Latest Stories from Sahil
Is the BJP weaponising Hindu sentiment for electoral gain?
Allegations of the BJP weaponizing Hindu sentiment for electoral gain continue to grow stronger. Is the supposed ‘reclamation’ of temples the latest boon for Narendra Modi? As Prime Minister Narendra Modi ceremoniously unveiled the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya earlier this month, the visual was striking - the country's most powerful political leader inaugurating a religious temple for the majority community. The contradiction, nonetheless, made me uneasy even as chants of...
India’s coaching centers get stricter rules following student suicides
On January 18th, The Ministry of Education issued guidelines to hold coaching centers accountable to tackle the alarming rise in cases of student suicides across the country. The Indian central government has finally stepped up to regulate the vast, unruly coaching center industry following yet another tragic year of student suicides linked to intense academic pressure. The Ministry of Education published new guidelines this month intended to relieve some of the...
Supreme Court reprimands India’s flawed system for rape offences
In a blow to the government that supported the release of the 11 convicts of the 2002 Bilkis Bano rape case during the Gujarat riots, Supreme Court reprimands a flawed system. The release of 11 convicts in the infamous 2002 Bilkis Bano case highlights the bitter truth that justice remains elusive for most rape survivors in India. Their surprise freeing sparked outrage across the country, leading the Supreme Court to...
The necessity of menstrual leave policies in India
By being vocal against the notion of a period leave, the Indian Minister of Women and Child Development has started the conversation about why they are a necessity for the country’s women workforce. A storm of debate on menstrual leave erupted last week after Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, stated during the winter session of the Indian Parliament that ‘menstruation is not a disability’. Her words have sparked...
The Uttar Pradesh state is threatening women’s safety and freedoms
Having recently revoked its own scheme of banning late evening coaching classes for girls, the Uttar Pradesh state of India continues to show worrying signs of patriarchal moral policing. When the Uttar Pradesh government recently prohibited girls from attending coaching classes after 8pm in the name of security, it stirred a furor across India. While the administration claimed it was shielding women under the ‘Safe City’ project, women’s rights...
Has Indian press freedom reached its breaking point?
With two new UAPA arrests of journalists, Indian reporters bear the worst burns of a government's crusade to silence dissent. In the early hours of Tuesday, October 3rd, Delhi Police raided the residences of more than 46 journalists associated with the news outlet NewsClick accusing them of siphoning funds. Two among them, NewsClick editor Prabir Purkayastha and administrator Amit Chakravarty, were arrested under the draconian ‘Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act’ (UAPA). This...
Opinion – India’s External Affairs Manager is discriminating against religious minorities
As India’s External Affairs Minister taunts to ‘show him discrimination’ when questioned on minorities' status, the ground zero reality on the subject is haunting. At an event at Hudson Institute, S. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India, when questioned about the diminishing rights of minorities in India under the policies and agendas of the incumbent government, cleverly dodges the real question. He did so by answering about how key markers for good...
Opinion – Authentic queer representation is still vital
For a community that faces discrimination both online and offline, genuine portrayal of queer joy in shows such as Heartstopper and Red White & Royal Blue deserves to be praised. Given how difficult everyday living is, many of us take to cinema or television to escape. For the queer community, a group often faced with disproportionate hostility, representation on screen can mean more than just a distraction from the real...
Understanding the specifics of the discomfort index
The level of discomfort a person feels in varying levels of heat and humidity is known as the ‘discomfort index’. Increasing global temperatures are contributing to stress, job losses, and an alarming rise in gender-based violence. A meteorological term used in line with weather forecasting, the 'discomfort index', is a measure for heat-driven stress and anxiety. This index is mostly concerned with our feelings and emotional responses toward discomfort and how...
Opinion – Queerphobia’s rise is affecting the Indian internet
With the beginning of the marriage equality hearings in the Supreme Court, the Indian queer community has had to face rising queerphobia online, ranging from dehumanization to death threats. I haven’t had a single day of peace on social media since April 18th. This date began one of the most arduous hearings in the Indian Supreme Court's history of handling queer issues: whether marriage equality should be sanctified under the law...
