
The Theme
This issue of Motherland Report is dedicated to “the first requisite of a democracy” — its voters. At a time when the very idea of India as a democratic state is under threat, this issue brings to light stories of voters and “un-voters” who have been systematically excluded from the mainstream.
The Reports
The magazine features deep dives into a range of ideas. Offerings include: the paradox that is the politics of Auroville in Tamil Nadu, how democracy treats the Adivasi tribes in remote areas of southern India, and a close look at the meme pages that are influencing how India votes.
The Photos
The photo stories in this issue are people-driven — poignant portraits of Indians in their role as voters. There’s a story on the street-dwellers of Mumbai, essentially homeless but eligible to vote since 2014 when the Election Commission granted them the right to vote, photos from a fateful night in October 2019 when over 400 trees were cut in Mumbai’s Aarey Forest while protesting citizens were detained, and striking portraits of folks from Kolkata’s LGBTQ community.