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She has said nothing about Communists destroying W.B. economy. However, such anti social elements have joined TMC, they drove away Tata Nano project away. Subhashini Ali had forced closure of several industries in kanpur during hey days of communism .

All are bunch of English speaking morons, pseudo-sickulars., good for nothing, lunatics

All are bunch of English speaking morons, pseudo-sickulars., good for nothing, lunatics

Secularism in India: A Complex Yet Harmonious Coexistence Secularism, a concept deeply rooted in the separation of religion and state, originated in the West, where the focus was to limit the influence of religion on governance and ensure equality in a multi-religious society. However, in India, where religion is intertwined with customs, traditions, morality, and faith, secularism takes on a distinct meaning, uniquely adapted to the country's diverse and pluralistic ethos. This raises an important question: To what extent is secularism possible in a nation where spiritualism and humanism often take precedence over materialism and where religion shapes cultural identity? The Indian Context of Secularism Unlike the Western model, Indian secularism does not advocate a strict wall of separation between religion and state. Instead, it emphasizes the equal respect for all religions ("Sarva Dharma Sambhava"). The Indian Constitution embodies this principle by ensuring freedom of religion, non-discrimination on religious grounds, and the right to manage religious institutions, while maintaining the state's impartiality towards all faiths. This approach recognizes the significance of religion in the lives of Indians, reflecting the teachings of great thinkers like Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, and Rabindranath Tagore, who stressed spiritual and humanistic values as central to the Indian way of life. Challenges of Western Secularism in India Diverse Religious Landscape: India is home to numerous religions, each with its customs, festivals, and traditions. Unlike the homogeneity often seen in Western countries, this diversity makes a rigid secular framework impractical. For instance, national holidays in India honor festivals of various religions, highlighting inclusivity rather than separation. Interplay of Religion and Culture: In India, religion is not just a personal belief system but a way of life. Customs, arts, and literature are deeply influenced by religious traditions. For instance, the celebration of Diwali, Eid, or Christmas transcends religious boundaries and becomes a part of the national ethos. Spiritualism Over Materialism: Indian philosophy has long emphasized spiritual fulfillment over material comfort. The teachings of saints and sages advocate for a balanced life rooted in dharma (duty), compassion, and community well-being. This stands in contrast to the material-centric worldview often associated with Western secularism. Role of Religion in Morality and Social Fabric: Religion in India often acts as a moral compass and a unifying force in communities. Many social movements, from Gandhi's satyagraha to modern-day environmental initiatives, draw upon spiritual values to inspire action. Secularism as Humanism Given these unique characteristics, secularism in India aligns more closely with humanism than with the Western notion of strict separation. This humanism respects the inherent dignity of individuals, transcending religious identities, while allowing space for faith and spirituality. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi exemplified this ideal. Gandhi, deeply spiritual yet firmly secular, championed the cause of all religions coexisting peacefully, promoting love and respect over division. The Path Forward: Harmonizing Modernity and Tradition Educating on Shared Values: Promoting the universal values of compassion, equality, and justice found in all religions can strengthen India's secular ethos without alienating its spiritual heritage. Inclusive Governance: Policymakers must continue to ensure that the state's role remains impartial while protecting the rights and freedoms of all communities, as envisioned in the Constitution. Focus on Spiritual and Humanistic Goals: Encouraging a return to India's humanistic and spiritual roots can address modern challenges like materialism, consumerism, and environmental degradation. Balancing Tradition with Progress: The wisdom of Indian traditions can coexist with modern principles of equality and justice. For instance, reforming discriminatory practices within communities while preserving the positive aspects of cultural heritage is essential. Conclusion Secularism in India is not about erasing religion but about harmonizing its diverse expressions within a framework of equality and mutual respect. While the Western concept of secularism may not fit seamlessly into the Indian psyche, India's unique brand of secularism-rooted in spiritualism, humanism, and pluralism-offers a model of coexistence that can inspire the world. As Swami Vivekananda once said: "The ideal of India is not the intellectual nor the material but the spiritual; not the survival of the fittest but the protection of the weakest." India’s secularism reflects this ideal, embracing diversity while nurturing the shared values that bind humanity together.

The True Spirit of Capitalism: A Pathway to Socio-Economic Progress Capitalism, when embraced in its true form, serves as a powerful engine for innovation, entrepreneurship, and healthy competition. It is designed to reward creativity and efficiency, fostering economic growth while improving the quality of life for the masses. However, the challenges faced in India's socio-economic landscape today are not due to capitalism itself but rather the distortion of its principles through crony capitalism and corporate feudalism. These deviations create monopolistic and duopolistic economies, where a few entities dictate terms, stifling competition and inflating the cost of necessities such as education, transportation, and essential services. Take, for example, dynamic pricing in Airlines, Indian Railways or the exorbitant fees of premier education institutions like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). These are results of a skewed system that prioritizes profits over public welfare, leaving the middle class burdened and opportunities for upward mobility restricted. Instead of fostering fair competition, crony capitalism allows a handful of family-run conglomerates to monopolize wealth and influence, creating a stark divide between the haves and have-nots. True capitalism, in contrast, is not opposed to the creation of wealth but emphasizes equal opportunities and a level playing field. For India to harness its democratic and economic potential, it must eliminate the nexus of politics and business that perpetuates these inequities. Transparent governance, strong regulatory frameworks, and policies promoting fair competition are critical to ensuring that the benefits of capitalism uplift all sections of society, not just a privileged few. Only by returning to the fundamental ethos of capitalism can India achieve inclusive growth and socio-economic progress in its truest sense. India should discourage crony capitalism and corporate feudalism, which are creating inequality in wealth and privileges between a few rich business families and the large population of the country. The majority of Indians are struggling to maintain a balance between rising prices and creating assets, such as purchasing homes. This challenge is especially pronounced in cities like Mumbai, where housing prices have spiraled out of reach for most people, and there is a significant disparity between rental costs and the salaries earned. Addressing these systemic issues is essential for fostering a fairer and more equitable society. To bridge this widening gap, India must implement policies that promote fair competition and economic inclusion while dismantling the unhealthy nexus between politics and big business. This can be achieved through stricter regulatory frameworks, transparent political funding, and robust measures to ensure that economic opportunities are accessible to all, not just a privileged few. In the housing sector, comprehensive reforms are essential to make homes affordable for the middle class. Initiatives like incentivizing affordable housing projects, regulating speculative real estate practices, and creating financial support mechanisms for first-time homebuyers can help address the disparity. Rent control policies and improved urban planning must also be prioritized to ensure that living costs align more closely with income levels, especially in metropolitan cities. India’s economic progress should not come at the cost of deepening inequality. By focusing on inclusive growth, dismantling monopolistic structures, and fostering genuine entrepreneurship, the nation can build a fairer economy that empowers its citizens to achieve their aspirations without being burdened by systemic disadvantages. This approach will pave the way for a balanced and sustainable socio-economic future, where progress is shared equitably across all sections of society.

A Welfare Society: Bridging the Gap Between Capitalism and Public Needs Socialism, once heralded as a means to ensure equitable distribution of resources, has proven to be less effective in modern times. Its inherent flaws, such as the monopolization of services by the government, often result in poor service quality, inefficiency, and a lack of innovation. These shortcomings highlight the need for a balanced approach-one that marries the efficiency and innovation of capitalism with the compassion and inclusivity of a welfare society. A welfare society, unlike socialism, does not advocate government control over all aspects of the economy but seeks to address the basic needs of the population. For example, free or subsidized healthcare programs like West Bengal’s Swasthya Sathi or the national Ayushman Bharat scheme can ensure access to quality medical care for all citizens without crippling household finances. Similarly, affordable education systems with reasonable fees can bridge the gap between socio-economic classes, creating opportunities for upward mobility and fostering talent across the board. To encourage sustainable urban living, governments must invest in subsidized, efficient public transport systems such as Light Rail Transit (LRT) and metro networks. These systems not only reduce pollution and congestion in cities but also make commuting more affordable, ensuring that fewer people rely on personal vehicles that choke roads and increase both air and noise pollution. By implementing these measures, India can leverage capitalism to spur economic growth while ensuring that the masses are not left behind. This approach balances the best of both worlds-capitalism’s capacity to innovate and create wealth with a welfare state’s responsibility to provide equal opportunities and a safety net for its citizens. By discarding outdated socialist practices and embracing a welfare-oriented framework, India can ensure qualitative public services at affordable prices, maintaining financial viability while meeting the needs of a growing and diverse population.

Great conversation, thanks for putting this together! This itself is a great resource to come back to and once again listen to the great insights. Thanks again!

If it is all about racism, how you explain Trump did so better with Latinos, hispanics, blacks. Everyone is a racist?! Pay attention to the corrupt neoliberal agenda of democratic party that has basically eviscerated the population. People rightly view the status quo with contempt. Liberal institutions have lost trust of the people. Look at the causes, don't just sit there and blame everything on racism. That's lazy!

No mention of genocide. Vast majority of US population is repulsed by the democratic party of actively committing genocide. Prof. Ghosh is right, kamala Harris had no economic agenda, no idea what population wants, democratic party is run by corrupt consultants, offered more of the same, time and again when asked if there is ANYTHING different that she would do, she vacuously responded that there is no difference between her and Biden. Then embracing, parading war criminals like Liz Cheney, Dick Cheney while kicking one's own base is not a winning strategy. Ramakrishnan (think one of the questioners) has very narrow, and superficial view. It is economics that drive people's decision. Blaming racism is a scapegoat. Confront the broader malaise, causes of deep corruption in the democratic party and reflect as to why people are so DESPERATE that they would even prefer a game show host, don't just play identity/gender card. Get in touch with reality. How come the same people voted for Obama and now switched to Trump can be dismissed as 'racism'. Extremely politically stunted view

🎉🎉🎉👍👍👍✅️

great initiative..we need defenders of democracy,secularism and socialism,secularism and defeat the enemies of it in india. 🎉

People voting whomever they like isn't the erosion of democracy, crying for People not voting the side you love or want is.

I however agree with many points made by you regarding concentration of wealth and incomes in few hands. Naturally these hands become very powerful and influence the state greatly. Democratic politicians are vulnerable, indeed complicit, in modifying the state to suit the powerful. Indeed, a crude example is how Maharashtra was manipulated by criminal lords at one time or how UP was given to Goons under "Samajwadi" party.

Prof. Jayati I have watched many of your conversations on TH-cam/TV etc. Let me make it clear that I hate the so called "communists". My hate developed in my youth while working in West Bengal. I found the labour power concentrators were as bad as the Capital concentrators which you are trying to blame (Not that I like them, I tolerate them). I just want to add about your friends-Indian Left- they need to shed their snobbishness, their verbose statements, nonsensical rhetoric etc. Please speak simply as you did. Develop your thought to a stage where it is practical. Make specific suggestions. Bring clarity and efficiency into it.

Capitalism is ready to tolerate Democracy as long as it is profitable and controllable.

Trash of JNU. Totally confused.

Good for nothing bengali pontificating. Useless

Only thing india needa now is meritocracy and ban on freebies on basis of caste creed gender religion color of skin

Who is this moron

capitalism is incompatible with democracy

Great analysis, thank you! Could you help me with something unrelated: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). What's the best way to send them to Binance?

Right wing people (like J Sai Deepak) are spreading such misinformation to achieve personal goals

Since I m learning ancient history with religion of the world and India, it’s true what is this lecture is, everyone should learn about our history without any bias then we will learn about true history.. thanks 🙏

Hindutwa not like aryabrat.

Arya to abhee hai sir mere samne. It's India

Muslim of larkana yet to demolish of history

i don't think, time of buddha caste system was present,

Excellent presentation. In-depth analysis. Congratulations to speaker.

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Vikram Sampath please. Let’s have Romila respond to his findings on Khilji and Somnath and how she distorted history on that. There are very specific points that right wing historians have raised like the above; she needs to respond to each one with data to regain some confidence. Else it’s just her English that will get admiration

Sirs,according to Professor Saheb , post independent india is a doctored nation,the only real nation which ever existed in india was Moghul Sultanate.

Shame on you harbans mukhia , you are just a puppet nothing else

Parakal has no solutions for the political economy. Only Hindu Muslim that is all he is focused on.

Still today hindu muslim relations are worst as during partition period.

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U need to shed ur defeatist mindset . U have slave mindset .

One of the most learned lady of our India

The advent of social media and democratisation of discourse has led to upheaval in arts and history but '1+1' still remains '2' and no-one has a complaint against Math....what does that say about the "content" validation in arts subjects???

*If Romila Thapar is a Historian then i am unofficial president of USA.😂😂😂*

There is our history and their history ie there is no scientific history

Are you an expert in Sanskrit?

The argument you use to justify Islamic can be used to justify British colonial rule

Your interpretation of islamic rule is not based on facts they ruled hindus as British ruled india if you justify the Islamic rolu by the same yardstick British rule is justifiable our independence movement is a mockery further the indian muslims are not not ethinic or linguistic minorities they are converted hindus but the arab and turkish mugals are like the British colonial ruler you must know the difference the modern d na test archeological evidence contradict your argument you ate not an expert in the field of archeology and dna evidence sorry you are outdated

Madam with due respect I would like to show the following Marxism is not science it os utopia like plato Historical meterialism of Marxism is not scientific

Very toxic woman 😈

Absolutely wonderful talk. Informative and insightful.

Great lecture by great historian

Madam ,many have doubts about ur history

I can understand why the current government can't tolerate her The fact Is she is perhaps one of the most celebrated historian So much respect and love prof

How does Hindu craftsmen scribbling poor Sanskrit the details of their contribution in repairing the structure infer that they were not forced to do so or asto the nature of rule by foreign invaders? It belies logic.