India

Waiting for Jobs in India
India’s economy has been suffering from what experts call “jobless growth,” which has failed to employ a growing workforce even as GDP continues to rise. Educated youth have been hardest hit, especially college graduates based outside major cities.

Indigenous Politics in the Northeast
In India’s far eastern corner, the state of Manipur is facing intense ethnic clashes. The reasons run deeper than a fight over protected tribal status. At root, the conflict is about land ownership, emancipation of tribal communities and a new form of nativist, majoritarian politics.

Chess Moves: The Indian Behind the ‘Indian Opening’
Opening repertoires in chess are often named after their inventor or region of origin. The Sicilian Defense, the French, the Berlin, the Ruy Lopez and the Grunfeld defense are all popular examples. An exploration of the origin of the “Indian” opening reveals a story that could someday make for a Bollywood blockbuster.

India’s Militant Hindu Nationalist Women Leaders
Across India, an army of militantly oriented and fierce women leaders is fast emerging in Hindu nationalist circles. They are ambitious, educated and often economically independent. Yet the ideology they espouse and the Hindu nation they envision are deeply conservative and patriarchal.

How ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ Exposes the Politics of Appropriating the Cholas
The highest-grossing Tamil film of last year, “Ponniyin Selvan,” based on a historical fiction novel by the celebrated author Kalki Krishnamurthy, told the story of the Chola King Rajaraja I, who ruled over regions in and around south India. While the film spotlighted the richness of historical fiction in Tamil literature, it also exposed the politics of appropriating history.

The Need to Make Space for Dalit Queer Voices in India
In India, queer people from the Dalit community have to hide their caste and face discrimination on digital platforms. As a result, many Dalit queer forums have sprung up, to create a safe space for people to explore their intersectional identities.

Caught up in the Ukraine War, Indian Medical Students Face Uncertain Future
The presence of 18,000 medical students from India in Ukraine highlighted the fight for a medical education in India, making students look for alternatives. However, since the war broke out, students have been struggling to find ways to complete their education, while dealing with the red tape in India.