Hafta letters: NL value, Lutyens statue debate, state of India today

Anonymous 

I began my subscription as a student in Europe, learning about my Brahminical privilege while working in kitchens and sanitation jobs to make ends meet. I discovered NL relatively recently and really value what you do, and I’ve continued my subscription thanks to the Modi birthday discount.

In the Ankur Warikoo interview, Abhinandan briefly mentioned the challenges Indian entrepreneurs face, perhaps referring to this WSJ piece. I’ve worked as an operator in a related space and have always wished to see a story exploring how startups contribute to joblessness and precarious work. It may be worth considering. I wrote a blog about it.

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Anjali 

Dear NL Hafta team, I am so excited to be writing to you. Hope you will include my email in the show. This is my second year as a subscriber, and I am so glad that I discovered NL. No recommendations, but just praise for the work you do. Jayshree, Manisha, Shardool, the others who do the Hindi hafta and you Nikku bhaiyya… I love you all and wish you many, many more subscribers and success. I love my country, but it pains me to see what shithole it is turning into. Not much to celebrate, I feel. Sorry! If I sound too morose, but going by what I see all around, I just can't help it. Hope I am well within the word limit.

Regards 

Anjali 

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Anonymous

It's a good sign that Shardool took his name once. Manisha raised this question multiple times in different ways, why our PM is silent, but my favourite one is Abhinandan's explanation that only S. Swamy has raised this issue, which is why it's not relevant! Really? Have you followed Rabish K, Akash B., WIRE, and Dhruv's YouTube posts?

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Drishti  

Dear Newslaundry team, 

While watching the podcast NL Hafta 579, I read in the news that Bengaluru has shut down its hotels and restaurants due to gas storage. Also, other cities like Mumbai. It's already started affecting the US-Iran war in India.

Please keep doing this kind of work.

Regards,

Drishti 

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Saanae 

Great discussion on the Lutyens statue debate. Since 2014, we have seen how Congress or any liberal-minded person has been labelled as belonging to the 'Lutyens gang'. In that regard, my question is to what extent this is an effort not so much for decolonisation but for the erasure of the liberal, multicultural ideology and the legacy of the Congress? I would particularly like to hear Anand and Jayashree's views on this.

Keep up the great work.

Best wishes,

Saanaee

From Manikarnika Ghat to the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, Banaras is being reshaped in the name of vikas. Our new NL Sena asks who pays the price. Power it here.