What is a Dilip Mandal ?

Me Bhi Political Hu

Introduction

So I have been noticing this person trending in all ideological circles, ranging from the DBA to the Sangh circles. So What exactly is this person? Where does he come from? Should you give any credibility to his opinions? What ideology does he follow? Is he just exploiting the political environment to get relevance? Let’s explore today.

Dilip Mandal is a figure in the Indian media landscape. He is the former managing editor of India Today Hindi Magazine and has authored books on media and sociology. He is known for his contributions to discussions on sociological realities, social justice, and media in India. Additionally, he has been featured in various video discussions and interviews, where he shares his insights on India’s art landscape amid societal shifts, the nature of religious individuals in the country, and other pertinent topics.

• Age and Early Life: Professor Mandal is reported to be 58 years old as of 2024. He was born in India between 1960 to 1970.

• Education: He began his career in journalism with the Delhi edition of Dainik Jagran after receiving formal training in journalism from the Times Centre for Media Studies.

• Career: Over two decades, he has been associated with more than ten major media houses in India. He has worked in various capacities, including Associate Producer, Assistant Editor, and Senior Producer in TV news channels like Zee News, Star News, and Aaj Tak, and as an executive producer for CNBC Awaaz.

• Family: Professor Mandal was married to Anuradha Mandal, a Senior Indian Information Service Officer and Editor at the Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Unfortunately, she passed away due to cancer in 2014.

Who is Dilip Mandal ?

Mandal also engages in educational activities, as indicated by his participation in the EYE OPENER series, where he discusses issues like social justice and the media, and shares his vision for India. His work and opinions are influential, particularly in the context of contemporary Indian society and its evolving dynamics. But the reach seems rather limited to cause any major change in the political environment.

Mandal has been involved in various scholarly activities and discussions, particularly focusing on issues related to media, sociology, and social justice in India. While specific titles of his literary works are not listed in the search results, he is recognized for his contributions to the discourse on caste and media in India. He has been an active voice in advocating for social justice and has participated in many discussions and interviews on these subjects.

His work often intersects with the themes of caste, media representation, and social equity. He has also been involved in educational series and public discussions that address these critical issues. For more detailed information on his scholarly works, you might consider exploring academic databases or contacting the institutions with which he has been affiliated. His insights and perspectives continue to influence discussions on social justice and media in India, which is how I came to find this person.

I keep noticing he calls himself a professor so let’s explore that for a bit. Mandal received his formal training in journalism from the Times Centre for Media Studies. His educational background laid the foundation for his extensive career in journalism, where he has worked with major media houses and contributed to the discourse on media, sociology, and social justice in India. His academic pursuits and professional experiences have made him a prominent figure in the field of journalism and an influential voice in discussions related to Indian society and politics.

Professor Dilip Mandal was an adjunct professor of mass communication at Makhan Lal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism in India. This role typically involves teaching courses on a part-time basis, often while maintaining a career outside of academia. The exact date when he received the title of professor is not available online, but it is associated with his academic and professional contributions to journalism and mass communication.

So it’s safe to say that he is a professor to some degree but not entirely. Professor Dilip Mandal is primarily known as a journalist and a media personality with significant contributions to discussions on caste and social issues in India. While he has written extensively and engaged in scholarly discourse, particularly on media representation and social justice, he is not a scholar in the traditional academic sense, nor is he a scientist. His expertise lies in journalism and social commentary, where he has made notable impacts through his writings and public engagements.

Clarifying this for the right-wing spectrum apes who keep exaggerating everything is very necessary. Equally, when they find a statement by Prof. Mandal they start labelling him a nobody. The duality of a human is magical. Moving on since he spent most of his time in journalism let’s dive into that and see his contributions there.

Journalism

As a journalist, Professor Mandal covered a wide range of topics. Early in his career, he worked with the Delhi edition of Dainik Jagran, and later, he was associated with the Kolkata edition of Jansatta. He has done print journalism with India Today, Dainik Amar Ujala, and Inter Press Service. His reporting has spanned various subjects, including editing, election coverage, and parliamentary news.

If I had to summarize the views his peers had of him it would go something like this, throughout his journalistic journey, Professor Mandal has been known for his insightful coverage of socio-political issues, often highlighting the nuances of Indian society and politics. His work has contributed significantly to the discourse on social justice, caste dynamics, and media representation in India.

There are no notable news stories that he broke in his career as a journalist so far, which is fine. Because it is evident that he did keep his ideology and framework of work ethic rigid where necessary.

But, let’s not kid ourselves this is India, no one just becomes relevant here with Rigid morals and very static ideological leanings, as we can see in the case of Prof. Mandal. So what is the reason that he has maintained relevance throughout the years in this space, which is known to destroy people publically when they present any ideas highlighting caste dynamics and inequality in India.

Controversies

Professor Mandal has been involved in controversies, particularly surrounding the issue of caste discrimination on social media platforms. He has been a vocal critic of what he perceives as caste bias on Twitter, leading to the trending of hashtags such as #CasteistTwitter and #JaiBhimTwitter. His account was temporarily suspended, which sparked a significant outcry and led to a campaign for its restoration. The campaign highlighted issues of caste discrimination and the perceived hierarchy in the verification process on Twitter.

Mandal has also been an outspoken advocate for the caste census in India, arguing that relying on outdated data is detrimental to policy formulation. His stance on these issues reflects his commitment to social justice and equality, which has sometimes put him at odds with established political parties and social structures.

Besides the online space, he has also published the following major articles.

1. “Imperative to have caste census, else we’re relying on 90-year-old-data to formulate policy” - In this article, Professor Mandal argues strongly in favor of a caste census and criticizes established parties for their failure to ensure social justice. He emphasizes that caste discrimination is still rampant and that caste representation remains crucial in nation-building.

2. “Upper-caste Domination in India’s Mainstream Media and Its Extension in Digital Media” - Published in the Economic and Political Weekly, this paper examines the hegemony of upper castes in Indian media and the lack of lower-caste representation. It delves into the rising phenomenon of Dalit–Bahujan media in the digital space and their efforts to democratize Indian media.

It’s important to note that discussions around caste and politics can be sensitive and complex, and individuals like Professor Mandal often have strong supporters as well as critics. If someone hits all the right pressure points, it could propel one into a loop of being hated and supported into a spot of turning into a tennis ball being tossed between the two ideologies.

Vipassana Problem

Then there is a controversy surrounding Professor Mandal and Vipassana meditation stems from an article he wrote titled “Why I fled Vipassana in just 4 days,” published in ThePrint. In the article, Mandal shared his personal experience at a Vipassana meditation camp, which he left prematurely after four days. He had entered the camp with an open mind but found certain aspects of the practice and its administration to be problematic.

Mandal’s departure from the camp was met with criticism from some who had completed the 10-day course. One critic, who responded to Mandal’s article, argued that Mandal had misunderstood the spirit of Vipassana and had made misleading generalizations based on his incomplete experience. The critic emphasized that Vipassana is not an intellectual or philosophical entertainment but a serious meditation practice that requires commitment and an open mind to the teachings.

This is where he got his notable critic Manish Paliwal, who expressed disappointment with Mandal’s approach to Vipassana meditation.

The critic also pointed out that Mandal’s reasons for leaving the course—to attend to unfinished business for the upcoming Independence Day—contradicted his initial commitment to complete the program. This incident sparked a debate about the nature of Vipassana, the expectations of participants, and the validity of Mandal’s criticisms based on his short stay.

Views on RSS, BJP and Narendra Modi

Professor Mandal has commented on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He has been critical of the organization and its influence. For instance, he has expressed concerns about the RSS’s role in the political landscape of India, particularly concerning the Hindu-Muslim binary and the politics of the BJP. He has suggested that the RSS-BJP’s politics are based on creating a narrative of hate and fear against Muslims.

Additionally, Mandal has been involved in controversies for his remarks on social media about the RSS. He has been vocal about his opposition to the Hindutva agenda of the RSS and the BJP, which has sometimes led to backlash against him.

It’s important to note that the RSS is a significant and often polarizing entity in Indian politics, and comments about it can lead to varied reactions and discussions within the public sphere.

While his general direction in his writing and work seems to be on the right path, highlighting caste discrimination and trying to have open discourse on the topic as evidenced by their YouTube presence. But one thing that doesn’t add up is his views on the current ruling party.

In some of his writings, he has taken a stance that may appear contrary to the general perception of him being critical of the BJP and its ideologies.

For instance, in an article titled “Modi is no danger to the Constitution. Amendments of past 10 years have brought only stability,” Mandal argues that the BJP has not harmed the Constitution and has been less prolific in amending it compared to previous governments. He also suggests that Modi, as a beneficiary of India’s constitutional democracy and electoral system, has a vested interest in their preservation.

In another article, “Dhruv Rathee is wrong. If Modi is a dictator, why did he fail so often to get what he wants,” Mandal challenges the notion that Modi has authoritarian tendencies. He points out instances where Modi has shown an accommodating leadership style and has rethought decisions in the face of resistance.

However, Mandal has also been critical of the BJP’s politics, particularly in relation to the Hindu-Muslim binary and the politics of hate and fear against Muslims. He has suggested that the RSS-BJP’s politics are based on creating a narrative of hate and fear against Muslims.

Conclusion

A review of Professor Mandal’s digital footprint suggests that he has indeed made commendable contributions to the media sector. However, it appears that his work has not achieved widespread recognition, possibly due to a perceived lack of assertiveness in promoting his ideas relative to his contemporaries.

Conversely, it seems that the incident involving his suspension from Twitter and subsequent support from online activists may have inadvertently fostered an inclination towards maintaining his presence in the public eye. This notion was seemingly bolstered when individuals from the opposite end of the ideological spectrum lauded him, particularly when he expressed favorable opinions of the incumbent BJP government and Narendra Modi, while simultaneously offering what some might consider superfluous critiques of those challenging the government’s tendencies.

Therefore, should Professor Mandal continue to offer his insights on societal matters, one might approach his commentary with a degree of skepticism, given the potential questions surrounding his current motivations.

In engaging with his content, it would be prudent to exercise due diligence and independently verify the topics discussed before endorsing the narratives emanating from Professor Mandal’s digital platforms.

2//10

• Lacks political clarity .

• Hindi imposition all over his twitter

• Hates the caste atrocities of Hinduism but supports the Hindu Rashtra Organisations as political entities.

• Looks like Arvind Kejriwal, while we are nitpicking.