Counterview

By A Representative  To commemorate three decades of ANANDI’s pioneering work in rural women’s leadership development—coinciding with the Beijing+30 review and the global assessment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) progress—a three-day National Convention on Women in Panchayati Raj was held in Dahod, Gujarat, from April 23 to 25, 2025. Organized by ANANDI in collaboration with Devgadh Mahila Sangathan, Panam Mahila Sangathan, Maliya Mahila Shakti Sangathan, and Mahila Swaraj Manch, the event brought together elected women representatives (EWRs) from seven states to celebrate achievements, reflect on challenges, and chart a path toward gender-just local governance.  

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  In an age marked by hyper-imperialism, jingoistic capitalism, and digital feudalism, the death toll from territorial wars, political, religious, and resource-based conflicts, as well as terrorism, continues to rise across the globe. It is estimated that more than 187 million people have died as a result of war during the 20th and 21st centuries. According to a 2023 study by the Institute for Economics & Peace, terrorism caused 8,352 deaths—an increase of 22 percent compared to the previous year. The Global Terrorism Index reports reveal a significant rise in deaths caused by terrorism. Over the past decade, approximately 24,000 people have died each year due to terrorist attacks.

By Harsh Thakor*  A significant military operation is underway in the Karegatta hills, located along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border. The central and state governments have deployed between 4,000 to 20,000 armed personnel, primarily paramilitary forces, with possible reinforcement from the army, as part of an encirclement-suppression campaign targeting Maoist insurgents. The conflict has intensified, with reports of escalating armed confrontations.

By A Representative  Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha ( MASUM ), a prominent human rights organization based in West Bengal, has strongly condemned the recent mass detentions and demolitions targeting individuals alleged to be Bangladeshi nationals in Gujarat.  

By A Representative  The Socialist Party (India) has issued a sharp critique of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their failure to contain terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

By A Representative   In the wake of the devastating Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, leading journalists, intellectuals, and peace activists from India and Pakistan have issued a joint statement condemning the violence and calling for restraint, credible investigation, and renewed dialogue between the two nations.

By Rimmi Vaghela  I am Rimmi from Ahmedabad. I contemplated this blog on April 27, 2025 in Jammu, when my plans of revisiting the paradise called Kashmir were shattered—not by fear, but by circumstances and sorrow. I decided to share my story with a heavy heart, hoping it reaches those who still believe in the warmth of humanity over the divisive noise of prime-time media.

By Bharat Dogra  The April 22 attack in the famous tourism resort of Pahalgam, which resulted in the killing of 26 tourists and a local person who had come to the rescue of the tourists in a most cruel way, has been condemned strongly all over the world. The UN Security Council has not only strongly condemned the perpetrators of the horrible attack, it has also called for the accountability of the “organizers, financiers and sponsors.”

By Nava Thakuria*   Amid India’s mounting pressure on Pakistan for its patronage of terrorism in Kashmir over decades, several Pakistani media outlets have attributed the upsurge in the Jhelum River—flowing from Jammu & Kashmir into Pakistan—as by New Delhi. Mainstream newspapers and news channels in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi reported the overflow of Jhelum as a probable consequence of India's suspension of a 65-year-old bilateral river treaty following the Pahalgam terrorist attack on 22 April 2025, in which 26 innocent Indian tourists were killed by Islamist terrorists.

By Harsh Thakor*  Sanjay Singhvi, a senior leader in India’s Communist revolutionary movement and the working-class movement, passed away on April 23 at Hinduja Hospital due to prostate cancer. He was a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPI(ML) (Mass Line) and the General Secretary of the Trade Union Centre of India (TUCI). His death is regarded as a significant loss to the trade union and Communist movements in India and internationally.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat    Ethics and aesthetics are the cornerstones of our identity and history. They define who we are and how we are remembered. I have often observed these values in Europe during significant events, and I wonder why we, in India, struggle to emulate such dignity and authenticity. Instead, we often find ourselves caught in the artificiality of performative gestures, waiting for the camera's gaze or the allure of live television. Our leaders, or Netas, rarely pay genuine tribute to the people; instead, they seize these moments to push their agendas.

By Harsh Thakor*  When the stars have long since faded and human history has become folklore told by machines, somewhere in a digital encyclopedia, the name of Sergeant Mariya Oktyabrskaya will remain etched as one of the most fearless women ever to walk the earth. The first woman to receive the Hero of the Soviet Union award, she drove into history at the helm of a tank affectionately called “Fighting Girlfriend.” Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya wasn’t just a soldier—she was a symbol. A trailblazer in military combat, she broke boundaries few imagined could be crossed by a woman in her time.

By Rajiv Shah    A top environment expert Parineeta Dandekar, in a  detailed piece  on a site dedicated to water-related issues, has warned that amidst the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) suspension, the more immediate crisis already ravaging the Indus basin is climate change. This has been overlooked. Already, it has claimed lives, displaced communities, and disrupted livelihoods on both sides of the border through recurring disasters and shifting hydrology, particularly in the Chenab basin. 

By Bharat Dogra  On April 22 there was a most horrible attack on entirely innocent tourists from various parts of India in Kashmir in which 26 persons were killed. Pakistan’s instigation of this is widely believed, on the basis of the past record as well as recent indications.

By Abu Sufian*  Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture in its quest to revive Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) benefits, which offer duty-free access to key markets like the United States and the European Union. Recent statements from Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed and Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin underscore the interim government’s diplomatic push to restore these trade privileges, with a clear focus on addressing labour rights deficiencies. This initiative is not just about ticking boxes for GSP compliance—it’s about fostering fair, sustainable economic growth that aligns with global standards. For Bangladesh, a nation heavily reliant on its garment industry, prioritizing robust labour law implementation is non-negotiable.

By A Representative  A shocking case of custodial torture and extra-judicial killing has emerged from Gitaldaha Border Outpost, Cooch Behar, West Bengal. The victim, Mr. Jahanur Haque, a 24-year-old agrarian worker from Bhoram Payasti village, was allegedly apprehended and brutally killed by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on 3 April 2025.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  The political and economic campaigns such as ‘America First’ by President Donald Trump, ‘India First’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and ‘Britain First’—a far-right political group founded in 2011 by former members of the British National Party—illustrate a renewed emphasis on reactionary nationalism in the name of loving your country. Patriotism has become a new tool in political discourse, used to mobilize and manipulate the masses during elections. It serves to capture state power and to domesticate the public within a narrowly constructed identity—one shaped by reactionary agendas aligned with the requirements of capitalism. The slogan "America First" was originally used by the America First Committee (AFC), one of the largest anti-war groups in U.S. history, composed of people from various walks of life. The committee was established to oppose American involvement in the Second World War, a stance that shifted following Japan’s attack on Pearl...

By Bharat Dogra   Manoj Kumar, who passed away on April 4, was a leading presence in Hindi cinema for several years and carved out his own distinct identity as an actor, director, and producer. He achieved great popularity in all these roles. While several of his films were major box-office hits, his most enduring contributions to Hindi cinema are in the form of two films.

By Harsh Thakor*  Vietnam overpowering the United States of America in the war had no parallel in history, transcending combative spirit and creative resistance to regions unexplored. This 30th April marks the 50th anniversary of the historic victory of the Vietnamese people against US imperialism, while 19th May marked the 135th anniversary of the birth of Ho Chi Minh.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  Will Artificial Intelligence (AI)-led robots take over classrooms and replace teachers? Will AI-driven technology undermine human connections in teaching? Will AI disrupt traditional classroom-based teaching and learning? As concerns about a so-called dystopian future for teachers and education grows, these fundamental questions reflect the fear surrounding AI-driven digitalisation of classrooms, educational processes, systems, teaching and learning environments. 

By Bharat Dogra  A very important and much needed rural reform is getting increasingly neglected. This relates to the need for all rural households to have at least some farmland. While this is being written here mainly in the context of what I have seen in the context of my visits to villages of India over several decades, this is likely to be relevant for several other countries as well.

By Vikas Meshram  The primary purpose of building prisons is to reform individuals who, due to circumstances, environment, or emotional turmoil, have stepped into the world of crime. The aim is to provide a space where such individuals can reflect and be reformed away from the mainstream society. The purpose of punishment is not merely punitive but corrective. However, looking at the condition of Indian prisons, it is evident that this objective is far from being achieved, and instead, prisons in the country are in a state of crisis. These are places where individuals, who have strayed from the path of responsible citizenship, are treated like sheep and goats.

By A Representative  A formal complaint has been lodged against BJP Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey (Godda, Jharkhand) for allegedly making communal and inflammatory remarks targeting former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi. The complaint, filed by human rights activist and former bureaucrat Harsh Mander, has been submitted to the Station House Officer of Hauz Khas Police Station in New Delhi.

By Sandeep Pandey*  We hope the hubris of Bhartiya Janata Party leadership related to Pakistan on Kashmir would be finally broken with the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Starting from Narendra Modi’s 56 inch chest narrative during the election campaign when he was seeking the Prime Minister’s position to misleading the nation by claiming that demonetisation and later dilution of Article 370 would end terrorism in Kashmir and more lately statements of Rajnath Singh, S. Jaishankar and Yogi Adityanath claiming that only unresolved issue in Kashmir is the reclamation of its portion occupied by Pakistan, it is quite clear that the BJP leadership was living in a fool’s paradise. They deceived themselves as well as the nation.

By Bharat Dogra  “Sindhu in might surpasses all the rivers that flow. His roar is lifted up to heaven above the earth, he with his wealth makes fertile both the worlds.”--Rigveda In recent weeks disturbing news has been coming in from Sindh in Pakistan regarding the agitations involving farmers, fisher-folk, lawyers, local political leaders and others against a six-canal project being promoted by the Pakistani government , largely with the aim of providing irrigation for corporate farming projects from the waters of the Indus river system. Although a temporary pause of this project has been announced in the middle of rising tensions, serious concerns of people still remain regarding this. Why the people of Sindh have been agitated is that already the water of the Indus River that is able to reach the lower reach of Sindh has been reduced because of the construction of several large dam projects which were publicized as symbols of development but in reality have ended up inflicting ...

By A Representative  The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has issued a strong statement condemning the killing of 26 individuals, including tourists, a local pony ride operator, and a Nepalese national, in a deadly attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The civil liberties organization has described the incident as one of the deadliest attacks in the region in the past 25 years.

By A Representative  A large-scale anti-Maoist operation is currently underway in the Karregutta hills region, involving coordinated efforts by security forces from Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. Reports that began surfacing on April 22 indicate a major encirclement operation, believed to target top Maoist leaders, including Madvi Hidma and Damodar, as well as cadres of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) and members of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee and Telangana State Committee of the CPI (Maoist).

By Harsh Thakor*  This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

By Ram Puniyani  On April 14, 2025, the nation celebrated Ambedkar Jayanti. Many aptly refer to it as ‘Equality Day.’ Nationwide celebrations included lectures and seminars to honor the values and principles of a man who pioneered ideologies and movements striving for equality and democracy. Interestingly, those whose agenda opposes these values—those working toward a Hindu Nation grounded in the ideology of the Manusmriti—also sing Ambedkar’s praises on this day. This ancient text dictates values upholding the caste system and patriarchal norms.

By Rajiv Shah  Said to be one of the most influential Israeli dailies, "Haaretz" (literally: News of the Land) has identified the Adani Group—known to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi—as one of the key Indian business houses engaged in defence cooperation with Israel. Pointing out that India supplied the Israeli military with Hermes 900 drones, the daily reported that this advanced aerial vehicle came off “the production line in a factory set up in Hyderabad, as part of the cooperation between the Israeli Elbit and India's Adani Group.”

By Rosamma Thomas*  Brilliant Study Centre, Pala, which coaches students for engineering and medical college entrance examinations, was set up in 1984. Forty years on, it has emerged as the one source of employment and economic activity for the residents of Pala, numbering over 22,000, according to Census 2011. In their video advertisement, the Study Centre notes that 400 of their students scored the 99 percentile mark in the Joint Entrance Examination (for engineering college admission) in 2025. It would be safe to assume that at least 20 times that number of students is currently enrolled at the centre, which means that about 35% of the total population of the town comprises students sitting competitive examinations.

By A Representative   Over 700 activists, academics, artists, and organizations across India have issued a scathing open letter to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, condemning the “brutal custodial torture” of women farmer leaders Harinder Bindu and Paramjit Kaur Pitho. The letter demands immediate legal action against the Punjab police personnel involved and comprehensive support for the victims.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The recent terror attack in Pahalgam has shaken the conscience of the nation. Yet, amidst the tragedy, it has also united people across India in empathy and solidarity. Tourists from Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and other states have shared how local Kashmiris stood by them in their moment of fear. These are not just stories of survival, but powerful narratives of human connection and shared pain.

By Bharat Dogra  On April 22 in one of the most inhuman terrorist attacks seen in India, terrorists killed 26 entirely innocent tourists and injured several others in the tourist resort of Baisaran Meadow, located in the famous Pahalgam area of Kashmir.

By A Representative  The Pakistan India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) has issued a scathing condemnation of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow, Jammu & Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, including young couples, families with children, foreign nationals, and a recently married 26-year-old Indian Navy officer. Described as one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in recent years, the massacre has plunged the region into mourning and ignited nationwide fury.

By A Representative  The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Gujarat has issued a heartfelt statement condemning the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of innocent citizens. Expressing profound grief, PUCL Gujarat extended its condolences to the families of the victims, lamenting the nation's inability to safeguard their precious lives.

By N.S. Venkataraman*  The terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which mercilessly claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists, highlights the heartlessness of such acts. Reports suggest that the terrorists asked each tourist to identify their religion and executed those identified as Hindus. This demonstrates the extreme cruelty and warped mindset of these perpetrators. While the Pahalgam attack has sent shockwaves across India and the world, with several global leaders condemning the act, the harsh reality is that such attacks are not isolated incidents. Terrorism has plagued various parts of the world repeatedly.

By A Representative  A serious case of unethical clinical trials has come to light at the prestigious Sheth Vadilal Sarabhai (V.S.) Hospital in Ahmedabad. According to reports, approximately 500 patients were subjected to illegal experiments (trials) by 58 pharmaceutical companies without any proper authorization.

By Bharat Dogra  Most Himalayan villages are extremely beautiful. However we cannot afford to ignore some deeply worrying ecological and social aspects of these villages, particularly as in some contexts these show an increasing trend.

By A Representative   Shankar Sharma, a veteran power and climate policy analyst based in Sagara, Karnataka, has issued a strongly worded appeal to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), calling for the outright rejection of environmental, wildlife, and forest clearances to the proposed 2,000 MW Pumped Storage Project (PSP) in the ecologically fragile Sharavathi river valley. In a letter addressed to Union Ministers Kirti Vardhan Singh and Bhupender Yadav, with a copy to the Prime Minister, Sharma expressed deep concern over the Karnataka government's reported move to seek in-principle approval for the controversial project within the Lion-Tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary—part of the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats. “This request, if true, undermines constitutional safeguards for protected areas and reflects a dangerous trend of bypassing regulatory diligence,” Sharma wrote. Citing prior appeals to the Environmental Appraisal Committee (EAC) and the ...

By Dr Palla Trinadha Rao  This article critically examines the evolving relationship between India’s tribal communities and the Constitution, through the lens of foundational constitutional values such as equality, equity, and dignity. These values are not abstract ideals but serve as the moral compass of the Constitution, guiding both the State and its citizens toward a just and inclusive society. In tribal contexts—where statutory law, customary practices, and socio-economic vulnerabilities intersect—these values take on heightened importance.

By Aaqib Javid  What happened in Pahalgam will be etched into the memory of this valley for years to come. In the lap of Kashmir’s majestic mountains, an unimaginable act of violence unfolded. Armed infiltrators opened fire without warning, without mercy, and without humanity—indiscriminately targeting both locals and tourists. In mere moments, lives were lost. Families shattered. And a region already fatigued by decades of suffering was left in shock once again.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The brutal massacre of innocent tourists in Pahalgam is a heinous act that deserves unequivocal condemnation. But our response must not stop at outrage or public mourning. This incident, like many others in the past, is part of a broader agenda that seeks to disrupt India's social cohesion and exploit its political fault lines.

By Harsh Thakor* The passing of Rose Kerketta on April 17, at the age of 84, marks an immense loss to the literary and tribal communities of India. Known as a bold protagonist in shaping the Jharkhand movement and a prolific writer on Adivasi rights, Rose was not merely a figure of activism—she embodied the spirit of resistance and cultural preservation.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  In India, the term "Harijan" has been deemed derogatory and unparliamentary following decades of struggle by the Dalit community, particularly Ambedkarites. However, in Bangladesh, it remains widely used, especially to refer to communities engaged in sanitation work, commonly known as sweepers. While these are not the only Dalit communities in Bangladesh, the term "Harijan" is primarily associated with this group. Other Dalit communities include native Bangla-speaking groups and immigrant communities, such as the Rabidasis. The continued use of "Harijan" and its acceptance among sanitation workers reflect the nascent stage of the Dalit movement in Bangladesh, where Dalits face significant barriers as both a religious and cultural minority. In 2013, the Bangladeshi government formalized the term "Harijan" for communities engaged in sanitation work through a policy.

By Nava Thakuria*  Bangladesh's interim government recently requested an apology from Islamabad for the 1971 genocide by Pakistani forces during a foreign secretary-level meeting in Dhaka on April 17. This Foreign Office Consultation, the first in 15 years, also involved other issues raised by Bangladesh, while Pakistan emphasized continued dialogue. Although interim leader Professor Muhammad Yunus seeks to resolve issues with Pakistan, ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had strongly advocated for an unconditional apology until her resignation following student protests last July-August. 

By Md. Abu Saim*   U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration imposed a 37% tariff on Bangladeshi exports to the United States but granted a 90-day exemption as part of a temporary easing of trade restrictions for several countries. This provides Bangladesh with a critical window to reassess its trade policies and address its reliance on the U.S., which accounts for a significant portion of its export revenue. 

By A Representative  Mujahid Nafees, convener of the Minority Coordination Committee (Gujarat) and a petitioner in a Waqf-related case before the Supreme Court, has written to Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani seeking consent to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for his recent remarks against the judiciary.   In his letter dated April 21, Nafees accused Dubey, the Lok Sabha MP from Godda (Jharkhand), of making "derogatory and scandalizing" statements against the Supreme Court, which allegedly undermine public confidence in the judiciary. The complaint cites Dubey’s interview with ANI on April 19, where he reportedly said, "In this country, only and only the Supreme Court is responsible for inciting religious wars" and accused the Court of "taking the country towards anarchy."  

Counterview Desk  On April 9, Gulfisha Fatima marked five years in prison under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). She was arrested for her involvement in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). During her time in Tihar Jail, Gulfisha has written poetry that reflects themes of resistance, memory, and defiance.