayan nations acting as ‘bridges’, and contemporary geostrategic and geoeconomic requirements. Making use of a theoretically eclectic approach, empirical justifications and turning the usual connotation of politics on its head, the paper intends to validate the argumentation about this posited conception. Concludingly, emanating from the same schematic representation, it offers the proposition as a ‘fissile’ trigger for the concomitant fusion of the entire region, and – thus, acting as a model of integration for the still-frenzied world.
What makes Bhutan unique in a neighbourhood which has seen a multitude of political metamorphoses... more What makes Bhutan unique in a neighbourhood which has seen a multitude of political metamorphoses – peaceful or confrontational? Do the Bhutanese rulers were entranced with the Humanist idea of bringing peace and overall development through established, or – evolved, institutions and processes? Or, whether they were guided by more self-seeking interest? Does Bhutan have some unique inherent traits within its system which define this exceptional behaviour? Do we see manifestations of pluralist voices in this democratic transformation of the concerned state?
This research paper would look into the issues afflicting the Global Governance of Anti-doping in... more This research paper would look into the issues afflicting the Global Governance of Anti-doping in sports, a supposedly altruistic field of humanistic endeavour, thus – creating a perplexing paradox. The theoretical and conceptual frameworks behind the global governance, in general, and anti-doping in sports, in particular – would be discussed to assign the necessity of it in the rapidly-evolving modern world. The historical progress of anti-doping measures, initially, and mechanisms, later, would give us an insight about the empirical journey related to universal governance when it comes to regulating doping in the domain of sports. The case study of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the most visible and concrete manifestation of global governance in sports for checking and obliterating doping, would be analysed to fathom out the pathological reasons behind less-optimum realization of intended goals of WADA, specifically, and global governance of anti-doping in sports, principally – which does give a sense of congruity when one dissects the issue of global governance in any other realm, giving it a common virulent character. The paper would look for remedial measures to overcome the inherent obstacles – including a redefinition of the ‘menace’ of doping itself, in the end.
This paper aims to look into the policy stratagems of two ‘greats’ in the pantheon of distinguish... more This paper aims to look into the policy stratagems of two ‘greats’ in the pantheon of distinguished Indian rulers – Ashoka and Akbar, which were ‘Dhamma’ and ‘Sulh-i-Kul’, respectively. When we think of negotiations and coalitions, most of the times, we tend to ignore their manifestations in history, and, even then – give little weightage to the events, negotiations and policies which happened in the ‘Eastern’ realm. ‘Dhamma’ and ‘Sulh-i-Kul’ were devised, innovatively, to bind the diverse pluralities in harmony and generate order. These novel policies would be discussed under the lenses of – ancient Indian board strategy game of Chess and the existing theoretical frameworks of – negotiation-analysis and coalition-building, leading to a concluding denouement which would highlight their relevance for the policymakers in the modern world.
The paper is intended to visualise the distinct region of South Asia, with its demographic consti... more The paper is intended to visualise the distinct region of South Asia, with its demographic constituents forming an imagined community of sorts, when looked through the lens of cinema, as emanating from this part of the world. Taking off through the theoretical frameworks of – Cinema and Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities, the differentiation would be analysed and marked historically. The signifiers of distinguishment– sovereignty (especially, in the process of nation-making in the post-colonial South Asia) and identity, as visualised in the medium of South Asian Cinema, would be looked into critical detail. The depiction of recent, contemporary themes – which are features of the region – and, thus – help in building the image of a South Asian community and region will, also, be discussed. The denouement will be delivered with an assessment of the subject of the paper.
This paper looks into the issue of the origin of the Modern Olympic Movement through the various ... more This paper looks into the issue of the origin of the Modern Olympic Movement through the various inferences gained by the interpretations of the intentions and actions of its founder – Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Segregated into three distinct sections – with each showing a diverse facet of Coubertin’s personality and his resultant intention, leading to a consequent distinguishable character of the Olympic Games – it is followed, at the very end, by an evaluated deduction of it being true (and, fighting for it) to the noble, establishing motive of – being a medium of interaction across divides.
The paper delves inside the spectacular and meteoric rise of the Karachi Stock Exchange as one of... more The paper delves inside the spectacular and meteoric rise of the Karachi Stock Exchange as one of the best-performing stock markets in the world in recent times, despite its location in one of the most politically unstable, and geostrategically volatile regions of the world. With the review of past and contemporary contextual literature, the reasons – behind the confounding performance – are found to be dynamically interlinked with the measures and actions being undertaken in the realm of Political Economy, at both – the national and the international levels.
The paper proposes to challenge the authoritative conception of a photo essay, itself – as an int... more The paper proposes to challenge the authoritative conception of a photo essay, itself – as an interpretive visual text for the depiction and study of life – in general, and culture – in particular, where the ‘focus’ of the visual is blurred by the inefficacy of – the camera, its produced and constituted image, and the sighted photographer’s relationship with the subject. The unwonted, but – substantial ‘view’, as ‘visualised’ by blind photographers, shows the lacuna in preponderant understanding of detection of culture, giving us a conceptual push to look for, and inside, the ‘other’.
The paper, titled – CONFLICT, EDUCATION, AND YOUTH: THE RELEVANCE OF STUDENT ACTIVISM IN CONTEMPO... more The paper, titled – CONFLICT, EDUCATION, AND YOUTH: THE RELEVANCE OF STUDENT ACTIVISM IN CONTEMPORARY INDIA, takes its roots from the recent skirmishes, in the last two years, between the establishment, governmental plus academic, and the students in India. The debates, this confrontation has generated, are, primarily, situated between – if the students, in the academic space, should limit themselves to Friere’s ‘Banking Concept of Education’, where Eliot’s ‘Hollow Men’ are getting ‘stuffed’, or – should they adhere to the ‘Problem-posing Education’, which makes them interrogate the existing contradictions for a better, progressive world. The paper will look into these two conceptual models of dissemination of education so as to get a better understanding of the knowledge distribution mechanism, best suited for the Indian context, in particular, and the Global South, in general. The process of student activism, as an extension of critical engagement, would be analysed, with the aid of contextual literature review, in its – conceptual, historical, social, and cultural contexts, for gaining insights into the escalating conflict it has turned into recent times, which may have been the resultant of the structural transformations in the domains of – politics, economy, and society, especially post-1991. Interviews with the stake holders – the students, the teachers, the parents, and the establishment – should assist in acquiring the gist of contemporary pervading thoughts for an effective critical perusal. The paper will conclude with the ways to transform this conflict into a better constructive apparatus, with the aid of discernment attained – from the thoughts of thinkers, like Gandhi; (CTPB) discipline’s literature, intervention mechanisms designed by the specific agencies, for the benefit of all its constituents.
This is a book review of the work authored on the origins of the Indian Railways by Bibek Debroy,... more This is a book review of the work authored on the origins of the Indian Railways by Bibek Debroy, Sanjay Chadha, and Vidya Krishnamurthi.
Uploads
Drafts by Anurag Anil
sphere despite witnessing one of the most severe rural distress, culminating into a crisis, in
recent times. Compared to the assertive reactions, leading to even upheavals, in other
nations or, even in Indian history, there has been a notable absence of ‘noise and bustle’, a
least likely scenario in the world’s largest democracy where there are institutions,
mechanisms and spaces to take due cognizance of articulations and reactions. It’s not that
there is “no crisis”. In fact, it’s one of the most catastrophic ones in the Indian context – as
marked with empirical and field evidences. Taking further the investigation into – the
current intricacies of the ‘First Estate’, the government and its policymaking, where the
changing political economy, with the immensely embedded impressions of Globalisation
and Neoliberal ‘reforms’, has – structurally – squeezed Indian Agriculture out of policy’s
focus; the ‘Second Estate’ – consisting of the intermediary community leaders and the Civil
Society – which has been morphed and, hence, has been muffled in its response; the ‘Third
Estate’ of populace, especially the rising Indian Middle Class, displaying a near absence
of social consciousness and empathy, bordering on apathy; and, the dumbing-down of the
‘Fourth Estate’ – the print and the electronic media, and the Popular Culture, there is an
evident marginalized public discourse about the rural distress, when all of these were most
expected to be the saviours in raising ‘the voice’ or, at the least, ‘Listening Posts’ to it. It
seems – there has been an enforced ‘shrinkage’ about the ‘Bhárat’ in political, economic
and social Public Spheres, culminating into its ‘invisibility’ in front of a shining ‘New
India’, putting the foundational democratic ethos itself in peril. The paper would conclude
on a hopeful note about finding a way out by taking inspiration from a recent innovative
development in ‘Civil’ Society resistance, and see if it could be a guiding light for a
Democracy 2.0 itself, particularly in the context of the Global South.
Keywords: War, space, Space War, Space Race, Cold War, security, USSR, USA, China, India.
sphere despite witnessing one of the most severe rural distress, culminating into a crisis, in
recent times. Compared to the assertive reactions, leading to even upheavals, in other
nations or, even in Indian history, there has been a notable absence of ‘noise and bustle’, a
least likely scenario in the world’s largest democracy where there are institutions,
mechanisms and spaces to take due cognizance of articulations and reactions. It’s not that
there is “no crisis”. In fact, it’s one of the most catastrophic ones in the Indian context – as
marked with empirical and field evidences. Taking further the investigation into – the
current intricacies of the ‘First Estate’, the government and its policymaking, where the
changing political economy, with the immensely embedded impressions of Globalisation
and Neoliberal ‘reforms’, has – structurally – squeezed Indian Agriculture out of policy’s
focus; the ‘Second Estate’ – consisting of the intermediary community leaders and the Civil
Society – which has been morphed and, hence, has been muffled in its response; the ‘Third
Estate’ of populace, especially the rising Indian Middle Class, displaying a near absence
of social consciousness and empathy, bordering on apathy; and, the dumbing-down of the
‘Fourth Estate’ – the print and the electronic media, and the Popular Culture, there is an
evident marginalized public discourse about the rural distress, when all of these were most
expected to be the saviours in raising ‘the voice’ or, at the least, ‘Listening Posts’ to it. It
seems – there has been an enforced ‘shrinkage’ about the ‘Bhárat’ in political, economic
and social Public Spheres, culminating into its ‘invisibility’ in front of a shining ‘New
India’, putting the foundational democratic ethos itself in peril. The paper would conclude
on a hopeful note about finding a way out by taking inspiration from a recent innovative
development in ‘Civil’ Society resistance, and see if it could be a guiding light for a
Democracy 2.0 itself, particularly in the context of the Global South.
Keywords: War, space, Space War, Space Race, Cold War, security, USSR, USA, China, India.