India’s democracy continues to puzzle the West — thriving amid diversity, faith, and chaos, yet repeatedly misjudged by global indices and foreign intellectuals.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Prof. Salvatore Babones joins host Roshan Cariappa to unpack the bias behind Western democracy rankings, the cultural roots of India’s political resilience, and why dharma, not rights, is at the heart of the Indian way.
Babones explains why India’s model of democracy isn’t an imitation of the West but an expression of its 5,000-year-old civilizational ethos — a system built on duty, pluralism, and self-restraint. From press freedom myths to the Muslim question and Hindu civil society, this episode explores how India can redefine democracy for the world on its own terms.
00:00 – Intro & Hook: Why India Ranks Below Gaza
01:15 – What is Dharma Democracy? Duty over Rights
03:20 – India’s Liberal Democracy & Western Misreadings
10:40 – Press Freedom & Media Bias Explained
19:00 – How Western Rankings Distort India’s Image
21:15 – Dharma, Duty & the Indian Idea of Citizenship
23:00 – Yogi Adityanath: The Untranslatable Indian Leader
26:30 – Hindu Civil Society: Temples, Pluralism & Democracy
31:45 – Faith & Inclusion: The Muslim Question
36:40 – Partition’s Hangover & Identity Politics
41:30 – Intellectuals, Migration & the Elite Disconnect
47:00 – Race, Discrimination & Lessons from America
52:10 – Can Dharma Include Islam? Paths to Belonging
57:00 – The Future of Dharma Democracy
01:03:25 – Party Modernization: BJP vs Congress
01:09:15 – If You Could Meet One Leader… (Rajendra Prasad)
01:11:10 – Closing Remarks & Sign-Off
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