The Interview With Karan Thapar

The Wire
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From incisive questions to insightful responses, the most definitive interviews that you need to watch out for.

  1. 3d ago

    Did “uncertainty and the meaninglessness of life” fuel student protests?

    Did "uncertainty and the meaninglessness of life" fuel student protests?: Prof. Suhas Palshikar, Chief Editor, Studies in Indian Politics, to Karan Thapar for The Wire. ....................................... How should we assess the outcome of last week’s student protests? Is there a wider message that they have signalled? For the government? For the country? And how should we view the future of the Cockroach Janata Party and Abhijeet Dipke? Those are some of the key issues I will explore today with the Chief Editor of Studies in Indian Politics, Prof. Suhas Palshikar. Prof. Palshikar argues that the student protests sent out two loud and clear messages to the government as well as the country. The first was about the education system. It has, as he puts it, become “boring time-pass” or a “creche for young adults”. It needs to be more than just overhauled. It needs to be re-thought through ab initio. The second message is in a sense deeper. Prof. Palshikar argues that the protests and the striking energy behind them “represent the utter meaninglessness of life that confronts (India’s) youth”. Life has become precarious at multiple levels and that uncertainty has created angst, deep concern and a sense of hopelessness. As he puts it “life is precarious, irrespective of whether you belong to low-income groups or the so-called middle class”. I will stop there. You should hear Prof. Palshikar directly. His analysis and understanding of the recent protests is both revealing and disquieting. It’s the second because we don’t have credible answers to the message the protesters sent out. Here is the link:

    Did “uncertainty and the meaninglessness of life” fuel student protests?

  2. 6d ago

    Gen Z has lost its fear & will not be silent & helpless in face of Modi govt excesses & injustices

    Gen Z has lost its fear & will not be silent & helpless in face of Modi govt excesses & injustices: Neha Bora, National President, AISA, to Karan Thapar for The Wire. ....................................... Is Saturday’s agreement between the Modi government and the Cockroach Janta Party secure or is it in danger of being breached? Will the Bihar government apologize for its police constable firing an AK-47 at the protestors? Is the BJP right to treat Dharmendra Pradhan as a hero? And has the pall of fear lifted for Gen Z forever? Those are some of the issues I shall raise with the National President of the All India Students’ Association who fasted at Jantar Mantar for nearly 23 days, Neha Bora.

    Gen Z has lost its fear & will not be silent & helpless in face of Modi govt excesses & injustices

  3. 6d ago

    Student protest success a personal defeat for Modi; his self-confidence will weaken

    Student protest success a personal defeat for Modi; his self-confidence will weaken: Aakar Patel, Author and Chairman Amnesty India, to Karan Thapar for The Wire. ....................................... Today we focus on the outcome of the Cockroach Janata Party’s protest culminating in Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Was this a defeat for the government and how significant was it? Who deserves the credit? Abhijeet Dipke and the CJP or Sonam Wangchuk? What impact will this have on Prime Minister Modi’s image and confidence? And on Indian politics and next year’s state elections? Finally, is this a potential turning point? And how can we ensure history actually turns? My guest is the well-known and highly regarded journalist, author and Chairman of Amnesty India Aakar Patel.

    Student protest success a personal defeat for Modi; his self-confidence will weaken

  4. Jul 24

    Was Chief Justice’s refusal to take up student case irresponsible? Dushyant Dave responds

    Was Chief Justice's refusal to take up student case irresponsible? Dushyant Dave calls it "failure of constitutional duty": Dushyant Dave to Karan Thapar for The Wire. ....................................... On Wednesday when a lawyer attempted to convince the Supreme Court to admit a case about how the fundamental rights of young students had been breached when they were beaten up by the police and miscreants the Chief Justice refused to take it up. He said don’t waste our time and don’t waste your time. Today we ask - What should we make of that response? Does it undermine our constitutional fundamental rights? Does it weaken the Supreme Court’s duty to protect those rights? Does it negate the power of Article 32, which was drafted to defend those rights? And how would Dr Ambedkar view all of this? Those are the issues I shall raise with one of India’s most highly regarded constitutional lawyers and a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Dushyant Dave.

    Was Chief Justice’s refusal to take up student case irresponsible? Dushyant Dave responds

  5. Jul 23

    In 1947 India came far closer to balkanization than we realize

    In 1947 India came far closer to balkanization than we realize: Josy Joseph, Author, Birth of a Nation: The Twenty-One Days That Made India, to Karan Thapar for The Wire. ....................................... How close did India come to balkanization in 1947? A recent book, based on previously unseen documents from the archives of India, suggests that the last 21 days before independence were critical. During that period several states like Travancore, Hyderabad, Kashmir, Jodhpur, Bhopal, Junagadh and Indore sought ways of becoming independent or, even, acceding to Pakistan. The book is called ‘Birth of a Nation: The Twenty-One Days That Made India’. It’s author Josy Joseph is my guest.

    In 1947 India came far closer to balkanization than we realize

  6. Jul 23

    I stand with the protesting students; this is not the India I love; I don’t take Modi seriously

    I stand with the protesting students; this is not the India I love; I don't take Modi seriously: Naseeruddin Shah to Karan Thapar for The Wire. ....................................... My guest today is probably one of the greatest actors on the Indian screen. Many rightly consider him an actor’s actor. Earlier today he posted a video expressing his anguish and deep concern about the way protesting students have been treated in Delhi on Monday. In this interview I speak to Naseeruddin Shah about what’s happened, about the government that’s responsible, about the students who have been protesting and about the implications of all of this for India’s democracy. But I start by replaying his one minute fifty second video.

    I stand with the protesting students; this is not the India I love; I don’t take Modi seriously

  7. Jul 18

    Sonam Wangchuk symbolizes the best of India; the Modi government badly mishandled his fast

    Sonam Wangchuk symbolizes the best of India; the Modi government badly mishandled his fast: Ramachandra Guha to Karan Thapar for The Wire. ....................................... For 21 days Sonam Wangchuk has fasted to try and force Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign over the NEET issue. This morning the government forcibly took him to Safdarjung Hospital to end his fast. However, his wife, Gitanjali Angmo, has tweeted that nothing should be given to him orally or intravenously without her permission. Today we focus on Sonam Wangchuk’s fast, the political response it’s got and the role fasts play in the politics of India. My guest is the well-known historian, author and political commentator, Ramachandra Guha.

    Sonam Wangchuk symbolizes the best of India; the Modi government badly mishandled his fast

  8. Jul 18

    The cow belt has hijacked the future of India and is the curse of our politics

    The cow belt has hijacked the future of India and is the curse of our politics: Author and Lawyer, Javed Gaya, to Karan Thapar for The Wire. ....................................... Has the cow belt hijacked the future of India? Is its influence the curse of Indian politics? Is India in danger of being consumed by its past? And does the baleful influence of Uttar Pradesh dominate Indian politics? In his recent book ‘Heartland Rising: The Making of Majoritarian India’, the author and lawyer Javed Gaya suggests the answer is yes. In this interview he explains his thinking.

    The cow belt has hijacked the future of India and is the curse of our politics
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From incisive questions to insightful responses, the most definitive interviews that you need to watch out for.

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