Politeia

In India since childhood, we are taught, to the extent that it borders on indoctrination, that India is a country that exemplifies unity in diversity, especially religious diversity. India is a nation of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jews, Parsis, Buddhists and other religions, we are told. But in reality, though these religions live in India they dislike each other, and naturally. The Pew Research Survey rightly puts it- ‘Indians value religious tolerance, though they also live religiously segregated lives’. Many have claimed that India accepts other religions and not just tolerates them. This claim is absolutely untrue given the fundamental nature of religions. All religions are exclusionary, not inclusive.  Christians pray to Jesus, Muslims pray to Allah. Hinduism on the other hand is so fragmented that there is no way to pinpoint one principle that applies to all factions of Hindus, except the caste system. Jews, Buddhists and Jains also have their own beliefs. The diver...

Science and technology have proliferated every corner of our lives. The device you are using to read this article would be considered magic by the people of the early twentieth century. Science and technology gave us a vaccine within one year that is now saving millions of people. Most people in the world will not deny the utility of science and how it has improved human lives. Unfortunately, in the modern scientific age, one sees astrology sections even in reputed newspaper websites such as The Times of India and The Indian Express. Vogue has an article titled- ‘13 astrologers you need to follow on Instagram now’. While astrology was popular among middle-aged and older people in India, the pandemic induced uncertainty and job loss have attracted young adults to astrology, says a report . Thousands of people are shelling out a lot of money to get a peek into their future over phone calls with astrologers. The tragedy is that the GenZ and millennials who glorify science and technol...

2020 was a year of uncertainty. Uncertainty was looming over every aspect of our lives. The healthcare institutions were uncertain about the protocols, the economy was crashing due to uncertainty, educational institutions were scheduling, postponing and cancelling examinations, and it was also uncertain if a person infected with the virus will come out of the hospital alive. If I were to use one word to describe 2020, it will be- uncertainty.   However, 2021 is different. Uncertainty is abating with every passing month. The cause for the receding uncertainty in the economy, medical science, college and school schedules, and governance, in general, is primarily (if not only) because of vaccines. Even though India saw one of the worst impacts of COVID-19 in the months of April-May, faster vaccination was the only long term hope to get out of the dreadful COVID-19 situation.  When WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public emergency of international concern in January ...

Every time PETA tweets about choosing a vegan alternative, there is a backlash. Most of the criticisms against PETA are with regard to its political inclination and intention. Recently, PETA urged Amul to go vegan and produce vegan milk and milk products. For a few days, PETA and Amul were trending on Twitter. Most of the tweets we attacking PETA's intention to destroy the Indian dairy sector and Indian society's basic fabric.  Similarly, there is backlash when someone suggests that goats must not be slaughtered for Eid. And with the Indian society's heavy reliance on dairy products, it has become a moral crime to even utter anything in support of the animals being tortured in these industries.  What is even more grave is the meat industry. In the 21st century, where even the rights of unborn human beings are talked about, some non-human living beings are slaughtered for mostly taste. There are several arguments FOR non-vegetarianism put forth by non-vegetarians. And I wi...

  Winning the War of Ideas Wars are not always fought at national borders with guns and grenades. Many are fought with pen and paper by citizens, politicians, intellectuals and writers. These wars might not be wars in the ordinary meaning of the word. But these are equally important, if not more than the wars soldiers fight at the border. This is the war of ideas. Cold War was not just a war between the USA and USSR for military supremacy; it was also a war between the ideals of democracy and single-party authoritarianism; free market and closed economy; capitalism and socialism. The Indian independence movement was not just a struggle against colonialism; it was also a struggle for establishing the supremacy of freedom, self-determination, and democracy. Unfortunately, the factors that led human civilization towards development and progress are under threat and suspicion in today’s time- the values of rationality, scientific thinking, freedom of speech and appreciation of ...

  A LETTER TO MY FELLOW ATHEISTS   Dear Fellow Atheists, In every discussion on right to religion and religious freedom, atheists are often disregarded and through this letter, I express why atheists must be vocal about their beliefs. If we do not speak for ourselves, no one else will. Being an atheist is not just about not believing in God. Atheism is a result of a thought process and not a blind belief. However, with the scientific and logical approach to ideologies and beliefs, one is confronted with several moral, political and social dilemma. In order to address some of these issues, I write this letter to you.   The corona crisis Last year, 2020, was a tough year for every human being because of COVID-19. While many sought comfort in God and religion, we, atheists, turned towards science and technology. While many considered COVID-19 to be part of God’s plan, we considered it to be one of the worst health crises this generation has faced yet and awaite...