News and Views

'Everyone Wants to Be Brahmin': Inside Instagram's Caste Pride Economy

Young influencers from dominant castes such as Brahmins and Rajputs are making high-engagement reels centred on caste pride and superiority on Instagram, using trending audios, cinematic edits, and aspirational aesthetic. We analysed more than 100 reels across over 30 accounts. What emerged is a pattern: under the label of “pride”, caste superiority is being repackaged for the algorithm age. Read the full story on The Quint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fighting the Growing Tide of Hindutva in the US: Sunita Viswanath on VIGILANT Episode 2

"We are the kind of Hindu that stands up to say no to Hindutva, no to caste," says Sunita Viswanath, executive director and co-founder of Hindus for Human Rights, a non-profit based in the United States that works to counter Hindutva, especially among Indians abroad. "The Hindutva brigade was strong and growing across the diaspora. So we had the fight, of course, for our communities and families in India, but also right here where we live." On 11 March, Viswanath and her team held a launch event in New York City for Hindus for Human Rights Action, a new political advocacy arm that aims to be "unleashing the political voice of progressive Hindus" in the United States. Viswanath joins us for the second episode of VIGILANT, a new podcast hosted by Raghav Bahl, editor-in-chief of The Quint, and discusses the rise of Hindutva beyond India, and the actions that she and others are taking to combat it. The podcast is a part of VIGIL, a new offering on The Quint that discusses and champions themes of pluralism and inclusivity in the Indian diaspora. VIGIL stands for Voice of India: Global, Inclusive, Liberal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

112 MPs Suspended: Inside Om Birla’s Lok Sabha Record

In December 2023, 100 Opposition MPs were suspended from the Lok Sabha in a single week — the largest mass suspension in the history of India’s Parliament. But how unusual is this? As Birla faces a rate no-trust vote in the Parliament, our analysis of Lok Sabha records since 2004 shows that 112 MPs were suspended during Om Birla’s first term as Speaker, accounting for nearly half of all suspensions in the past two decades. The Quint continues to track how India’s democratic institutions — from Parliament to courts and investigative agencies — function and are held accountable. Watch the full investigation. Read the story here:https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/om-birla-no-confidence-motion-data-investigation-mp-suspensions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ghaziabad Landfill Ground Report: 'घर के पास कूड़े का पहाड़ क्यों? Health से खिलवाड़ कर रही सरकार'

In this ground report from Mirpur Hindu village in Ghaziabad, farmers are protesting against a proposed landfill and waste management plant, saying it could seriously impact their health, farmland, and groundwater. Villagers allege that the project is too close to residential areas and fear long-term environmental damage. The administration, however, maintains that all environmental norms will be followed and that the plant is essential for scientific waste disposal. Tensions have also risen after clashes during recent protests. Watch the full ground report by Avanish Kumar to understand the farmers’ concerns, the police action, and the government’s response. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Female-Led Films Need to be Perfect; Men-Led Average Films Become Hits": Taapsee Pannu | The Quint

In this interview, Anubhav Sinha, #taapseepannu and Kani Kusruti discuss the importance of films like #Assi, society's failure to prevent assault, hyper-masculinity in the industry, resistance to mounting female-led stories, the challenges directors now face while making films, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices