Over the last several decades, Asian News International, owned by the Prakash family, has enjoyed an unchallenged monopoly as India’s biggest television news agency. Entrenched in the power structures of Lutyens’ Delhi, ANI’s relationship with virtually every ruling party has been mutually beneficial. Successive governments have helped ANI maintain its dominance, and also been a direct source of revenue as clients of propaganda. Given the Modi government’s ideological unity with ANI’s owners, the agency will be a formidable tool in the hands of the ruling party in its bid to come back to power. Also in this issue: Urvashi Sarkar on the aims of the Observer Research Foundation; Christophe Jaffrelot on Muslim exclusion in Modi’s de facto Hindu Rashtra; Jyotsna Singh on what ails Modi’s flagship health scheme; Nikhil Menon on India’s history of elephant diplomacy; Amel Ghani on how a wave of targeted attacks has isolated Quetta’s Hazara community; Mantra Mukim on Bimal Krishna Matilal’s work on Indian epics; Zishaan A Latif on the transformation of a river island.
The country's first and only publication devoted to narrative journalism, The Caravan occupies a singular position among Indian magazines. It is a new kind of magazine for a new kind of reader, one who demands both style and substance.Since its relaunch in January 2010, the magazine has earned a reputation as one of the country's most sophisticated publications-a showcase for the region's finest writers and a distinctive blend of rigorous reporting, incisive criticism and commentary, stunning photo essays, and gripping new fiction and poetry. Its commitment to great storytelling has earned it the respect of readers from around the world.• "India's best English language magazine", The Guardian, London• "For those with an interest in India, it has become an absolute must-read", The New Republic, WashingtonThe Caravan fills a niche in the Indian media that has remained vacant for far too long, catering to the intellectually curious and aesthetically refined reader, who seeks a magazine of exceptional quality.