Drishtikon - Point of View

04/01/2021

Teen mudde/three issues brings to you a succinct analysis of three contemporary issues in India.

तीन मुद्दे आपके सामने हिन्दुस्तान से जुडे़ तीन समकालीन विषयों का सरल और सच्चा विश्लेषण पेश करता है.

30/12/2020

Third video in this series on Hindu thought where we briefly touch on four 'unorthodox' schools of Hindu(ism) viz. Charvaka, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.

14/12/2020

Teen mudde/three issues brings to you a succinct analysis of three contemporary issues in India.

तीन मुद्दे आपके सामने हिन्दुस्तान से जुडे़ तीन समकालीन विषयों का सरल और सच्चा विश्लेषण पेश करता है.

04/12/2020

In this new series, we discuss three issues: Bihar elections, Karachi sweets controversy in Bombay, and the US presidency.

तीन मुद्दे - भाग १

29/11/2020

Second part in this series where we look at the six schools of Hindu philosophy that make up the Hindu tradition.

28/11/2020

In this first video, I explain the origin and meaning of the word Hindu, which will help us disambiguate it changes that have occurred over the centuries in its usage.

18/10/2020

This video critically analyses the three recent laws, dubbed 'Farm Bills' in India, which will enable the liberalisation of the Indian agricultural sector. We also look at the rationale, respond to criticism, and raises some unanswered questions.

इस व्हिडियो मे हम हाल ही मे पास हुए कृषी सुधार कानूनों का विशलेशन करते है.

30/08/2020

In this third video, we critically analyse and respond to the 'protests' happening in India against the CAA & NRC.

इस भाग मे हुम हिन्दुस्तान मे इस वक़्त होने वाले विरोध प्रदर्शन का जाय्ज़ा लेनगे.

29/08/2020

In the second part, we focus on and respond to seven main themes/objections that have been raised by various opposition parties inside and outside the parliament.

28/08/2020

This video explores the historical, social, legal and moral arguments that deal with the recently enacted Citizenship Amendment Act and the NRC in Assam.

ये व्हिडियो CAA का इतिहासिक और सैद्धांतिक नज़रिए से विशलशन करता है.

25/08/2020

Third video in this series that sheds some light on the role of Sikhs and Sikh documents in this landmark case as well as rejects the myopic allegations made by a section of the Sikhs.

सिख धर्म और सिखों का किर्दार - बाबरी मसजिद राम मन्दिर मामला

22/08/2020

This video describes the century old dispute over a piece of land in northern India, AKA the Ram Janmabhoomi/Babri Masjid case. It explains how the Hindu community has been remarkably patient and peaceful in dealing with a matter that would usually be settled by majoritarianism and even violence.

16/08/2020

This video analyses the SC judgement around the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi/Babri Masjid case and helps understand a very complex and perhaps the longing running court case on earth.

यह व्हिडीयो भारतीय सर्वोच्च न्यायालय के बाबरी मस्जिद - अयोध्या राम जन्म भूमी फ़ैसले का विश्लेषण करता है.

یے وڈییو بابری مسجد اور رآم جنم بہومی کے عدالتی فیصلہ کا تجزیہ پےش کرتا ہے

15/08/2020

1045 pages...SC Ayodhya Judgement. Phew! Richly rewarding, and an unbelievable document though. Video tomorrow, stay tuned.

11/07/2020

Back with another video that touches on three issues:

1. Critique of the Dil se sewa initiative by NDTV/DGPC
2. Hindu Temple in Pak and Hagia Sophia in Turkey
3. Double standards against India in the West

13/05/2020

Critics say that Modi's speech during which he announced an economic package was light on details. Of course it was; you can't have details of a 10 lakh crore stimulus package discussed in an address to the nation! The speech is for the people, not for the CMs. The people care about the announcement. The CMs and other supporting ministries need to be engaged offline to work out the details.

The fact that such 'criticism' makes headlines shows the state of the nation. I too have criticism to make, but my concern is about a. we don't have the money b. big schemes mean big corruption in India because we don't have the mechanisms.

25/03/2020

Note on Modi's address to the nation on COVID 19 and the world's largest attempted lock down. 3 min read:

Having looked at how leaders have responded to the threat of Coronavirus (from denial, in Iran, to defiance, in the US) I was surprised and happy that the PM of India took a fairly difficult and pro active decision to impose a three week lock down in India.

Two things in particular made me happy about his speech. Firstly, he realises that India doesn't have a choice. With our population and state of infrastructure, if we can't stem the flow early, we are going to be probably the worst affected country globally. He went through great detail to explain the risk of exponential growth in the number of infected peopled, as well as reminded the nation that even wealthy countries are on their knees when it comes to the issue.

Secondly, he constantly referred to the advise and guidance provided by the experts. In a country where literacy is poor, he tried, almost throughout the speech to remind people that this is not what he thinks, but what we know from the scientific community and the experience of other nations. He dispelled some of the myths while doing so as well.

India is a complex nation, both socially and geographically. The govt. cannot really impose a lock down and the PM reiterated that he is requesting people to do this as a citizen and not their PM (because frankly as the PM he can't achieve this task). There is invariably going to be a huge cost, economic and social, to this lock down. I have read many critical comments about 'how will people get essentials',' what is the govt. doing to help etc'. and my response is two pronged: a.) the govt. can do nothing. We can't build basic things roads and bridges when things are alright and expect the govt. to somehow mobilise a system that will assuage the pain of a lock down (especially where the whole idea is that people, including govt. employees, need to NOT go anywhere), and b.) what Modi said, 'jaan hai to jahaan hai'. We have to live to fight another day.

The economic cost of the lock down and the difficulties it will cause for the poor of the nation will be enormous, but frankly, I don't think there is anything the PM or anyone else can really do about it given our abilities, as well as the fact that all other 'redressal' oriented options will inherently require action that runs contrary to the idea of social distancing.

A virus has literally bought us humans to our knees and the best we can do at this moment is hide from it and hope it goes away.

15/03/2020

Have been tremendously busy and therefore not had a chance to continue creating videos, but here is a quick note on J. Scindia's defection to the BJP.

I've long maintained that there are no ideological differences between the Congress and the BJP; their economic policies very similar and minor differences exist on the cultural front (thanks to the RSS). The joke, of a top Congress leader, not for the first time, but this time in Mr. Scindia joining the BJP is on the people of India. Much like when the Shiv Sena allies for the NCP and the Congress to make an unelected man the CM of Maharashtra.

From Orissa (where the bloody leader of the opposition joined the BJD) to Assam where Congress' blue eyed boy Himanta Sarma joined the BJP, the joke is on us. The politicians have made it very clear that they will join the party where their career and personal interests are served best, and yet the people accept them, which is then a harsh reminder that perhaps we don't deserve any better. This is like, I don't know, Bernie Sanders suddenly joining the Republican Party; almost never happens elsewhere.

The only person and party that has yet to do this is Raj Thackeray and the MNS in Maharashtra, and perhaps that is why they perform so poorly in electoral politics. Perhaps that is the mark of a good leader and party, that they can't win in the Indian political context without auctioning their beliefs and ideologies.

Shame on Mr. Scindia for spending 18 years accusing the BJP of hate and switching camps, and shame on the BJP for accepting him with open arms without holding him to account for his vitriolic views of the BJP and RSS. If Mr. Scindia is to be accepted into the BJP, then wearing a saffron scarf and praising Modi should not be sufficient; Mr. Scindia should be asked to disown the Congress and apologise for his own remarks about the BJP and the RSS and accept that either he was wrong (and now knows better) or that he was lying and saying these things for political mileage.

25/02/2020

Yeh samvidhaan ki rakhwali kar rahe hain doston. Don't give them an inch.

21/01/2020

Friends, presenting Drishtikon's latest video, which is the first of several I'll do about Hindus and Hinduism. This short video establishes the baseline for what the world Hindu means and its etymology. Relevant to all of us in a world where terms are often misused: https://youtu.be/8mInvVGUPvc

This video explores the question of the etymology of the word Hindu and explains its origins, usage and puts it in the correct perspective, which is importan...

20/01/2020

Bang on.

09/01/2020

Morning friends, presenting a short analysis/reaction to what happened at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, its relationship to CAA and the need for India to modify its narrative: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kfz0iKFEyg&feature=youtu.be

Please watch and share.

In this short video, Aviram talks about the recent attack on Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, its relationship with CAA, and a need for Indian to change its narrat...

01/01/2020

Good morning friends, presenting our first video of 2020; a conversation with Abhishek Sharma on the Indian judicial setup:

https://youtu.be/pOQXARpkZFE

Aviram & Abhishek discuss the Indian judicial setup, its challenges and the need for reforms to help India become a more vibrant and just society. अविराम और ...

28/12/2019

Thank you all for your support so far. The next few topics we will be talking about include the challenge of women's safety/rapes in India, judicial reforms (constitutional viewpoint) and potentially a quick response to Kapil Sibal's recent interview about CAA. Please share your thoughts or if you want to hear about anything else.

25/12/2019

Friends, part 3 of our series on the CAA and NRC. In this, shorter video, Aviram given's his reaction to the protests that have engulfed India: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2onB2GEhYsc&list=PLtZqm5MuowGjcr4FK3x8HyWq1BHL_Qlq7&index=4&t=25s

Please view, share and subscribe.

In this third video, we critically analyse and respond to the 'protests' happening in India against the CAA & NRC. इस भाग मे हुम हिन्दुस्तान मे इस वक़्त होने...

23/12/2019

Sincerely request everyone who has seen our recent video and is interested in the CAA question to listen to HE Arif Mohammad Khan, whose integrity shines in a time of darkness that has enveloped the Congress and many in this country, as he reminds India of its moral obligation and commitment to the Hindus and Sikhs of erstwhile India. The last in a dying breed of true Indian Muslims: https://youtu.be/550uaKZLbjI

By Shri Arif Mohammed Khan Hon’ble Governor of Kerala

22/12/2019

CAA protestors want the people behind such laws, laws which punish a person with death for so called 'blasphemy', to be bought to India in the name of equality. Shame on you and shame on your thought and spineless behaviour.

Mr. Junaid Hafeez has been condemned to die because he posted something on FB. And they call India fascist. Remember, this is the law of that land. Not an aberration but the law. Read and weep.

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/pakistan-professor-junaid-hafeez-sentenced-to-death-for-blasphemous-post-on-social-media-2152442?pfrom=home-topstories

A Pakistani court on Saturday sentenced a university professor to death for blasphemy under a law that critics say is often used to target minorities and liberal activists.

21/12/2019

Must watch. In this two part video, Aviram explores the CAA and NRC in detail and also responds to the various objections being raised:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLX84_FB00o&list=PLtZqm5MuowGjcr4FK3x8HyWq1BHL_Qlq7&index=2&t=0s

This video explores the historical, social, legal and moral arguments that deal with the recently enacted Citizenship Amendment Act and the NRC in Assam.

21/12/2019

Today, we look at the BJP's historic decision to defang Article 370 and its implications on Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh and India:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_-V-9-O1Vw

Analysis of India's recent move to defang article 370 and reorganise the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. Covers Jammu & Kashmir's historical relation wit...

21/12/2019

In this two part analysis, we look at why BJP won the Indian national elections in 2019 and what does the future hold.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oqj5vWM8Ez8&list=PLtZqm5MuowGgiLDxnqNYZXZq0UTuhUdOe&index=2&t=0s

Drishtikon presents an analysis of the 2019 Indian elections covering why the BJP won and what's wrong with the Congress.