Grand Tamasha
1: Pratap Bhanu Mehta on Indian Democracy at 73
Sep 1, 2020
Pratap Bhanu Mehta, India's finest public intellectual, joins Milan for a conversation on Indian democracy. They discuss the handling of COVID-19 by democratic and autocratic regimes, polarization and prejudice in Indian society, executive power in Indian democracy, and the Supreme Court's role in upholding the rule of law.
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Quick takeaways
- The COVID-19 crisis revealed a lack of mobilization and accountability in Indian citizens, highlighting the need for a more participatory democracy.
- The erosion of civic community and the concentration of executive power undermine democratic accountability in India.
Deep dives
Lessons from the COVID-19 Crisis and Indian Democracy
The podcast episode explores the lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis in India and its impact on Indian democracy. The guest, Pratap Bhanumetha, highlights the surprising undemandingness of Indian citizens in the face of a lockdown and migrant worker crisis, showing a lack of mobilization for a more accountable government. He also discusses the concentration of executive power and the rapid acquisition of powers by the government without accountability or clear legal sanction. Additionally, the podcast touches on the erosion of civic community and social capital, which affects the ability to understand and prioritize the common good.
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