This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Jayashree Arunachalam and Shardool Katyayan are joined by journalist and author Rahul Pandita and The News Minute’s Sudipto Mondal.

The discussion begins with Rahul’s new novel, Our Friends in Good Houses, and then turns to the recent killing of Maoist commander Madvi Hidma in Andhra Pradesh.

Rahul recalls meeting the man who recruited Hidma as a child. He then talks about the “tragedy” of the Maoists and the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). 

“One reason why we are witnessing this downfall now of the CPM office is that this somehow, with the passage of time, steered away from what they had set out to do, which is to basically protect the adivasis and their natural resources. But during this course, I think they became obsessive about fighting the state…and became, in their own ways, stakeholders in these natural resources. That is the tragedy of the CPM.”

Sudipto says, “The worst part about the Maoist movement is that it follows one basic principle of armed conflict, which is that the people sending people to war are old men. The people going to war are young boys."

The conversation then moves to the Red Fort blasts. Abhinandan asks the panel about the video of a key suspect in the case justifying suicide attacks, seeking their views on whether airing such footage is irresponsible or journalistically necessary.

This and a lot more. Tune in!

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Song: Chhod Aaye Hum

Timecodes

00:00:00 - Introductions and announcements

00:03:37 - Discussion on Rahul Pandita’s Book

00:11:40 - Headlines 

00:18:33 - Killing of Madvi Hidma

01:00:38  - Red Fort Blasts Aftermath

01:21:36 - Sudipto & Rahul Pandita’s Recommendations

01:24:58 - Letters

01:36:40- Recommendations

References:

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Fight to Breathe: Combat Air Pollution

Our Moon Has Blood Clots: A Memoir of a Lost Home in Kashmir

Hello Bastar: The Untold Story of India's Maoist Movement

OUR FRIENDS IN GOOD HOUSES: A NOVEL

newslaundry interviews Rahul Pandita

Recommendations:

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Shardool 

Maachis 

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Sudipto Mondal 

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Gabriel García Márquez – Collected Works

Rahul Pandita 

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Walking to Jerusalem – Guy Stagg

Check out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and letters.

Produced by NL Team. 

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