Uttam Kumar Sinha replies: In the last three decades, increasing globalisation, development of capitalism, and deregulation policies have radically transformed the mass media, which includes international news broadcasts, television, film, and music. What used to be relatively national in scope has now become a competitive catchment of global audiences.

Ashok K. Behuria replies: Most states in South Asia are multi-ethnic/cultural ones. The peculiar history of the region ensured large scale migration across different subregions of South Asia over time, resulting in ethnic, cultural and linguistic overlaps by default when the modern states were constituted as a byproduct of both colonial politics and anti-colonial struggles in the mid-twentieth century.

S. Kalyanaraman replies: Since a democratic form of government is an expression of the will of the people, India is likely to enjoy greater legitimacy in the domestic and international spheres.

Abdul Hameed Khan replies: India’s image as the biggest democracy in the world is robust and well known. India has vigorously promoted democratic practices all along, without exception. Every constituent of its government structure as well as all the established political parties have shown profound respect to it. This goes to establish India’s democratic approach towards all of its states and territories.