Hafta letters: NL's ‘virtue-signalling’, pointless banter, and govt control of media

Karan 

Regarding Abhinandan's question on why some groups react to stereotypes while others don't: it likely comes down to who is telling the joke. Because pop culture that you consume may be North Indian, groups like Punjabis or Gujaratis are often making fun of themselves, which is generally well-received. However, when it comes to Tamils or Kannadigas, the jokes are often made by outsiders. While they might embrace those same stereotypes in their own regional cinema, it feels different when the mockery comes from someone outside the community.

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Anonymous 

Hi NL Team,

I am an MSc Data Science student in the UK. Listening to Hafta keeps me sane.

I strongly disagree with Abhinandan’s view that Gen Z is "lazy". We aren't lazy; we are radicalised. In 2020, at SAI International (Bhubaneswar), a BJD elected official asked who respected Gandhi; only ~11 hands went up. That is systemic brainwashing.

The Vande Mataram debate reveals insecurity. In the UK, dissent doesn't collapse the nation. India seems fragile by comparison; an Odisha MLA even wanted to divide the state just because he preferred "Kalinga" over "Utkala"!

Finally, while the UPA had its faults, the NDA is actively dismantling institutions (RTI, MNREGA) without facing the scrutiny UPA did. This lack of accountability fuels the "brain drain". As an engineer, I would rather maximise my research abroad than struggle in India.

Kind Regards,

‘A’ (Please use a pseudonym, I am scared of the scrutiny)

PS (Context and "The Real Letter" — Please Read!):

The 150-Word Struggle (and Gemini): I actually used Gemini to help me shrink the main body because I kept writing too much! I apologise if the writing feels disjointed or not like a "proper" writer; I prioritised cramming in as much content as possible over style. I know you likely cannot read this entire PS on air, but I just want the team to read it. An acknowledgement would mean the world to me. Since my peer group back in India is largely "Bhakts", you guys are my only outlet for sane discussion.

Why Ravishji Matters (Signal vs Noise): My parents (and grandparents) grew up with high-quality, limited sources like BBC Radio and DD; today, we have infinite noise. As an engineer, I would rather spend my time learning technical theory (how to make robots communicate!) than filtering through political propaganda. Ravishji and NL act as a curator who separates the signal from the noise.

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Sriram Iyer 

Folks - Loooo...ng time subscriber. Huge respect for the work that you guys do. While the latest episode was engaging, I found it quite disappointing to hear Manisha (whose views are mostly quite nuanced) boxing "Tamilians and Bengalis" as being the most intolerant when it came to taking criticism. Where is the evidence ? Why pick on specific communities? Guys, I am sure you can use your and your subscribers' time better instead of indulging in pointless banter. For the records, I am a Tamil, married to a Gujju, whose daughter is marrying a 1/4th Konkani, 1/4th Bengali, 1/2 Punju. 

Cheers

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Manan Shah 

Wishing you guys a happy new year! 

I was listening to “Hafta X South Central” - and I am wondering how exactly the government controls the media? In the context of Arnab Goswami, obviously Modi doesn’t call him directly, give instructions, and they prepare a strategy. So, who are the intermediaries who enable this? How do they have these discussions in closed rooms, and how does such information not really leak out? Are bureaucrats so useless and corrupt? 

Best,

Manan 

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Ankit 

Hello all, 

I wanted to ask Jayashree if she still prefers a Nitish (esp. after the Niqab fiasco aftermath) over a PK? While Jayashree did not state a specific preference, she did call PK a “businessman grifter”, if my memory serves, which is a bit ironic considering Bihar politics, and a bit harsh considering the man spent 8 years as a UN public health worker and 3 years on the ground in Bihar, to the best of my knowledge (or is that just marketing?). And to the rest: isn’t Newslaundry’s general discourse on PK an example of the kind of virtue-signalling that keeps liberals or alternative voices out of power? I am not a fan of PK, but I don’t understand the venom against him from certain liberal sections and Anand. Keep up the great work.

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Saanae Naik 

Hi folks, 

Thanks for bringing Reetika Khera and the incredibly important discussion on gutting NREGS. The yearly assault on the programme's budget has been heartbreaking despite mounting evidence that it has a net positive impact on the poorest of the poor in our country. I broke down when Abhinandan explained how the new scheme would be weaponised against opposition states. The real target will be the most vulnerable people. I did my MSc in Policy Research in the UK two years ago, and I used NREGS data published by NCAER to show how it helps increase female labour force employment rates – especially among SC, ST, OBC, and religious minority groups. This felt really personal.

Keep up the good work.

Best wishes,

Saanaee

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