Ramachandra Guha is a historian, but really, he is essentially a philosopher who makes history relevant to current events. He has authored multiple books on history, cricket and the environment. Newslaundry uploads Guha’s recent lecture at the Raza Foundation about the problems of freedom of expression in India. There a few men who can combine intellectualism with wit while addressing the currency of the times. Guha is one of them. He uses Bollywood actor Johnny Walker’s 50-50 paradigm on rating freedom of expression in India. He also explains how freedom of critical analysis and reports of governments and business are curtailed by governments and business houses who control the media by withholding advertisements and applying other pressures. Guha elaborates on how journalists for personal benefits align themselves with political parties and are collaborators in ruining the freedom to report critically. A good book is said to be hard to put down. Guha’s riveting lecture is hard to switch off. Guha’s new book Democrats and Dissenters is published this week.

Recorded by Kishalay Bhattacharjee