TM Krishna during a discussion at the Chavara Cultural Center in Kochi on Friday. | Photo credit: THULASI KAKKAT
Participation in democracy should not be limited to polling day but must be daily engagement with politics and issues, Carnatic singer and author TM Krishna said in Kochi on Friday.
He was speaking at a bi-monthly cultural event at the Chavara Cultural Center. He said that without the “cultural habit of democracy”, people tend to have a “detached relationship with the state” with an element of hidden fear.
He said schools should teach how to frame a question because it’s a thoughtful thing to do. “The state, regardless of political party, is more comfortable when you don’t question. Every political party doesn’t want you and me to ask the question. Everyone has already suggested the questions we should ask, and we train ourselves to only ask those questions,” he said.
Sharing insights from his latest book We the People of India: Decoding the Symbols of the Nation, Mr. Krishna said that much of the history that has been circulating about the national flag, national anthem and national symbol has been incorrect. The history of national symbols is that they can represent independent people while also perceiving them for their individuality as citizens, he said.
Published – 09 May 2026 0:18 IST
