What's your ism?

D Raja, General secretary of the Communist Party of India, discusses the need to revise theoretical positions for communist revolution in India, the role of BR Ambedkar and Buddha in shaping his ideology, and the separate existence of CPI and CPIM. He explores the importance of unity for opposition parties in India, international relations and ideologies, and lessons in compassion inspired by personal experiences. The podcast delves into Marxism, Buddhism, and Ambedkar for social emancipation, as well as reflections on class struggle and cultural revolution for unity and collaboration.

Sitaram Yechury, Leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), discusses confronting caste, India's communist movement, Ukraine war, Modi-Putin similarities, international communism, and his trip to China. The podcast explores ideological divisions in Indian leftist movements, theoretical differences between CPI and CPM, challenges within left movements, perspectives on global right-wing shifts, intersections of caste and communism in India, caste struggles, and land reforms in Bengal.

Former IPS officer RS Praveen Kumar discusses his switch from BSP to BRS, challenges within the anti-caste movement, and the relevance of BSP and Mayawati. He talks about the Ambedkarite movement, initiatives under his non-profit SWAERO, and the changing political landscape in India.

Sagarika Ghose, the journalist-turned-politician who recently made headlines for joining the Trinamool Congress, is set to contest the Rajya Sabha polls. Has she abandoned the journalism front? How does she look at Hindutva? What made her pull out of mainstream media? In this candid conversation with Sudipto Mondal for What’s your ism? – a podcast by The News Minute and Newslaundry – Ghose talks about the BJP, media, Hindutva ideology, liberalism and intellectuals in Indian politics.    On joining the opposition at a time it has “no hope in hell”, Ghose says there is “no space left for the kind of writing I want to do”, and the “danger” to constitutional values is “far beyond” what she could do as a journalist.      She says the mainstream media has been “captured by the Modi government” and has become a purveyor of hatred, bigotry, and “trumpeter of the regime”. “The mainstream media runs counter to what journalism should be”. Ghose further speaks about why Hindutva is anti-constitutional, the “glass club” of men in newsrooms, diversity in media, significance of opposition in a democracy, and why intellectuals don’t make good politicians.  Tune in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bhante Suniti Bhikkuni, founder of India's first order of female monks, discusses the dilemmas of associating with men and identifying with Navayana Buddhism. She explores the controversies in the Buddhist community, struggles of female ordination, and the influence of Mahayana Buddhism. They also discuss the importance of identifying as Buddhist, the link between gender binary and sexual harassment, precepts in Buddhism, feminism, the Me Too movement, and discrimination faced by bikkhunis in Thailand.

India's leading feminist voice from a Marxist perspective, Kavita Krishnan, who was also one of the few women to ever enter the powerful politburo of the CPI (ML), speaks about the moral dilemmas of identifying with the formal left in the country. She also delved into the complications in Marxist thought arising out of questions concerning women, Dalits and other groups that have been marginalised because of their identity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Global anti-caste scholar and activist Suraj Yengde discusses the future of the Ambedkarite anti-caste struggle, woke culture, Rahul Gandhi, and the INDIA alliance. He also talks about categorising Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, the significance of politics, spirituality, and Buddhism, the influence of Kanshiram in making Periyaar a well-known figure, and the complexities of Dalit identity within religion and caste.