Indian author and former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Avay Shukla expressed grave alarm over India’s current trajectory, warning that it was degenerating into a “nation of duffers” and progressing backwards toward “Neanderthal stage.” These comments were made during an interview with journalist Karan Thapar for The Wire where Shukla elaborated his views regarding its social-political climate.
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Shukla expressed concern in an interview over what he sees as an increasing anti-intellectual trend in India’s northern regions, known as “duffer zones.” These zones were marked by low literacy rates, high birth rates and an emphasis on religiosity–specifically Hindutva ideology. According to Shukla, this environment fostered intolerance towards differing opinions, languages, religions and lifestyles leading to increased Islamophobia and hypernationalism.
Shukla highlighted recent incidents where individuals advocating for communal harmony have been subjected to trolling, as well as those questioning government policies who question those policies, with Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad facing backlash due to his views; an indicator of this broader trend whereby any form of dissension is often associated with being “anti-national.” These developments represent a dangerous shift in national psyche where large segments may lose rationality and adopt retrogressive mindsets, according to Shukla.
Shukla’s criticism extends beyond societal attitudes and covers institutional responses as well. He raised concern regarding the judiciary’s handling of dissent and media’s propagation of divisive narratives, both which, according to him, contribute to creating an atmosphere in which critical thought is suppressed while conformity is enforced.

Shukla’s comments have ignited intense dialogue across various platforms, with some agreeing with his assessment of intellectual discourse’s decline while others viewing his observations as overly pessimistic. Yet his observations highlight the necessity of creating an inclusive and open society that values diversity of opinion while encouraging critical engagement with national issues.

As India faces increasingly complex social and political challenges, voices like Shukla serve as a timely reminder of the necessity to uphold democratic principles, defend free expression rights, and foster an environment of constructive dialogue.

For an in-depth examination of Avay Shukla’s viewpoints, watch his full interview with Karan Thapar on The Wire’s YouTube channel.