Sigma

In 2018, Pakistan witnessed its third consecutive transfer of power between civilian governments, a significant achievement in the nation’s 71-year history that has been marked by military coups. However, the spectre of the military’s subtle influence on electoral outcomes and media control still loomed large.

In a world where the complexities of citizenship and identity are constantly debated and dominated by adult voices, Samina Mishra, an educator, writer, and storyteller, set out on an adventure to explore the nuanced understanding of being an Indian through the eyes of children.

Over a quarter-century, journalist Tasneem Ahmar and her organisation, Uks, have campaigned for gender equality and inclusivity among Pakistan’s male-dominated media It was 1998 and Pakistan had just completed 50 years of existence as an independent nation. Alternating between democracy and military dictatorship, the general public, typically cynical about matters of state, became immersed in…

Journalist-activist Najiba Ayubi shaped the media landscape in Afghanistan during its brief stint as a democracy. Forced to flee when the Taliban returned to power, she is hopeful in her home in Los Angeles that Afghans who ‘tasted freedom of expression’ will one day strive for its return  

The Equals Project works for citizen engagement with the Constitution of India and its values, especially potent for such a diverse nation

Even as a section of the artistic community in India increasingly feels under attack, musician, satirist and environmental activist Rahul Ram makes a compelling case for inventing a new kind of language “divorced from electoral politics” to communicate with audiences.

Board games can help deepen the meaning of representative democracy for the body politic

Gaming becomes a tool to acquaint people with the nuances of political and civic decision-making based on personal values

Sangeeta Thapa, a prominent figure in Nepal’s art scene, discusses the profound influence of art in Nepal’s transition from monarchy to democracy in an interview to SIGMA. She delves into the historical connection between art and the royalty

A recollection by Vishwajyoti Ghosh

During the 1971 monsoon, India witnessed an influx of approximately 10 million refugees from East Pakistan. As a photographer with The Statesman, I was frequently called upon, whenever a significant case or event occurred.

A students’ collaboration explores the concepts of war, resistance and solidarity from fresh, personal perspectives transcending borders and conventional prisms

Amid the morass of violence-oriented games, with their imprints on impressionable minds, currency is gaining ground for genres that reward players for shunning and obstructing violence instead

One from the gut — a silent scream by a Kashmiri artist

Salim Arif discusses the role of art, artists, art institutions, and cultural sensitivity vis-a-vis the belief system in our society. He points to the role of storytelling in Indian cinema and views filmmaking through a South Asian perspective.

Indian and Persian storytellers told classic tales of adventure and mysticism during the Mughal period. A group in New Delhi is reviving the art form by reciting Islamic and Hindu stories. Udit Yadav and Pratap Sen highlight this distinguished art form with its new Indianised themes.

Prayas Abhinav highlights the role of games in establishing social relations while being a gateway to new worlds that challenge existing value systems

Vinita Sidhartha highlights the relevance of Indian traditional games through her enterprise, Kreeda. Here she describes the research, creation, and revival of Indian traditional games by capturing the spirit of India and the atmosphere in which the games were played.

We stand at the cusp of a digital revolution where virtual and augmented reality could redefine the way we learn, live and play. It is being heralded as the next big thing by corporations, experts and futurists. They believe our virtual and real worlds may soon merge by harnessing the power of technology in what…

First published by The Times of India in July 2020, this article is from the book, Samaaj, Sarkaar, Bazaar – A Citizen-first Approach.

Mehru Jaffer highlights the cultural patterns in South Asia and its engagement with mythology in order to imagine the past and draw attention to problems of the present. Jaffer resorts to the ocean metaphorically as a source of consciousness and a vast, mysterious pool of wealth and wonder.

Bangladesh’s folk culture is enriched with folk tales, songs, plays, riddles, mantras and the like. Among all of these, the baul is very popular and renowned among music lovers. Rubayat Rahman Chowdhury’s essay showcases this glorious music culture and its history.

This article focuses on the importance of imagination in fostering engagement and dialogue around how our immediate environments could, would, or should evolve. Abhimanyu Singhal, through his work at Architecture for Dialogue, covers themes like speculative fiction and blue-sky visioning, and discusses the importance of prototypes and pilot projects.