Crisis of Faith
The arrest of the self-proclaimed godman Asaram in 2013 should have brought some relief to the victims of his alleged sexual assaults. Asaram, who oversaw a devotional empire valued at many thousands of crores of rupees and commanded immense political influence, stands accused of rape in two cases—one in Jodhpur, and the other in Ahmedabad. But to the horror of his accusers, and of the witnesses who supported them, as the trials of the cases wore on, Asaram’s followers began to execute brutal, sometimes fatal, attacks on those who dared stand up to their guru. Priyanka Dubey chronicles the nightmarish struggle to bring Asaram to justice.
Also in this issue:
How Prabhakar Pachpute brought coal into Indian art galleries; the BJP’s appropriation of Kanshi Ram’s dream; the historical figure the BJP and BSP fought over during the UP election; taking stock after half a century of Dravidian rule in Tamil Nadu; Mamata Banerjee’s simmering confrontation with the BJP; and much more.
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, Washington
The 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.
