Varanasi, Banaras, or Kashi has been home to spirituality, music and literature for centuries, with personalities such as Dara Shikoh, Pandit Ravi Shankar and Bismillah Khan associated with the ancient city. But over the past decade, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the incumbent MP from Varanasi, the city has undergone major changes.  

In this episode of Another Election Show, we spoke to Hindi poet and author Vyomesh Shukla about the Varanasi that the media misses out on, the role of literature in holding power to account, and the true essence of a ‘Banarasiya’. 

Shukla also spotlighted the changes in the city over the last ten years under PM Modi, the difference between spiritual seekers and religious tourists, police action, Gyanvyapi mosque, and local issues.

“We are seeing major commodification of Banaras. It was earlier that tree under which lord Buddha used to sit and impart knowledge to his disciples. Instead of that, now Banaras has become such a lollipop that can be sucked in a day,” said the poet.

Watch.