Varadarajan, Vijay Vineet among top 30 world list of Covid-19 'information heroes'

Vijay Vineet, Siddharth Varadarajan

By A Representative
Two Indian journalists, Siddharth Varadarajan, co-founder and editor of “The Wire”, and a reporter for the Hindi newspaper “Jansandesh Times” Vijay Vineet find their place in the list of 30 coronavirus “information heroes” across the world – journalists, whistleblowers and media outlets whose "courage, perseverance or capacity to innovate has helped to circulate reliable and vital information during the Covid-19 pandemic."
The Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a Paris-based international non-profit, which has prepared the list, notes how Varadarajan summoned for questioning by the police in response to a complaint by the chief minister of Utter Pradesh for “reporting” that the latter “attended a religious gathering that did not respect social distancing two days after the start of a nationwide lockdown.”
As for Vineet, he reported that children from a Dalit community were going hungry as a result of the lockdown and had been reduced to eating grass usually given to cattle. “Harassed by the authorities and told to publish a correction, he stuck by his story and additionally provided an analysis of the nutritional deficiencies resulting from a grass-based diet. He is facing a possible six-month jail sentences on a charge of fake news”, says RSF.

Comments

Neville Cardus: The man who turned cricket writing into poetry

By Harsh Thakor* Neville Cardus was one of the most remarkable literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific English writer and critic, he achieved distinction in two vastly different fields: cricket and classical music. Entirely self-taught, Cardus rose from humble beginnings to become both the cricket correspondent and chief music critic of The Manchester Guardian . His achievements in these contrasting disciplines earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the foremost critics of his generation. In February 2025, the cricketing and literary world marked the fiftieth anniversary of his death, which occurred in February 1975.

Ideological shifts and structural realities within India's left-wing insurgency

By Harsh Thakor* The Maoist insurgency in India is arguably at its weakest point since the formation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004. Years of sustained counterinsurgency operations, leadership losses, shrinking territorial influence, declining recruitment, and growing technological advantages enjoyed by the state have significantly eroded the movement's operational capabilities.

The Dalit body on screen: Stereotypes, sacrifice, and subjugation in Hindi films

By Dr. Prem Singh* Despite centuries of reformist efforts, from Gandhi and Ambedkar to contemporary activists, the caste system remains deeply embedded in the Indian psyche. One of the primary reasons for this persistence is the religious sanction provided by Brahminical scriptures, which have shaped not only social structures but also cultural and artistic expressions.

Counterview

Search This Blog