In the recent past, several reports have come out questioning the functioning of the Indian democracy. Responding to these reports, the Indian Foreign Ministry said that India had “robust institutions and well established democratic practices” and did not “need sermons especially from those who cannot get their basics right.” Ministry further stated that the political judgments of the report were “inaccurate and distorted”. These attempts of tarnishing India’s reputation as an emerging world leader are nothing but propaganda.

‘You have thrown us to the wolves!’ these words by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan will continue to haunt the nation for decades to come. In the story of India’s freedom struggle, he was one of the bravest. A martyr. Yet he and his Pakhtun brothers were betrayed without a second thought. His dream of an undivided India was crushed when the Partition plan was accepted by the Congress without even consulting him. The newly formed Pakistan government considered him a traitor and threw him into jail several times, even in his old age, forcing him into exile in Afghanistan.

On 13th August 2020, Vimarsh was held through a webinar at VIF, on the topic “Ayodhya Movement and National Polity.” This subject was thoroughly reviewed by Shri S Gurumurthy, Economic & Political Analyst and Chairman, VIF. The Ayodhya movement has been inextricably linked with the national polity for almost five decades now. The Bhoomi Pujan ceremony that was held in Ayodhya on the 5th of August, 2020 marks the beginning of a new narrative for National Polity.

On 25thJune, 2020, Vimarsha was held through a webinar at VIF, on the topic "Story of Emergency (1975-1977): the Greatest Threat to Democracy, How the people fought and won". It has been 45 years since the declaration of the National Emergency in India and the idea behind the event was to recall the suspension of the fundamental rights by the imposition of Emergency within India under Mrs Gandhi's administration and reminiscence the stories related to Emergency.