Laxmi Murthy

Laxmi Murthy heads the Hri Institute for Southasian Research and Exchange, and is a Contributing Editor with Himal Southasian. She is currently coordinating a Zubaan-Panos initiative on sexual violence and impunity in Southasia.

Why did they kill Gauri Lankesh?

Rollo Romig’s book uncovers the making of Gauri Lankesh, her fight against Hindu nationalism, and how the journalist’s murder exposes the cost of dissent in an increasingly intolerant India

By Laxmi Murthy

/ 22 Apr 2025

A woman stands in a crowd holding a black-and-white poster featuring a portrait of Gauri Lankesh and the words 'SILENCE... IS

Prabir Purkayastha’s fight against two Emergencies in India – under Modi and Indira Gandhi

New books by the imprisoned founding editor of NewsClick trace his personal and political journey across two grim periods, and weave in insightful critique of science and technology

By Laxmi Murthy

/ 14 Mar 2024

Prabir Purkayastha’s fight against two Emergencies in India – under Modi and Indira Gandhi

Women’s bodies, disinformation and nationalism in Manipur

Sexual violence in conflict has a long and terrible history – and its combination with disinformation and nationalism in Manipur makes for an especially ominous mix

By Laxmi Murthy

/ 7 Aug 2023

Women’s bodies, disinformation and nationalism in Manipur

The face of female leadership

Do women politicians in high office in Southasia offer something different from their male counterparts?

By Laxmi Murthy

/ 24 Mar 2021

Reframing the Dalit experience

A new photobook on Dalits in Nepal brings out previously unheard voices and unseen visions.

By Laxmi Murthy

/ 22 Aug 2019

Uniform hysteria

Following the suicide attack on security forces in Kashmir, India’s media went on a nationalist, fact-free overdrive.

By Laxmi Murthy

/ 7 Mar 2019

Far from home

A photo essay on Nepali women migrants in India.

By Sarita Ramamoorthy and Laxmi Murthy

/ 21 Jan 2019

India’s #MeToo moment, due process and the art of listening

Public disclosures have emboldened women to share their experiences in a veritable flood of stories of humiliation, violence and abuse of power in the course of their work

By Laxmi Murthy

/ 13 Nov 2018