A NEW INSTITUTE IN THE SPINE UNIVERSE

A country where receiving a thappad is never the price of raising your voice.

Thappad Times is the media platform for the abused and beaten. We stand against physical violence by police and government officials, along with the machinery that enables it, explains it and waits for the public to forget it.

Read our founding principles →

Editorial illustration of an open palm, a lathi and protest barricades — When power leaves a mark, the country deserves to know.

01 / THIS IS THAPPAD TIMES

The news of the danda, detention and denial.

We believe in the Constitution and in the citizen’s right to question power without paying for it with their body.

Our pages belong to students at barricades, protesters on the street, workers asking for their rights, farmers holding their ground, journalists doing their jobs and ordinary citizens who discovered that asking a question can attract an official answer delivered by hand.

Thappad Times is owned by everyone who has ever been told to remain silent.

02 / WHAT WE BELIEVE

Eight principles. No prime-time shouting.

We stand with the person receiving the danda.

That is where our reporting begins.

The person holding the lathi must answer for its use.

Authority comes with questions. It does not come with immunity.

A uniform is not a fact checking certificate.

It cannot turn an official version into the final truth.

Every thappad deserves a headline.

No act of violence becomes too small because the powerful call it routine.

An arrest does not prove guilt.

Being taken into custody does not take away a citizen’s dignity.

An official statement is a claim, not the conclusion.

It must face the same questions as every other account.

“Necessary force” is still force.

A minor injury remains an injury when it belongs to someone else.

The media must be independent enough to ask difficult questions.

No shouting matches. No political instructions. Ask clearly and let the country hear the answer.

Editorial illustration of citizens facing a police line — When citizens kneel for justice, power should not answer with weapons.

03 / WHO WE STAND WITH

THE EXPERIENCED READER

You already know
why this platform
exists.

You have been slapped, beaten, lathi charged, threatened, humiliated or illegally detained by someone acting in the name of the state.

THE READER WITH A SPINE

You know why you
must stand beside
them.

You may never have faced a danda and are willing to stand with those who have, even after learning this may improve your eligibility for the experienced reader category.

“Silence may be comfortable. It has never been a reliable defence.”

04 / INSIDE THE NEWSROOM

Every serious media platform needs the right desks.

DESK 01

The Thappad Desk

The central desk for slaps, beatings and physical assault by government officials.

DESK 02

The Danda Bureau

For lathi charges, excessive force and crowd control that appears to have lost control.

DESK 03

Illegal Detention Desk

For citizens whose questions resulted in an unexpected government stay.

DESK 04

Official Excuses Desk

Where “unfortunate incident”, “necessary force” and “minor injury” receive a second reading.

Editorial illustration of a lathi charge in a crowd — If you want them, you’ll have to come through me.

05 / JOIN THE NEWSROOM

Recruiting people who’ve earned their credentials the hard way.

Editorial illustration of a citizen standing before a police vehicle — The distance between authority and accountability is often just one person.

Lathi-Charged Correspondents

Anyone slapped, beaten, lathi charged, threatened, humiliated or illegally detained by a government official already has relevant field experience.

Standing Witnesses

For people who saw what happened and understood that looking away is not neutrality.

Freelance Spines

Independent citizens across the country. Previous newsroom experience is optional. A functioning spine is compulsory.

Ungodi Journalists

Journalists with at least one thappad or who question people in power can apply.

INTERNAL NOTICE

Spine Verification Department

People without a minimum of one thappad must demonstrate a record of questioning what is wrong. The department checks whether an applicant can ask power a difficult question without first asking power for permission.

Based on the verification, you will be declared:

01 Spine Verified
02 Spine Not Found

THE EDITORIAL POSITION

If you have been beaten, we stand with you.

If you witnessed it, we expect you to speak.If you have never faced it, stand beside those who have.If you are wondering what to do next:

Grow a Spine

Stand with the students.