Articles by: Suraj Kumar Thube

The farcical benefits of simultaneous elections

The farcical benefits of simultaneous elections

                                    After Amit Shah reiterating his position on the need for simultaneous elections, it was Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat’s turn to voice his opinion on the same. He said at most eight states can vote with Lok Sabha, given our logistical issues and emphasised as to how it is possible if all the parties agree to  it. It is[Read More…]

by 17/08/2018 Comments are Disabled India
The contingent mysticism of Art

The contingent mysticism of Art

Carl Schmitt, renowned for his wide ranging critique of liberalism, once famously said,” All true politics is based on the distinction between a friend and an enemy.” Explicating his concept of the ‘political’, Schmitt further argues that it is not possible to analyse a thing from a non-political or a post-political prism. He uses the friend-enemy binary to underline this[Read More…]

by 14/06/2018 1 comment Arts/Literature
A Neoliberal Earthquake

A Neoliberal Earthquake

 As the BJP dipped below hundred seats in the recently concluded election in Gujarat, it was nervousness and not a sense of triumph that absorbed the party supporters at large. The word ‘vikas’ was wilfully abandoned during the campaigns and ‘Gujarat model’ was convincingly voted out in rural Gujarat.  A lot has been rightly said about the glaring limitations of[Read More…]

by 12/01/2018 1 comment Book Review
New Delhi : A participant shows a placard during a silent protest "Not in My Name" against the targeted lynching, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday. PTI Photo by Shahbaz Khan(PTI6_28_2017_000215B)

Indian Middle Class : A Breed Of Cringeworthy Platitudes

“We condemn the killing of Gauri Lankesh.” “Culprits will be taken under arrest.” ” They will not be spared.”  “Justice will be served”. Welcome to the world of Indian platitudes. A place where public life merrily wallows in a framework  of banal statements. There is no element of this public life left wherein the forces of subterfuge couched in a[Read More…]

by 16/12/2017 1 comment India
Cultural  Shadows Of The Political Army

Cultural  Shadows Of The Political Army

Hate speech, lynching, mob violence, ransacking public property etcetera have become a part and parcel of our daily lives. The right wing cultural brigade of the Sangh Parivar increasingly finds itself at the very centre of all such episodes. At the same time, there is little clarity among people about who exactly does the “dirty work” for a particular party[Read More…]

by 11/07/2017 1 comment Book Review
The News Demonetisation Devoured

The News Demonetisation Devoured

One month after the demonetization decision, things have become more complicated and messy. The Aam Aadmi who was suppose to benefit from it still finds herself bemused in all walks of life. Whether the move has any long term benefits is something that is fiercely getting debated. At the same time, the average Indian news consumer has also been infantilized[Read More…]

by 10/12/2016 1 comment India
Photo by matrianklw

Virtues Of Being An Informed Ignorant! 

   ” Success ke piche mat bhago…excellence…excellence ka picha karo…success jhak maarke tumhare pass ayegi..”  – Amir Khan, 3 Idiots. At a time when catastrophic events are happening around us, be it the  jaw-dropping victory of Donald Trump or the ongoing chaos in India after the demonetization episode, why did I stumble upon this ‘success-excellence’ thought now? With the refugee[Read More…]

by 29/11/2016 1 comment Life/Philosophy
Thinking Is A Responsibility

Thinking Is A Responsibility

                        We all constantly hear the lament of how our education system is in a mess. Education today is no more about exploring new ideas, seeking multiple forms of knowledge and an eagerness to get introduced to hitherto unknown terrains of intellectual wealth. Job security precludes the possibility of[Read More…]

by 28/10/2016 1 comment Life/Philosophy
Rethinking Gandhi

Rethinking Gandhi

                          October 2,  like all public holidays, is cherished as a token appreciation for the reason behind the holiday. Can we try and make a modest effort to move beyond this ennui of arrogance for understanding Gandhi, the phenomenon? What does Gandhi mean for us in the 21st[Read More…]

by 03/10/2016 1 comment Life/Philosophy
Questioning The Urban, Mainstream Perception Of Kashmir

Questioning The Urban, Mainstream Perception Of Kashmir

The Kashmir unrest refuses to show any signs of decline. Innocent Kashmiris are getting caught unawares to the incessant sprinkling of pellets toward them. The hyper patriot news channels look all but certain to mobilize people to attack the numero uno rogue State of South Asia. And in response, the equally genuflecting audience for this baying-for-the-others-blood journalism is gearing up[Read More…]

by 08/08/2016 1 comment Kashmir
Kashmir: An Impasse In Collective Conscience

Kashmir: An Impasse In Collective Conscience

               One more uprising in the Kashmir valley, one more scenario where people suddenly realize the gravity of the issue is here. The political ferment is ubiquitous, the ham handed approach of the State is self evident and the multiple local stakeholders have found themselves in a state of profound chaos and bewilderment. The[Read More…]

by 15/07/2016 1 comment Kashmir
Euro Cup Final: A Neutral Point Of Happiness.

Euro Cup Final: A Neutral Point Of Happiness.

 ” I go about the world, hand out-stretched, and in the stadium I plead : ‘ A pretty move, for the love of God.’ And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”  –  Eduardo Galeano. Watching as a neutral spectator, this is exactly what I[Read More…]

by 13/07/2016 Comments are Disabled Life/Philosophy
 Knowledge Through Entertainment

 Knowledge Through Entertainment

    Knowledge is empowering. It is enriching. It keeps you aware, makes one conversant with issues and broadens your horizon in a rapidly changing world. Seen through a traditional framework, it is normally seen as something that gets imparted through the written words. Oral communication has had its vital share in broadening the horizons of knowledge as seen in[Read More…]

by 29/06/2016 Comments are Disabled Life/Philosophy
The Political Rationale Behind Terrorist Activities

The Political Rationale Behind Terrorist Activities

 The recent “lone wolf” attack at a gay night club in Orlando which saw 50 people being brutally killed  has sent shock waves across the globe. The incident has rightly been condemned from politicians to ordinary people in no uncertain terms. However, the outpouring of condolence has seen a parallel political development that was quick to point fingers on how[Read More…]

by 21/06/2016 1 comment World
The New Middle East :The World After The Arab Spring

The New Middle East :The World After The Arab Spring

The advent of the Arab Spring marked a cataclysmic shift in the way Middle East was perceived across the globe. The Arabs living in the complex countries of this region suddenly saw their hitherto dormant lives brimming with new hopes and aspirations. Chaos, mayhem and bloodshed on an unimaginable scale had seen four dictators being ruthlessly toppled from their seat[Read More…]

by 18/06/2016 Comments are Disabled Book Review
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