Is India the "world's biggest democracy"?

Caste and politics, and elite circulation

A Sri Lankan path for India?

Could India lose democracy?

Indian secularism is an indigenous concept

Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent.

In this episode, he hosts Prof Ashutosh Varshney, Director of the Center for Contemporary South Asia and Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies and the Social Sciences at Brown University in the US.

They talk about India’s democratic experience through 75 years of existence as an independent nation. They also discuss past, and recent challenges to democracy, and ask the question: Can India turn authoritarian, or worse?

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:45 How appropriate is it to call India "the world’s biggest democracy"? 

6:53 Caste and politics, and elite circulation

13:59 A Sri Lankan path for India?

15:45 Could India lose democracy?

21:25 Indian secularism is an indigenous concept

Produced by: Ravi Velloor (velloor@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Follow Speaking Of Asia Podcast every second Friday of the month on our Asian Insider Podcast channel here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7

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Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB

Websites: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

Ravi Velloor's columns: https://str.sg/3xRP

Ravi Velloor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor

Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters

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Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

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Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#STAsianInsider

Synopsis: Every second Friday of the month, join The Straits Times' associate editor Ravi Velloor, as he distills his experience from four decades of covering the continent.
In this episode, he hosts Prof Ashutosh Varshney, Director of the Center for Contemporary South Asia and Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies and the Social Sciences at Brown University in the US.
They talk about India’s democratic experience through 75 years of existence as an independent nation. They also discuss past, and recent challenges to democracy, and ask the question: Can India turn authoritarian, or worse?
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:45 How appropriate is it to call India "the world’s biggest democracy"? 
6:53 Caste and politics, and elite circulation
13:59 A Sri Lankan path for India?
15:45 Could India lose democracy?
21:25 Indian secularism is an indigenous concept
Produced by: Ravi Velloor (<a href="mailto:velloor@sph.com.sg">velloor@sph.com.sg</a>), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai
Edited by: Teo Tong Kai
Follow Speaking Of Asia Podcast every second Friday of the month on our Asian Insider Podcast channel here:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa7" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWa7&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1631085479461000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEqpL2S39UdULDIZZVPo-UBsvJlXA">https://str.sg/JWa7</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa8" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWa8&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1631085479461000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEDw6KyN9l4HWmsHn4v_kgK4N1XOA">https://str.sg/JWa8</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaX" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWaX&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1631085479461000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGcZ_VsbpLTsRRLhWhjHSUCT3hhNQ">https://str.sg/JWaX</a>
Google Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/wQsB">https://str.sg/wQsB</a>
Websites: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
Ravi Velloor's columns: <a href="https://str.sg/3xRP">https://str.sg/3xRP</a>
Ravi Velloor on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor">https://twitter.com/RaviVelloor</a>
Register for Asian Insider newsletter: <a href="https://str.sg/stnewsletters">https://str.sg/stnewsletters</a>
---
Discover ST's special edition podcasts:
Singapore's War On Covid: <a href="https://str.sg/wuJa" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wuJa&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1655360930609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0eF4t5XD9Xy8aJYvK_khc2">https://str.sg/wuJa</a>
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: <a href="https://str.sg/wuZ2" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wuZ2&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1655360930609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3MVzwPX-Ijr3fwBe5uBn9M">https://str.sg/wuZ2</a>
Stop Scams: <a href="https://str.sg/wuZB" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wuZB&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1655360930609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0Lp9AXft9BqXF528W_C2cY">https://str.sg/wuZB</a>
Invisible Asia: <a href="https://str.sg/wuZn" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wuZn&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1655360930609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3SsOa4swGqoQbC-P_PiAME">https://str.sg/wuZn</a>
---
Discover more ST podcast series:
Asian Insider: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa7" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWa7&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1655360930609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw00O-4iwMJBTEO9Wmb947AI">https://str.sg/JWa7</a>
Green Pulse: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaf" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWaf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1655360930609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0COI5I1I1P6eGaFtGuRyrd">https://str.sg/JWaf</a>
Health Check: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaN" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWaN&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1655360930609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3oLeZSlGcgJddhemC19V58">https://str.sg/JWaN</a>
In Your Opinion: <a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/w7Qt&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1655360930609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw16H9uIWcvykUOMGX4Nlvfs">https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Your Money &amp; Career: <a href="https://str.sg/wB2m" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wB2m&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1655360930609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0g775MvMIFLXyE5uUPKqLC">https://str.sg/wB2m</a>
#PopVultures: <a href="https://str.sg/JWad" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWad&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1655360930609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0k0PYyzpSoa5BOIcj7bQo6">https://str.sg/JWad</a>
ST Sports Talk: <a href="https://str.sg/JWRE" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWRE&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1655360930609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0YdZQ2ceRYaMF10qs7VJU_">https://str.sg/JWRE</a>
Bookmark This!: <a href="https://str.sg/JWas" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/JWas&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1655360930609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3S7rbV78gxMzUf_YYaDdpT">https://str.sg/JWas</a>
Lunch With Sumiko: <a href="https://str.sg/J6hQ" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/J6hQ&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1655360930609000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2uxhp77txCOHIkRUjARLid">https://str.sg/J6hQ</a>
Discover ST Podcasts: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://str.sg/stpodcasts&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1660620635408000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3YIf9X_O5hYI5XV1em4nrK">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
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Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
#STAsianInsider

Synopsis: Every week, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe.

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis, The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

Synopsis: Every week, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe.
Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis, The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

Asian Insider

Synopsis: Every week, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe.

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis, The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust

Synopsis: Every week, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe.
Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis, The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust

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