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Articles by Milind Murugkar
Opinion In an uncertain climate, the promise of season-independent crops
Annual rainfall totals no longer adequately capture this vulnerability. In seven of the past 10 years, Maharashtra received its average annual rainfall. Yet in five of those years, kharif and rabi cultivation suffered serious disruption. Delayed rains hindered sowing, dry spells reduced yields, and excessive rain damaged harvests. The agricultural calendar itself is becoming unreliable.
More Indian students are abandoning higher education as degrees no longer seem worth the cost
While the youth protests were underway at the Jantar Mantar in the first week of July, the Central government published two crucial reports on higher education enrollment: the All India Survey on Higher Education for 2022-’23 and 2023-’24. The findings were alarming. For the first time since 2011, there has been a decline in the number of Indian students pursuing undergraduate degrees.
More Indian students are abandoning higher education as degrees no longer seem worth the cost
17 hours ago Conventional wisdom suggests that if Packers RB Josh Jacobs misses games this year, backup Marshawn Lloyd will fill his shoes. It's a zero-sum way of looking at it. Before drafting, managers should consider the alternatives. Because of injuries, Lloyd has racked up only six carries and one reception …
Cockroach Janta Party protest: How liberal scepticism induces paralysis in oppositional politics
The most corrosive feature of India’s current political landscape is not merely the overweening power of the ruling dispensation, but the fundamental collapse of the capacity to distinguish truth from fiction among those who seek to oppose it. In a climate where truth is already a precarious commodity, a new and more insidious pathology has taken hold: a habit of suspicion that sees every stirring of civic life not as a sign of democratic vitality, but as a meticulously choreographed puppet show.
Opinion: When ritual becomes moral evasion, political tool and spectacle of power
The spectacle earlier this month of thousands of litres of milk being poured into a river as a religious offering perfectly encapsulates the deep pathologies of our current religious and civic imagination. It is a moment that demands we ask uncomfortable questions about the nature of our piety, the abdication of the state and our collective loss of a grip on reality. To critique this practice is not to be anti-religion.
Tale of two villages: Rethinking water allocation and agricultural prosperity
A major anomaly in India's agricultural policy is the heavy concentration of subsidies on wheat, rice, and sugarcane, overlooking often the growing consumer demand for fruits and vegetables. This skewed approach forces the government to bail out the sugar industry, maintain excessive grain stocks, and tolerate severe environmental damage.
India: From the city back to the farm
He used to work as a construction labourer in the Vasai-Virar region but has now returned to his village to farm. Linga Hubale is a young man of 35. He used to work as a construction labourer in the Vasai-Virar region but has now returned to his village to farm. When asked about his reverse migration, he replied, “In the city where we lived while eating, we couldn’t even swallow a bite without creating smoke in the metal basin because the mosquito infestation was so severe.
From the city back to the farm
The migration of people from agricultural to non-agricultural sectors is generally regarded as a natural and welcome phenomenon. It is often argued—and rightly so—that agriculture cannot generate sufficient income for the present population in agriculture. However, the tragedy lies in the fact that for the majority who leave farming for the unorganised industrial sector, this migration brings only little tangible improvement to their lives.
India: From the city back to the farm
He used to work as a construction labourer in the Vasai-Virar region but has now returned to his village to farm. By Milind Murugkar, Satish Karande Hindustan Times Apr 2, 2026 Excerpt: Linga Hubale is a young man of 35. He used to work as a construction labourer in the Vasai-Virar region but has now returned to his village to farm.
Once upon a politics, BJP opposed cash transfers
The possibility of implementing welfare schemes through cash transfers gained traction around 2008, as the Aadhaar initiative took shape. This was also the period when the food security bill was being discussed. Many believe the UPA government was heavily influenced by left-leaning economic ideas, but that was not the case. The National Food Security Act (later termed the “Garib Kalyan Yojana”) was the Manmohan Singh government’s flagship welfare programme.
Mamdani Win Message for RSS: People Want Justice, Equality – and Not Just in NYC
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The paradox of ‘powerful’ leaders and what it says about Indian society
History offers a compelling paradox: sometimes, true strength in leadership lies not in unwavering success but in the courage to acknowledge failure. One such instance unfolded in Maharashtra during the late 1980s. The Shetkari Sanghatana, under the leadership of Sharad Joshi, was a significant force, championing the rights of farmers and challenging the urban bias in agricultural pricing.
How Majoritarianism Is Stalling India’s Development
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Trump, Tariffs and a 200-Year Old Warning About the Tyranny of the Majority
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Aurangzeb casts a long shadow over us. But what about the British?
Aurangzeb dominates politics in Maharashtra today. Historical events from centuries past often feel uncomfortably immediate. Armed with modern technology, we wage medieval battles. Issues like farmer suicides and unemployment may be ongoing challenges, but why discuss them? The pressing question before us is that of Aurangzeb.
A case for food subsidies: An investment, not a waste
India’s farm sector is in need of increased investment in R&D. It needs to increase crop productivity, develop varieties that can withstand climate change, and ensure food security. This is the argument in a recent article in this newspaper (‘The problem with free food’, IE, October 14). The author, Ashok Gulati, an eminent agronomist, has made a similar argument earlier (‘A setback for the farm’, IE, July 14). He has also been making a persuasive case for re-examining our policy of input subsidies.
Karnataka vs Centre on Anna Bhagya scheme: Why Delhi’s arguments cut little ice
Listen to this article Karnataka vs Centre on Anna Bhagya scheme: Why Delhi’s arguments cut little ice x 00:00 1x 1.5x 1.8x The Anna Bhagya scheme of the newly elected Karnataka government is facing a serious challenge. Through this scheme, the state government has promised to provide 5 kg of rice free to the people below the poverty line. The Karnataka government relied on the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) of the central government for the supply of rice.
The Political Economy of Plant Biotechnology
Farmers, Media, and Opinion in India Farmers in developing countries have little voice in infl uencing agricultural research. However, they are not without political infl uence. The tension between these understandings is examined by investigating the importance of farmers in the political economy of genetically modifi ed crop approvals in India. The evidence shows that while farmers may not be important in shaping policy, they have the clout to defeat it.
An insecure nationalism has taken hold
The announcement that August 14 would be the day to remember the horrors of Partition is a manifestation of a new idea of India. This India believes in reliving historical wounds rather than getting over them. Despite the already evident horrors of Partition, India celebrated its first Independence Day with high hopes. That India believed in a clear separation between religious identities and our identity as Indians.
Why Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks on Muslims amount to little
Written by Milind Murugkar | July 8, 2021 8:02:02 pm RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat (File Photo) Should we find solace in Mohan Bhagwat’s new definition of “true Hindus” and Hindutva? Those who support lynching or ask Muslims to leave India are not true Hindus, according to this definition. This statement could be welcomed but for some uncomfortable facts. The phenomenon of mob lynching of Muslims began as a pattern post-May 2014.
The political project of Hindutva is up against many contradictions
Written by Milind Murugkar | April 24, 2021 4:00:55 am Devotees gather to offer prayers during the Kumbh Mela 2021, at Har ki Pauri Ghat in Haridwar. (PTI) The prime minister is the tallest political leader in the country today. The tremendous faith that the masses have in him has helped him sail through major policy failures. In fact, failures such as demonetisation seem to have strengthened the people’s faith in him. The rise in fuel prices has made no dent in this faith.
An anxiety-ridden Vishwaguru
Written by Milind Murugkar | February 24, 2021 8:17:15 pm The compassionate and inclusive nationalism of the freedom movement had no aspirations to become Vishwaguru; it was inwardly focused on bettering India for all Indians, irrespective of faith. (Representational) Nationalism is supposed to unify a country facing external aggression or an existential threat.
How the Citizenship Amendment Act hampers India’s battle against radical Islam
During his Vijayadashami speech on October 25, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat has invoked the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act. He said that “before the issue could be discussed further, the focus shifted to coronavirus”. Five days earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda had asserted that the coronavirus delayed the implementation of the CAA and it would be implemented soon.
The Wrong Link
Written by Milind Murugkar | October 30, 2020 3:05:57 am The issue of MSP is all the more important for rain-fed agriculturists. The recently enacted farm bills have triggered debate on the desirability of the MSP regime. It is a strange outcome. The bills do not facilitate a policy to do away with Minimum Support Prices (MSPs). All it does is allow free entry to agents who wish to set up markets — whether they be private individuals, producer collectives or cooperatives.
Why 'Minimum Support Price' Has All But Disappeared From Modi's Campaign
A farmer arranges harvested tomatoes in a tractor trolley on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, February 7, 2018. Credit: Reuters/Amit Dave Agriculture Government 11 minutes ago Can 2019 be Modi’s ‘India Shining’ moment? The defeat of the Vajpayee government in 2004 remains a mystery. Several theories have been advanced to explain it: Most prominently, it is believed that the government was not seen as a being pro-farmer and that it prided itself for keeping the food inflation under control.
Peasant Tense: Farmers’ march in Maharashtra is a wake-up call to the BJP
The long march of farmers in Maharashtra should serve as a wake-up call to the BJP even more so than the by-election results in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It has raised important questions about the party’s priorities in its development agenda and has vividly brought to light the festering discontent in rural India.It has confirmed the suspicion of many that the rural disapproval of BJP government on its home ground of Gujarat in the recent assembly elections was not a solitary phenomenon.
How farmer-centric policies may pay electoral dividends for Modi in 2019
The decoding of the Gujarat verdict will continue for some time to come. Despite the decline in the seats, the BJP claims improvement in its performance by pointing at its increased vote share. The Opposition prefers to compare the vote share with that of the 2014 general election to conclude that the Modi wave has receded. The debate will go on. But what is clearly established is that the incumbent has suffered a setback in rural Gujarat.
Why loan waivers won’t fix India’s agriculture woes - The Economic Times
Yogi Adityanath’s government in Uttar Pradesh opened a Pandora’s box of loan waivers and there seems to be no stopping it. The BJP, perceived by many as a reformist party committed to addressing chronic structural issues, is taking populism to new heights.Loan waivers could prove to be a huge drain for the exchequer and might deal a blow to the creation of much-needed infrastructure in agriculture .
Maharashtra farmers' strike: Fadnavis has lost the plot despite loan waiver
The spontaneity driving the ongoing farmers’ strike in Maharashtra has rendered it unusual and extraordinary. Though the farmers in the Puntamba block in western Maharashtra are not known to have a strong farmers’ organisation, their decision to not cultivate their fields this monsoon has fired the imagination of farmers in different districts across the state. The phenomenon is unique, but the method of agitation is not.
Fadnavis Is Losing Control of Maharashtra’s Farming Crisis
The spontaneity driving the ongoing farmers’ strike in Maharashtra has rendered it unusual and extraordinary. Though the farmers in the Puntamba block in western Maharashtra are not known to have a strong farmers’ organisation, their decision to not cultivate their fields this monsoon has fired the imagination of farmers in different districts across the state. The phenomenon is unique, but the method of agitation is not.
No Country For Maharashtra's Dryland Farmers
The chief minister of Maharashtra is sending disturbing political signals to dryland farmers in his state. His recent statement, which was aimed at reassuring tur (arhar) producers in the state, says that in order to help farmers who are bearing the brunt of a fall in its prices below the minimum support price (MSP), the state government would seek the Centre’s permission for ‘additional quota’ for tur procurement.
No to more radical economic revolutions
A ‘radical’ or ‘bold’ decision can also be a ‘thoughtless’ or ‘irresponsible’ one, as evidenced by the havoc wrought by demonetisation. Media reports and revelations by the responses to the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) give a clear impression that the decision was foisted upon the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rather than being recommended by it, as claimed by the government.
The silent suffering of Bharat
‘Why doesn’t the informal sector, supposedly badly hit by demonetisation, protest or scream in pain?’. Defenders of demonetisation often pose this question. The question assumes that the suffering poor people face because of government policies always finds political expression. If you want an answer to the question, please listen to Sachin Jadhav. His story takes us through the long chain of economic loss and suffering of the rural population.
Tilting at windmills in the name of patriotism
When a nation is at war, leaders make an appeal for self-sacrifice. Citizens respond with nationalist fervour. However, some wars are totally misguided as they are driven by a quixotic crusade launched by a leader bent upon tilting at windmills. It is not clear how long it will take for people to realize that their sacrifices have been in vain and that Modi’s demonetisation drive will penalize 85% of their countrymen who toil in the informal sector rather than black marketers and corrupt leaders.
Forget MSP hike, govt needs to implement existing prices
Recently, Union minister for road transport, Nitin Gadkari, publicly embarrassed Maharashtra’s minister of state for agriculture Sadabhau Khot, a firebrand farmers’ leader. Attending a public function in Nashik with Khot, Gadkari asked him to give up his demand for support prices for agricultural produce. Prices, Gadkari said, are now determined in the international market and are beyond the government’s control.
Speaking up for dry-land farmers in Maharashtra
Sharad Pawar breached an unwritten rule of Maharashtra politics. Recently, he spoke about the woes of small farmers, albeit those in the irrigated belt. He regretted that a sugarcane farmer of barely two acres of land is often viewed as a rich farmer and that too, rather contemptuously. The statement implied the defence of state support for small farmers, a rare occurrence in the state-level political discourse. The small farmer is never the focus of a larger political debate.
Irrigation could quell the Maratha unrest
What options does the Devendra Fadanvis government have to quell the disquiet among the Marathas? After a period of rising intensity and frequency, the unprecedented phenomenon of silent Maratha marches is finally showing signs of a decline. But the groundswell of resentment remains. The decline in frequency can be attributed to the tensions that these marches triggered between the Dalits and Marathas.
The enigma of Narendra Modi’s silence
Sluggish agricultural growth not only impedes alleviation of agrarian distress but also the success of “Make in India”. This is because the demand required for triggering growth in the manufacturing sector depends to a large extent on domestic purchasing power. Productivity growth in agriculture can boost the purchasing power of over half of the country’s population dependent on it. Indian agriculture is starving for new technology and genetic engineering can offer hope.
Tackling the political issue of onion prices
Onion prices have plummeted and onion producers in Maharashtra are in distress. Union minister Nitin Gadkari has appealed to them to diversify their production to avoid a repeat of the situation. Such appeals are unfair. For one, the minister was silent when his government brought down onion prices by restricting exports, and two, thanks to scanty irrigation, onion is the only cash crop option available for them.
Silent marches, disturbing echoes
Maharashtra is witnessing an unprecedented manifestation of caste mobilization. It is hard to recollect when, if ever, we saw Marathas in such massive numbers marching silently in city after city. Does this portend a political storm? After all, Maratha caste is the single largest community in the state, comprising a third of its total population. The trigger was the brutal rape and murder of a teenage Maratha girl in the village Kopardi in Ahmednagar district.
Modi government’s Vodafone moment: Arbitrarily invalidating private contracts will dissuade investors
The UPA government could never live down its retrospective tax amendment. It became emblematic of an administration that could no longer assure investors of due process and the sanctity of law. Almost everybody associated with the UPA concedes it was a mistake. But has the lesson been learnt? Last month, the Central government decided it would reduce the prices of Bt cottonseed.
Opinion: On Onion Prices, Modi Government's Got it Wrong
The Modi government has come under attack from its sympathizers on the Economic Right for dragging its feet on key economic reforms. The trigger was the government's complete U-turn on the Land Acquisition Bill. This and its failure to display the required statecraft in getting the GST (tax reform) passed has dented this government's credibility to carry out rapid and bold economic reforms.
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