Soundarya Chidambaram | Bucknell University (original) (raw)

PhD Dissertation by Soundarya Chidambaram

Research paper thumbnail of PhD Dissertation: Welfare, Patronage, and the Rise of Hindu Nationalism in India's Urban Slums

Despite the recent electoral defeat of the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, Hindu nationalist or... more Despite the recent electoral defeat of the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, Hindu nationalist organizations led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) remain a dominant force in several parts of India particularly as most of them operate outside the electoral arena as charitable NGOs providing welfare services such as education and healthcare to poor urban communities. In fact, economic liberalization in India has been accompanied by massive welfare projects initiated by Hindu right-wing organizations.

Papers by Soundarya Chidambaram

Research paper thumbnail of The “Right” Kind of Welfare in South India's Urban Slums

Research paper thumbnail of The Indian Voter's 2014 Mandate

Economic & Political Weekly, Jul 26, 2014

Though the "Modi wave" has become the trope to explain the unprecedented results of the 2014 gene... more Though the "Modi wave" has become the trope to explain the unprecedented results of the 2014 general elections, a different picture emerges when we disaggregate these results and understand them in the context of state-level politics. This article, first, analyses where the Modi effect did not work, and second, re-examines the issue of development and what it means when we say that the Indian voters handed down a mandate in favour of a developmental agenda.

Research paper thumbnail of Book Review: Amrita Basu, Violent Conjunctures in Democratic India (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2015)

Commentary by Soundarya Chidambaram

Research paper thumbnail of A Key Criticism Of The Vogue Ad Stems From A Misunderstanding

Can a woman decide to have a fulfilling relationship that allows her to exercise sexual choice wi... more Can a woman decide to have a fulfilling relationship that allows her to exercise sexual choice without having to "put a ring on it"? Do women have the right to reject the institution of marriage but not be censured, by law or society, for enjoying companionship outside of the framework of marriage?

Research paper thumbnail of What The Urban Poor Want: Challenges of Governance For AAP

Huffington Post India, Feb 11, 2015

Populist promises such as free wi-fi and CCTVs might have made for catchy campaign slogans, but t... more Populist promises such as free wi-fi and CCTVs might have made for catchy campaign slogans, but these mean little to the weary urban poor electorate in Delhi that has consistently experienced only neglect and misgovernance.

Research paper thumbnail of PhD Dissertation: Welfare, Patronage, and the Rise of Hindu Nationalism in India's Urban Slums

Despite the recent electoral defeat of the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, Hindu nationalist or... more Despite the recent electoral defeat of the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, Hindu nationalist organizations led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) remain a dominant force in several parts of India particularly as most of them operate outside the electoral arena as charitable NGOs providing welfare services such as education and healthcare to poor urban communities. In fact, economic liberalization in India has been accompanied by massive welfare projects initiated by Hindu right-wing organizations.

Research paper thumbnail of The “Right” Kind of Welfare in South India's Urban Slums

Research paper thumbnail of The Indian Voter's 2014 Mandate

Economic & Political Weekly, Jul 26, 2014

Though the "Modi wave" has become the trope to explain the unprecedented results of the 2014 gene... more Though the "Modi wave" has become the trope to explain the unprecedented results of the 2014 general elections, a different picture emerges when we disaggregate these results and understand them in the context of state-level politics. This article, first, analyses where the Modi effect did not work, and second, re-examines the issue of development and what it means when we say that the Indian voters handed down a mandate in favour of a developmental agenda.

Research paper thumbnail of Book Review: Amrita Basu, Violent Conjunctures in Democratic India (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2015)