Todays Topics:
1. Removal of Vice President - Polity
2. China, India and the conflict over Buddhism
3. Challenges in Coalition Politics
4. Attacks on Academic Freedom
Agony of exit - Dhankhar’s resignation as V-P is a setback for parliamentary democracy
1. Sudden Resignation of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar
First Vice-President in Indian history to resign without contesting for President.
Cited health reasons, but real causes likely political and speculative.
Occurred despite recent active participation in:
Monsoon Session of Parliament
Scheduled public engagements for the week.
2. Possible Triggers
Clash with the government’s plan to remove a Delhi High Court judge accused of corruption.
Cited parliamentary rules in conflict with executive strategy.
Indicates growing tension between Dhankhar and the executive.
3. Background Tensions
Long-standing differences over:
Judicial accountability
Role of Lok Sabha vs. Rajya Sabha
These issues may have been the inflection point.
4. Controversial Tenure as Rajya Sabha Chair
Accused of partisanship:
Led to a historic Opposition motion for his removal.
Questioned words like ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ in the Constitution.
Aligned publicly with RSS’s call for debate on these terms.
5. Role in Judicial Accountability
Strong advocate for Parliamentary supremacy.
Vocal critic of judicial corruption.
Accepted two Opposition motions:
For Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav (Allahabad HC) – for communal remarks.
For a Delhi HC judge – on alleged corruption.
Verified MP signatures for impeachment move, as per rules.
6. Consequences of Resignation
His actions put him in direct conflict with the government.
Resignation seen as a setback for parliamentary democracy.
China, India and the conflict over Buddhism
1. India-China Conflict Over Buddhism
While global focus is on India-China rivalry in the Indo-Pacific, a spiritual and strategic battle is unfolding in the Himalayas.
It's not just about land or trade — it's about faith, identity, and influence.
2. Why Buddhism Matters Geopolitically
Buddhism shapes identity in Himalayan borderlands.
Monasteries now act as instruments of national strategy.
Reincarnation of lamas has become a matter of sovereignty, not just religion.
3. China’s Strategy: Buddhist Statecraft
Since the 1950s, China has:
Exiled or sidelined independent Tibetan lamas.
Taken control of religious institutions.
Claimed exclusive authority to approve reincarnations.
2007 Chinese Law: All "Living Buddhas" must be approved by the Chinese state.
Recent Actions:
Database of approved reincarnate lamas.
Surveillance of monasteries in Tibet.
Promoting Buddhist diplomacy in the Himalayas.
Building sacred sites and inviting monks to China to shift loyalties.
4. India’s Response: Buddhist Diplomacy
Hosted the Dalai Lama and Tibetan exile government since 1959.
Gained moral influence, but limited strategic benefit until recently.
Recent efforts include:
Promoting India as Buddha’s birthplace.
Developing pilgrimage circuits.
Still lacks China’s centralised and long-term vision.
5. The Dalai Lama Succession Crisis
The 14th Dalai Lama (turned 90 in July) may reincarnate outside China, possibly in India.
China plans to install its own Dalai Lama using the Golden Urn method.
🔸 Golden Urn Tradition (Brief Explanation)
Introduced in 18th century by Qing dynasty (China).
Used to choose high lamas by drawing names from a golden urn in a ceremony.
China claims this gives it the right to control lama reincarnations, including the Dalai Lama.
Result: Likely to be two Dalai Lamas:
One backed by India and the Tibetan exile community.
One backed by China and installed in Lhasa.
6. Strategic Impact of Rival Dalai Lamas
Could split Tibetan Buddhism worldwide.
Himalayan regions like Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal, Nepal, Bhutan may have to choose sides.
If spiritual leadership is in India → Loyalty towards India may grow.
If in Lhasa → Chinese influence may increase.
7. China’s Cultural Expansion
Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh): China claims it through Tibetan cultural logic.
Nepal: Heavy Chinese investment near Lumbini (Buddha’s birthplace).
Bhutan: Quiet efforts to influence monastic communities.
8. Internal Buddhist Disputes = Strategic Opportunities
Karma Kagyu Lineage: Has two rival Karmapas; India and China back different ones.
Dorje Shugden Sect: Rejected by Dalai Lama but supported by China to undermine the exile community.
These disputes have become proxy conflicts between India and China.
9. Why It Matters
Not about religious dogma, but:
Who defines spiritual legitimacy.
Who controls border population loyalty.
In regions like Ladakh, nationalism and Buddhist identity are deeply linked.
A monastery switching sides is a strategic loss.
A lama pledging loyalty across the border can shift control over an area.
10. Post-Dalai Lama: Rising Stakes
After his passing, the succession issue will become global.
Countries with large Buddhist populations (e.g., Mongolia, Sri Lanka) may be forced to take sides.
India hosting the next Dalai Lama:
A chance to gain spiritual and strategic influence.
But also risks intensified pressure from China.
11. Final Insight: Himalayas Are the Real Frontline
Monks, monasteries, and reincarnations, not weapons, define the next phase of rivalry.
The Himalayas are not a religious backwater — they are the main stage.
The future India-China struggle could be shaped more by prayer beads than missiles.
Different Directions: AIADMK vs BJP on Power-Sharing
Alliance Revived, But No Common Ground
AIADMK and BJP revived their electoral alliance three months ago.
Still no agreement on the nature of government if NDA wins 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Conflicting Statements by Leaders
BJP (Amit Shah)
Declared that a coalition government will be formed.
Repeated this statement multiple times.
Said BJP will be part of the government.
AIADMK (Edappadi K. Palaniswami)
Did not endorse coalition idea.
Said AIADMK will win majority alone.
Argued Tamil Nadu people prefer single-party rule.
Recently said: “We are not naive to share power”.
Claimed this was a response to DMK’s campaign showing BJP as trying to “swallow” AIADMK.
Insisted alliance is still “cent per cent” intact.
Tamil Nadu’s Political Background
State has never had a coalition government (unlike other southern States).
DMK and AIADMK take support from allies for votes, but don’t share power.
Voters are wary of national parties trying to dominate regional ones.
AIADMK’s Mixed Signals
Palaniswami may change stance later.
Once hinted he may leave BJP if actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam becomes a better ally.
However, he can’t dictate terms to BJP.
BJP support for his leadership is not guaranteed.
BJP’s Shift in Language
Amit Shah changed phrasing:
Earlier: NDA will contest under Palaniswami’s leadership.
Now: NDA will contest under AIADMK’s leadership.
Indicates uncertainty about leadership within alliance.
Risk of Confusion and Chaos
Without agreement at the top, cadres of both parties can't coordinate properly.
This leads to confusion in voter outreach and chaotic campaign strategy.
Universities Everywhere Are in Crisis
1. Political Pressure on Universities (Global Trend)
Worldwide, right-wing governments are targeting universities to push their ideological agendas.
Once seen as free-thinking spaces, universities are now becoming tools for political control.
2. U.S. Case: Funding Cuts & Cultural Conflict
July 21: A federal judge challenged U.S. administration's decision to cut billions in funding to Harvard University.
Trump-era actions:
Claimed universities are “anti-American”.
Tightened student visas.
Threatened colleges over ‘free speech’ issues.
2023 Supreme Court ruling ended affirmative action, helping right-wing groups push for more admission changes.
Columbia University had to adopt a strict antisemitism definition, which critics say suppresses debate on Israel-Palestine.
Harvard’s president Claudine Gay resigned under pressure during the 2024 election campaign.
Donors withdrew funding from resisting universities, making professors afraid to discuss race, gender, or foreign policy.
3. Australia: Silencing Critical Research
Govt used ‘national interest’ to veto peer-reviewed research on:
Climate activism
Indigenous politics
Law schools were criticised for using decolonisation concepts.
Universities faced pressure to:
Pass anti-foreign interference audits
Avoid sensitive topics like China, Palestine, and colonial history
4. India: Targeting Public Universities
Populist leaders see public universities as elite and anti-government.
Common actions:
Police sent to suppress protests
Budget cuts
Replacement of vice-chancellors
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) called ‘anti-national’.
In 2023, the University Grants Commission (UGC) made ‘Indian knowledge systems’ compulsory, pushing Hindu nationalist ideas.
At South Asian University, a faculty member was forced to leave after a student cited Noam Chomsky’s criticism of the Modi govt.
5. Global Attacks on Academic Freedom
Hungary: Viktor Orbán expelled Central European University.
Turkey: Thousands of professors fired for signing peace petitions.
Brazil & Philippines: Cut funds for social science, silencing research on inequality.
Gulf States: Restrict discussion on religion, gender, and labour rights.
Across continents, independent research is seen as a national security threat.
6. Neoliberal Changes: Universities as Corporations
Education is becoming market-driven:
Focus on rankings, patents, and job skills.
Subjects like feminism, history, and sociology seen as unnecessary.
Roles shifting:
Students = customers
Teachers = service providers
Trustees = brand managers
Far-right uses this logic to:
Call universities “taxpayer-funded sedition centres”
Still cut public funds, harming intellectual diversity
7. Decline in Academic Freedom (2014–2024)
Academic Freedom Index (by V-Dem and partners):
Freedom declined in 34 countries, including democracies.
Scores on:
Institutional independence
Research freedom
Campus safety
are at their lowest since the 1980s.
This weakens the world’s ability to address climate change, AI impacts, and democratic decline.
8. Resistance and the Way Forward
Hope still exists:
U.S. faculty and students fight for inclusive education.
Legal groups and academic platforms in India defend free research.
But just surviving isn’t enough — we must:
Protect academic decision-making from politics
Urge donors to fund critical thinking, not control it
Encourage alumni to support independent chairs and legal defences
Get faculty involved in governance
Remind students that campuses are for democracy, not just degrees
Final Warning
If fear, profit, or majoritarian control decide what we can teach or say, the result won’t just be weaker universities — it will be weaker democracies too.
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