Freedom cannot even laugh in India!
At the height of the emergency in 1975-77 under Indira Gandhi,the country had to cope with dangerous political suppression. You were imprisoned for opposing the government or writing against it.…
India
Both Voltaires and Rousseaus are needed in India
Man has two basic attributes, reason and emotion. While the French thinker Voltaire ( 1694-1778 ) emphasized on reason, the French thinker Rousseau ( 1712-1778 ) emphasized on emotion, saying…
It is 50 years since India’s veteran communist P.Sundarayya resigned as General Secretary of CPI-M, now having its 24th Party Congress
P.Sundarayya (1913 -1985 May19), India’s veteran communist leader. He resigned in 1975 as the General Secretary and Polit Buro (PB) Member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), now having…
Bas hua, judge sahab!
On 28 March 2025, 2600+ activists, academics, lawyers, journalists, artists and concerned citizens from across movements and different sections of society wrote to the Chief Justice of India regarding the…
Constitution, Constitutionalism and Ambedkar
Respected Chairman, Dr. Pranay Krishna Ji, and learned friends present here! I am grateful to Vinod Tiwari Ji, on whose loving request I am present here and I also got…
Gift of Modi or Hind?
Like every time, on the occasion of Ramzan, Narendra Modi has announced a gift of some food items worth Rs. 1500/- for the people of the minority community. But Saffron…
The Rise of Digital Media: Surpassing TV in India
In an era marked by rapid technological advances and evolving consumptionpatterns, the rise of digital media in India is nothing short of a revolution. As traditional television, often referred to…
Why the Three-language formula is untenable and dangerous for unity?
Since 2014, the Modi-led Central governments have systematically sought and substantially succeeded in undermining Indian federalism by reorganising Centre-state relations so as to enhance the relative powers and capacities for…
How Online Gambling is Disrupting the Life of Children Even in Remote Villages
Recently when I was speaking to a group of socially active women from remote villages in Niwari district (Madhya Pradesh) regarding the need for a campaign to reduce consumption of…
Learning from History: Or Taking Revenge of Past
Since the demolition of Babri mosque by RSS Combine(1992), history has started dominating the social space. A particular version of history which looks at history through the Kings, their religion,…
Freedom of Speech: Not So Free – Kunal Kamra’s Joke Sparks Shiv Sena Backlash
Introduction Freedom of speech in India has always been a contested issue. The recent controversy surrounding stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s satirical song targeting former Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has…
Delay in Opening of Government Super Specialty Hospital at Burla, Condemned
Ganatantrik Adhikar Surakha Sangathan (GASS), Odisha, strongly condemns the delay in opening the government-run Super Specialty hospital at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla,…
Kunal Kamra Satire and Shinde Shiv Sena Reaction
The recent controversy surrounding Kunal Kamra's YouTube video and the subsequent vandalism of Mumbai Habitat’s Comedy Club by members of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has reignited debates…
Citizens Unite to Condemn Urban Terrorism Attack on Kunal Kamra
We, the Citizens of India, strongly condemn the terror tactics and vandalism being displayed by Party ‘Leaders’ of the ruling alliance in the Maharashtra. We accept that these people lack…
Granting retrospective exemption from spectrum usage charges in favour of private telecom operators violates the apex court’s directions and it amounts to a serious impropriety- Calls for an independent enquiry
To Shri T V Somanathan Cabinet Secretary Govt of India Dear Shri Somanathan, I understand that the Government has "decided to give a major relief to telecom companies, running into thousands of…
Andhra Pradesh: A chink in the armor of the Dravidian fight against hegemony
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has been leading a steadfast fight against the Union government’s imperious attempts at scuttling federalism by various means. Interestingly…
BeChiraag Village Will Be Begumpura as Dalits Light Chiraags on Controversial Land in Punjab
Thousands of Dalits gathered on a (farm)land in three villages of Punjab’s Sangrur district on Friday, 28th February, to light chiraags and claim their right over the land. The protest…
Improving Livelihoods based on Better Care of Goats
Goats are generally at the margin of rural development efforts, but thanks to a well-planned initiative in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh, efforts related to better care of goats and…
Striving to Promote Democracy: Values of Constitution
The V Dem observations about India as reported in The Hindu points out “Noting that almost all components of democracy were getting worse in more countries than they were getting…
UP: The Stepping Stone To The Lahore Resolution
Introduction Chaudhary Khaliquzzaman in his Pathway To Pakistan (1961) has quoted Maulana Azad to assert the role of Muslim elites of UP. He quotes Azad who says- “students of Indian…
The Rise of Collective Punishment: A Threat to the Rule of Law and Democracy
The present article is neither to oppose punishing criminals and lawbreakers nor to hold sympathy for any gang or organization engaged in criminal activities. In fact, dismantling criminal syndicates through…
What is Uniform about UCC?
With due respect to importance being accorded to the Uniform Civil Code Act, 2024 having been formally implemented in Uttarakhand and apparently considered so politically in states with Bharatiya Janata…
Fact Finding Report: Convert to Hinduism or get boycotted from the village
six members of lawyers’ team heard the testimonies of the allegations of burial denial, religious functions and intimidations of boycott from village community under Raibania police station in Balasore District…
Attack on Aurangzeb is part of conspiracy to create communal polarization
Today, entire Nagpur in Maharashtra is under curfew. RSS headquarters is in this Nagpur, where the tricolor was not hoisted for years. Those who dared to enter this headquarters and…
A Time to Remember the Struggle of Ganga River Fisher Folk
Recently several activists and supporters of the Ganga Mukti Andolan (Liberate the Ganga River Movement or GMA) got together first at Delhi and later at Bhagalpur (Bihar). This has been…
Erasing The Past
How dare the BJP speak for all Hindus?It is shocking and outrageous that a Chief Minister of a state inflamed passions in his state by expressing hatred at the fact…
Grok vs. Right Wing IT Cell: Musk’s AI Chatbot Wrecks Right-Wing Propaganda in India
While the Modi government is busy rolling out the red carpet for Tesla and Starlink, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, is throwing a wrench in their propaganda machinery. Designed to…
Why has Indian failed its Farmers: The unending tragedy of farmer suicides in India
The recent case of farmer suicide in Maharashtra has been brought to the forefront the discussion on farmer suicide in India. On March 12, Kailas Nagare, a state- awardee farmer…
Restore the waning public credibility of the Election Commission- Be willing to play the role expected under Article 324 of the Constitution
To Shri Gyanesh Kumar Chief Election Commissioner Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu Election Commissioner Dr Vivek Joshi Election Commissioner Dear S/Shri Gyanesh Kumar, Sandhu and Joshi, I am glad that the…
Rising Farming Costs, Climate Change, and Debt Burden: The Root Causes of Farmer Suicides
Understanding farmer suicides requires a deep examination of their underlying causes, particularly in the context of Maharashtra. In 1990, The Hindu newspaper's rural editor, P. Sainath, reported on the frequent…
After the curse of Aurangzeb, now it is the turn of poor Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
Premchand had said -- "Communalism always comes in the garb of culture." Along with this, today's truth is also that communalism falsifies history and presents myths as history. Today BJP-RSS…
The 2026 Delimitation Dilemma: Will Development be Penalized in India’s Democracy?
In 2026, India faces one of the most consequential electoral exercises in its democratic history—the long-overdue delimitation process. This redrawing of parliamentary and state assembly constituencies, based on population data,…
Hinduism in Crisis!
In our country with diverse beliefs and traditions coexisting, the promotion of rational thinking and scientific temper is extremely important. Superstitious beliefs, blind practices and rituals are an impediment to…
No Fascist State yet? A Rebuttal to the Dangerous Complacency of Prabhat Patnaik
Critical Response to Prabhat Patnaik’s article, “Neoliberalism and Fascism,” published in Agrarian South (2020), challenges the fatalism inherent in Patnaik’s analysis. This response advocates for reclaiming agency in the age…
“The RSS is poison & will destroy the soul of the nation”: Tushar Gandhi
Prominent Citizens & Civil Society Organizations condemn the targeting of Tushar Gandhi by a mob of the RSS & BJP, who further threaten that he be arrested. The entire nation…
Hullaballoo over Aurangzeb and Maharashtra pride
A controversial comment by a Maharashtra Samajwadi Party MLA who happens to be a Muslim, has kicked up a row among political circles. The MLA, Abu Asim Azmi on March …
Rent Seeking Hindutva Way of Intoxicating People in Odisha
The toxic Hindutva ideology, led by the BJP, came to power under the pretext of upholding ‘Odia Asmita’ (pride in Odia identity) and addressing the everyday needs of the people…
Elon Musk’s StarLink forming a cartel with the two domestic telecom operators to appropriate strategic domestic satellite spectrum
Elon Musk's StarLink forming a cartel with the two domestic telecom operators to appropriate strategic domestic satellite spectrum not only hurts the interests of millions of telecom users in India…
The share of Tamil Nadu, AP, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, West Bengal and a few other States in the Lok Sabha would reduce, if the freeze of 1971 population basis relaxed, Constitutional amendments urgently needed to counter this
To Shri M K Stalin Chief Minister Tamil Nadu Dear Shri Stalin,I write this in continuation of my letter of 27th February 2025 addressed to you and other Chief…
UGC’s 2025 Draft Guidelines: The Corporate-Hindutva Takeover of Higher Education?
by Dr Shirin Akhter & Sachin N. The University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Draft Guidelines and Draft Regulations on Minimum Qualifications, Recruitment, and Promotions (2025) are hurriedly being pushed as necessary…
Time out for democracy?
It did not come as a big surprise when the V Dem Institute Report 2024 branded India as one of the ‘worst autocratisers’ in the world in recent years. Experiences…
Morphology of the Beast
There is not much point really in hair-splitting debate on the degree of fascism of a party in power.I think we should direct more attention to the balance of forces…
Meaning of Hindutva Hooliganism in the Odisha Legislative Assembly
On March 11, 2025, the people of Odisha witnessed a historic low in the Odisha State Legislative Assembly, where ruling party BJP Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) attacked opposition…
Bahujan Nation and Hindu Nation
In Bahujan Nation there will be restrictions on Mandir movements which are being launched against or at the cost of places, existing monuments of any religion. * Bahujan Nation and…
‘Upvaas’ of Dallewal: Imparting credibility, dignity and strength
On 5 March 2025 one hundred days have passed since Jagjit Singh Dallewal's protest fast. Discussions will continue on issues like minimum support price (MSP) for crops, other demands put…
Deportation of handcuffed Indian immigrants from the USA to India, Need to extend Indian Consular help to them for legal advice
To Dr. S. Jaishankar Union Minister for External Affairs Dear Dr Jaishankar, I write this in continuation of my earlier letter of 6th January 2025 on the plight of Indian immigrants deported…
The Strange Debate About Fascism
Complaints came fast on social media after the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or the CPI(M), publicised a document for internal discussion amongst its members. The main grouse was that…
Hindu Festivals and Sectarian Nationalist Politics
RSS Combine’s agenda of Hindu Rashtra has been built upon the narratives through multiple mechanisms. The festivals have been the occasion for promoting its agenda. Also highlighting some deities for…
The latest attempt on the part of RINL’s management to initiate action against employees opposing privatisation of RINL is questionable and counterproductive
Appeal to the Union Steel Minister to direct RINL's management to desist from adopting such a vengeful approach and, instead, implement a package of measures meant to revive RINL on a…
Women in Remote Villages Mobilize to Check Fast Spread of Alcoholism
Due to a combination of factors there has been sharp increase in alcoholism in several rural areas from time to time. While this can be a serious problem for health…
Electoral Disinformation Thrives in an Unregulated AI Landscape
In the bustling streets of Kolkata, a corporate professional sat next to me in a lively food joint. He was intently scrolling through his phone, his expression marked by disbelief.…
What does Hindutva politics bring to the working masses?
Hindutva politics claims to be rooted in integral humanism and Gandhian socialism as its foundational principles. The BJP has incorporated these principles into its party constitution and regards them as…
Booming Tourism, Dying Ecosystems: Uttarakhand’s Fragile Future
On a recent visit to Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated projects worth over ₹6000 crore, including ropeways to Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib. While hailed as a major step toward…
Bangalore: From a Christian Perspective
Why would the Almighty Creator need to do things by halves? The answer is, obviously, He would not! His design for Creation would be a grand and purposeful one. That…
Instead of allowing HZL to divert its internal resources to pay excessively huge dividends to its promoters, the Vedanta Group, thereby forcing HZL to increaee its own debt liability, allow HZL to invest in activities aimed at promoting the nation’s self-reliance
To Shri V. L. Kantha Rao Union Mines Secretary Dear Shri Kantha Rao, I have come across a news report that the Hindustan Zin Limited's (HZL) Board would be shortly considering raising of…
Hindu Far-Right and ‘Left’ Politics in India
I In India, the ‘left politics’ assumes significance in the context of neoliberal globalisation and the political ascendancy of the Hindu far-right. Here the left politics does not mean politics…
Rural women groups combine economic progress with social reform
By pooling their savings on a regular basis every month self-help groups (SHGs) in many parts of India have improved their economic and social security. However such efforts, particularly of…
Beyond Faith: Rethinking Muslim Politics in India
With the rise of Hindutva, the Muslim community has been pushed into an existential crisis. Facing extreme segregation, the question of how to reclaim dignity becomes unavoidable. Studying at Aligarh…
NAPM’s 30th Anniversary Convention Concludes in Hyderabad with a Resolve to Strengthen Struggles Against Fascism, Corporate Loot, and Injustice
Hyderabad, March 4, 2025: NAPM marked three decades of struggle, solidarity, and transformative resistance at its 30th Anniversary National Convention held in Hyderabad from March 1–4, 2025, with the theme “Defending Democracy: Constitutional Justice…
The Rise of Violence and Crime among Kerala’s Youth
Kerala, once known for its tranquil and harmonious society, is now grappling with a disturbing trend: the rise of violence and crime among its youth. The latest incidents are chilling:…
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