People ask me, what was the hardest part in leaving the
Left.

Many things - friends were lost, I was called names.

Those, for whom I was a strong independent woman, were suddenly calling me gullible, foolish

But I was prepared for this.

The hard part really was -

giving up the comfort.

As a leftist in India, you find your views represented abundantly.

Something happens. It bothers you.

Then you open EPW, The Hindu, or any other 'quality' source- so many scholars giving your views a voice. Very empowering.

You feel calmer 'My views are represented. I can rest'

This is not the case with RW. There is no ecosystem you can count on to represent your views. Speak up or be invisible.

Issues will come and go, and you will find the most obvious arguments missing from mainstream discourse.

This is how hegemony works. It kills 1)commonsense 2)perspective

and if you decide to be lazy - you don't exist.