Hindu Archives

Is Coronavirus Bringing Out the Worst in Indians?

Yes, coronavirus makes you sick with flu-like symptoms but it also sucks out all the decency out of you. A pandemic that threatens your life as much as it threatens that of others is all it takes for the facade of humanity to slip.

Deepak Gopalakrishnan July 28, 2016

POV

Can We Please Stop Scrutinising Zaira Wasim’s Decision to Quit Bollywood?

Many Twitter intellectuals have condemned Zaira Wasim for citing her religious beliefs to exit Bollywood, while others have blamed her for making Muslims look regressive. But is ganging up against a teenager on social media progressive?

Kahini Iyer July 22, 2016

Culture

Putting the Sab in Sabarimala: The Kerala Temple’s Lesson in Inclusion

The verdict in the Sabarimala hearing is a reminder that Indian religious institutions need to finally end their deep-seated prejudice toward women devotees. Which is why, the Sabarimala judgment isn’t a win – it’s only the start.

Arré Bench July 12, 2016

POV

Science, Spirituality, and the Psychobabble of Sadhguru

It would have been fine if the Sadhguru, aka Jaggi Vasudev, were spreading whatever garden-variety message of peace and brotherhood he wanted to advance. It’s when he dumbsplains science that things begin to get tricky.

Aditya Bhalla July 8, 2016

POV

Family Weddings & Cousins Who Turn Into Prospective Grooms: Why I Don’t Attend Nikaahs

I’ve imposed a ban on attending nikaahs within the family. Being Muslim means that I can marry a cousin. Which means the potential of a “bhaijaan” to morph overnight into a prospective groom is 100 per cent and family weddings turn into a cringey, IRL version of Minder.

Karima Khan July 7, 2016

POV

Zomato Can Guarantee Halal Meat, But it Can’t (and Shouldn’t) Guarantee the Religion of its Delivery Execs

Ensuring food is prepared according to your order is Zomato’s responsibility. Ensuring the delivery driver’s religion meets up with your regressive criteria for whom you will accept food from, is not their responsibility. Got it? Good.

Dushyant Shekhawat July 2, 2016

Pop Culture

Why Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Khilji Let Us Down

In Padmaavat, Alauddin Khilji is reduced to a unidimensional villain. All that the script required, was a Muslim ruler to serve as a vessel into which a depressingly contemporary take on communal relations could be poured.

Dushyant Shekhawat June 26, 2016

Pop Culture

Why Are Quantico-Loving Indians Suddenly Mad with Priyanka Chopra?

A recent episode of Quantico has irked Indians because it dared to imply Hindus are terrorists. Except that, their anger rests less with the show and more with Priyanka Chopra, for not representing India.

Arré Bench June 24, 2016

Bollywood

What Yash Chopra’s Dharmputra Teaches About Calling Out Bigotry

For many anti-CAA protesters, the resistance is also about standing up to the bigotry of family and friends. It’s imperative how Dharmputra, a film made over five decades ago, has an answer for it: call out objectionable views regardless of who holds them.

Pragyan Mohanty June 21, 2016

POV

Ayodhya Verdict: Now is the Best Time for India to Say, “Let Bygones Be Bygones”

The centuries-old Ayodhya dispute has stifled and bolted political discourse in India to the regressive wall of hate and bigotry. It has limited the average citizen’s capacity to disassociate from the politics of religious difference. Secularism had almost turned into a hoax. Saturday’s verdict, however, may change something, if not everything.

Manik Sharma June 6, 2016