By Vikas Meshram*  We proudly narrate the story of our nation’s progress. On every platform, we speak of the success of Chandrayaan , Digital India , and our rapidly growing economy. But behind this radiant picture lies a darkness—the world of sanitation workers who descend into sewers, risking their lives. This darkness is not confined to the drains alone; it runs deep within the conscience of our society.

By Ram Puniyani*  We regularly read about Asaram Bapu, a rape convict, and Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan, a convicted murderer and rapist, being granted parole. These two babas represent a leading brand of godmen , commanding vast properties, networks of ashrams , and legions of devotees willing to do anything for them. They are the most infamous members of a cohort of frauds who cloak themselves in holiness while engaging in depraved acts.

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ  24 March was celebrated as the Feast of St. Oscar Romero, commemorating the day in 1980 when he was brutally gunned down while celebrating the Eucharist in his native El Salvador. A fiercely outspoken critic of his government, the military and the fascist elements of his country for their continued exploitation and exclusion of the poor, it was they who killed him. 

By Vikas Meshram*  On 18 March 2026, the tribal village of Sajjangarh in southern Rajasthan witnessed the grand and dignified inauguration of a new vegetable market (mandi). Established through the tireless joint efforts of the Krushi Avam Adivasi Swaraj Sangathan (Bhilkuaan) and Vaagdhara, under the active leadership of the Gram Panchayat of Sajjangarh, the market is being hailed as a cornerstone for local self-governance, self-reliance, and a sustainable rural economy. 

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  The insidious politics of crony capitalism is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, aided by the reckless expansion of artificial intelligence and other technologies designed not to liberate but to dominate, domesticate, and dehumanise societies. Alongside this, an illiberal politics of cowardice is emerging—serving as an accomplice to dehumanisation amid growing imperialist wars and conflicts across the world. Death in distant lands no longer stirs conscience. The push-button culture of digital screens has transformed social media into a disconnected, individualised, Hobbesian space, where the puritan pursuit of self-interest is elevated as the essence of human existence.  

By Harsh Thakor*  The German philosopher Jürgen Habermas died on Saturday, March 14, at the age of ninety-six. Devoting more than seventy years to analysing democracy, capitalism, and the possibility of emancipatory politics, he was among the most influential intellectual figures of postwar Europe, and his writings will continue to be studied in universities and debated in political theory for years to come.

By A Representative   Civil rights groups across the country observed the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh on March 23, as people from diverse backgrounds united to raise their voices against growing economic inequality. The mobilisations marked the launch of a nationwide campaign against inequality, running from March 23 to April 14 (Ambedkar Jayanti), under the banner of the “Tax The Top” campaign.

By A Representative   The Delhi government , in its Budget for 2026–27, has announced a set of measures aimed at improving the welfare of gig and platform workers , a rapidly growing but largely unregulated segment of the urban workforce. The proposals include facilitating access to restrooms, setting up a dedicated Gig Workers Welfare Board , and extending assurances on social security benefits .

By A Representative   A coalition of over 500 citizens, activists, researchers, and affected residents from across India has written to Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy , demanding a comprehensive review of the Musi Riverfront Development Project , the immediate withdrawal of land acquisition notifications, and the suspension of a planned groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for later this month. The open letter, dated March 24, 2026, and issued under the banner of the Musi Jan Andolan (MJA) — an independent people’s movement to safeguard River Musi and the communities living on its banks — represents one of the most coordinated challenges yet to the flagship urban renewal initiative of the Congress-led Telangana government.