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Assertion

The Return of Brahmarakshasa in Sanatan Modernity of the Haunted Republic

Vaibhav Kharat There comes a time in a society when it begins to eat its own body, mind, and soul, when cruelty starts dressing the robe of morality in sanctity, when people pray louder but feel emptier. In moments like this, I often think of an old myth: The story of the ‘Brahmarakshasa’. A learned …

Features

A House Full of Noise, Still Nobody Listened: A Reading of Maharashtra’s Monsoon Session 2025

Vaibhav Kharat, Ganesh Pandit A House Full of Noise, Still Nobody Listened: A Reading of Maharashtra’s Monsoon Session 2025 It was raining outside here in Delhi. And inside the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan, it was storming. But not the kind that brings change. Thunder roared, voices clashed, cameras blinked, and something essential was missing: ‘the people’. …

Assertion

The Bodhgaya Protest and the Fear of Buddhist reclamation

Vaibhav Kharat The pensive protest at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya reveals the extensive structural discrepancies in India’s religious and media outlook. While Buddhists rightfully demand legitimate control over one of their holiest space, the dominant mainstream media, including television channels, newspapers, radio news, and even widely followed independent digital YouTube, Podcast,  audio-video broadcasting platforms …

Features

The Ritualistic Hypocrisy of Caste Hindus: The Kumbh Mela and the Myth of Purity

Vaibhav Kharat The ongoing Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj presents a remarkable case study to understand the ritualistic hypocrisy of caste Hindus, particularly in relation to the myth of purity that governs the Hindu psyche. This grand religious spectacle, where millions gather to bathe in the Triveni Sangam (Ganga, Yamuna, Sarasvati confluence). This act of spiritual …

Assertion

Savarna Allyship: A Facade of Performative Progressivism in Online Spaces

Vaibhav Kharat An example of ‘Savarna allyship’ can be understood through the digital and virtual interactions with self-proclaimed liberal, secular, progressive friends/peers belonging to Savarna/Dominant caste groups. These interactions manifest in the form of messages, videos, or you tube or news links shared with their Scheduled Caste (SC)/Tribe (ST) acquaintances. For instance, various messages/videos/links are …

Features

Savarna Saviour Psychosis: A Reflection on Rahul Gandhi’s Visit to a Dalit Kitchen

Vaibhav Kharat Recently, Rahul Gandhi’s visit to a Dalit kitchen and his interaction with the Dalit family was broadcast on his YouTube channel, which has millions of subscribers. It was framed as an act of inclusion, meant to bring attention to the everyday lives of Dalits, particularly their food culture. The visit showcased his conversations …

Features

Merit: A Savarna Tool to Reinforce Caste Hegemony

Vaibhav Kharat The recent notification by the UPSC, inviting applications for 45 lateral entry posts at the levels of Joint Secretary, Director, and Deputy Secretary across 24 Union government ministries, has reignited the toxic debate of meritocracy vs reservation. The government’s promotion of lateral entry as a tool to bring in fresh talent and expertise …

Atrocities

The Bloody Silence: When the Rape of a Dalit Woman Means Nothing …

 Vaibhav Kharat India’s recent history has been stained once again by two horrifying incidents of sexual violence—one in Bengal and the other in Bihar. Both crimes were monstrous, but the response to them exposes the rot at the core of Indian society, a society that remains shackled by caste even in its darkest moments. The …

Features

The Sanskritisation of Ambedkarite Buddhism: A Critique

 Vaibhav Kharat The conversion of the Mahar community to Buddhism under the leadership of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a significant socio-religious movement aimed at escaping the oppressive caste system entrenched in Hinduism. However, as a student of Sociology, my recent observations suggest that certain practices within the converted Mahar Buddhist community reflect a form of …