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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