India
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The Balti people of Turtuk
Nestling in the Karakoram range in remote Baltistan on the Indo-Pakistan border lies the historic and storied village of Turtuk, once an important stopover on the ancient Silk Road. By Sugato Mukherjee
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Narendra Modi and Hindutva
Why violence towards India's minorities is increasing
To what extent is Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government endangering India's founding principle as a secular state? Sonja Hegasy spoke to social anthropologist and political analyst S. M. Faizan Ahmed in Delhi
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Identity politics in Modi's India
The need to prove you're Indian
Nearly 2 million people in India's Assam state – over 5% of the region's population – are staring at a future where they could be stripped of their citizenship if they are unable to prove they are Indian. Sheikh Saaliq and Shonal Ganguly report
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German-Indian journalist Navina Sundaram
"Out of marginalisation, into the mainstream"
German-Indian journalist Navina Sundaram (1945-2022) is being rediscovered as a key documentary filmmaker. The online archive "The Fifth Wall" documents her work. The English edition was presented in Delhi, India, at the beginning of April. Sonja Hegasy attended the premiere
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India opposition and the Bharat Jodo Yatra
Rahul Gandhi marches for unity
From September 2022 to January 2023, Rahul Gandhi walked the length of India to demonstrate against Narendra Modi and the BJP's divisive policies and rhetoric. Sentenced to two years for 'Modi' defamation on 24 March, Gandhi has now been stripped of his parliamentary mandate. Sonja Hegasy met with political observer S. M. Faizan Ahmed, who joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Delhi
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Dammed thirsty
The cross-border fight for water
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Anti-Muslim agitation
India – Fighting the alleged 'love jihad'
Right-wing Hindu politicians in India are trying to mobilise against partnerships between Muslims and Hindus. In doing so, they are stoking fears of an alleged "love jihad". By Natalie Mayroth
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Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya's tribute
Ali Akbar Khan – sound of the soul
Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya's latest release pays tribute to late virtuoso of the sarod, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. With both men having been instrumental in bridging the gap between classical Indian and European music, it is fitting Bhattacharya should put together this album. Richard Marcus had a listen
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The future of Islamic mysticism
Is Sufism under threat?
Sufis today are under attack from fundamentalists and modernists alike. At the same time, a new form of Sufism is emerging in the West. By Marian Brehmer
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India and Pakistan
The legacy of colonial rule
India's ruling political party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is inspired by the ideology of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Its core philosophy revolves around the idea of a predominantly Hindu India that seeks a global leadership role. By Suparna Banerjee
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Hindu nationalism
Gandhi's killer – a Hindutva hero
Hindu fundamentalist Ashok Sharma has devoted his life to championing the deeds of an Indian "patriot": not revered independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, but the man who shot him dead
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Hindu nationalism
Interfaith marriage in India – a dangerous undertaking
Citing archaic "anti-conversion" laws, right-wing Hindu groups are working to prevent marriages between Indian Hindus and Muslims. Some couples have faced violence and death threats. Murali Krishnan reports from New Delhi