Counterview

By Rosamma Thomas*  Sarva Seva Sangh, publisher of books on the freedom struggle and related subjects, with its offices at Rajghat, Varanasi, was displaced by the Varanasi district administration and Indian Railways in July 2023. In August 2023, although the matter was still in court, the authorities demolished most of the buildings on the 13-acre plot on the banks of the Ganga. 

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The demand for special protection of the Himalayan states has a long history—stretching from Ladakh to Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the seven sisters of the Northeast. Across these regions, native communities face an existential threat as outsiders buy up land and gain control over natural resources. While the Constitution created the Sixth Schedule to safeguard tribal interests through autonomous councils, this protection was limited to the Northeast, leaving the Himalayan belt vulnerable.

By A Representative   The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has demanded the immediate release of Ladakhi environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, withdrawal of all charges against protesters, restoration of statehood to Ladakh, and inclusion of the region under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. In a strongly worded statement, SKM condemned the imposition of curfew, the police firing that killed four youth and injured over a hundred, and the use of the National Security Act (NSA) against Wangchuk, terming it an “unjust and dangerous conspiracy” to silence democratic voices.

By A Representative   People for Himalaya, a collective campaign for climate and disaster justice across India’s mountain states, held a press conference in the national capital on 29 September, condemning the arrest of environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA) and demanding his immediate release. The campaign called the arrest an attack on democratic rights and an attempt to silence Ladakh’s people, who have been voicing concerns over constitutional rights, livelihoods, and the environment.

By Harsh Thakor*  Defying formidable odds, 17-year-old Jiya Rai from India has created history by becoming the first female para-swimmer with autism to successfully complete a solo swim across the Catalina Channel in the United States. She covered the 34-kilometre stretch in 15 hours, 1 minute and 43 seconds, setting a landmark in the 100-year history of Catalina Channel swimming.

By Rosamma Thomas*  The Indian Ocean, the world’s third largest, is heating at a faster pace than other oceans. The large mass of water, and its high specific heat (heat required to raise temperature by one degree Celsius) means that small differences in temperature in the ocean make for large variations in heat energy. Heating of the ocean is thus causing unprecedented climate change. Monsoons have altered, and coastal communities are fast becoming climate refugees. 

By Ram Puniyani*  Indian society has long been riddled with inequalities. Some forces today seek to undermine or even do away with the Indian Constitution, which remains a vital instrument in the struggle for equality and social justice. On one hand, patriarchal values have been glorified in scriptures; on the other, the Varna–caste hierarchy has been sanctified by religious texts. These inequalities, rooted in antiquity, continue to persist.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The Yamuna River is one of the largest tributaries of the Ganga. It rises from the Bandarpoonch peak in the Garhwal Himalayas, near the Yamunotri glacier, at an altitude of about 6,300 meters. The river descends to Yamunotri Dham, a sacred temple dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, who is mythologically considered the daughter of Lord Surya (the Sun God) and sister of Shani and Yama. For both practical and mythological purposes, Yamunotri Dham, located at roughly 3,300 meters, is deemed the river's source.

By Bharat Dogra  One of the biggest concerns regarding the global food and farming system is the alarming decline in crop diversity in recent decades. Not only has the number of crops grown on farms diminished, but the diversity of crop varieties has also eroded, leaving behind a narrower genetic base.

By Bharat Dogra  Jayesh Joshi, founder and coordinator of the voluntary organization Vaagdhara, has recently been in the news as co-organizer of a national dialogue on the self-reliance of rural communities and a series of village fairs to strengthen tribal communities’ efforts for beej swaraj—self-reliance in seeds. These initiatives have gained special significance at a time of growing global concern over the concentration of the seed industry in the hands of a few multinational corporations.

By Sunil Kumar*  On September 28 we marked the 118th birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh and his comrades are figures whom the people of India revere for their sacrifices and vision of struggle. Whether on his martyrdom day or his birth anniversary, both the exploited and the oppressors in India remember him. The oppressor class remembers him because they cannot dismiss the sacrifices of these martyrs, yet they are unnerved by his ideas.

By A Representative   India’s food sovereignty movement has strongly condemned the arrest of environmental and local governance activist Sonam Wangchuck, demanding his immediate and unconditional release along with others detained in Ladakh.

By A Representative    The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) has expressed concern over the situation in Ladakh following recent violence that claimed four lives and the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA). In a statement issued on September 27, the alliance said the Centre’s failure to address Ladakh’s long-standing demands has created unrest in the region and urged the government to begin a substantive dialogue with local groups on statehood and Sixth Schedule status.

By A Representative   The People for Himalaya, a campaign of progressive groups, civil society organisations and activists from the Himalayan region, has condemned what it termed as the ongoing repression of the popular movement for Sixth Schedule status and statehood in Ladakh. 

By Bharat Dogra  The trail of destruction—including floods, landslides, and land subsidence—in the Himalayan region, which has at times triggered even bigger floods in the plains below (as in Punjab), has finally led to a broader realization of the immense costs of indiscriminate construction and so-called ‘development’ in this ecologically fragile zone. The Supreme Court has taken notice, and one hopes that the authorities will at least heed the voice of the highest court.

By A Representative   Child marriage in India has recorded a steep decline, according to a report released by Just Rights for Children (JRC), a network of over 250 NGOs working in the field of child protection. The report, Tipping Point to Zero: Evidence Towards a Child Marriage Free India, presented during a side event at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, claims that child marriages among girls have declined by 69 percent and among boys by 72 percent over the past three years.

By A Representative   A recent research paper, "Warning labels for sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice: evaluation of 27 different labels on health effects, sugar content, energy and exercise equivalency", published in Public Health has evaluated the effectiveness of different warning labels for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and fruit juice, comparing 27 variations across six message types. 

By Harsh Thakor*  Kamalsai Majhi, general secretary of the Malkangiri Zilla Adivasi Sangh, is no more. He succumbed to aplastic anemia at the age of 52. His death is a grievous loss to the agrarian and revolutionary movements. His life was marked by steadfast loyalty and commitment to the struggle for justice, first as a member of the Communist Party Reorganisation Centre of India (Marxist-Leninist) and later as part of the Centre of Communist Revolutionaries of India. His lifelong work enabled agrarian resistance to endure in some of the most difficult circumstances.

By Bharat Dogra  Many countries that are economically poor due to a complex set of factors have been well endowed by nature in various ways. However, the exploitative use of natural resources over several decades or even centuries, generally under colonial or neo-colonial conditions, has contributed greatly to the poverty that exists today. One natural resource whose value is being increasingly realized is the diversity of plant wealth. This diversity has been exceptionally rich in many economically poor countries.

  By Rajiv Shah   I have been forwarded a  report  titled “Profit and Genocide: Indian Investments in Israel”. It has been prepared by the advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) and authored by Hajira Puthige. The report was released following the Government of India’s signing of a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with Israel.

By Bharat Dogra   As the calendar turns to September 27/28, we mark the birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, a name that continues to resonate with powerful clarity across India. With each passing year, the legend of this young revolutionary doesn't just endure; it grows.

By Bharat Dogra   Decades after his cruel and tragic assassination by those who had been clearly hired by very powerful persons, the legacy of Shankar Guha Niyogi lives on, inspiring more and more people, particularly youth. Wherever I go to remote areas in the course of my writing work, I come across highly committed and very creative people inspired by Niyogi and the various efforts and institutions initiated by him like the Shaheed Hospital of Dalli Rajhara. 

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  In Indian culture, rivers are not only life-giving but also sacred, worshipped as mothers who nourish and sustain humanity. Without rivers, the very idea of human civilization would have been impossible. Our sages understood that water and forests are the foundation of life. They reminded us that “trees bring rain, rain produces grain, and grain sustains life.” The Atharva Veda emphasized the need for pure water bodies near human settlements, noting that clean water ensures health, longevity, and well-being. This reverence for rivers shaped traditions that treated them as divine. Yet, today, driven by greed and profit, we have pushed our rivers into crisis.

By Sunil Kumar*  On September 22, 2025, the country implemented GST reform, being promoted as the “New Generation GST Reform.” Prime Minister Modi presented this reform to the people through his address to the nation from the Red Fort ramparts on September 21, 2025. The BJP and BJP-ruled state governments are celebrating this as the “GST Savings Festival” fortnight (September 22–29). All BJP MPs and ministers have been instructed to reach out to shopkeepers and people in markets and on the streets. But if this GST reform is truly a “savings festival,” then does that mean that since July 1, 2017, the country has been experiencing a “loot festival”? The figures confirm that under GST, a significant portion of the people’s hard-earned money has been taken away by the government and corporate elites.

By A Representative  On September 26, the Supreme Court heard a case concerning the non-appointment of information commissioners at the Central Information Commission (CIC) and several State Information Commissions. The matter was mentioned before a bench comprising Justice Suryakant and Justice Bagchi.

By Syed Ali Mujtaba*  Reports of targeted violence against Muslims continue to surface in different parts of India, raising concerns about religious harmony under the Modi government’s third term. In September 2025 alone, at least six incidents from across the country have been documented by the media, highlighting the persistence of communal tensions and the vulnerability of minority communities.

By Bharat Dogra  Following the eruption of violence in Ladakh, editorials of several leading newspapers on September 26 have advised the government to act with restraint and reach out to the people to find democratic solutions and a settlement.

By A Representative   A coalition of civil society organisations, rights groups and faith-based associations has strongly condemned the passage of the “Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion Bill, 2025” in the State Assembly on September 9, calling it draconian, unconstitutional and a direct attack on the fundamental rights of minorities. The statement was released at a press conference held at Vinoba Gyan Mandir, Jaipur, where representatives of more than a dozen organisations declared that they would actively lobby against the bill and urged the Governor not to grant assent, but instead refer it to the President of India under Article 200 of the Constitution.

By A Representative   On September 16, 2025, Sheru Susadia, a resident of Multanpura village in Mandsaur, was returning home after purchasing cattle from the Lambia Rayla animal fair in Bhilwara along with a companion.

By A Representative   The All-India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA), affiliated with the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), has strongly condemned the rape and death threats issued on social media against Prof. Rosemary Dzuvichu, a prominent women’s rights leader and academic based in Kohima. 

By A Representative  The online programme of scientist, poet, and public intellectual Gauhar Raza, scheduled for September 23 at IIT-BHU, was cancelled after protests from Hindu fundamentalist groups. The decision follows a similar controversy earlier this month in West Bengal, where the Urdu Academy indefinitely postponed a four-day literary festival after Muslim organisations objected to the participation of lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar.

By Harsh Thakor*  Mother Mary Comes to Me is Arundhati Roy’s deeply personal exploration of family, memory, and social transformation. Presented as a memoir, it weaves together the story of her relationship with her mother, Mary Roy, and the larger political and cultural forces that shaped her life and writings. The prose is direct and accessible, balancing tenderness with sharp reflection.

By A Representative   Leh in Ladakh witnessed one of its most violent episodes in recent memory on September 24 as thousands of young people poured into the streets in protest, clashing fiercely with security forces. According to reports, five people were killed and nearly 80 injured, several of them critically with bullet wounds. Around 30 security personnel were also hurt. The unrest escalated into arson and vandalism, with the local Bharatiya Janata Party office set on fire, the council building damaged, and a CRPF vehicle torched.

By Prof. Hamentkumar Shah*  A widespread impression in India, carefully cultivated by the wealthy, is that only the rich bear the nation’s tax burden, while the poor pay nothing. This is a falsehood, even a conspiracy, reinforced further by claims that governments provide everything to the poor free of cost. Whatever is distributed as subsidies or welfare is often disparagingly labeled as “freebies.” But is it really true that the poor do not pay taxes?

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Donald Trump’s speech at the United Nations was among the most disappointing of its kind, making him appear delusional, self-obsessed, and dictatorial. It is ironic that leaders often labeled as “dictators” sometimes act with greater responsibility than such self-absorbed figures. Trump’s words suggested that he may turn reckless if global affairs do not move according to his will. Meanwhile, the military–industrial complex, which has long shaped U.S. foreign policy, remains powerful, and claims of its dismantling have proved illusory.

By A Representative   A new report by the advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has alleged that Indian corporations, both private and state-owned, are entwined with Israel’s economy of occupation and military campaigns in Gaza. Titled Profit and Genocide: Indian Investments in Israel, the report highlights the role of Indian capital in sectors ranging from defense and technology to agriculture and infrastructure, directly linking it to activities described as sustaining Israel’s military operations and settler-colonial practices.

By Bharat Dogra  India has a wide range of rural development schemes, but several obstacles prevent weaker and less influential sections of society from fully benefiting from them. If an organization can effectively link people’s needs with what these schemes offer, significant development goals can be realized.

By Bharat Dogra*  In the discourse on rural health, primary health care that reaches all people has long been emphasized, along with prioritizing the needs of the poorest and advancing the right-to-health approach in participative ways. These objectives are not always realized in spirit, but their importance is widely acknowledged.

By Harsh Thakor*  Robert Redford, who has died at the age of 89, was perhaps the prototype of a classical Hollywood movie actor. His conventional good looks – blond hair, boyish charm and chiselled chin – turned him into a sex symbol and a romantic lead opposite Jane Fonda in Barefoot in the Park (1967), Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were (1973), and Meryl Streep in Out of Africa (1985). He was a larger-than-life character, iconic in his own time, whether in front of the camera or behind it. Redford symbolised the golden boy of American cinema for more than 50 years.

By A Representative   Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Arunachal Pradesh recently for two days. During his speech, a student from Keladha Adi District displayed a banner that read, “Stop the hunger strike, give Ladakh their rights,” in support of Ladakh climate activist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk. The student was later detained by the police. The incident drew attention to the ongoing hunger strike in Ladakh.

By Sanjay Kumar Sinha*  India’s highway network is expanding rapidly under programs such as Bharatmala Pariyojana and the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP). In line with India’s commitment at COP26 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, the push for sustainable development has become more urgent than ever. Highways can no longer be conceived only as routes for speed and connectivity; they must also be resilient, environmentally conscious corridors that balance economic progress with ecological responsibility.

By Bharat Dogra  The technology of clonal propagation, also known as vegetative propagation, was strongly recommended by eminent rice scientist Dr. R.H. Richharia for increasing rice yield. It is a good time to revive this discussion, as this technology can be particularly useful when floods damage crops, as has happened extensively in India and South Asia.

By Taroa Zúñiga, Vijay Prashad  The Gaza Sumud Flotilla sails from Tunis toward the waters around Palestine. The word Sumud in Arabic means Resilience. It is the feeling at the heart of the hundreds of people from forty-four countries on the fifty boats that are in the Mediterranean Sea. One of these boats is carrying a group of women from around the world. On that boat is María ‘Marita’ Rodríguez, a Swedish and Chilean woman who lives in Stockholm. She spoke to us from her boat about her journey and why she was there in the first place.

By Milkaela Nhondo Erskog   On September 16, the people of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger will mark the second anniversary of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), established by the Liptako-Gourma Charter in 2023. This is not merely a date on the calendar, but a celebration of a renewed struggle for sovereignty in a region long suffocated by French neo-colonialism and failed Western security strategies. As solidarity actions are planned across the Sahel, it is essential to look beyond the mainstream narratives of 'coup belts' and understand the conditions that led to this pivotal moment.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  Across the world, leftist politics is often portrayed as inherently violent. From the United States to Britain, Europe, and India, political establishments and sections of the media have repeatedly framed left-wing ideology as extremist. This perception has been reinforced by ruling parties across the political spectrum—whether conservative or liberal—who frequently criticise the left while struggling to address the economic and social challenges facing working people.

By Harsh Thakor*  Ernst Thälmann, a leader of the Communist Party of Germany who was executed on Hitler’s orders in August 1944, is known to have become a global symbol of resistance to war and fascism. His life and memory continue to be associated with sacrifice, struggle, and the broader fight for socialism. A docker from Hamburg who rose to lead the German Communist movement, Thälmann’s trajectory reflected both the hardships and aspirations of Europe’s working-class movements in the first half of the twentieth century.

By Rajiv Shah  My interaction with critics and supporters of Mahatma Gandhi, ranging from those who consider themselves diehard Gandhians to Left-wing and Dalit intellectuals, has revealed that in the long arc of his public life, few issues expose his philosophical tensions more than his shifting stance on Varnashram Dharma—the ancient Hindu concept that society should be divided into four varnas, or classes, based on duties and aptitudes.

By A Representative   The well-known environmental advocacy group, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), has raised concerns over the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) ongoing projects on the Yamuna floodplain, urging a critical review in the wake of repeated flood damage. The group noted that both the July 2023 and September 2025 floods have inundated several sites developed under DDA’s beautification and riverfront initiatives, undermining years of work and raising questions about their feasibility and environmental impact.

By  Prof. Ravi Ranjan*  The Hindi book Chuppiyaan Aur Daraarein - Stree Aatmakatha: Paath Aur Saiddhantiki ( Silences and Gaps- A Debate on Women’s Autobiography: Text and Theory) by Garima Srivastava is a compelling collection of nine reflective research essays that explore women’s autobiographies across Indian languages and Black women’s narratives, offering a profound analysis of caste, class, gender, and religion as lenses to understand these works.

By Bharat Dogra  Reducing malnutrition in areas of high vulnerability remains a significant challenge for health and nutrition in India. While the Indian government has succeeded in expanding nutrition programs across the country, budgetary and implementation problems persist. If community mobilization and participation can be increased and a multi-dimensional approach adopted, with greater resources and improved implementation, significantly better results can be achieved.

By A Representative   The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly have raised serious concerns over the poor implementation of welfare schemes meant for the Agariya community in the salt-producing regions of the state. The PAC’s fifth report, based on CAG’s audit observations, points to major deficiencies in health services, education, nutrition, water supply, and inter-departmental coordination.