Kartikeya’s Substack

What Happens Beyond the Pale

The growing mistrust in India's Election Commission certainly gives us a few scenarios to imagine for the future of democracy

Aug 25 • 

Kartikeya Bhatotia

3

July 2025

The Uncounted

I lost my father to COVID-19 four years ago. His passing, along with those of over four million others in India, has slipped through the cracks of the…

Jul 11 • 

Kartikeya Bhatotia

18

2

June 2025

Abandoning Ashoka

The promise of the university no longer rests on its ideals—ideals it has willfully abandoned.

Jun 3 • 

Kartikeya Bhatotia

50

2

May 2025

To Enhance Citizenship, Give the Work Back

As Indian politics grows more centralized and symbolic, reclaiming democracy requires equipping citizens to do the hard, adaptive work of change.

May 2 • 

Kartikeya Bhatotia

 and 

Ishu Gupta

1

April 2025

Replug: Lok Sabha 2024: The return of the argumentative Indian

From June 2024: After a decade without debate, the election results offer a renewed hope for a deliberative democracy.

Apr 13 • 

Kartikeya Bhatotia

1

Welcome

Thank you for visiting my Substack.

Apr 13 • 

Kartikeya Bhatotia

2