Suspension of MPs is Political Monotheism

‘Suspension of MPs is Political Monotheism, the Making of a Majoritarian State’

Neshat Quaiser from the Centre de Sciences Humaines (CSH Delhi) says the incumbent regime is trying to establish legitimacy of a majoritarian state. His views:

Deeply disturbing suspension of 146 MPs is just a surface manifestation which is otherwise reflection of a much deeper malady and requires a dispassionate discourse. Immediate cause may be to divert attention from the real or perceived near demolition of the myth of a seemingly invincible supremacist present ruling dispensation after the intrusion of the two youths even inside the Indian Parliament, unlike the 2001 Parliament attack. 

The conditions of the production of what is happening around relate to the Political Monotheism and the emergence of a designed politico-religiously propelled majoritarian state, unsure though from within, supported by the related social forces beneath the surface.

The ideology of the political monotheism and the newly emerging state, which is never neutral guided by the Constitutional ethos despite its claim to be so, acquire ontological centrality to explain the present India society and polity.

The idea of the political monotheism was first conceptualised during the Tahrir Square movement to outline the shift taking place within the Islamist thinking that I characterised as being based on the ideology of political monotheism. This led me to write an essay entitled “From Political Islam to Political Muslim: Questions of Citizenship and Pluralist Turn” first in 2015.  

The concept of the political monotheism is equally applicable to the ideology of Hindutva the mirror image of Islamism.  Political monotheism signifies epistemological absolutism of an exclusivist politico-religious-theological hegemony and domination to establish a religiously majoritarian unitary state. Mono-vocality constitutes its hegemonic foundational mechanism as opposed to dialogical processes. In order to shift the focus from the extremely undesirable everyday social existence of the majority of Shudra-Dalit disenfranchised population and the vulnerable high caste middle classes in a state of unstable and egregious socio-economic material conditions, Hindutva political monotheism, with its myriad manifestation, is propelled through brazenly masculine populist authoritarianism to legitimise and normalise the Hindutva ideological apparatuses, in order to instil in them a sense of belongingness to an otherwise antithetical unitary Hindu state. And to appeal the popular imagination of the majority and of the religiously dispersed Hindu population and to produce homogeneousness through explicit or implicit coercion in them, the project of Hindutva political monotheism employs the ideology of scapegoatism and emerges as the sole triumphal avenger of the injustices and oppression perpetrated on ‘Hindus’ by the foreign ‘invaders’ in the past which is responsible for the present plights of the ‘Hindus’ and the destruction of the Hindu Golden Past. 

A Hindutva propelled politically monotheistic majoritarian state, thus, by definition has the political project to ‘govern’ people and institutions for its own sustenance, continuation and survival. However, this all-powerful, seemingly invincible state is never sure of the logic of its own existence, as a result, it continuously must engage in such demonstrable acts – such as lynching of Muslims and enacting laws to suppress the voices of opposition – whereby it is seen as the ‘sole avenger’ not only to make the governed fall in line, but also assure itself of the legitimacy of the logic of its existence. Thus, the ideology of political monotheism and politically monotheistic state ultimately “petrify the true meanings of the subjugated free through the mechanism of choreographic occultatation” in order to produce a petrified post-colonial Hindutva subject.

Thus ‘governing’, controlling and gagging the media in all forms is also linked directly with the notion of governance of a politically monotheistic state, which is never neutral guided by the Constitutional ethos despite its claim to be so. Thus, controlling of media is all about the question of establishing legitimacy of what is not legitimate, as the state is not viewed as the redeemer of its people. And much of the corporatised media today, in one or another way, is aligned with the ruling establishment and the ideologies that support it.  However, there are media which would not like to fall in line. So, the state in fact thoroughly detests the dissenting, the questioning media.

Similarly, the politically monotheistic state intervention in the constitution of law and justice and “judicial choreographic occultation resulting in petrification of true meanings of life, existence and freedom” is palpable. 

In such a situation, in order to reclaim the seriously backsliding constitutional and civil democratic ethos robbing people of their right to be true citizens, a broadest possible non-dogmatic democratic alliance based on counter-intitutive praxis to counter the communal-feudal-capitalist technologies of domination alone is the only way out. This is necessary to assert that democracy cannot be reduced to electoral politics alone, so that creatively evolving constitutional and civil democracy could be reclaimed and politically monotheistic state’s technologies of domination could be answered.

The narrator has also taught in the Department of Sociology, Jamia Millia Islamia, Central University, Delhi

As told to Amit Sengupta

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Deep Fake Menace

‘Deep Fakes Threat Must Be Fought With Tech & Legal Devices’

Shakti Singh Tanwar, a cyber security & tech expert, says use of Deep Fakes throws up possibilities that are both fascinating and scary. His views:

In the realm of multimedia graphics, technological advancements have ushered in a new era, one that blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Deep Fakes, a portmanteau of “deep learning” (processing data like human brain) and “fake”, have emerged as a cutting-edge technique in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. As a multimedia graphics expert, I find myself grappling with the implications of this technology, understanding how it is executed, and acknowledging the inherent dangers that come with it.

So, what is a Deep Fake? It is fabricated media (audio/videos) created by using deep learning models. The model is trained in the voices and mannerism of an individual to generate fake video/audio of the person concerned. Depending on how trained the model is, it’s difficult to distinguish fake videos from real ones. One recent example of this that has been in news was a fake video of Rashmika Mandanna.

Deep Fakes involve the use of deep learning algorithms to create realistic and often convincing manipulations of audio and visual content. By leveraging powerful neural networks, these algorithms can seamlessly replace faces, voices, or even entire scenarios in videos.

The complex process typically involves training the AI model on vast datasets of images and videos, allowing it to learn the subtle nuances of facial expressions, voice tones, and other distinctive features.

The danger lies not only in the potential for misuse but also in the sophistication of the technology, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between the authentic and the manipulated content. This has prompted global leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to issue warnings about the risks associated with Deep Fakes. Deep Fakes pose a threat to the foundations of trust and authenticity in an increasingly digitalized society.

The creation of Deep Fakes requires a deep understanding of AI, machine learning, and multimedia graphics. Advanced tools, such as generative adversarial networks (GANs), are employed to refine the realism of manipulated content by pitting two neural networks against each other—one generating Deep Fakes, and the other discerning real from fake.

Artificial Intelligence has been the buzz word for some time now. More than 750 startups have started to work on AI-related stuff in last one year in the US itself. Given the powers AI possess, the number is expected to grow. But with great powers comes great responsibility.

ALSO READ: ‘Govt Must Take Note Of Deep Fake Menace’

Some key aspects that are involved in deep fakes are generating realistic images/videos and audios, face swapping etc. It’s very easy to superimpose one face to another body – something done so far with Photoshop for fun. But Photoshop results were not convincing and one could only manipulate still images. With deep fakes we can manipulate full length videos as well.

Deep Fakes are illegal and have huge consequences. In today’s world which heavily relies on social media tools for information it is easy to spread hoaxe and panic in society. Lots of people have recently raised voices regarding misuse of Deep Fakes, including Prime Minister Modi and Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan.

There have been efforts to develop tools and techniques that can detect Deep Fakes. Some approaches and tools to identify deep fakes are: 1) Microsoft Video Authenticator (Not available for general use); 2) Sensity Top Deepfake Detection Solution | New AI Image Detection; 3) Deepware scanner.

Combatting the misuse of Deep Fake technology demands a multi-faceted approach. One avenue involves developing sophisticated detection tools that can analyze videos and identify anomalies that betray the presence of manipulation. These tools may leverage AI algorithms themselves to scrutinize content for inconsistencies or tampering. Researchers are continually refining these tools to keep pace with the evolving sophistication of Deep Fake technology.

From a regulatory perspective, there is a growing need for laws and policies that address the ethical implications of Deep Fakes. Striking a balance between innovation and safeguarding against malicious use requires a collaborative effort between governments, technology developers, and the wider public. 

My perspective on Deep Fakes is one rooted in both fascination and concern. The power of AI to manipulate audio and visual content opens a realm of creative possibilities, but the potential for misuse demands a vigilant response from the technological community. By developing advanced detection tools, promoting media literacy, and establishing ethical guidelines, we can work towards harnessing the potential of Deep Fake technology responsibly and preserving the integrity of our digital reality.

As told to Deepti Sharma

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Future of Young Wrestlers At Risk

‘Brij Bhushan’s Arrogance Has Put Future of Young Wrestlers at Risk’

Om Prakash Yadav, a former wrestler from UP, says the chest-thumping by BJP MP Brij Bhushan Saran Singh after the WFI election was unnecessary, unwanted. His views:

When the controversy first dogged the Wrestling Federation of India over alleged misbehavior of then federation president Brij Bhushan Saran Singh with women wrestlers, most young grapplers were concerned that it may affect the holding of Nationals event and subsequently their selection process. They wanted an early solution to the conflict for the sake of their sports career.

Though the controversy dragged on for a while, things did seem to fall back on track after Brij Bhushan was sacked and fresh elections for the federation office were announced. Sanjay Singh was elected the new WFI president and even though it was an open secret as to which camp he belonged, it appeared that normal functioning of the federation will be restored.

The elections were free and fair as these were held under the supervision of the Court – with not a single question raised on its transparency. Young wrestlers were happy when the dates of the under-15 and under-20 Nationals were declared; it was a welcome decision by the new president Sanjay Singh. But the happiness was short lived.

An unnecessary ‘shakti-pradarshan’ (public show of strength) was organized by the newly elected president where he arrogantly declared, “Dabdaba thaa… dabdaba rahega” (our camp dominated WFI and shall continue to do so). This triggered angry reaction from erstwhile protesting wrestlers and the same old controversy revived. It took the WFI back to the same confrontation point from where it had been struggling to come out.

ALSO READ: Dabdaba Tha, Dabdaba Rahega, Says Sanjay Singh

Everyone knew the collaboration between the ex and the newly elected president but to publicly drive the point home was not necessary, especially at a time when the media was showing returning of the Padma Shri (by Bajrang Punia) and announcement of retirement from the sport by Sakshi Mallik.

Now, as per the latest development, the Sports Ministry has asked the Indian Olympic Association to form an ad hoc committee to run the affairs of the WFI after suspending all the activities of the newly activated body. Going a step further, the ministry instructed the WFI not to carry out any activities after it announced junior national championships in violation of norms.

The biggest loser in this battle is the young wrestler. The conflict has put at risk the future of under-20 and under-18 wrestlers who aim for sports-quota government jobs that have an age limit of under 18 and 20 such as the defence services. Now, by the time things come back to normal, they may find themselves on the wrong side of the age-bar. The development has also shocked the wrestler community which believed that the scuffle between two different camps had been laid to rest.

The sports ministry cannot be blamed for its harsh decision as it was much expected and much `invited’. This could also not be termed as a one-sided or biased decision as the ministry has acted for the betterment of the WFI and the sport. The public display of arrogance and seeing the election as the victory for only a section of wrestlers must be discouraged and not go unpunished. My heart beats for the young wrestlers who have to bear the brunt for no fault of their own.

As told to Rajat Rai

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Reiki Removes Energy Debris From Our Bodies

‘Reiki Removes Energy Debris That Is No Longer Serving Us’

Kamakshi Ganesan, a Reiki practitioner from Chennai, says energy medicine is a method to transmit healing energy to a patient for restoration of health. Her views:

Reiki Healing is an ancient energy healing method developed in Japan that claims to accumulate and direct the energy, which is called ‘ki.’ Reiki means Universal Energy. ‘Rei’ is defined as the all-knowing divine universal, and ‘Ki’ is the energy that animates all living things, and flows through everything that is alive, including plants, animals, and humans — the same as Qi. Reiki is a healing technique that was developed by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui in 1922, and has since evolved into many practicing traditions.

Reiki is the energy of your higher self, the source of power within you, the divine love that heals all problems of your life. It actually opens up the doors to mindfulness, intuition, compassion, forgiveness and gratefulness; helps create health, joy and harmony in one’s life.

A Reiki practitioner basically removes the energetic debris or any imbalances from chakras and priority areas. New healing energies are also given according to the need. Traditional Reiki healing helps to heal any issue including physical health problems, emotional difficulties, career and money problems, relationships problems, addiction, childhood traumas and spiritual problems.

The healer uses techniques to cleanse, re-balance and restore the field to its natural flowing state. During your Reiki healing session, all blocked stagnant and imbalanced energies are cleared from your energy field and the structure of the energy field is re-aligned and re-energized. This allows universal energy to bring healing to the mind, body, and soul, allowing you to take control of your life and bring in harmony and balance. The healer focusses on priority areas – this could be the transformation of patterns and non- serving energy forms or structural realignment and re-balancing. Because Reiki healing is the channeling of Universal Energy, the person receiving Reiki during a session receives a kind of ‘Spring Cleaning’ of the energy centers (Chakras) of the body and other parts of the body with the use of the hand-scan technique.

Traditional Reiki belives that every problem has a root cause and is stored as energy patterns in the energy body and the removal and balancing of energies will clear the cause of the problem, leading to positive results in health, relationship and overall well-being. By receiving healing or self-healing, one starts to feel more confident, more relaxed, and more at peace – with a greater sense of ‘control’ over our lives and body. The beauty of Reiki is that although the practitioner is the one facilitating the healing, the body of the person receiving the energy, takes as little or as much as is needed during a session, for optimal healing, according to the receiving capacity the meridians/energy-tubes (otherwise known as Naadi in Sanskrit).

That is why it is good to learn the Reiki healing system, as it helps us release what no longer serves us and heals the chakras and energy fields. Especially, in today’s world and how lives are, we need to find a balance within all this chaos. By practicing Reiki healing, we are more able to greatly own our power, align with our higher purpose and raise our vibrations.

As told to Deepa Gupta

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Take Note Of Deep Fake Menace

‘Govt Must Wake Up And Take Note Of Deep Fake Menace’

Nikhil Kumar, a tech-savvy professional and CEO of a digital platform Simply Cue, says the menace of Deep Fake and misuse of AI require coordinated effort from state and cyber experts

A couple of short videos recently caused outrage among netizens when they showed Bollywood celebrities Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif and Kajol Devgan in skimpy outfits in their private space. It turned out that these clips were Deep Fakes, meaning someone mischievously placed the faces of these film stars over someone else by using digital tools and encoders. These tools used Artificial Intelligence technology for digital imposition in such a way that most viewers could not detect the fake manipulation.

Welcome to the latest social menace. How far these deep fakes can be misused for a crime is yet to be evaluated but it can certainly cause untold humiliation to a public figure by tarnishing her or his image, even though temporarily. Besides, it is breach of the right to privacy of an individual. Malicious elements can easily mine publicly available images or data and create misinformation. Such fake content can then be disseminated farther via open social media platform to cause disharmony and chaos.

Clearly, we have a big problem at hand. Recently, even Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his concern on Deep Fake videos and other misleading content which are consumed as true by the gullible audience. Thus, the first requirement will be to create a uniform standardization that can first detect and then disable such content to be shared or spread on public channels like YouTube, Facebook, X etc. For such a thing to happen both state and social media giants should be on the same page as it will require both legal and digital firewalls.

ALSO READ: ‘Deep Fakes Are A Serious Societal Risk’

The next step should be social. The netizens and social media users must be made aware that they should not become unpaid mules of such disinformation and must use discretion before sharing any content which is dubious in nature.

Amid the possible measures to counter the menace, there are various tools and technologies that have been developed over the recent past. These tools majorly rely on computer vision techniques, analyze facial inconsistencies, or use AI algorithms to identify anomalies in audio and visual content. Examples include Microsoft’s Video Authenticator and Intel’s FakeCatcher.

Eventually, as Deep Fake technology evolves, so will the detection methods, creating an ongoing challenge in staying ahead of deceptive techniques. So for a long time to come this will remain a cat and mouse game. The stress should be to penalize such action and bring in new laws to effectively deal with such misdeeds.

As responsible citizens of our country, we also need to contribute our bit – to remain aware about such things and try to be informed about Deep Fakes. As we are in an era of depending upon social media (WhatsApp, Twitter, FaceBook, Instagram, etc) for our newsfeed and information, we need to be able to separate grain from the chaff. The best source of authentic information is a newspaper – as it is printed in a hard copy and the information published in it cannot be erased or changed. For those hooked to digital portals, use only trustworthy names for their news and other information.

As told to Rajat Rai

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Prem Prakash

‘A Delivery Guy Is Perpetually Racing Against Time’

Prem Prakash (name changed), a ‘delivery partner’ with Zomato in Lucknow, says his back-breaking work entails covering a minimum of 100 km every day on a motorbike. His story:

Before the 2020-21 pandemic days I was working as a marketing executive with a FMCG company. Covid and lockdown forced the company to limit its operations and I lost my job. It wasn’t a very high-paying job but it was comfortable enough. With few opportunities available, I took up the role of ‘Delivery Partner’ with app-based food delivery chain Zomato. In the last three and half years I have seen things going from bad to worse for delivery partners, as the competition gets tougher due to new entrants in the market.

When I joined Zomato, there was a gig system – hourly work and payment that gave me enough time to search and look for work elsewhere. However, for the past couple of years, the company has brought in several stringent norms that leave little space or time for me to spare. I work for 12 hours at a stretch and yet struggle to reach my target income of Rs 22,000 a month.

My income has two components – salary or retainership and commission per delivery. I therefore try to many delivery as possible, without missing any deadline. If you want a break in receiving orders, you need to inform the company two hours in advance. If there are frequent breaks, which is called cancellations, then your order ID may get suspended. Such punitive rules remind me of the days bonded labour in feudal India but there is little one can do about. We are always short of time.

Earlier, Lucknow city was divided into six zones and the deliveries were restricted to zonal partners. Now, due to competition, a delivery partner from can take up orders of another zone, irrespective of the distance and time. We have to match the 20-minute-or-free offers from pizza delivery outlets or Blinkit and Zepto. However, the company does provide relaxations in rules when weather is bad or a worker has health issues.

ALSO READ: ‘25% of My Income Goes Into My Bike’s Fuel Tank’

Every morning I wake up when my children have gone to school. I pack my meal and leave for work before 10 am. Thereto I continuously pick and deliver orders. There is little time to spend with family. Time is precious in my profession. It often requires driving fast and taking shorter routes to save time. What to say about my health, this work takes a toll on my motorbike too, which requires regular maintenance to remain in good working condition.

To make matter worse, we often face rude customers. At times there are bulk order, particularly during late evening hour, meant for small parties. There have been instances when patrons under the influence of alcohol at such parties misbehaved with me, complaining about late delivery and hurling abuses over something as little as a free sachet of chili flakes or oregano. There is little respect for Delivery Partners in our society. The company has provided us with a Panic Button on our phones but we prefer to take it in our stride.

My only worry is that I can work as a delivery person when I am young. It would not be possible to carry out with such punishing hours once I cross 35. Already my lower back pains at the end of every day. I must think about my future and sort it out sooner than later.

As told to Rajat Rai

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Ram Mandir is a Symbol of Unity

‘Ram Mandir is a Symbol of Unity For the Country’

Sagar Bachchas, a 21-year-old student from Ghaziabad, UP, shares his views on the Ram Temple and how it is paramount for the upcoming elections in 2024

BJP knows that elections cannot be won by development alone. They need to touch the emotional chord of the electorate and rake up issues like the Ram Mandir to win elections in 2024. And BJP realized this after its defeat in the 2004 general elections when it gave the slogan of ‘India Shining’.

In 2001, the party put forward the issue of Ram Mandir but not with full force. Earlier, Congress leader Rajiv Gandhi had promised to establish Ram Rajya in Ayodhya to pacify the Hindus but after winning the elections he obviously forgot about it. And BJP took advantage of this and then Prime Minister Modi has vigorously chased it since 2014 and made two promises – first was related to Article 370 and second to construction of Ram Mandir. He has delivered on both count.

The electorate today believes that for the last 10 years, the Congress has been creating problems in the construction of Ram Mandir to safeguard its vote bank. It did not get the Ram Mandir constructed while in power. Rather, it initiated criticism and speculation around it.

Even now, wherever the opposition party is in power, it is playing the caste census card and trying to mislead and divide the country; while the BJP is giving a message of unity through the construction of Ram temple.

BJP is set to promote the temple in an organized manner. By inaugurating the Ram Mandir, BJP might garner votes from South India (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana) because the people there are also very sensitive about the subject.

ALSO READ: ‘BJP Has Raised And Dropped Ayodhya Issue Cyclically’

On the other hand, the Ram Mandir Trust and RSS will take the Ram Mandir inauguration ceremony as a celebration to the temples of 5 lakh villages and to the NRI families of about 156 countries living abroad. This will have a direct impact on the elections to be held in 2024.

At yet another level, just like other temples in the country provide employment, similarly people here will also benefit. According to estimates, about 16,000 people work in Tirupati Balaji temple and Ram temple is set to have a high employment potential. Alongside, the work of hotel bookings, travel agencies, flower garlands and religious items will get a boost. Nearly 1.5 crore people visited Ayodhya in the year 2014.

In 2022, this figure touched 4 crores, including about 55,000 indigenous people. Due to this, rail travel is expected to increase by about 15 times because the number of visitors has increased 2.5 times in the last six years. Foreign investors are being attracted to such development due to which foreign investment is big in Uttar Pradesh, and this will also lead to more jobs; and better economy. All this will put Ayodhya on the world map.

The construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya is the beginning of an era of development not only for Modiji but also for Uttar Pradesh and the country. I don’t need to say this, but soon Ayodhya shall see a boom in the real estate – people will be able to sell or lease their lands at good prices. The contribution of religious pilgrimage in the GDP of our country is 2.32% and the economy of temples is around 3.02 lakh crores.

The business in our country due to the construction of Ram temple will be huge and the income the government will earn from the temple will also help the country become the third largest economy in the world.

As told to Deepa Gupta

When PM Visited Indian Team At An Hour Of Loss

‘When Your PM Stands With You At An Hour Of Loss, It Lifts You Up’

Former Indian Cricketer Gyanendra Pandey says Prime Minister’s visit to the men in blue after their defeat in World Cup final was an emotional moment for cricket fraternity. His views:

At the recently concluded ODI World Cup Final, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Indian cricket team dressing room after the shocking defeat. This was a moving gesture. Being a leader, he decided to share emotions at a loss that broke hearts of crores of fans and Indians.

It was an unexpected result for the formidable men in blue and what many did not notice was that the PM, and the home minister Amit Shah reached the stadium at a time when a definite defeat was on the cards and even a miracle could not have altered the result. Even a good number of spectators started leaving the stadium and I personally saw many bigwigs and celebrities silently leaving the stadium before the completion of the match.

As PM’s programme was declared much before the match and everyone, including the players, were aware of his presence, many thought that looking into the proceedings (the end result), the visit would be cancelled. But to everyone’s surprise and the players, Modiji not only stood there but also went ahead to meet the players in the dressing room much to their surprise.

Though UP CM Yogi Adityanath had already announced the construction of a cricket stadium in the home town (Amroha, UP) of Mohammad Shami, it was a pleasant surprise for him that the PM not only counted his achievement but also gave him a soothing hug.

ALSO READ: ‘Men In Blue Should Take A Knee For Md Shami’

When the country’s leader stands with you at the time of loss, it lifts the team up. It is a special moment. I could personally feel what the players would have felt like as I was also a part of the team. It was an outstanding gesture simply because I know what a dressing room feels like. It is a gut-wrenching feeling and when you are down then you seem that you are out but when you get someone special coming and visiting you, it is something massive as it lifts the spirits of the players for future accomplishments.

It would surely prove to be an energy booster for the future. In a moment of empathy, Modi not only told the players to smile as the nation watched them, but also emphasized that, despite the defeat, the team’s exceptional performance throughout the tournament had made the entire nation proud.

The visit went beyond symbolism as it also served as a genuine show of support and motivation as he moved from player to player and shared words of solace and encouragement at a time of dismay. Modi not only reassured the team that setbacks are inherent in the game but made them feel that their hard work had not gone unnoticed and unappreciated.

There were also some harsh and unethical criticism of the entire episode and some went beyond all ethics to utter disrespectable and unwanted words for the PM, but such acts should be avoided not only after such an event but also at times when the country stands united for some cause.

As told to Rajat Rai

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Young Talent Making Niche Space On OTT

‘Young Talent Making Niche Content, New Space On OTT Platform’

Ashwin Singh, pursuing CA course and simultaneously learning filmmaking from his father Chandrapal Singh, says OTT format has opened up new vistas for creative content. His views:

The youth of today, irrespective of the trade or the career they are pursuing, are ready to take risks and prove their mettle. They are full of innovative ideas be it in the field of film making, launching businesses, contribution to the society, nation building and any other aspect you may think of. I will limit my views here for the filmmaking field.

Today, OTT (over-the-top) media services are proving to be an apt platform for new age filmmakers who bring with them a fresh creative narrative style. A few such recent examples are: Vasan Bala’s Monica O My Darling (starring Rajkummar Rao, Huma Qureshi and Radhika Apte, Love Hostel (starring Sanya Malhotra, Bobby Deol and Vikrant Massey) by cinematographer-turned-director Shanker Raman and the debut feature film Mudhal Nee Mudivum Nee by Darbuka Siva.

The work of these directors focus on the less explored aspects like young love, revolutionary principles, social behavior and new noir genre. The youth are striking right cords on the existing and much experimented subjects and giving it a treatment that is easy to relate to or blow your senses away. One important feature of their work is a lower cost of production and release on the OTT and a higher success rate.

OTT releases are now a preferred choice with emerging directors, writers and producers and it reduces the struggle to find a suitable release window, dealing with distribution hassles and other logistics issues of cinematic release. They can now solely focus on content that tell human stories rooted in contemporary Indian experiences. The OTT reach and audience is growing very fast and the channels offer good money for the work. The publicity costs have also come down as most channels use their home OTT platform for launching the teasers. In future, hopefully, there will be a lot more such films that we get to see and India will nurture new talent in the entertainment sector.

ALSO READ: ‘Cinema Audience Is Evolving, Thanks To OTT’

As a young contributor to the film industry, who is still in the learning phase, what I would like to ask from the bigwigs and trendsetters of Bollywood is that we should allow our storytellers the creative freedom they desire. Let them explore the `universe’ with obvious wins and losses and do not see their work from immediate monetary gains.

A lot of change is going on in the way people are looking at cinematic stories and how the writers are developing characters and bringing their ideas on the OTT canvas. In the present scenario, the script is actually the hero and the work does not revolve around a central character; the multiplicity of characters have changed the rules of the game. Having said that, we cannot completely ignore the role of revenue too. But I am sure the new age filmmakers can strike a balance between their creative licence and the success chart which draws more subscribers to the OTT channels.

As told to Rajat Rai

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Chaudhary Charan Singh University

‘With Its Vast Heritage, India Legitimately Needs World’s Largest Museum’

Dr Krishna Kant Sharma, who teaches history at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, shares his views on world’s largest museum in India

The world’s largest museum is all set to come up in New Delhi in the near future. To be called Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum, it will replace the present National Museum. It is indeed a huge step taken by the BJP government in the direction of preserving India’s vast, varied and rich culture for posterity. 

The National Museum in Delhi is able to display a limited cultural heritage of different periods in the Indian history; therefore, there is a need for a museum that displays all the chronologies together. The new museum is set to encompass our rich heritage right from the ancient times to the present. India is a huge cultural country with several traditional and folk customs that need to be showcased and preserved and displayed together on one platform.

Different states of India have their own culture and this culture is displayed in the state museums of each state. With this new museum, built in the capital of the country, the cultural heritage of every state can be displayed together and the whole of India can be shown to the people together. This, from the point of view of tourism shall be a great boost.

There are innumerable artefacts, paintings, sculptures, costumes etc to be displayed in this vast spread out museum. The Archaeological Survey of India time and again, is constantly excavating new places and more and more antiquities are being found there. This will only add to the immense treasure house of what we already possess by way of our rich history. All of these need to be displayed in one place. A large museum definitely is needed in India. With the museum showcasing the rich civilizational cultural of India spanning a period of 5000 years, it goes without saying that it will attract people from all over the world and we will open our doors for the world to see what Bharat actually is.

There are many aspects of Indian culture which can be understood as tangible and intangible. A large museum is needed to understand the entire Indian culture by showcasing all these aspects together. There will be immense knowledge shared here and that will further put India on the world map. I doubt if the 950 rooms that it is supposed to have, will be able to contain the infinite history and culture of such a vast nation that entirely stands on the pillars of these intriguing, mystical and magical norms, tenets, and value systems of our grandiose parampara.

As told to Deepa Gupta

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