Pandemic politics and public sphere: A critical discourse analysis of COVID-19 in letters to the editor of leading Odia newspapers.

This study examines the letters to the editor section of four leading Odia-language newspapers during the peak of India's second COVID-19 wave (April–September 2021) to analyze how this vernacular print media space functioned as a public sphere. Using critical discourse analysis, the research identifies five major pandemic-related concerns voiced by readers: political dynamics and vaccine-related politics, vaccine availability and access, challenges faced by senior citizens and children, the struggle to balance life and livelihood amid lockdowns, and the crisis in the education sector. The letters served as a platform for ordinary citizens to express their experiences, critique government policies, and seek administrative attention, highlighting the role of regional newspapers in facilitating public deliberation during a humanitarian crisis. While focused on Odisha, the findings suggest broader implications for vernacular media's role in public discourse across the Global South.