Counterview

By A Representative   A group of trade union activists and workers have been arrested following protests over wages, job security and working conditions in parts of Uttar Pradesh, with police booking several individuals on serious charges including rioting, arson, conspiracy and attempt to murder. Authorities have not yet issued a detailed public statement on the specific incidents leading to the arrests, but officials indicated that action was taken in connection with alleged violence during demonstrations in the Noida region.

By A Representative   A rights organisation has approached the Election Commission of India alleging large-scale irregularities in the deletion of voters’ names from the electoral rolls in Swarupnagar Assembly Constituency of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal, raising concerns over due process and disenfranchisement.

By Ravi Ranjan*  Vinod Kumar Shukla’s Hindi poem ‘Apne Hisse Mein Log Aakash Dekhte Hain’ (People See the Sky in Their Own Share) begins with an almost childlike simplicity. Everyone sees the sky in their own share, yet they see the entire sky. Everyone sees the moon in their own share, yet they see the entire moon. These opening lines create a comforting illusion of universal equality—nature, it seems, belongs to all equally. 

By Harsh Thakor*  Advocate Narinder Kumar Jeet, widely known as N.K. Jeet, a long-time participant in democratic movements in Punjab, passed away on April 17 at the age of 79. Over more than five decades, he was associated with a range of mass-based initiatives involving workers, farmers, and civil liberties groups. He had been unwell for several months and was bedridden prior to his death. His last rites were held on April 18 in Bathinda, attended by leaders and activists from several organisations.

By Rosamma Thomas*  It was evident from the swiftness with which ruling party MPs picked up placards after the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill was defeated in Parliament that the government was fully prepared for this outcome. This defeat, however, could prove decisive, as women have now seized the opportunity to push for the introduction of bills providing reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies and councils. 

By A Representative   A collective of 81 retired civil servants from the Constitutional Conduct Group has written to the President of India expressing alarm over what they describe as the wrongful dispossession of tribal lands in Odisha’s Rayagada district. The letter, dated April 19, 2026, highlights violent clashes in Kantamal village where police personnel reportedly injured over 70 tribal residents attempting to protect their community rights. 

By A Representative   On April 18, World Heritage Day, Sarkhej Roza in Ahmedabad once again came alive with the energy and creativity of children. Nearly 100 students from Gul International School, Safal School, and Gulshan-e-Maher School participated under the theme “Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan” (Our Heritage, Our Identity). Through their paintings, the children sought not only to depict buildings but also to reconnect with their cultural roots.  The event was organized in collaboration with Saanjhi Virasat and the Archaeological Survey of India, with speakers including Bhavna Ramrakhiani of Saanjhi Virasat, Shubho Majumdar of ASI, historian Rizwan Kadri, Dr. Utpala Desai of Intact Gujarat, Abrar Ali Saiyed, President of the Sarkhej Roza Committee, and trustee Rafiq Kotharia.  They shared insights into the monument’s history and significance, fostering awareness among the younger generation about their heritage. Sarkhej Roza, located in Makarba on the outski...

By Bharat Dogra   The Chambal Valley peace initiative led by followers of Mahatma Gandhi and the Sarvodaya movement—which ultimately resulted in the surrender of over 600 dacoits between 1960 and 1972—began in a modest yet deeply inspiring way under the leadership of Vinoba Bhave, one of Gandhi’s most committed disciples.

By Vikas Meshram*   On April 10, 1965, a boy was born in New York City, USA. His father, Muthusamy Varadarajan, was a distinguished officer of the Indian Administrative Service, and his mother, Usha, was the pillar of the family. The boy’s name was Siddharth Varadarajan. Because of his father’s frequent transfers, his childhood was spent across many cities, from La Martiniere School in Lucknow to Mayo College in Ajmer. But this wandering gave him a priceless gift: a deep, intimate understanding of India’s diverse society, its sorrows, and its richness.