Episode 2: Go Corona Go

Hindu Muslim High High

As the COVID crisis rages in India, the Modi government does what it does best-create distractions. So, in this episode we reminisce all that has happened since the pandemic came to India. The theatrics of our beloved Prime Minister to the overly enthusiastic response of his followers creating an outrageous display of absurdity for the whole world to witness. But, it is only so long that one can distract an entire nation, and the cost of ineptitude combined with arrogance is now for everyone to see in the number of dead bodies floating on the banks of Ganges (ironic, isn't it?). As macabre as it gets, there is much to learn from this fiasco- that in a democracy, one should pay a close attention to what the government does, and try to see beyond the obvious.
In this context, what could be a better movie to talk about than "Wag the Dog"? The 1997 political satire black comedy centers on the creation of a war in Albania to distract the US public from a sex scandal implicating the incumbent that surfaces right before the presidential elections. While our Prime Minister seems to have stayed clear of any scandal involving a woman (wink-wink), he seems to be particularly dexterous in shedding some precious tears to overwhelm public sentiments.
However grim the situation be, hope is always kept alive by a few who try to do what they can to help each other without bias. Sunita Vishwanath, a fierce supporter of egalitarianism and a seasoned social worker and activist, talks about her journey, disappointments, and motivations that keep her going. We talk to her to explore the difficult space in which she operates, being an anti-caste Savarna, challenges of creating trust in a diverse coalition of communities historically oppressed by Hinduism and re-imagining Hinduism sans the evils that traditionally come along. We also talk about the attack that she has to endure for her advocacy and much more. Due to limited time, we could not include the full interview in the podcast, but we will make the entire interview available on our website- www.theghadar.org.
Link to the articles used in this episode:
1: Patanjali ripped jeans
2: Al-Jazeera article 1- Covid funding
Al-Jazeera article 2- Covid funding
3: Article by Sunita Vishwanath
4:Bodies of COVID victims floating on the banks of Ganges
5: FCRA restrictions hurting COVID relief
6: Sunita Vishwanath full interview
Errata:
In the podcast it was mentioned that he Kumbh mela happened in Allahabad, while it actually happened in Haridwar.