Digitization has impacted the working of democracy across the world in a big way; India, one of the largest democracies, is no exception. Technology has given an interesting twist to democracy. First, the use of radio in political campaigns disembodied the political actors; later the television gave them back their bodies with moving pictures. But the coming of the Internet and social media websites made the political parties and their leaders virtually everywhere, all the time available to the masses. This new media has paved the way for digital democracy by offering a two-way communication between citizens and political actors.
Profile
Currently Professor in School of Social Sciences at Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India. Received Master’s degree in Political Science and doctoral degree in Library and Information Science from University of Delhi. Published a number of research papers on information seeking patterns of social scientists and their use of libraries, information resources. While a Visiting Fellow in MSH Paris, studied information seeking patterns of French social scientists working on India. My present research focuses on digital democracy and the use of social media platforms by Indian political parties.