Is Dhurandhar propaganda - or a challenge to Bollywood's dominant ideological narrative? Sriram Chellapilla argues that the film breaks from decades of cinematic conventions that framed Pakistan, nationalism, and secularism through a particular political lens. In doing so, it exposes Bollywood's own embedded propaganda structures and gives expression to viewpoints long excluded from mainstream storytelling. The essay presents Dhurandhar not as propaganda, but as powerful counterpropaganda against an entrenched ideological and political narrative.
Latest Posts

Secularism Was Never Ours: The Wrong Word for the Wrong Country
What does “secularism” really mean, and does the concept fit India’s civilizational experience? In this essay, Kshiteesh Sharma traces the origins of secularism to specific Christian conflicts in Europe and argues that the term was later transplanted into India without regard for its distinct dharmic traditions. Examining the history of the 42nd Amendment, temple administration, and differing state approaches to religious communities, the article questions whether India’s current model is truly neutral or a legacy of colonial categories. Ultimately, it calls for a re-examination of governance through indigenous concepts such as Dharma and Rajadharma rather than imported frameworks.

Desire, Hierarchy, and Dehumanization: A Critique of Anti-Caste Imagination
This essay examines the deeper assumptions behind a provocative anti-caste claim that caste will end only when oppressed communities can marry Brahmin women. Drawing on Frantz Fanon’s analysis of colonial psychology, it argues that such rhetoric often preserves the very hierarchy it seeks to destroy. The article also critiques the reduction of caste to endogamy, exposing conceptual contradictions in modern anti-caste discourse. Finally, it warns against the dehumanization hidden within symbolic “conquest” narratives, where individuals are reduced to tokens in ideological struggles. Ultimately, the essay calls for a more rigorous understanding of caste, equality, and human dignity beyond the language of resentment and inversion.

It’s the Community, Stupid! Remembering the Lost Art of Celebrating Together
Once, Navratri Kanjak was more than a ritual—it was a living expression of trust, where every home in the neighborhood welcomed children like family. Today, rising walls and shrinking connections have turned a shared celebration into a hollow formality. This article reflects on how rituals once built community and belonging, and how their spirit fades when relationships disappear. It is both a memory of what was and a call to rebuild neighborhood bonds with intention.

Category Errors in the Study of Bharatīya Jñāna Paramparā
Modern scholarship often misreads Bharatīya Jñāna Paramparā by forcing it into text-centric, innovation-driven frameworks that do not match its transmission-based nature. This article argues that the confusion arises from deep category errors about what knowledge is and where it resides. Rather than a collection of texts, the tradition functions as an integrated epistemic architecture sustained through guru–śiṣya paramparā. Recognising this distinction reframes continuity not as stagnation, but as disciplined preservation of valid knowing.
Daily Feed
Atman, Yoga and the Spirit molecule
A look into the world of consciousness from a yogic and research oriented viewpoint.
The Ādi-Varāha of North – King Bhoja Pratihār
It is unfortunate that the legacy of a ruler of such great strength, achievements and contribution like Mihir Bhoja is being tossed back & forth for short-sighted political gains.
Lifestyle Choice – Material, Spiritual or a Combination
A few of the factors and reasons why we should choose to accept a fully dedicated spiritual life, or remain in material pursuits, or for now choose a balance of both.
The Beautiful Tree and Putana’s milk
A brief view of the history of education in India, the impact of Christian education and the attitudes that it inculcates.
Memoirs of a Kondh in Konark – Part 2
The idea of severing ties with their ancient culture seems to have easily for those who have converted, now leading a life bereft of any roots.
Diwali, or The Second Exile
Lord Rama is still barred from returning to his birthplace, thereby prolonging the agony of his worshippers.
Ban on Paśubali – A Judicial Blunder (Part 2)
An ignorance of sacred texts along with a loose argument has made the ban on Paśubali, an attack on Tantric worship.
The Confused Hindu: Victim of Macaulayism
An adherent of Macaulayism can well afford to take the neutral, even hostile stance, away from and above Hindu society, its problems and its struggles, because, in the last analysis, he no more regards Hindu society as his own or as his indispensable benefactor.
Understanding Indian Economy: Ancient To Modern – Part 4
The previous parts were an attempt to summarise the Indian economic story from its ancient roots until the end of British rule from various sources. The understanding of the Indian economy after independence also tends to be a little complex for a layperson to understand because of conflicting opinions. However, the overall story is one of hope and pride rather than shame and disappointment. This part also includes selected references and further readings for those interested.
Mahabharata War Date: Rebuttal to claim of 3067 BCE
A rejoinder to falsify the claim of 3067 BCE as the year of the Mahabharata war.
कृष्ण प्रेम (Krishna's love)
श्री कृष्ण के प्रति अटूट प्रेम, मानवता और आध्यात्मिकता के बीच के गहरे सम्बन्ध को दर्शाता है।
‘Flight of the Deity’ from Mulasthana – Part 1
To live in a land with a horrifying past whose scars still remain.
Daily Feed
Effects of Colonization on Indian Thought – Part 1
The country’s so-called elite, whose mind had been shaped and hypnotized by their colonial masters, always assumed that anything Western was so superior that in order to reach all-round fulfilment, India merely had to follow European thought, science, and political institutions.
Philosophical Systems Of India – A Primer – Part 5
The problems in Western philosophical traditions arise due to many factors, mainly the confusion of the relation between mind and matter; and making philosophy subservient to scientific dogma. Indian philosophy is not a dry intellectual exercise and holds a definite purpose to propel humans into the highest realms of bliss. Indian and Western philosophical traditions run on two parallel tracks consequently.
Modern challenges to an ancient civilization
An interview with Jagadguru Shri Nishchalananda Saraswati ji, Shankaracharya of the Govardhan Math of Puri.
The Deity: D-scale of Dharma
On objects like vessels, over time sediments accrete and coat the surface. The process of removing the accretions and restoring the shine is known as 'descaling.' Similarly with Deities, over time sentiments and fallacies have formed a layer over our beliefs. This D-Scale can be used to assess that and clean our attitudes towards the deities.
Feminism and Hindu Tradition
The influence of neo-Christian values through liberal doses of feminism is causing irreparable damage to Hindu society.
A primer on state control of Hindu temples
The state control of temples has been a major issue for decades with increasing interference as time has passed.
On the existence of the Self: Part 1
Indian philosophy is never a dry intellectual exercise and has a deep purpose of not only explaining reality but also as a major tool in personal liberation or moksha.
The Relevance of Ram – and that of Ramjanmabhoomi
The site at Ayodhya is doubly important as it signifies the existence of a perfect dharmic state along with the presence of Maryada-Purushottam - Sri Ram.
Am I secular?
Do we need to conform to the skewed concept of who is 'secular' in India?
अयोध्या विवाद और सती प्रथा
राजीव मल्होत्रा और मीनाक्षी जैन के संवाद पर आधारित लेख - राजीव मल्होत्रा द्वारा वर्णित – भाग २
Ashtavakra – The Great Indian Sage
Ashtavakra's advice to King Janaka to free himself from the desire to react and connect with the universal divine energy within.
A Timeline of Ayodhya – Part 1
A chronological order through what several disciplines — archaeology, epigraphy and history in particular — have contributed to our knowledge of the ancient city of Ayodhya.
