Counterview

By Jag Jivan  Jagdish Patel, Director of the health rights NGO Peoples Training and Research Centre, Vadodara, has called for urgent national action to address the deepening crisis of silicosis in India, terming it a public health emergency that has been continuously ignored. In an article published by the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics on June 21, 2025, Patel exposes the scale of state and institutional neglect toward occupational diseases, especially in India’s vast unorganised sector.

By Bharat Dogra   Bunker Roy, who turns 80 today on 30 June 2025, has been among the most creative and inspiring personalities in voluntary organizations across the world. Over the past six decades, he has contributed such an immense volume of innovative development work that it would be enough for several lifetimes. Many of the ideas he initiated went on to become trendsetters for significant development initiatives.

By A Representative   The Socialist Party (India) has expressed strong concern over the alleged harassment and detention of Shahnawaz Mir, a political worker in Jammu & Kashmir, during and after the party’s five-day educational event on socialism held in Srinagar from June 21 to 25.

By Raqif Makhdoomi   A recent video on social media showed a young woman in a headscarf, visibly distressed, appealing to the Government of India for medical attention for her ailing father, Shabir Ahmed Shah. While her request drew both support and criticism online, it revived public attention on the long and controversial history of the separatist leader from Kashmir.

By Harsh Thakor  Mushtaq Mohammad, like his brothers Wazir, Raees, Hanif, and Sadiq, was a distinguished cricketer who rendered invaluable service to Pakistan. While Hanif was widely regarded as the finest batsman among them, Mushtaq stood out as a premier all-rounder. In 57 Test matches, he scored 3,643 runs with 10 centuries—second only to Hanif’s 3,915—and took 79 wickets, more than the combined total of his four brothers. Notably, on two occasions, he scored a century (including a double century once) and took five wickets in an innings—a rare all-round feat at the time. In first-class cricket, Mushtaq played 502 matches, amassed 31,091 runs with 72 centuries, and claimed 936 wickets. He also captained Northamptonshire to their first-ever Gillette Cup win in 1976.

By Dr. Palla Trinadha Rao   The experiences of tribal youth leaders in securing their rights and entitlements—while navigating systemic challenges and gaps in governance in the tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh—demonstrate that success did not stem from power or privilege but from persistence, community solidarity, and a deep understanding of legal and administrative mechanisms. Their consistent follow-ups, legal advocacy, and strategic outreach gradually wore down bureaucratic resistance. Their journeys are powerful testimonies to how grassroots activism—when grounded in legal awareness and collective courage—can compel even the most unresponsive systems to act.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  World peace lies buried beneath the wreckage of imperialist wars waged by the American and European ruling classes—wars that have devastated the lives, homes, livelihoods, and happiness of ordinary people, along with their libraries, schools, museums, archives, and histories. From Afghanistan, Beirut, Bosnia, Cambodia, Grenada, Iran, Iraq, Korea, Kosovo, Laos, Panama, Palestine, Somalia, and Vietnam to Yemen, countless people have endured the brutality of wars launched by Western imperial powers—wars justified under the banners of fighting terrorism, promoting democracy, defending human rights, and maintaining peace.

By A Representative  In the wake of a harrowing incident during the 148th Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad where three elephants ran amok, injuring at least two people and triggering widespread panic, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has called on the Gujarat government to prohibit the use of live elephants in public processions. The animal rights group has also offered to donate a life-like mechanical elephant to the Jagannath Temple—or any temple of the government's choosing—on the condition that it pledges never to use live elephants again.

By Vikas Meshram  The world today teeters dangerously close to the edge of a global conflict, as regional wars increasingly intersect and draw in major powers. The wars between Russia and Ukraine, now in their third year, and the prolonged Israel-Hamas conflict have already destabilized large swaths of Eurasia and the Middle East. Now, a new and potentially catastrophic front has emerged: a full-blown military confrontation between Israel and Iran, with spillovers into Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon.

By Bharat Dogra  In schools and colleges, students are typically conditioned to do "well" in life — a term often interpreted narrowly as securing a high-paying job, accumulating wealth, and climbing the ladder of power or fame. Yet, globally, many individuals who have risen to such positions of privilege have failed to contribute to a more humane or sustainable world. In fact, many have left behind a legacy of promoting injustice, inequality, war, environmental degradation, and violence.

By Rajiv Shah  While writing my previous blog on how and why Narendra Modi went out of his way to promote English when he was Gujarat chief minister — despite opposition from people in the Sangh Parivar — I came across an interesting write-up by Aakar Patel, a well-known name among journalists and civil society circles.

By Rosamma Thomas*  When Swathi Thirnal Rama Varma, ruler of the state of Travancore and a patron of the arts visited Nagercoil, he saw the school run by the London Missionary Society there; he was impressed by the quality of the education offered and invited the principal of that school to help him set up an institution on similar lines in his state – that was the beginning of the Rajah’s Free School in 1834 – the government contributed the fees for the education of 80 pupils, and no fees were charged from students or their parents, although the institution itself remained private; in less than a year, the government took over the school and its management, making it one of the first government schools in India. 

By A Representative   The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), a U.S.-based civil rights advocacy group, has called for the cancellation of a scheduled event in Dallas, Texas, featuring Indian speaker Kajal Singhala, also known as Kajal Hindustani. The event , set to take place on June 29 at Bhartiya Nivas, is being organized by the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA).

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ   It was fifty years ago! The nation will and should never forget that dark, infamous night of 25/26 June 1975, when, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, declared a state of emergency all over the country, citing internal and external disturbances! That terrible chapter of the country’s history lasted for a full twenty-one-month period till 21 March 1977. During that time, all civil liberties were suspended, freedom of speech and expression was muzzled, political opponents of the Government and those who protested the emergency, were imprisoned and human rights violations by those in power, were the order of the day! The spontaneous and obvious response for the people of India was to say (in the words of the world’s people, in the aftermath of the horrors of the Nazi regime) “never again!” and to ensure that those dark days would never visit the country, at any time in future. Ironically and tragically, fifty years later…today, emergency still rules!

By Harsh Thakor*  On June 25, 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed a state of Emergency in India, triggering one of the gravest assaults on the country’s democratic institutions since independence. Fifty years later, as India observes the anniversary of that watershed moment, it becomes imperative to not only revisit its historical significance but also examine the trajectory of democratic governance in the country since then. The Emergency era (1975–77) was marked by the suspension of fundamental rights, mass arrests of political opponents and activists, censorship of the press, and centralisation of power. It exposed the vulnerability of constitutional democracy when subjected to authoritarian will. The 19-month period, ending in March 1977, remains a stark reminder of how swiftly democratic norms can be subverted under the guise of constitutional legality. The Roots of Authoritarianism While the Emergency was triggered by the political crisis following the Allahabad High C...

By A Representative   On the 38th anniversary of the UN Convention Against Torture (UN CAT), Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) issued a powerful statement condemning the continued use of torture in India and the state's failure to ratify the treaty. The organization observed the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture by standing in solidarity with survivors and demanding systemic reforms to end impunity and state-sponsored violence.

By A Representative   Shankar Sharma, a seasoned power sector professional with over 44 years of experience, has penned an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising critical concerns about the ecological and social impacts of large-scale renewable energy parks, particularly solar power projects, across India. In his detailed appeal, Sharma urges the government to shift focus toward sustainable, decentralized energy solutions to address the growing environmental and economic challenges posed by current energy policies.

By A Representative   A collective of over 200 concerned citizens, including human rights activists, lawyers, researchers, academics, and civil society organizations from across India and abroad, have petitioned the Madhya Pradesh government to immediately revoke an externment order issued against Adivasi activist Ratan Alawe. The petition, addressed to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Revenue Commissioner (Indore Division), and the Burhanpur District Collector, alleges that the order is politically motivated and part of a broader pattern of administrative harassment targeting Adivasi communities and rights defenders.

By Dilip Patel*  As India marked another anniversary on June 25 of the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975, it is important to reflect not only on that dark chapter of Indian democracy but also on the subtler, more insidious forms of repression that journalists face today. Much has been said about the press censorship and human rights violations during the Emergency, but what we are witnessing now in Gujarat is a hidden emergency—one that is not declared through official proclamations but felt on the ground by journalists who are being systematically silenced, harassed, and attacked. This undeclared emergency is more dangerous precisely because it wears the mask of democracy while undermining its very foundations.

By A Representative   In a significant ruling, the Gujarat State Information Commission (GSIC) has reinforced the provisions of the Gujarat RTI Rules, 2010, making it clear that applicants under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, cannot be compelled to visit government offices solely for the purpose of fee payment or collecting information. The case pertains to Dr. Divyangi Patel, who runs a multi-speciality hospital on Khergam-Bahej Road in Navsari district. She had sought information from the Khergam Police Station regarding action taken on a complaint she had lodged. In response, the Public Information Officer (PIO), a Police Sub-Inspector, asked her to collect the information after making the required payment — but failed to mention the number of pages or permissible modes of payment, both of which are mandated under the Gujarat RTI Rules, 2010.

By Harsh Thakor*  Dilip Doshi's demise came as a shock to the cricketing fraternity, which lost not just a brilliant cricketer but also a dear friend. His character was a blend of wisdom, grace, and understated authority. On Monday, Doshi passed away at 77 following a cardiac arrest. He left behind an indelible legacy and a lifetime of memories. A true gentleman, he never hesitated to make time to guide young players.

By Rajiv Shah  This blog is a continuation of my story "English proficiency for empowerment: Modi’s SCOPE vision contrasts Amit Shah’s remark". I personally found nothing unusual in the Union Home Minister's “feel ashamed” remark directed at those who speak in English, as I have witnessed his dislike for the language on several occasions during my stint as the Times of India representative in Gandhinagar from 1997 to 2012.

By A Representative    A new book titled Periyar: Caste, Nation and Socialism , published by People’s Literature Publications, Mumbai, offers a compelling and richly detailed exploration of E.V. Ramasamy ‘Periyar’ and the ideological underpinnings of the Dravidian movement. The book features an in-depth conversation between renowned Tamil intellectual S.V. Rajadurai and social activist-writer Vidya Bhushan Rawat.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  On June 25, the nation quietly marked the 94th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh. The first political leader to publicly remember him was Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who tweeted early in the morning—a lone acknowledgment in a political landscape that has largely erased VP Singh from memory.

By A Representative   A collective of civil rights organisations under the banner of the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) has raised concerns over the delayed release of T. N. Roopesh, who has completed a 10-year sentence following his 2015 arrest under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). CASR issued a press statement alleging that state authorities have activated a long-dormant 2012 case in Karnataka in a move that effectively blocks his release.

By Jag Jivan  The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), one of India’s foremost rights-based legal organisations, has released its Annual Report for 2024-25 , highlighting a year of extensive grassroots engagement, strategic legal victories, and systemic policy interventions that have empowered thousands of people from marginalised communities across Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand. According to the report, CSJ carried out 5,522 legal interventions, conducted 336 fact-finding investigations, and connected with over 1.19 lakh people through outreach, legal awareness, and community mobilisation. With a strong network of lawyers, paralegals, and grassroots volunteers, CSJ not only provided direct legal aid but also strengthened institutional accountability and constitutional values through education, advocacy, and partnerships.

  By Rajiv Shah  While Union Home Minister Amit Shah may have  asserted  that soon a time would come when those speaking English in the country would “feel ashamed”, it is ironic that Narendra Modi, when he was Gujarat chief minister, had launched what was called the SCOPE programme, actively involving the University of Cambridge to provide opportunities to the youth of Gujarat to "become not just job seekers but job creators (entrepreneurs)."

By Shamsul Islam   The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), often described as a Hindutva gurukul (training ground), specializes in grooming cadres to propagate falsehoods and distort history. On the 50th anniversary of the Emergency (1975–77), RSS leaders and supporters have been claiming that the organization fiercely opposed the Emergency, with its cadres heroically challenging Indira Gandhi’s dictatorial rule and making significant sacrifices during the anti-Emergency movement. The RSS’s English mouthpiece, Organizer (June 24, 2025), portrayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a symbol of the fight against the Emergency, stating:  

By A Representative   The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), along with its pan-India initiatives — the National Health Rights Alliance, All India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA), and National Alliance for Justice, Accountability and Rights (NAJAR) — has made an urgent appeal to the Hon’ble President of India, Droupadi Murmu, seeking immediate and robust intervention to restore and rebuild the crumbling public health infrastructure in Manipur.

By A Representative   A new set of clinical guidelines has been released to improve monitoring and early detection of bowel cancer among patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The guidelines, developed for the British Society of Gastroenterology, are the result of a multi-institutional effort involving Newcastle University, Oxford University, the University of Central Lancashire, and others. The research is published in the UK journal Gut and was supported by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres in Newcastle and Oxford.

By Harsh Thakor*  On June 21, a memorial event was held at Lokayat, Ripon Street, Kolkata, in memory of those killed during Operation Kagar, including Basavraj. The gathering, attended by around 35 people, aimed to highlight ongoing struggles to protect land, water, forests, and resources in Central India, particularly in the context of state violence against Adivasi communities. The Revolutionary Students Front’s cultural wing made a presentation, and the documentary “Operation Kagar – The Final Warning” was screened. The documentary, produced in Central India, focuses on Operation Kagar—a security operation widely alleged to have involved extrajudicial killings and displacement of indigenous people. The film examines its historical context and consequences, including its alleged role in intensifying militarisation, repression, and socio-political marginalisation of Adivasi communities. It includes testimonies from human rights activists, local leaders, and others, reflecting a ra...

By Bharat Dogra  In India and in fact in a large part of the world, sensitive understanding of people with different abilities and of various people having their own ‘normal’ is a big social need. Two outstanding Hindi films of Aamir Khan have made an invaluable contribution to this. These are the just released film ‘Sitare Zameen Par’ (2025) and the equally valuable film made much earlier ‘Taare Zameen Par’ (2007). The titles of both of these Hindi films essentially mean ‘Stars on the Earth’, the reference being to the differently abled persons and children who despite being much misunderstood have so much to contribute with their different abilities and their own ‘normal’, with their love and sharing, and their ability to find happiness in adverse conditions.

By A Representative  In a shocking revelation, a leading human rights organization has alleged that a Bengali-speaking Muslim couple from West Bengal, working as migrant labourers in Mumbai, were illegally detained, denied due process, and forcibly deported to Bangladesh by Indian security forces, despite being Indian citizens.

By Ram Puniyani  Over the last four decades, India has witnessed a disturbing rise in the intimidation and targeting of religious minorities. Following the demolition of the Babri Masjid, the country saw unprecedented violence in Mumbai, leading to the loss of nearly one thousand lives. In 1999, one of the most horrific incidents occurred when Pastor Graham Staines was burnt alive—an act described by then-President Dr. K.R. Narayanan as “the most ghastly incident from the inventory of black deeds.” 

By A Representative  A group of prominent agricultural scientists has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing serious concern over the recent announcement of genome-edited (GEd) rice lines by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), calling it premature and potentially harmful to India’s agricultural sovereignty and seed sector.

By A Representative  A group of 100 lawyers and legal professionals from across India has issued a powerful appeal to the President of India, the Governor of Chhattisgarh, and the Chief Minister, demanding the immediate revocation of the ban on Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM), a grassroots Adivasi rights group. The appeal also calls for the release of all its jailed members and the repeal of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2005 (CSPSA), which the collective terms “draconian” and unconstitutional.

   By A Representative  India’s rising unemployment continues to cast a shadow over its much-touted economic ascent, with official data revealing that the jobless rate climbed to 5.6% in May 2025 from 5.1% the previous month. The worrying uptick comes even as the government celebrates India’s emergence as the world’s third-largest economy, the advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has said in an analysis.

By Dinesh Anajwala*  Nanubhai Vanani’s recent expression of discontent over the state of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) isn’t merely a lament—it’s a reflection of deeper disillusionment felt by many of the party’s foundational members. His concerns point squarely to a transformation that traces back to the rise of leaders like Narendra Modi and C.R. Paatil. 

By A Representative   On the occasion of World Rainforest Day, noted climate and energy policy analyst Shankar Sharma has written an open letter to the Prime Minister and Union Cabinet urging immediate and decisive action to protect India's tropical rainforests, especially those in the ecologically critical Western Ghats. Sharma, writing from Sagara in the Western Ghats region, expressed deep concern over the rapidly shrinking forest cover and the deteriorating state of India’s natural ecosystems. Pointing to official data and media reports, he highlighted that more than 173,000 hectares of forest land had been approved for non-forestry use in recent years, while nearly 60,000 hectares were diverted for commercial purposes between 2021 and 2024.

By A Representative   The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), a collective of civil society and rights organizations, has issued a statement highlighting allegations of serious human rights violations inside Buxar Central Jail, Bihar. These claims are based on a 17-page handwritten letter sent by Vijay Kumar Arya, an undertrial prisoner currently lodged in Buxar Jail.

By Bharat Dogra  Those who seek to destroy others must realize that deliberate acts of aggression carry within them the seeds of self-destruction. This insight can be understood on many levels. Most fundamentally, all human beings possess a natural sensitivity that discourages cruelty, injustice, and harm. To become destructive toward others, individuals must suppress or even kill this inner sensitivity. When this suppression is systematic and repeated—as in policy-driven aggression—it becomes a self-destructive process.

  By Rajiv Shah  A Niti Aayog  report , released about two years ago, estimated that in Gujarat — which our powers-that-be have long considered a model state — 11.66% of people are "multidimensionally poor," a term referring to an index that seeks to estimate "multiple and simultaneous deprivations" at the household level across three macro categories: health, education, and living standards.

By Rajiv Shah    A new field-based survey conducted in January 2025 across Dahod, Panchmahals, Morbi, and Bhavnagar districts has revealed alarming levels of food insecurity among vulnerable communities in Gujarat, ten years after the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Conducted by Anandi – Area Networking and Development Initiatives (ASAA) and community organisations working with mahila sangathans, the Gujarat Food Security Survey covered 1,261 households, purposively chosen to reflect the experiences of marginalised populations including Adivasis, OBCs, single women, the disabled, and the elderly. The findings suggest that despite the promises of NFSA and wide coverage under the Public Distribution System (PDS), food deprivation remains widespread and systemic failures continue to exclude the most vulnerable.

By Bharat Dogra   The Israel-Iran war following the Israeli attack on Iran on June 13, 2025 as well as the continuing Israeli genocidal actions in Gaza have become the biggest source of concern for all those who value peace and human life, even though other very troubling conflicts involving Ukraine and Russia, the conflicts in Sudan and elsewhere are also continuing.

By Ali Abutalebi  19 June marked the seventh day of Israeli strikes against Iran, with developments appearing to diverge from White House expectations. Following targeted attacks on senior military commanders and nuclear scientists, along with strikes on nuclear and military facilities, Iran has regained operational control. The country launched its ‘True Promise 3’ operation without delay.

By Harsh Thakor*  December 29th marks the centenary of the birth of Lepa Radić, a Yugoslav Partisan whose courage during World War II continues to resonate through history. Born on December 19, 1925, in the village of Gašnica in what is now Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lepa Radić was only 15 when the Axis powers invaded Yugoslavia in April 1941. In response to the occupation, she joined the Partisan resistance, eventually becoming one of its most revered figures. At the age of 17, she was executed by the Nazis for her involvement, refusing until her death to betray her comrades.

By Hemantkumar Shah*  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently lowered its key policy rates, including the repo rate and announced a phased reduction in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), signaling a shift towards a more accommodative monetary stance. At first glance, such a move might appear to herald a phase of economic acceleration—lower interest rates, easier loans, increased investments, and rising employment. However, closer scrutiny reveals that these policy changes, though significant on paper, may not meaningfully impact India’s GDP growth unless accompanied by robust fiscal measures and targeted reforms.

By Bharat Dogra  At a time when climate change has made environmental protection an existential priority, preserving and regenerating natural forests must remain at the centre of any strategy for ecological stability and biodiversity conservation. However, a growing body of experience from India and around the world confirms what tribal and rural communities have long known: forests cannot be protected from the top down. True and lasting conservation can only be achieved when the communities living near forests are actively involved in managing and protecting them.

By A Representative  In a groundbreaking development that aligns environmental action with social equity, a textile waste recycling initiative led by informal waste workers in Bengaluru has scaled from a local pilot to a national model. The project, part of the broader Saamuhika Shakti programme, is now being replicated in 12 cities across India—demonstrating that circularity can be both climate-positive and socially inclusive when rooted in community leadership.

By A Representative  A powerful grassroots initiative empowering women in rural India has drawn international recognition as part of a global university-community partnership that has placed women at the heart of local water governance. The MARVI project (Managing Aquifer Recharge and Sustaining Groundwater Use through Village-level Intervention), supported by Western Sydney University in collaboration with Indian NGOs and community groups, is being applauded worldwide for its transformative impact—particularly in training rural women as groundwater leaders and changemakers.