Editorial standards
We are committed to honouring the dignity and humanity of the members of the Ashoka community. As an organization that amplifies voices, we will not platform voices that threaten this assurance in any form. We adhere to the following guidelines strictly as a part of this commitment:
 

1. The Edict will not publish articles that unnecessarily single out individuals rather than institutions or offices. Articles that deal mainly with individuals must pass a high degree of scrutiny to justify this attention.

2. The Edict will not publish articles that involve claims relying on faulty reasoning, misrepresentations of truth, or claims from unreliable sources. All factual claims must be substantiated.

3. Parties submitting work must be open to working with editors in good faith. Those who have shown an unwillingness to respond in good faith to edit suggestions will have future submissions declined without further consideration

What is an opinion piece?

The Edict publishes opinion pieces written by current students, faculty and alumni, and our columnists on our website. Opinion pieces should be 700-1000 words and discuss something happening in the news or make an argument on a subject of your choice. The pieces must be timely, original, factually accurate, and present a unique viewpoint that adds to the discourse around your chosen topic.

Pieces already published on other websites or those containing inaccurate, offensive, or discriminatory material will not be published at the Opinion Editors’ discretion. Refer to the editorial standards below for further details.

How do I write an opinion piece?

Work through the following checklist to ensure your writing process is smooth and effective:

1. Develop a clear thesis statement summarizing your argument and stance. This statement needs to remain the focal point of your piece so establishing it early will give your piece direction.

2. Dive into the central variables of your thesis statement, supporting all your claims with evidence and rhetoric. You are sharing an opinion but also are making an argument to a vast community; we want to hear you but also represent a standard of fair argumentation. Be sure to cite your sources.

3. Writing is re-writing. Now comes the most important stage, editing. Ask yourself whether your piece is well structured and tends overall to your thesis statement. Remember your target audience; you want to leave them feeling like they not only understand your argument but also see how it affects them and their lives.

How do I submit my op-ed?

To submit a guest op-ed for the Edict, email the Opinion Editors at edict@ashoka.edu.in with the subject line [Opinions pitch] followed by your proposed title for the piece. Write a brief description of your pitch in the email.

Alternatively, you can also fill in the form on the website meant for guest op-eds.

Are op-eds edited?

Every piece goes through both the Opinion Editors and a member of the Managing Board. The Editors check for precision, clarity, and structure, flagging any factual or minor errors. Any changes will be discussed with the writer prior to publication. After the first round of edits and conversations with the writer, the piece passes to the Managing Board to be checked before being published.

Policies on revision, acceptance, and timing for external submissions
 

1. Acceptance: acceptance of article submissions is at the discretion of the Opinions editor. Acceptance is not guaranteed based on submission.

2. Revision: all accepted articles are accepted provisionally, and undergo at least two rounds of revision before publication. Unless an editor states that a certain revision is only a suggestion, revision requests should be considered necessary for publication. The editor can decline to publish an article if an author is unwilling to work with editors on revisions.

3. Timing: the editors can generally accommodate articles submitted at least one week before the publication date. For timely matters, the editors of opinions may be able to publish articles submitted within less time but in either case, how quickly the section can be published depends on how quickly an author can address revision suggestions

Letters to the editor

Readers and the general audience can write to the editors at The Edict’s email address. Letters to the editors will usually be published in their original form and edited only for brevity and grammatical errors. However, in case the letters contain threats, including the use of language that is hateful or feature distasteful criticisms towards specific writers or communities, they will not be published.