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Deepavali under Fire: Data, Media Narratives, and a Roadmap to Safeguard Dharmic Heritage
Every year, Deepavali triggers fierce arguments about fireworks and air quality, yet the debate often leans on rhetoric rather than data. This piece synthesizes CPCB and research findings, explains festival-night PM2.5 spikes in the context of seasonal sources, and clarifies the current Supreme Court and regulatory framework for green crackers and time windows. It outlines…
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Mani Shankar Aiyar’s temple remarks rekindle debate on Indian secularism and Dharmic pluralism
Reported remarks by Mani Shankar Aiyar about not relating to Hindu Dharma and seeing no divinity in temple icons have sparked debate about Indian secularism in a Dharmic society. This analysis distinguishes personal disbelief from public responsibility, showing how language about sacred symbols can affect social harmony. It explains the philosophical basis of murti-puja, prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā,…
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Beyond Hashtags: Interfaith Festival Etiquette, Reciprocity, and Real Secularism in India
A viral trend of Hindus adopting Muslim surnames at Iftar offers a timely chance to deepen interfaith reciprocity rather than reduce it to spectacle. This analysis reframes Indian secularism as participatory coexistence, linking symbolic gestures to consistent, respectful engagement across Diwali, Eid, Gurpurab, Vesak, Paryushan, and Navratri. Drawing on ideas from ritual studies and signaling…
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Shankhnad Mahotsav grant: constitutional tests, political critique, and dharmic unity
A ₹63 lakh Union grant to the Sanatan Rashtra Shankhnad Mahotsav sparked charges of unconstitutionality and hate speech risks. This analysis clarifies the constitutional position under Articles 14, 25–27, and 282, explains Indian hate speech jurisprudence, and sets out administrative safeguards under the General Financial Rules. Readers gain a standards-based checklist to assess whether cultural…
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The Complete Inside Story: Ibādat Khāna, Secularism, and Academic Power Struggles
This analysis reconstructs K. K. Muhammed’s account of identifying the Ibādat Khāna at Fatehpur Sikri and the ensuing disputes with Prof. Irfan Habib at AMU, situating the episode within Indian historiography and academic power dynamics. It highlights how labels such as “secular” and “communal” have been deployed in institutional contexts, affecting careers, discourse, and public…
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How the Fanatic Syed Ahmad Barelvi Met his Maker at Balakot
The blog post discusses the historical narrative of post-Mughal India, highlighting the glorification of figures like Tipu Sultan as freedom fighters against British rule while sidelining others like Siraj-ud-Daulah. It delves into the controversial figures of Shah Waliullah, Abdul Aziz, and Syed Ahmad Barelvi, who are often depicted as “Muslim revivalists” but had a more…