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Gauri Lankesh and the rise of illiberal India

Panel discussion at Ílliberal India' book launch

The hall at Higginbothams bookstore in Bengaluru was packed tight and many latecomers had to make do without seats. The launch of Illiberal India: Gauri Lankesh and the Age of Unreason, a book by Chidanand Rajghatta, Lankesh's former husband and dear friend, turned out to be a nostalgic gathering for people who loved the slain activist-journalist.

Speaking to THE WEEK before the event, Rajghatta took a stroll down memory lane. The duo had parted ways, but remained friends. Does he miss her? ''I do, as a friend. Particularly when it comes to discussing political and social issues,'' he said. ''She was observant even about international affairs. She was overjoyed when Obama was elected. But, when Trump came to power, she was dismayed. In that sense, I miss the intellectual companionship,'' he said. ''A romantic relationship was out of question for the last 20 years. She lived her life and I lived mine. After the divorce, we were very unsentimental, practical and individualistic. I have a family. I got married. I have children. She recognised that. She had her life,'' he said, as an afterthought. The email exchanges between Rajghatta and Lankesh, which form part of the book, offer glimpses into the beautiful bond they shared.

Illiberal India: Gauri Lankesh and the Age of Unreason is a powerful commentary on the current political and social climate in India. One of the highlights of the event was a thought-provoking discussion moderated by radio host and journalist Vasanthi Hariprakash and Preethi Nagaraj, who won the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Book Prize in 2018. Hariprakash's question whether India is really illiberal, as echoed in the book, led to an unbridled exchange of ideas. ''My answer to it is that it depends on where you are and who you are,'' said Rajghatta. ''Whether India is liberal or illiberal depends on where you stand. Many of us here are Hindus. The Hindu middle class live in a certain comfort zone. There is a certain security in the country for majority religions. We are doing fine. We have nothing to complain about. Illiberalism is relative. White people in the UK think that there is no racism in the country. If you want to know whether India is liberal or illiberal, talk to somebody belonging to a minority religion,'' he said. A foreign correspondent based in the United States, Rajghatta observed that there are certain parallels between what is happening in India and the US. ''There is a rise of intolerance and extremist thinking. And there is a certain anger in both these societies.''

Lankesh's murder made Nagaraj wonder whether women having opinions are considered ''more dangerous'' than their male counterparts. Responding to her thoughts, Rajghatta said fundamentally we are ''an incredibly misogynistic and patriarchal society.''

''It is not just India. In the US, five male justices are going to decide about female reproductive rights. That's absurd. I feel the world is still very misogynistic. There are some exceptions. If a woman stands up and expresses herself, there are men who can't handle it.''

Illiberal India: Gauri Lankesh and the Age of Unreason, by all means, is a thoughtful and befitting tribute to Lankesh, whom Rajghatta describes as ''a wonderful person at the end of the day.''