Raghu Karnad

More stories by this author

Thapar discerned that dissent was a salient feature of ancient India. It was enshrined in early philosophy, which even described a system of constructive debate resembling dialectics.

Romila Thapar: doyenne and dissenter

The great historian came of age at the end of British rule in India. Now 94, she continues to defy a regime determined to forget the pluralism and dissent of India’s past.

May 12, 2026

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