Articles by Arunima Naithani

In Dehradun’s narrow lanes, mayoral election banners flutter briefly, promising progress, before fading into obscurity. The sound of crackers and victory speeches fills the air, echoing through neighborhoods already too familiar with broken promises. Across Uttarakhand’s urban towns and cities, local body elections were recently held, leaving behind a growing unease—a sense of democracy as a ritual, devoid of impact. Amid this fleeting spectacle, a sentiment stirs quietly but persistently: Why vote when nothing changes? This question reflects more than frustration; it reveals a deeper disconnection between governance and the people it serves. Much like Gregor Samsa in Kafka’s Metamorphosis,…