Counterview

By Rajiv Shah  On a blistering summer evening in Nagpur, nearly a thousand men in brown trousers, white shirts, and black caps stood in formation as a saffron flag was raised, marking a graduation ceremony for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers. This vivid scene, described in a recent FT Weekend Magazine article, “A hundred years after it was founded, India's Hindu-nationalist movement is getting closer to its goal of a Hindu-first state,” captures the enduring presence of the RSS, a century-old Hindu-nationalist organization.

By Harsh Thakor*  The Lok Sangram Morcha observed Martyrs’ Day in Moga, Punjab, on July 27. The event, held at Independence Welfare Bhavan, was conducted by Balwant Makhu, Sarban Singh, Gurdeep Vairoke, and press in-charge Paramjit Jaree.

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ  It is happening with frightening regularity: the bashing of Christians, primarily in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A meticulous and well-orchestrated campaign is underway to denigrate and demonise Christians. The design is devious—a clear method in their madness. The divisive agenda is to polarise sections of the majority community against Christians. The bogey of so-called "conversions" is always raised, creating unfounded fears that the Christian population is growing. In reality, official government statistics unequivocally show that over the years, the Christian population in India has been declining.

By N.S. Venkataraman*  President Trump has announced a 25% tariff on goods exported from India to the United States. He has also hinted at an additional penalty, though its nature and timeline remain unspecified. The tariff is set to take effect from August 1, with no further details on the accompanying penalty.

By Dr. Palla Trinadha Rao  The construction of the Polavaram Irrigation Project on the Godavari River has triggered massive displacement of tribal communities from the erstwhile Scheduled Areas of eight mandals, now part of Eluru and Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) districts in Andhra Pradesh. The project has affected 373 habitations across 222 revenue villages, displacing 96,660 Project Displaced Families (PDFs).

By Bharat Dogra   The late 1990s were a period of intense tension for Kanera village in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh district. Residents, already living in poverty, faced constant dread from a feudal landlord who had encroached upon a significant portion of their farmland, exacerbating their hunger and deprivation.

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  On July 9, while addressing the “Sahkar Samvad” in Ahmedabad with women and workers associated with cooperatives from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that natural farming is essential for both our health and the health of the soil. This is a significant statement in the context of addressing the climate change crisis. Natural farming can play a crucial role in combating climate change. Also known as organic farming, it is a system of agriculture that can increase food production without harming the environment. Natural farming has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 35% to 50%.

By A Representative   A coalition of Indian-American and South Asian organizations has strongly criticized the office of Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos for issuing an official certificate of recognition to Kajal Hindustani, a figure widely known for promoting Hindu supremacist rhetoric. 

By Prof. Hemantkumar Shah*  A recent ordinance by the Gujarat government, issued on July 1st, has amended the Factories Act of 1948, increasing the daily working hours for industrial laborers to 12 hours. This swift action, taken without even waiting for the Legislative Assembly to convene, suggests an urgent need perceived by the government. However, this move directly contravenes a global standard established through centuries of struggle by workers worldwide.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Once again, Tamil Nadu has witnessed a brutal so-called 'honor' killing. This time, it is Kevin Selvaganesh, a 27-year-old software engineer from the Scheduled Caste community, who has been hacked to death by the family of the girl he loved since childhood. Kevin, a brilliant student employed at Tata Consultancy Services, was in a relationship with Subashini, his schoolmate and girlfriend. The couple, both well-educated and professionally qualified, had plans to marry. Yet, that love story ended in bloodshed — sacrificed at the altar of caste pride.

By A Representative   The Bahujan Dravidia Party (BDP), a relatively small but vocal political outfit committed to the upliftment of Scheduled Castes and backward communities in Tamil Nadu, has strongly condemned the murder of 24-year-old Kavin Selvaganesh in Thoothukudi, calling it a caste pride killing. Founded on the ideological legacies of Periyar and Kanshi Ram, the BDP operates primarily in southern Tamil Nadu and among Bahujan youth, with limited electoral presence but growing activist visibility. On July 28, 2025, Kavin Selvaganesh—a gold-medallist engineering graduate working with TES 37 in Chennai—was brutally attacked and killed in broad daylight in KTC Nagar.

By A Representative   A recent case registered under Uttar Pradesh’s anti-conversion law in Siddharthnagar district is drawing public attention after contradictions emerged between the complainant’s past and present claims.

By Harsh Thakor*  On the night of 25 July 1975, in the forests near Girayipalli village in the then Medak district of Andhra Pradesh, four young men were killed in what the police described as an armed encounter. According to the official account, the police had received intelligence that members of the Naxalite movement involved in prior violent incidents were hiding in the area. The police claimed that the group opened fire and threw bombs, prompting retaliatory firing in self-defense. After the exchange, four individuals were reportedly found dead, along with a cache of weapons and literature.

By Bharat Dogra  The rare combination of profound politeness and friendliness with an iron-clad commitment to ideals like secularism, inter-faith harmony, socialism, and democracy is truly exceptional. When such a blend emerges in a personality, that individual becomes a rare gem, whose friendship is to be cherished. I will always remember Sumit Chakravartty as precisely such a friend and a personality worthy of immense love and respect.

By A Representative   A group of 93 former civil servants, under the banner of the Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), has issued a scathing open statement condemning the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, labeling it an “assault on the very foundations of our democracy.” The statement, signed by prominent figures including K. Sujatha Rao, Satwant Reddy, Vijaya Latha Reddy, Julio Ribeiro, and Aruna Roy, accuses the ECI of implementing a process that risks disenfranchising millions, particularly the poor and marginalized, ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.

By A Representative   A new report by the Stranded Workers Action Network (SWAN) has raised serious concerns about the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The report warns that a lack of access to documents and information may lead to the disenfranchisement of a large number of migrant workers from the state.

By Biljana Vankovska  My analysis of the beginnings of cracks in NATO had been published with a short delay, just enough to become obsolete. I pointed to the two referendum initiatives in Slovenia -one on military spending and the other on membership in the Alliance-, when the situation swiftly changed. To the surprise of those not well acquainted with the political situation in this small country, the Slovenian parliament annulled the decision on the first referendum proposed by the coalition partner Levica on procedural grounds: the referendum question was allegedly not properly formulated! This gave Prime Minister Robert Golob a perfect excuse to withdraw his own hasty and emotionally provoked proposal for a second referendum (asking whether citizens were in favor of remaining in or withdrawing from NATO). It seems that hopes for a genuine debate in any country about NATO’s senseless, or rather suicidal demand for 5% of the GDP to be allocated to military purposes have evapo...

By Ram Puniyani*  The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), which is tasked with shaping school curricula, has in recent years increasingly veered away from its mandate of promoting an objective and rational understanding of history. Instead, history textbooks are now being used to forward a communal and divisive narrative that risks deepening social fractures in Indian society.

By A Representative   Power and climate policy analyst Shankar Sharma has issued a strong appeal to the Union Government to urgently reconsider its growing reliance on Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) and instead prioritize Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for India’s future energy security. In a detailed letter sent to the Secretaries of Power, New & Renewable Energy, and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Sharma has highlighted the ecological, technical, and economic superiority of BESS over PSPs—particularly in the context of protecting fragile ecosystems like the Sharavati River Valley in Karnataka’s Western Ghats.

By Bharat Dogra  India's constitution clearly establishes equality for all citizens, including its weaker sections. However, discriminatory practices unfortunately persist against various marginalized communities. Throughout history, countless mobilizations have protested these injustices, consistently advancing society closer to true equality.

By N.S. Venkataraman*   India’s population in 2025 stands at approximately 1.4 billion. In 1950, it was 359 million, rising sharply to 1.05 billion by 2000. The population continues to grow and is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050.

By A Representative   At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  This is the story of India—and the 'ideas' and 'imagination' that shape it. Some years ago, someone announced the creation of the 'United States of Kailasa,' a fictional nation 'founded' by Swami Nithyananda, who remains wanted in multiple criminal cases in India, including rape and murder. Remarkably, representatives of this fabricated country even managed to 'participate' in various United Nations events, including sessions of CEDAW in Geneva.

By A Representative   A new report authored by political analyst and academic Shamsul Islam, titled "Anti-National & Anti-Hindu RSS: Documentary Evidence from Its Archives", offers a critical examination of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) using archival documents from the organization itself. Drawing entirely from published material in RSS journals, speeches of key leaders, and official publications, the report seeks to scrutinize the ideological evolution and stated positions of the RSS since its founding in 1925.

By Kay Young  The long-simmering border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand has escalated into open violence, with both sides exchanging artillery and air fire near the ancient Preah Vihear temple complex. At the time of writing, reports of what is happening on the ground are still unclear. In Surin province a petrol station and 7-11 were hit, supposedly by a missile, killing two civilians; a Thai F-16 fighter jet has also reportedly been downed. This latest flare-up seems to be the most serious military clash between the neighbouring nations since the Cold War, reviving historical tensions that date back to colonial-era border disputes.

By Bharat Dogra  While many NGOs promote and improve education in remote rural areas, the Prayas voluntary organization stands out. For over four decades, in South Rajasthan (specifically in Chittorgarh and Pratapgarh districts), Prayas has integrated educational promotion with social justice concerns.

By Harsh Thakor*  The birth centenary of Frantz Fanon (1925-1961), a seminal figure among thinkers who emerged from oppressed communities, was celebrated on July 20th. In the late 1960s, Fanon's name became synonymous with armed revolution in the "Third World." He was seen as an apostle of violence, a prophet of a violent Third World revolution that, for some, posed an even greater threat to the West than communism. His concept of Third Worldism posited that the future of socialism, and indeed the world, lay not with the proletariat of industrialized nations but with the "dispossessed wretched of the earth." Fanon's ideas ignited revolutionary fervor globally.

By Rosamma Thomas*  It is possible to be a minority of just one; it is possible to do the right thing, and still be punished for it. Jesus Christ was crucified, after all. On March 22, 2025, just days after news broke of the vast sums of money found burnt at Justice Yashwant Varma’s official residence, Ajuni Bedi compiled a list of notable judgments authored by this judge who then served the Delhi High Court.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Several social media posts have erupted in celebratory tones, claiming that Narendra Modi had surpassed Indira Gandhi as India’s longest-serving uninterrupted prime minister. What these commentators conveniently ignored was that Indira Gandhi had served two distinct terms — from 1966 to 1977, and again from 1980 until her assassination on October 31, 1984. Her contribution and duration in office cannot be understood merely through the lens of a continuous term.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  As global conflicts intensify and unilateralism grows more assertive, countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East continue to bear the brunt—economically, socially, and ecologically. In this context, renewed trilateral cooperation between Russia, India, and China (RIC) takes on particular significance. To move beyond a reactive or tactical alliance, RIC must develop a coherent ideological framework that guides its long-term purpose, both within the region and on the global stage.

By Vijay Prashad  Tensions increased in southern Syria as Israeli warplanes bombed the Ministry of Defence in Damascus, areas around the presidential palace, and villages in As-Suwayda on 16 July 2025, killing at least two hundred and fifty Syrians in these air strikes. The transitional authorities in Syria, led by the former al-Qaeda chief Ahmed al-Sharaa, condemned the attacks, which Israel justified as necessary to halt fighting between Syrian forces, the hastily organised Quwwat al-Badu (or Bedouin Forces), and the Druze Harakat Rijal al-Karama (Men of Dignity).

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  Israel’s large-scale military campaign in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks—widely condemned for their brutality and violation of Israeli sovereignty—has since resulted in significant destruction and displacement in Gaza, accompanied by expanded settlements and increased violence in the West Bank. The long-pursued two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict now appears more elusive than ever.

By Raqif Makhdoomi   On a night that stunned many across the world, sirens blared across Israeli cities, warning of incoming missile strikes. Buildings were damaged, civilians rushed to bunkers, and flames lit up the skyline. This time, the threat did not originate from Gaza—but from Iran. The April 2025 Iranian missile attack on Israel marked a significant moment in the broader Middle East conflict, challenging long-held perceptions of military supremacy in the region.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  We are told we live in the world’s largest democracy, but how democratic is a system where nothing truly goes “on record”? Where official documents—issued by government authorities after extensive due diligence—are both necessary for daily survival and simultaneously declared insufficient when it comes to the most fundamental right: voting.

By Bharat Dogra   Many talented children with a strong enthusiasm for learning are unable to continue their education due to the economic hardships faced by their families. Others somehow manage to stay in school, but their performance is seriously affected by these financial constraints.

By A Representative   Political analyst and retired Delhi University professor Shamsul Islam has raised serious concerns over the ongoing targeting and detention of Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal in Gurgaon, Haryana. In a public statement, Islam described the situation as "brutal repression" and accused law enforcement agencies of detaining migrants arbitrarily under the pretext of verifying their citizenship.

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  Every individual in every country on every continent will, in some way, be affected by climate change. A climate catastrophe is looming, and we are not fully prepared for its potential consequences.

By Sunil Kumar  For a while, I had withdrawn into a quieter life, seeking solace in nature. But the rising tide of state-sponsored violence and recurring conflict across India has compelled deeper reflection. The recent incidents of killings in central India—particularly in Chhattisgarh—are not isolated acts. They point to a larger and ongoing crisis that concerns the health of democracy and the treatment of marginalised communities.

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*   Given the increasing demand for new skills across public and private sectors and the lackluster performance of existing vocational training programs, reforming the mainstream education system became essential. The goal was to align academic curricula with the evolving needs of industries and other players. This push led to the National Education Policy, 2020, which aims to integrate vocational training and skill development into mainstream education, ultimately equipping students with practical, job-ready skills.

By Harasankar Adhikari  Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the 19th-century mystic of Bengal, remains one of the most remarkable spiritual figures of India—not only for his profound devotion and teachings but for the depth and breadth of his human friendships. He forged emotional and spiritual bonds that transcended caste, class, gender, education, and religious dogma. His life was a living message of unity, compassion, and inclusivity—qualities painfully absent in today’s fragmented society. Despite being an unlettered temple priest from humble origins, Ramakrishna drew into his circle thinkers, scholars, elites, and reformers of all stripes. One of the most well-known friendships was with Keshab Chandra Sen, a Western-educated, affluent leader of the Brahmo Samaj. The bond between a God-intoxicated temple priest and a rational, modernist reformer was not only unique—it was transformative. Keshab, who initially emphasized a formless God, came to deeply revere the Kali-worshipping mystic. Thi...

By Bharat Dogra  Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

By N.S. Venkataraman  Visual impairment is one of the most severe forms of physical disability that afflicts humanity, and its impact is even more acute when it affects women. The burden becomes overwhelming when visually impaired women also belong to economically weaker sections of society, with little or no financial or institutional support. Their struggle for dignity, survival, and identity is often invisible—hidden in plain sight across cities and rural corners alike. And yet, these women form a large, neglected segment of society not just in India, but around the world. In India, governmental assistance to visually impaired persons exists but remains minimal. While policies are framed with good intent, they often fall short in implementation. More importantly, no real distinction is made between the unique challenges faced by visually impaired men and women. This gender-blind approach to disability support overlooks the compounded social vulnerabilities that women face due to...

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

By Prantik Deka  Murchana Music Academy celebrated its Silver Jubilee Year with immense grandeur and cultural enthusiasm on July 20. The all-day event, which began at 10 am, was held at the Sri Sri Madhavadeva International Auditorium in Guwahati’s Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra.

By Megi Popova On 8 July, the European Parliament approved Bulgaria's entry into the eurozone by a large majority. Through this vote, Bulgaria – a country of six and a half million inhabitants in Eastern Europe – will begin to use the euro as its currency from 1 January 2026. What is the situation that led to this vote and what is Bulgaria’s future within the eurozone? Since 1997, Bulgaria has operated under a currency board, initially tying its currency, the lev, to the German Deutsch Mark. After the euro replaced the mark, the lev was pegged to the euro. This system has limited Bulgaria’s monetary independence by eliminating policing tools such as devaluation. As a consequence, many have argued that the use of the lev provides little benefits and only costs to Bulgaria. Advocates for Bulgarian sovereignty argue that the currency board should be dismantled.

By Harsh Thakor*  This weekend, on 26th July, the world of horse racing commemorates the 50th anniversary of the legendary clash between Grundy and Bustino in the 1975 running of Ascot’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a contest that stands as a testament to the greatness of horse racing as a sport. This same date also marks the 75th edition of this classic race, first won by Supreme Court in 1951.

By A Representative   A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan  Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.