Mind your Buffalo

Nations, around the world often tend split and fall apart. One of the major reasons for countries breaking is language & ethnic/cultural identities (which circle back to language). East & West Pakistan split over language. India seems to be developing a North-South divide. Often the seeds of a split are buried years/decades before it actually happens. We may be dangerously flirting with one such moment no. It is not too late yet, but with delimitation looming, the point-of-no-return maybe closer than we think. 

As the Mahabodhi agitation gains momentum in Gaya, Bihar-- we talk to Mangesh Dahiwale, one of the most important Ambedkarite scholars of history Buddhish history and culture. He breaks down for us the historical & civilizational context of Buddha & his Dhamma. The current agitation needs to be seen historically & sociologically, and not as a one-off event. A true masterclass in Buddhist epistemology!

AAP didnt just lose the Delhi elections-- it also brought to close an era (which began in the mid 2000s) where liberal elite savarns had a fantasy that they could politically & economically bring India to greatness. Well that dream is over. Swades, that fantasy of the educated savarnas that they could fix India IF they applied themselves & got hands dirty-- typified most by none other than Kejriwal-- that fantasy also died with the election results. Welcome to the end baby!

An absolute masterclass by Dr Rahul Sonpimple~ diagnosis of the crossroads where the anti-caste movement finds itself. Babasaheb's name is everywhere, but Ambedkarite parties at their weakest. What happens to the movement? Where does it go? What questions we need to ask? In this Post-Bahujan Era-- what is the future of Dalit assertion & identity?A must-watch, agenda-setting episode!

Student suicides in top educational institutions have been peaking, there is rampant casteism across Indian universities. Against this backdrop we talk to Advocate Disha Wadekar who moved the Supreme Court on behalf of the mothers of the Dr Payal Tadvi & brother Rohith Vemula. Her interventioned resulted in the Supreme Court asking for data on caste discrimination on Indian campuses. What this means for SC ST OBC students in Indian institutions, caste discrimination & law-- she unpacks for us in this stellar episode! 

Oi happy new year babies, only 2 ways out from here-- grow up OR go crazy. There is no other way out of here, we cannot keep pretending things are great-- everything is falling apart. We cannot keep pretending Vir Das is talented/hot/funny. We cannot. We must not.High time children! Grow up OR grow crazier. Lean into the dark side. Be demented, be unhinged. Be interesting. Don't be like Vir Das.

For the first time in 25 years, Indian urban (savarna) elites are no longer relevant to the discourse in politics, economy, society and culture. From woke hipsters to hustle tech bros-- all soft elites are now irrelevant.

It's that beautiful time of the year when sad, single, savarna millennials will get together for the 'Diwali Party' while savarna gen Z monsters will take a break from demanding action & accountability to return home from Sonepat colleges to take selfies in ethnic wear with their bigoted, fascist-minded parents ~and all this playing out to the tune of 'Chaiyaa Chaiyaa' in the background. Truly a blessed time!

Coldplay concert tickets are unavailable and elite savarns are very very angry about it. Ladoos at Tirupati have been found to be tainted and a young woman died of overwork at E&Y. An action packed episode. 

Folks are "accidentally" killing people on "suspicion" of transporting beef, an old uncle is bullied by dudes on a moving train, elite schools are banning non-veg tiffin boxes & kids think Kalki 2898 AD is based on history-- in the middle of this social breakdown, your therapist asks you to ground yourself by touching grass. Welcome to hell!

Our esteemed Lordships at the Supreme Court has spoken. SC/ST "creamy" layer should be skimmed they have suggested helpfully. An utterly, butterly episode deliciously unpacking the judgement on SC ST subcategorizing & privilege.

A deep dive on US 'Empire' from Gramsci, Adorno, Chomsky & Howard Zinn with special mentions to Kurt Vonnegut & Malcolm X ~ the Buffalo puts on his US history/politics "hat" literally & figuratively & breaks down Trump's rise, Biden's descent, Kamala aunty stepping up.Is this the collapse into 'big' evil or have we seen that already under smoother (war) criminals like Obama, Clinton & Bush.

Airports are falling apart, streets are flooded, air is unbreathable, its so hot that ACs are blowing up-- who is responsible for this? who created this mess? PS. stop blaming the politicians & enjoy the IPA!

From NEET & UGC NET, to coaching class mafia, to private universities erasing caste-based affirmative action, to Not-Found-Suitable scams, to student suicides, to Teach for India, to NCERT tweaks, to changing SC/ST overseas scholarship policies, to everything.. its all broken.Fixing the Indian education system is nobody's priority. 

Reactions to the Lok Sabha 2024 election results. I talk in particular of UP, Bihar, Bengal, Telangana mainly & the missed opportunities of INDIA in MP, Odisha, etc. I also talk of the future of BSP, VBA & Ambedkarite leaders like Azad in era of "savarna social justice politics" & potential future of Modi-Shah & BJP.

as Lok Sabha elections wind down, amid talk of seat numbers & voter percentages, we try to look at the softer idea of social fabric & civility which has broken down across small-towns, especially in north India. Annie Zaidi, one of my favorite contemporary writers, shares some of her insights & experiences about what it means to be Muslim, what it means to feeling belonging in a society that has changed in ways that votes cannot fix. 

a peak Buffalo rant, full of bitterness & bile. exercise caution.

Bold prediction, not only is BJP not getting 400 seats. They will struggle to make a govt. Remember you heard it first here. Welcome to an "Election Special" where the Buffalo finally reveals his nerdy deep dive interest in electoral politics-- numbers, states, votes & elections. 

One of my favorite funny men, Ravi Gaikwad joins in to shoot the breeze about IPL uncles, comedy, caste & the 'Blue Material' lineup which is on the verge of exploding onto the mainstream face.

The words 'History Professor' and 'Viral'/'Relevant' have never been used in the same context. Before Dr. Ruchika that is. Her YouTube channel 'Eyeshadow & Etihaas with Dr. Ruchika Sharma' has been stirring up trouble on Twitter everyday now. So of course, I had to talk to her to find out just how the hell does one manage to educate, antagonize and create an audience through history... all the while dishing out killer eyeshadows.LINKS:Eyeshadow & Etihaas with Dr. Ruchika Sharma: https://www.youtube.com/@eyeshadowetihaaswithruchika Buffalo Intellectual Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BuffaloIntellectual

It is the era of being boring & basic. Embrace it. Don't try to be interesting, its not worth it. Let's binge watch FRIENDS again, quote Joey and make it our wole personality. 

Ashoka University is in the news. There is a demand for caste-based reservations in the heart of the privileged empire. The Buffalo brings you a dispatch from the frontlines!

Electoral Bond season is here. All the straight laced-sweet-tax paying English speaking citizens are clutching their pearls. Oh my god there is KO-RUP-SHUN in India? Hai Allah! Hai Tauba! 

Ambani ki Shaadi, the Emperor's party has taken over the news and life. All us plebs are staring at the spectacle scratching our heads, only folks not confused or dismayed are the Banias-- who are never fazed by anything.

The Buffalo reflects on the current happenings: Ram Mandir ceremony review, Live-in Relationships & who else but everyone's favorite uncle Rajdeep Sardesai

on the Ram Mandir inauguration-- a freewheeling unhinged rant on the "Idea of India" which Savarna liberals keep trotting out-- an episode most likely to get the Buffalo arrested.

The Buffalo starts trying to review a book, goes on an epic rant on Savarna education system, Chetan Bhagat, cultural performativity, mediocrity of Savarna writing-- ends up being strangely existentially vulnerable at the close. A strange episode.

The Buffalo has a guest, Rohitha joins in to unpack the cultural moment & politics behind 'The Archies' & Savarna Gen Z in particular.

There has been a film called 'Animal' which was not about animals but men's anger issues. I get the super cool pyschology professor Dr. Itisha, to break down the psychology of masculine anger, toxic masculinity & hyper violence.

Social justice is dead. It is the era of Orry. The Buffalo calls out the Savarna elite Gen Z. Don't complain. Accept your fate & die quietly!

Buffalo rants on Garba, Gaza & the Goons at the cricket World Cup, and wonders if the solution to it all is just good old fashioned bombing.

We have a guest. Talented comedian Manjeet Sarkar explains how as 2nd gen refugee Dalit from Bengal who grew up in rural Bastar, do you become a comic. His love for Dave Chappelle & the revelation that he has never been on Tinder.Do listen to the show & follow his upcoming 'Untouchable' tour & buy tickets!

The Buffalo is overworked & trains the guns on the 'Humans of Bombay' controversy & the Savarna fascination with vintage cars in Bombay.

The world is ending but the Airports are shining so people are happy. The Buffalo revisits the horror that was Venkatesh Prasad bowling in the 90s, Rajdeep Sardesai is back with his boomer takes & we discuss Md Zubair's therapists' trauma. An all around banger episode!

Buffalo wonders what the Chandrayaan benefits are, while pondering over the crumbling education system. We take a moment to acknowledge the hot mess that is Gen Z.

There is revolution brewing in Sonepat. Fascism better watch out. A week of e-lafdas, Savarna queen showrunners of Made in Heaven deny Yashica Dutt. The Buffalo munches through it all!

The Buffalo is haunted by Barbenheimer insta stories & the sad tears of elite housing society savarnas Aunties in Gurgaon.

The Buffalo is risking his career and sanity by taking on legions of haters including Bengali cultural chauvinists, savarna feminists & Swifties. Also Kunal Kamra maybe a long lost brother #FatBaldUncleEnergy

The buffalo has had enough about Sudhir Mishra & Hazaron Khwaishein Aisi fandom. Enough ok. Also gets nostalgic about the dearly departed Rs 2000 note. What a champ!

Buffalo meets Anurag Minus Verma- peak satirist & amazing podcaster & perhaps the best contemporary cultural commentator of urban absurdities. He talks to us about his relationship with his audiences, his writing aspirations, poetry and stories, shares anecdotes from "Writer's Lab" scams & ofcourse his love for coffee.Jump to 9.00 min mark for Anurag's interview. There is some housekeeping before that.

Buffalo wants audience engagement. The good people from Instagram sent in lots of questions & topics, so we have a mixed bag of an episode that veers from Bania masculinity to Savarna feminism to academia & development sector caste politics to caste and food.

The Buffalo has a guest this time, failed 'Dance India Dance' contestant & someone who has done nothing of note in life-- Varnika; together the losers reflect upon their true loser icons-- the Social Media Influencers on Instagram

Musings on what constitutes art & for whom in a caste-society where labor is not just segregated, but also invisibilized. The buffalo belches on savarna struggle stories & their artistic journey to mediocrity.

Been a heavy few weeks, tragedy all around. The buffalo goes off on the indifference to casteism in institutions of higher learning, and tries to process what the Hathras verdict could mean for us all.#JusticeforManisha#JusticeforDarshan

The Buffalo ruminates about love & dating within a caste society-- but cant help ranting about savarna art & artistic mediocrity first, you know how it goes.

Fascism has been ended by YRF movie & a 4th generation dynast has been goaded by peer pressure into a walkathon - serious scenes from a serious society, no jokes.

Introspection on stages of social media hell & an unrestrained raging rant against MBA/techie dudebros who've doomed us all.

An introduction to the podcast format & my favorite topic- the small social lives of elite savarnas in India