From Vaad to Samvaad: What Indian Democracy Must Relearn.

 Democracy thrives on disagreement. Yet disagreement alone does not make a democracy healthy. Indian civilisation understood this distinction long before the emergence of modern democratic institutions. It bequeathed to us two profound ideas: Vaad and Samvaad, central to any healthy democracy.

Vaad is debate—the assertion of competing viewpoints, the right to challenge, criticise and oppose. Samvaad is dialogue—the willingness to listen, engage, persuade and seek common ground despite differences. A healthy democracy requires both. Without Vaad, there is conformity. Without Samvaad, there is only confrontation.

India today appears to have an abundance of Vaad and an alarming deficit of Samvaad.

An ongoing episode offers an interesting lesson and reflection for India. When US President Donald Trump publicly claimed that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “begged” and sought a photograph with him to boost her popularity, Meloni firmly rejected the assertion, declaring that neither she nor Italy would ever beg for such favours. What followed was not merely a clash of personalities on social media but a matter of national dignity. Significantly, all of Meloni’s supporters stood by her statement and, more importantly, many of her political opponents too stood in her support and did not rush to weaponise the controversy for partisan gain. The political class in Italy recognised a larger principle: while governments may change and parties may differ, the honour of the nation belongs to everyone and must be upheld.

What individual leaders’ personal positions on this episode are, or whether the opposition agrees with Meloni’s politics, is beside the point. The episode raises a larger question for democracies everywhere, and more particularly for India. Have we reached a stage where every issue, regardless of its implications for national interest, must be viewed through the prism of partisan one-upmanship?

While the current state of India’s polarised polity often seems to treat political advantage as the ultimate mantra, India’s own democratic journey offers richer historical lessons.

For much of the post-Independence period, Indian politics was characterised by the dominance of a single party. The coalition era that emerged in the 1990s required a different political culture—one built not on command but on consensus. It demanded negotiation, accommodation and mutual respect among parties with vastly different ideologies and aspirations.

It was in this environment that Atal Bihari Vajpayee came into his own. Admired even by many of his political opponents, Vajpayee earned the rare distinction of being regarded as an Ajatshatru—a person without enemies. The term did not imply an absence of political rivals. Rather, it reflected his ability to disagree fiercely without allowing disagreement to become personal hostility.

His political philosophy found expression in a simple but profound observation: “Matbhed ho sakte hain, Manbhed nahin hone chahiye”—differences of opinion are natural, but differences of heart should never be allowed to take root.

 Few statements better capture the spirit of democratic coexistence.

Unfortunately, contemporary politics often appears to have inverted this principle. Differences of opinion have increasingly given way to differences of disposition. Political opponents are frequently portrayed not merely as rivals but as adversaries to be delegitimised. Every statement is interpreted in the worst possible light. Every disagreement becomes a battle. Every compromise is seen as surrender.

The result is an atmosphere of perpetual political warfare.

The consequences extend far beyond electoral politics. They affect the social fabric itself. Citizens increasingly find themselves divided into political tribes. Public discourse becomes polarised. Institutions are viewed through partisan lenses. Trust erodes—not only between parties but among people.

India’s political history, however, offers better examples. When Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao needed India’s position to be articulated effectively on the international stage, he did not hesitate to draw upon the talents of opposition leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Rao understood that national interest sometimes transcends partisan boundaries. Vajpayee, for his part, rose above political differences to represent India’s perspective with distinction. Such episodes reflected confidence, maturity and an understanding that patriotism is not the monopoly of any political formation.

This is not to suggest that the opposition should become compliant or that governments should be shielded from criticism. On the contrary, robust criticism is essential to democratic vitality. But criticism must aim to improve governance rather than merely intensify division. Equally, governments must recognise that electoral mandates confer the responsibility to govern, not the licence to disregard dissent.

Tags : Indian Philosophy, Public Discourse, Vaad vs Samvaad, Cultural Renaissance, Constructive Dialogue, Media Ethics, India, Debate vs Dialog

Image : Courtesy Gemini AI

Jai Hind

 

Alan Turing: A Precious Loss to Prejudice & Social Stigma – India’s Quiet Revolution of Dignity

 

June 7, 2026, marks the 72nd death anniversary of Alan Mathison Turing, the mathematical genius, World War II hero, and a visionary universally regarded as the father of modern computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Turing’s extraordinary intellect helped shape the modern world, which is now inextricably linked to our day today lives. Yet Alan Turing’s life was cut tragically short, at a young age of 41, due to the cruel discrimination and archaic laws that criminalised his homosexuality. 

 

His story must serve as a powerful reminder - and not merely find a historical footnotemention - of the heavy price societies pay when prejudice triumphs over rationality and humanity. As we remember Alan Turing today, in the month of June which happened to be the month of his birth and death (b.23.06.1912 and d.07-06.1954), India’s journey from the colonial-era stigma to a relatively better social inclusion offers hope and underscores the need for continued reform.

 

Born in London on June 23, 1912, Alan Turing was a prodigy whose prophetic ideas transcended his time. His seminal 1936 paper, “On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungsproblem”, introduced the concept of the universal Turing machine. This theoretical foundation laid the groundwork for programmable computers and the algorithms that now power everything from smartphones and servers to advanced AI systems today. During World War II, at the historic Bletchley Park — the very site that hosted the inaugural Global AI Summit in 2023 — Turing led a team that cracked the formidable German Enigma codes using a electromechanical machine, Bombe, which they built. 

 

The success of the Bombe machine helped the British military top officials to advocate that mechanising the code breaking process was highly effective. Historians estimate this the Bombe breakthrough shortened the war and saved millions of lives. Turing’s wartime service was nothing short of heroic. The effectiveness of Bombe in cracking “German Enigma Codes” created an institutional confidence for further funding the war activities in Bletchley Park and to greenlight building automated machines for cracking the German Lorenz Cipher – used in transmitting, strategic military orders at the top level generals. The result was the development of arguably the world’s first programmable electronic computer – Colossus. Notwithstanding his monumental contributions, Turing was not spared of his dignity. 

 

In 1952, British authorities prosecuted Turing for “gross indecency” following a consensual relationship that he had with another man. Faced with the stark choice between prison and chemical castration through hormone treatment, he opted for the latter to preserve his ability to continue his scientific work. The humiliation, loss of security clearance, and unrelentingsocietal stigma proved unbearable for Turing. On that fateful day, June 7, 1954, Turing was found dead from cyanide poisoning, with a half-eaten apple lying beside him. Whether his death was deliberate suicide or accidental poisoning remains debated, but the role of state-sanctioned prejudice is undeniable. That half-eaten apple - lying by his bedside at the time of his death - has since become symbolically linked - perhaps unwittingly - to the iconic Apple Inc’s logo, a poignant memory of both loss and enduring technological inspiration.

 

Turing’s personal connection to India adds a profound layer of resonance. His father, Julius Mathison Turing, served as an Indian Civil Service officer in the Madras Presidency from 1896. His mother, Ethel Sara Turing, was the daughter of Edward Waller Stoney, chief engineer of the Madras Railway Company, who constructed notable infrastructure projects, including the sprawling bungalow “The Gables” in Coonoor in the Nilgiris. Turing’s elder brother, John, was born there, and it is widely believed that Alan himself was conceived in India (then part of the Madras Presidency) before his birth in London while his parents were on leave. Decades later, Nandan Nilekani — co-founder of Infosys and the architect of Aadhaar — purchased that same Coonoor bungalow. The symbolism is striking: from Turing’s foundational contributions to computing to Nilekani’s digital identity revolution that empowered 1.4 billion Indians through the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile), enabling unprecedented financial inclusion and direct benefit transfers.

 

This legacy is vividly alive today, in 2026. India hosted the fourth edition of the Global AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi earlier this year, following the 1st, inaugural event, at Bletchley Park. The Indian AI ecosystem is exploding, with generative AI alone projected to grow at an estimated staggering growth of 42% CAGR, and the broader market expected to reach $126 billion by 2030. From AI-driven crop prediction for farmers and personalised healthcare to climate modelling and India’s strategic security requirements,Turing’s vision is powering India’s digital transformation. Yet the man who first embedded logic into machines that could “think” was himself denied the freedom to live with dignity. Incidentally, in the year 2018, the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai, which I then headed, we had opened a new exhibition “Machined to Think” - on the eve of National Technology Day – in which Turing’s beautifully sculpted Sculpture reminded visitors of his contributions. 

 

The discriminatory laws of the British that hounded Turing also manifested in India as Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. This law criminalised “carnal intercourse against the order of nature.” For generations, this colonial relic, coupled with deep-rooted societal prejudices, silenced LGBTQ+ individuals, shamed divorced women, ostracised those struggling with mental health, and pushed countless young people facing academic or professional failure to the brink of despair. The pervasive fear of “log kya kahenge” (what will people say?) paralysed families and stifled individual liberties. 

 

A historic turning point came on September 6, 2018, when a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India, led by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, unanimously struck down the application of Section 377 to consensual adult same-sex relations. The Times of India captured this historic judgment with its front-page banner: “INDEPENDENCE DAY – II.” In landmark observations, the court described members of the LGBTQ+ community not as aberrations but as natural “variations” of humanity. Senior advocate Dr Menaka Guruswamy, who argued passionately before the court alongside her partner Arundhati Katju, played a pivotal role in this victory.

 

It is heartening to witness India’s quiet revolution of dignity. In April 2026, Dr Guruswamytook oath as a Rajya Sabha MP, becoming the country’s first openly queer parliamentarian — a full-circle moment of justice and visibility. Around the same time, a retired judge in Meerut, Gyanendra Kumar Sharma, welcomed his divorced daughter home with a full band-baaja, garlands, sweets, and matching “I Love My Daughter” T-shirts. He declared that her dignity mattered more than societal gossip. These events are incremental yet transformative sociocultural milestones, signalling a shift from stigma and silence to public acceptance. 

 

As someone who has spent over four decades communicating science through museums and public platforms, I have witnessed first-hand how prejudice masquerading as tradition erodes the scientific temper, humanism, and spirit of inquiry enshrined in Article 51A(h) of the Indian Constitution. Parents of children with mental health challenges still face whispered ostracism. Students who fail exams or drop out are often pushed towards despair. The same social poison that once targeted Turing and generations of LGBTQ+ Indians continues to claim young lives in subtler forms.

 

Turing’s tragic end, abetted by societal prejudice and outdated laws, reminds us of what societies lose when they weaponise morality against difference. His story compels us to reflect on the preventable loss of genius and potential. Yet, the progress we witness today — legal, constitutional, and increasingly social — is slow but heartening. From the 2018 judgment to recent milestones of acceptance, India is slowly embracing a more inclusive ethos.

 

On this solemn anniversary, let us honour Alan Turing not only for his monumental contributions to computing and AI but also for the resilient human being he was. His half-eaten apple symbolises both profound loss and an enduring call to inspiration. We must remember the precious price paid due to discrimination and commit to ensuring no future innovator or citizen faces such barriers.

 

Appreciating the societal changes underway, we must nevertheless solicit and accelerate more. True inclusion requires fuller legal protections in areas such as marriage, adoption, and workplace equality; robust mental health support systems; and everyday acts of empathy that dismantle the lingering “log kya kahenge” mindset. Education, policy reform, and cultural dialogue are essential to nurture a society where every individual — regardless of sexuality, marital status, gender identity, or personal setbacks — can contribute fully without fear.

 

Turing’s legacy, intertwined with India’s digital ambitions and its evolving social landscape, lights the path forward. Let us draw strength from his brilliance and resolve to build a more humane, just, and scientifically tempered future — one where dignity is not a privilege but a fundamental right for all.

Images : Courtesy Wikipedia

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, CNS, and the Promise of Sainik School Bijapur

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and the Promise of Sainik School Bijapur : In the Reflected Glory of an Ajeet: 

Today, as the nation welcomes our fellow Ajeet, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan as the new Chief of the Naval Staff of India, a profound sense of pride sweeps across thousands of us who proudly call ourselves "Ajeets" — the alumni of Sainik School Bijapur.

For India, this is the appointment of a distinguished naval officer as the Chief of the Naval Staff at a time of immense strategic importance in the Indian Ocean and beyond. For Sainik School Bijapur, and its alumni, however, it is profoundly more special. It is history created for our school.

For the first time since the founding of our school in a make shift venue in the premises of the Vijaya College in Bijapur in 1963 that an Ajeet has risen to become the Chief of one of India's Armed Forces.

That single achievement carries within it decades of dreams, discipline, sacrifice and nation-building.

Our school has produced an extraordinary galaxy of military leaders over the years – besides other Ajeets, who have excelled in their own respective areas of professional career. We have seen our alumni rise to become Lieutenant Generals, Vice Admirals, Air Vice Marshals and commanders of some of the most prestigious institutions of the Armed Forces. Our own class buddy of 1977 batch, and a dear friend, Vice Admiral Srikant, went on to become the Commandant of the National Defence College, one of India's foremost institutions of strategic learning. Incidentally, he visited the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai in this official capacity – on our invitation – for opening of a new facility.

Yet, despite this remarkable legacy, we the Ajeets had never before witnessed one of our own reach the very apex of military leadership.

Today that glass ceiling has been broken and hopefully will be the beginning of more to come in the years ahead.

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan's journey itself embodies the vision with which Sainik Schools were established in India. Born into a family of educators and joining the Sainik School Bijapur in 1977 as a young cadet at age 10, he represents the transformative power of an institution that was conceived to identify talent from ordinary Indian families and provide them with extraordinary opportunities to serve the nation. Admiral Krishna, has often acknowledged that the values, discipline and character forged in Sainik School Bijapur laid the foundation for his remarkable career. In fact, he had recently visited the school to motivate young cadets.

Commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1987, Admiral Swaminathan befittingly earned an exceptional career, spanning nearly four decades. A specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare, he commanded some of the Navy's most important fighting platforms, including INS Vidyut, INS Vinash, INS Kulish, INS Mysore and the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. He has also held several critical leadership appointments including Vice Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Personnel, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. He is a also the recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.

Yet what makes this moment particularly special for many of us who know him is not merely the impressive list of appointments or decorations.

It is his humility.

In an age where achievement often comes wrapped in self-promotion, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan remains remarkably humble and grounded. Despite reaching the highest levels of military leadership, he has never hesitated to acknowledge the role of his school, teachers and institutions in shaping him. Every interaction with him leaves one struck not by rank, but by the warmth and his humility.

I have personally experienced that generosity on several occasions.

When he served in Mumbai as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, I had the privilege of hosting some of his distinguished guests at the CSMVS museum. On another memorable occasion, my wife and I had the honour of being invited as his guests at a naval commissioning ceremony of INS Kaundinya, a cherished memory that remains close to our hearts. I also vividly remember meeting him in his office, where despite the weight of responsibility he carried, he received me with extraordinary warmth and grace. The treasured memento he presented during one such meeting remains one of my most cherished possessions.

What I remember even more than these moments, however, is the effortless dignity with which he interacts with people, his fellow Ajeets and his junior colleagues in Navy. There was never any need to remind anyone of his rank; his character spoke far more eloquently than his high rank and uniform.

As I join fellow Ajeets, naval veterans, serving officers and citizens across the country in wishing Admiral Krishna Swaminathan every success in his new responsibility, I must confess that today I too wish to unapologetically bask in a little reflected glory of his achievement which all Ajeets are basking on and talking about in most school group chats.

 Not merely because he is an Ajeet.

 Not merely because he is the first Chief from our school.

 But because his journey validates an idea.

 The idea that inspired the creation of Sainik Schools.

 The idea that talent exists everywhere in India, in the hinterland of the country.

 The idea that leadership can emerge from ordinary homes.

The idea that institutions built on discipline, merit and service to the nation can transform lives and strengthen nations.

 Today, one of those young boys who entered Sainik School Bijapur in 1977 has become the Chief of the Indian Navy.

And through his achievement, he has reminded every young student sitting in a Sainik School classroom anywhere in India or those young boys aspiring to join Sainik Schools, that no dream is too distant.

Congratulations, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and wish you all the very best.

Congratulations, Sainik School Bijapur.

And congratulations to every Ajeet who feels a little taller today.

Today, as I bask in the glory of Admiral Swaminathan’s achievement, permit me to share my blog on Sainik School Bijapur and also two other blog tributes which I pad to our class buddies.

 – Lt Col Ajit Bhandarkar Shaurya Chakra who made supreme sacrifice in service of our motherland.

https://khened.blogspot.com/2019/10/lt-col-ajit-bhandarkar-25-rr-to-brave.html

Vice Admiral Srikant, who most unfortunately passed away during Covid times.

https://khened.blogspot.com/2020/12/eulogy-for-our-school-buddy-and-jewel.html

 Blog on Sainik School Bijapur, and our batch Ajeets, a badge that we all wear with immense pride. A school that helped Ordinary Families Produce Extraordinary Leaders for the Nation.

https://khened.blogspot.com/2020/02/sainik-school-bijapur-nostalgic.html

 Ajeet Hain Abheet Hain

Jai Hind

Images: Video grab pictures courtesy DD and Wikipedia 

 

 

Sony’s Ace Robot, “Machined to Think” and India’s IR4.0 Moment

 

Sony’s Ace Robot, “Machined to Think” and India’s IR4.0 Moment:

Time to Embrace AI with Policy Vision.

The news of Sony AI's Zürich team, led by Peter Dürr, publishing their research paper in Nature (22^nd April 2026) under the title “Outplaying elite table tennis players with an autonomous robot” has hogged global headlines, including in Free Press Journal, which featured it on front page in its Sunday edition, 26 April. Sony’s Table Tennis playing Robot, called the Ace, is the first robot to attain expert-level performance in a competitive physical sport, “one that requires rapid ‌decisions and precision execution by employing high-speed perception, AI-based control and a state-of-the-art robotic system”.

In official matches judged by the Japanese Table Tennis Association, Ace won three out of five matches against top university players and held its own against professionals. Experts call it a “ChatGPT moment” for physical AI - the moment machines entered the realm of split-second reflexes and high-precision interaction, once thought uniquely human.

Ace robot’s breakthrough, coming just after Dr. T.B. Yuvaraja, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, performing the remote surgery from India (7April 2026), while the patient was stationed hundreds of miles away, reminds me of an exhibition “Machined to Think” at Mumbai’s Nehru Science Centre (NSC), an exhibition which we opened in May, 2018. The surgery performed by Dr Yuvaraja was India’s first-ever cross-border remote robotic surgery, which resulted in the successful robotic kidney removal on a 55-year-old patient in Muscat, Oman, diagnosed with cancer. 

At the Nehru Science Centre, the Machined to Think exhibition which we had developed presented robots, AI, and automation not as distant science fiction but as evolving realities that would augment human capability. Today, I see a sense of nostalgia when we see Ace robot and remote robotic surgery making news. 

The NSC exhibition, inaugurated by Dr Anil Kakodkar on 9 May 2018, included aspects of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) - Internet of Things, 3d printing, digital world, robotics, virtual reality, synthetic biology etc. It featured immersive experiences: visitors transported via Virtual Reality to the Antarctic among polar bears and penguins, brainwave-controlled drones, robots, augmented reality, and more. These were early windows into disruptive technologies that Klaus Schwab of the World Economic Forum popularised as the Fourth Industrial Revolution – IR4.0

India which missed the first three Industrial Revolutions can ill afford to miss the IR4.0. As a science communicator, I have long argued that we must not shy away from technological change but embrace it responsibly harvesting its societal benefits. Indian history offers powerful proof. In the 1970s and 80s, the introduction of computers in banks faced fierce resistance; unions feared job losses and observed “anti-computerisation” periods. Today, the same banking community would strike if anyone tried to remove computerised systems. Digital banking, ATMs, and UPI have transformed finance into an efficient, inclusive service.

The JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar, and Mobile) provides an even stronger recent example. Powered by this digital infrastructure, Direct Benefit Transfer has transformed social deliveries - plugging leakages, eliminating ghost accounts, and removing intermediaries - benefiting hundreds of millions, especially women and rural households, proving technology can be a great enabler when deployed thoughtfully.

Sony’s Ace signals a deeper shift: AI is now conquering high-precision, reflex-driven domains — manufacturing, logistics, healthcare assistance, and precision services. This augurs well for India which has a significant exposure particularly in IT and IT enabled services including skilled AI talent whose demand is growing rapidly in hubs like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and many other cities across India. India must prepare itself in proactively embracing this new norm of AI.

The world has seen technological disruptions before. Sony itself revolutionised personal music with the Walkman, only to be disrupted by Apple’s iPod. Nokia and Motorola dominated mobiles until the iPhone redefined the industry. Kodak invented the digital camera yet clung to film rolls and printed photos, filing for bankruptcy in 2012. The lesson is clear: technologies we create can disrupt the industries that birthed them. Resistance leads to irrelevance.

In 2003, while publishing an article on BT Cotton: Prospects and Concerns, I quoted Prince Charles’s reservations on BT technology alongside a paraphrase from Jonathan Swift in Gulliver’s Travels: science and technology deserve support when they help “grow two kernels of corn or two blades of grass where only one grew before.” This spirit should guide our approach to AI - judging it by its capacity to multiply productivity in healthcare, agriculture, education, and climate solutions.

India, with nearly 60 per cent of its population in rural areas dependent on agriculture, stands to gain immensely from IR4.0, which offers opportunities for accelerated productivity, better service delivery, and human-machine collaboration, provided we prepare.

The path forward demands proactive policy leadership. India’s planners and government must immediately recognise that AI will permeate every field. A robust national response is essential, including a comprehensive AI legislation framework that balances innovation with safeguards on data privacy, algorithmic bias, accountability, deepfakes, and misuse. India would need a National Skilling and Reskilling Mission, which can scale up training programmes to equip the workforce with AI-complementary skills - creativity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and AI oversight - while providing targeted transition support for vulnerable segments.

Simultaneously, we will need sector-specific guidelines and institutions that can strengthen bodies like an AI Safety Institute and sector regulators for healthcare, manufacturing, education, and agriculture to set ethical standards and monitor high-risk applications. We will need governance with principles of transparency, fairness, and public welfare so that AI and its applications augment rather than displace human potential, especially in employment-intensive sectors.

In conclusion, technology is not to be feared but harnessed for the welfare of people. Policymakers must act decisively - frame forward-looking regulations, investing in human capital, and fostering responsible innovation - so that India leads rather than reacts. Those who shy away risk the Kodak fate. Let us instead choose to grow more “blades of grass,” creating an ecosystem where “machined to think” technologies serve society, jobs evolve, and every citizen thrives.

Images : Courtesy Nehru Science Centre, Wikipaedia, Kokilaben Ambani Hospital and Sony

Basava Jayanti: Message for a Fractured Indian Polity.

On Basava Jayanti, a call to move beyond caste arithmetic to rediscover the egalitarian traditions professed and practised by Basavanna

In India, we often celebrate our social reformers in ritualistic fashion, but rarely contemplate practicing the transformative ideas they championed. One such social reformer who we remember on his Jayanti (birthday) is Basaveshvara. 

Today, 20 April, we commemorate Basava Jayanti, the birth of the 12th-century philosopher, social reformer, thinker, poet, philosopher and a saint, Bhagwan, Basaveshwara, also referred to as Basavanna. He was born on Vaishaka Shudda Tritiya, Rohini Nakshatra in 1931 CE, in the present-day state of Karnataka. Basava Jayanti, celebrated across Karnataka, and in the bordering states and so also across the nation and internationally by the followers of Basavanna, demands more than ceremonial homage. It calls for a deeper reflection on how his revolutionary vision of an egalitarian society stands in stark contrast to the increasingly caste-fragmented political discourse of contemporary, “secular India”.

Basava Jayanti, this year comes amid developments that once again highlight the fissures within our polity. The Parliament witnessed the defeat of a proposed Constitution Amendment Bill on the Women’s Reservation, post an acrimonious and sharp political exchanges in the Parliament. The Prime Minister addressed the nation through Doordarshan, offering apologies for the failure to pass the legislation, even as the opposition accused him of misusing a public broadcaster for political messaging in the midst of elections. This episode, irrespective of partisan interpretations, underlines a deeper truth: the secular democracy in India often operates more in letter than in spirit. 

It is precisely in such moments that the philosophical legacy of Basavanna and the deliberative model of the “Anubhava Mantapa” acquire renewed relevance. Basavanna emerged in an era when rigid caste hierarchies dominated social and religious life. His response was a transformative egalitarian social movement rooted in equality, dignity of labour, and universal humanism. The Anubhava Mantapa, an assembly of mystics, philosophers, and social thinkers drawn from all sections of society—women and men, Brahmins and Dalits, artisans and scholars, cutting across caste, creed, gender and religion — was used as a Parliament like platform to deliberate freely on spiritual, social, and economic issues. Anubhava Mantapa therefore, has rightly been described as one of the earliest forums of participatory democracy, where individuals transcended caste identity to engage as equals and its existence was brought to international notice by PM Modi, who talked about it extensively including during the opening of the New Parliament.

Today, when we see a highly fractured polity in India with each accusing the other of divisive politics, antagonistic to the secular ethos of our country - cultivating a social ethos that transcend divisions of caste, creed, and community - Basavanna’s 12th-century experiment become remarkable.  In essence, Basavanna created a participatory forum rooted in equality and dialogue, a democratic tradition far ahead of its time.

Yet, centuries later, India’s public discourse appears to move in the opposite direction. Elections - whether parliamentary, state, or even local - are increasingly analysed by all concerned stakeholders of our democracy through the prism of religion and caste arithmetic. The 24×7 media ecosystem, with its endless panels and so called “data-driven” commentary, routinely dissects the electorate into caste blocs. Citizens are treated not as individuals with aspirations but as homogeneous groups presumed to vote according to inherited identities. Analysts confidently predict which caste will support which party, how sub-castes will shift loyalties, and what numerical combinations might secure victory. Who gets to sit on the CM Chair and how is that decision influenced by the caste and many more. Such discourse does not merely interpret society; it shapes it leading to the fissures in the society.

Through the 24x7 news coverage of politics in India, by innumerable news channels, the citizens are repeatedly told that their primary identity is caste. This messaging egged by its hyper-amplification by the political class and such other vested interest groups, democracy risks being reduced to demographic bookkeeping.

The language itself betrays the distortion: instead of citizens casting their vote, commentary implies that castes “vote” collectively, perhaps a harsh reality. But then this subtle but significant shift transforms individuals into categories. In the guise of sophisticated analysis, society is encouraged to view itself through narrow lenses, reinforcing divisions that reformers like Basavanna perspired to dismantle.

The consequences are far-reaching. A polity that constantly emphasises caste divisions risks creating ghettos of identity. Communities begin to see themselves as competing blocs rather than participants in a shared democratic project. Political actors, in turn, find incentives to mobilise along these lines, deepening the fractures. The result is a cycle where social divisions feed political strategies, and political strategies further entrench social divisions.

History offers a sobering lesson. India’s long experience of foreign rule—particularly under colonial powers—was facilitated by internal divisions. The British, with relatively small numbers, governed a vast and diverse population partly by exploiting differences of caste, religion, and region. Communities were pitted against one another, weakening collective resistance. While contemporary India is vastly different, the persistent emphasis on identity-based divisions raises uncomfortable echoes. A society fractured along narrow lines becomes vulnerable—not necessarily to external rule, but to internal discord and weakened democratic cohesion, which shows up if we see it dispassionately.

It is in this context that Basavanna’s message becomes extraordinarily relevant. He rejected caste hierarchy outright, asserting that human worth cannot be determined by birth. His concept of “Kayaka” emphasised dignity of labour, dissolving occupational hierarchies. “Dasoha” promoted sharing and social responsibility, fostering solidarity. Most importantly, the Anubhava Mantapa created a lived experience of equality, where dialogue replaced division. Basavanna did not merely preach unity; he institutionalised it.

Today as we celebrate Basava Jayanti while navigating the West Asia crisis, let us draw inspiration from Basavanna’s vision of a just and equitable society. As we honour Basavanna, may I request those who are interested in a deeper understanding of the life and works of Basavanna, to read my blog post from 2021, which delves deeper into Basavanna’s life and legacy:

https://khened.blogspot.com/2020/04/basava-jayanti-birth-anniversary-of.html

Happy Basava Jayanti

A Jayanti Tribute to Dr. Ambedkar – Reminiscing Cricket and Politics

 

A Jayanti Tribute to Dr. Ambedkar – Reminiscing Cricket and Politics

Every year on 14 April, we commemorate and remember two legends – both Bharat Ratna awardees – Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Sir M Visvesvaraya. The former, chief architect of our Constitution and one of the most transformative social reformers in modern Indian history, was born on this day in 1891 and the later, a legendary engineer and nation builder, passed away in this day in 1962 in Bangalore.

In a tribute I had written earlier on my blog (https://khened.blogspot.com/2023/04/tribute-to-dr-bhimrao-ramji-ambedkar.html) I had recalled how Ambedkar’s journey began amid severe social discrimination. Born on 14 April 1891 in Mhow into a family considered “untouchable,” Dr Ambedkar encountered exclusion from childhood — segregated seating in classrooms, denial of water, and social humiliation. These experiences, as I had noted in my blog, forged in him a “steely grit” that shaped his lifelong struggle against caste discrimination and for equal rights.

Despite these adversities, Ambedkar rose through education — from Elphinstone College to Columbia University and the London School of Economics — eventually becoming a scholar, lawyer, and reformer who reshaped India’s social and constitutional landscape. His intellectual contributions culminated in drafting a Constitution that promised equality, dignity, and justice to all citizens.

Today as we celebrate Dr Ambedkar’s Jayanti during a season when elections dominate headlines and the Indian Premier League captures national imagination, it is worth reflecting on a lesser-discussed irony: the architect of India’s democratic framework himself faced back to back electoral defeats, often shaped by the rough and tumble of political rivalries and the politicking that gets played out in politics.

Beneath the grand statues and floral tributes that are offered to Dr Ambedkar on his Jayanti, all across the nation, lies a narrative of profound irony—a story of a man who could craft the foundational document of the world’s largest democracy but ironically, could not secure a seat in its inaugural Parliament. The story becomes particularly interesting when viewed through the lens of cricket.

Pre-independence Bombay cricket, especially the Quadrangular and Pentangular tournaments, produced legendary figures like Palwankar Baloo. A Dalit cricketer who rose to prominence in an era of entrenched caste divisions, Baloo became a symbol of social mobility and excellence. His exploits were not merely sporting achievements; they challenged caste hierarchies in public life. The celebrated book by Ramachandra Guha, A Corner of a Foreign Field, recounts how Baloo and his brothers transformed cricket into a stage for social assertion.

Ambedkar admired such figures. He believed that showcasing role models from marginalized communities could inspire collective upliftment. It is said that Dr Ambedkar prepared Marathi booklets highlighting contributions of prominent Dalit achievers — including Baloo — to create awareness and pride within the community. However, politics often turns admiration into rivalry.

During the 1937 provincial elections under the Government of India Act 1935, Palvankar Baloo was pitted against Dr Ambedkar in the Bombay Presidency. The contest symbolised more than an electoral battle; it reflected ideological divisions and strategic calculations. Fortunately, Ambedkar won, but narrowly — a result that revealed how even icons belonging to the same community, could be drawn into competitive political narratives. This electoral contest between Baloo - a Gandhian and also the man who supported Gandhi on his Pune pact against Ambedkar who was its staunch opponent -  and Ambedkar, has often been interpreted as an attempt by Congress leaders, including those aligned with Mahatma Gandhi, to counter Ambedkar’s influence by supporting another respected Dalit leader. Whether this was direct intervention or broader party strategy remains debated, but the bitterness of politicking was unmistakable.

It must be recalled that the Poona Pact of 1932, forced by Gandhi's fast-to-the-death, had denied Dalit’s separate electorate, ensuring they would always be dependent on the majority (often Congress-leaning) vote to win. Incidentally Baloo, besides Nehru and others in the Congress had convinced a reluctant Ambedkar to give in to accept the Pune Pact. Independent India did not soften these realities and political rivalries.

The irony reached its zenith during the first General Elections in 1952. Ambedkar, having resigned from Nehru’s cabinet over the stalling of the Hindu Code Bill, contested from the Bombay North Central constituency (reserved). It should have been a walkover for a man of his stature. However, the political machinery of the Congress, led by Jawaharlal Nehru and steered locally by the formidable S.K. Patil, had other plans. Their main aim was to defeat Ambedkar to reduce his stature.

The Congress, therefore, deployed a two-pronged strategy that leveraged both personal loyalty and community sentiment. They fielded Narayan Sadoba Kajrolkar - Ambedkar’s former personal assistant - as their primary candidate. But the masterstroke (or the "cruellest decision”, depending on your perspective) was the involvement of Palwankar Baloo. By then, the legendary cricketer had joined the Congress. While Kajrolkar was the official opponent, Baloo’s presence in the Congress camp and his campaigning against Ambedkar created a fractured mandate within the very Dalit vote bank Ambedkar had painstakingly built. The man Ambedkar had once championed as a role model was now a “tool” in the hands of the establishment used to ensure his electoral defeat.  

Despite his towering stature, Ambedkar lost to his former assistant. Many political analysts have suggested that the Congress organisation, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, mobilised strongly against him after ideological differences emerged following his resignation from the Cabinet. The defeat was symbolic — a reminder that electoral success often depends as much on organisational strength as on intellectual authority.

Ambedkar tried again in the 1954 Bhandara by-election, but was defeated once more, finishing third. These setbacks highlight a paradox: the man who empowered millions politically struggled within electoral arithmetic himself. It underscores an enduring truth — politics, like cricket, is a game of strategy, alliances, and sometimes unpredictable pitches.

The cricketing analogy is compelling. Even the greatest batsman can be undone by a difficult wicket or a clever field placement. This was seen in yesterday’s IPL match where the dashing youngster – Vaibhav Suryavanshi - was out for a duck. Similarly, Ambedkar’s political innings unfolded on a pitch shaped by ideological divisions, organisational rivalries, and shifting loyalties. The rivalry of Dr Ambedkar with Baloo in 1937, the contest against Congress candidates in 1952, and the defeat in 1954 all reveal how democratic competition can be intensely personal and strategically driven.

Yet, Ambedkar’s legacy transcends electoral wins and losses. As I had emphasized in my earlier tribute, his greatest contribution was the Constitution — framed after nearly three years of deliberation, providing equal rights and opportunities to all citizens. Ambedkar ensured that democracy would not merely be a political arrangement but a social revolution. Reservations, fundamental rights, and constitutional safeguards for marginalized communities all bear his imprint.

In cricket, players are ultimately remembered not for a single innings but for their overall contribution to the game. Similarly, Ambedkar’s stature lies not in electoral outcomes but in institutional transformation. His defeats did not diminish his achievements; rather, they humanized him, showing that even giants must navigate the rough edges of democratic politics.

Today, as election campaigns intensify and IPL matches dominate conversations, Ambedkar’s life offers a timely reminder. Rivalries may emerge even among admirers. Political strategies may override shared goals. But the true measure of leadership lies in enduring ideas and societal impact.

Ambedkar’s innings, unlike many political careers, was not defined by the scoreboard. He changed the rules of the game itself. If politics occasionally dealt him a difficult pitch, he responded by building institutions that ensured fairness for generations.

That is why, on his Jayanti, the most fitting tribute is not merely to recall his victories but to acknowledge the challenges he faced — including the bitterness of politicking — and to recognize that his legacy rose above them. Like a legendary cricketer who transforms the sport, Ambedkar transformed Indian democracy. 

The match may have seen setbacks, but the series belongs to him — and to the nation he helped reshape.

Long Live Dr BR Ambedkar.

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