In a conversation with Karan Thapar for The Wire, historian, novelist and essayist Mukul Kesavan talks about the ongoing protests that have paralysed the centre of Delhi since Saturday, October 10, and the government’s response to them. “I see the protests as a moment of great hope”, Kesavan says, adding that the audacity and impertinence is “enheartening”.What do the protests reveal of the state of the country and the response of young India? What does this reveal of the Narendra Modi government? Have the police acted illegally and improperly with many of the people they detained? How effective was the Supreme Court’s response? And what impact could all of this have on India’s image as a properly functioning democracy? Finally, how should we take the claim the protests are foreign funded? This and more are answered in this interview.Watch it here: