Himal Southasian

????? Journalist and researcher Sana Batool discusses the persecution of Shia Muslims in Pakistan and the apathy of the majority Sunni community in latest episode of the State of Southasia podcast with Nayantara Narayanan ?? Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eE86sdkZ ?? Youtube: https://lnkd.in/e3N5SefA ?? Our website: https://lnkd.in/eHtcHHsF

Keeping track of #AWIAL's awards is exhausting now! ?????????? This ?? is a screenshot of a tweet I posted late last night. If you missed my review of #AllWeImagineAsLight published in October on Himal Southasian, here it is: https://lnkd.in/gzMAryRh And my very exhaustive interview with Payal Kapadia was published just last week on Newslaundry: https://lnkd.in/gDfFUKTm and On The NewsMinute: https://lnkd.in/gUH4qm5z The film is currently in theatres across India FYI.

Last week I wrote quite a bit on the #WhatsApp scam that has spread through 100s of phones used by #SriLanka journalists and the potential that a massive data trove of numbers, contacts and communications has been compromised. At the same time, I was also working on a column for Himal Southasian on the increasingly influential role #SocialMedia plays in ???? information space. It is not a surprise that many senior journalists in Sri Lanka reacted flimsily to the scam, when most of them also don't seem to be aware that the importance ascribed to traditional media is waning fast.

I write for Himal Southasian on why the war storytelling of global media in Pak-Afghanistan borderland should be 'read against the grain'. Reviewing two book (from Pakistan and Afghanistan) by local journalists, I share my thoughts on the discourse around the War on Terror and its broader political economy. #waronterror #pakafghanborderland #terrorism #discourse #politicaleconomy #tolonews #pashtuns #neoliberalism

Social media has usurped the traditional media’s influence in Sri Lankan politics, particularly after the Aragalaya – and even any improvement in media freedom under the new NPP government cannot solve the industry’s entrenched problems Amantha Perera writes https://lnkd.in/dEFCbBHh

Read my review of #PayalKapadia's film that is finally out in theatres across India today. On Himal Southasian: "The quiet but resolute politics of #AllWeImagineAsLight" https://lnkd.in/gzMAryRh

Poison in your Prasadam? Where else? When it comes to pesticide residue, India has seen many alarming headlines over the years. But how and why do pesticide residue appear in our food and produce? Read my investigation, the result of a year-long reporting around Cardamom production, to understand what it looks like to have a dysfunctional regulatory system and an ill-monitored pesticide retail market. The shocking headlines thrown up every few years is the tip of the iceberg. Reporting for this story was supported by Earth Journalism Network. Published by: Himal Southasian. Big shoutout to Roman Gautam for shaping the piece. Story Link: https://lnkd.in/geJpptmp You can watch detailed video reports here???? English: https://lnkd.in/g9phBgu2 Malayalam: https://lnkd.in/gxQEqFKc Hindi: https://lnkd.in/gzHqm99k

An investigation into cardamom cultivation in Kerala exposes how India is failing abjectly to regulate pesticide overuse and contamination in its spice production and trade. By Jeff Joseph

Environmental researcher Pankaj Sekhsaria says that large-scale disruptions to a geologically sensitive region like Great Nicobar puts ecology, infrastructure, indigenous people and migrants to the island at significant risk On the latest episode of the State of Southasia podcast with Nayantara Narayanan ?? Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ef65QHxV ?? Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/en6uEyad ?? Youtube: https://lnkd.in/eKs6_wv8

We write to Himal Southasian on the NPP's relative success in mobilising women in politics and what limits and challenges remain. Political parties as democratic institutions are seen as a key impediment to women representation in politics in Sri Lanka. This led to women entering laterally, converting social capital in other sectors, through satellite organisations such as Viyathmaga or NPP to enter politics. The NPP's mobilisation of women at grassroots level in 2024 elections is seen as a qualitative change. Harini Amarasuriya’s appointment to the second-highest decision-making position in government has challenged patronising and exclusionary attitude towards women in Sri Lankan political parties. Most past attempts by mainstream political parties to mobilise women did so through a conservative lens. In contrast, the NPP conducted training sessions and workshops for women at grassroots level on topics such as economy and care work, as well as gender and sexual orientation. However, we also argue that empowering women requires more consistent effort and structural changes beyond just mobilisation. Representation of women in the NPP's executive committee and general election nominations list is still very low, especially along ethnic lines. The NPP’s recent success in mobilising women is in part a reflection of the abysmal baseline of women’s representation in national politics. The party also benefitted from incremental structural reforms like the 25% quota since 2017, which created space for women to enter politics. This is a key point we wanted to drive in – while the NPP provided the platform and did the work of mobilising the grassroots, it is the women who should get the most credit, as they had already started taking on leadership roles. The full article can be accessed at: https://lnkd.in/g8pYhN-J #SriLankaelections2024 #NPP #WomenInPolitics