Stories that can bring a positive change 'deserve to be called news': Binu Mathew

By Abhay Kumar*

At a time when the Indian media is increasingly being controlled by the rich and dominated by the caste elites, Countercurrents.org has set up an example of giving space to multiple voices. On the 22nd birth anniversary of the news website, Binu Mathew, the editor, talks to Abhay Kumar on his two-decade-long journey.

The independent and critical news portal Countercurrents.org was established on March 27, 2002, after the Gujarat communal violence. It completed its journey of 22 years on March 27, 2024.

During this conversation, the editor says that his criterion for the selection of the news stories and commentaries is if they are going to change the world in a positive way in whatever little way they can.

In this interview, Binu Mathew expresses his views on a wide range of issues including the state of mainstream Indian media, the exclusion of the marginalized sections from the newsrooms, the challenges before independent and critical journalists as well as the international issues such as Palestine and the climate change.

---

*Ph.D. (Modern History), Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

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