Counterview

By A Representative   Automation in India’s construction industry is deepening gender disparities and eroding livelihoods for thousands of women workers, particularly those from marginalised communities, according to a new study titled Building Futures: Automation and Gender Disparities in Construction – The Case of Ahmedabad, Gujarat .  Conducted by Aajeevika Bureau and Work Fair and Free , and led by researchers Geeta Thatra and Saloni Mundra , the study draws on feminist participatory action research between 2023 and 2025 to map how technological change is reshaping labour hierarchies in one of the country’s largest employment sectors.

​By Raj Kumar Sinha*  ​The first struggle for every woman, before she can raise her voice in society or resist in public spheres, begins at home. Over the past few years, marginalized communities—be they women, Dalits , or Adivasis —have been stepping forward assertively to fight for their rights. A major strength of these movements is their model of collective leadership, rather than individual heroes, with women playing a major role.

​By Sunil Kumar*  ​ Bihar 's biggest festival of 'democracy'—the elections—has begun with its full clamor. The announcements from both the ruling party and the opposition create the illusion that the state's suffering will vanish in an instant, and the lives of the people of Bihar will be greatly enriched. As in every election, this time too, caste and employment are emerging as key issues. Every party is unrolling its bundle of promises. But amidst this electoral noise, there are stories that are deliberately kept 'quiet'—because both the ruling party and the opposition benefit from their silence. One such story is the death of four Musahar children.

By A Representative   The Union government’s newly released Draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 has reignited debate over the future of India’s power sector , with critics warning that the proposed changes could undermine public utilities , state autonomy , and affordable access to electricity . The Bill seeks sweeping reforms that would open the electricity distribution sector to private players , restructure tariffs , and strengthen the Centre’s powers over state electricity policies.

By Prem Singh*  “Sometimes as I reached a gathering, a great roar of welcome would greet me: Bharat Mata Ki Jai – Victory to Mother India! I would ask them unexpectedly what they meant by that cry, who was this Bharat Mata , Mother India, whose victory they wanted? My question would amuse them and surprise them, and then not knowing exactly what to answer, they would look at each other and at me. … At last a vigorous Jat, wedded to the soil from immemorial generations, would say that it was the dharati, the good earth of India, that they meant. What earth? Their particular village patch, or all the patches in the district or province, or in the whole of India?”

By N.S. Venkataraman*  The world heaved a sigh of relief when Israel and Hamas finally reached a settlement to halt the war. The exchange of hostages between the two sides marks a positive step after two years of bitter conflict and offers a faint but meaningful hope for future peace.

By Harsh Thakor*  Jacques Kallis , in an illustrious career, set new benchmarks for a cricketing all-rounder, scaling statistical heights rarely transcended in cricket history . On October 16, the cricket world celebrates the 50th birthday of Kallis—one of the greatest cricketers to have graced the game, with a strong case for being rated the second-best all-rounder after Sir Garfield Sobers , if not the finest ever, and arguably the best cricketer of his generation.

By Harsh Thakor*  Leading fashion photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha , who gave a new dimension to celebrity photography by scaling beauty into transcendental realms, passed away of a cardiac arrest in September 2015 . Born on September 16, 1950, the film world commemorated his 75th birth anniversary last month, celebrating the life and work of an artist who immortalized Indian cinema’s icons through his lens.

By Srujana Bodapati    The last couple of months have exposed the humiliating realities of the subordinate alliance that India has been gradually sliding into with the U.S. over the last three decades.

By Weilyn Lau, Jeong-eun Hwang   Decades from now, our current moment will appear as a moment of great change: seismic shifts are parting the way to a multipolar world. In response, the Trump administration is waging global tariff war. As the world finds itself at a crossroads, APEC Business Advisory Council (central to APEC’s pro-corporate globalization) leaders are demanding a return to the old ‘rules-based-order.’

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  US President Donald Trump ’s aspiration for the Nobel Peace Prize this year remained unfulfilled as the award went to Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela . Yet, President Trump appeared determined to achieve a breakthrough that could bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker. His administration hastened efforts to finalize the first phase of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas , a move seen as a calculated attempt to strengthen his claim to the prize and reinforce his image as a mediator in global conflicts. The White House even declared him the “ Peace President ,” while several countries extended support to his nomination.

By Bharat Dogra   In 1992 and 2017, world scientists—including many Nobel laureates —issued powerful and timely warnings about the grave threats facing Earth’s life-supporting systems. A third statement, released in 2022, focused exclusively on climate change . While theqse declarations have played an invaluable role in awakening global awareness, the time has now come for a more comprehensive and justice-oriented statement that fully reflects the multidimensional nature of the survival crisis confronting humanity.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  Many years ago, a doctor friend who had worked for decades in the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom shared his frustration with the rise of managerialism in his workplace. “The NHS is hiring highly paid managers who know nothing about health systems or medical science,” he told me. “These over-glorified managers have been brought in to run the service despite having not an iota of training in healthcare or human welfare. Ironically, they are tasked with making the NHS more efficient.”

By Pilar Troya Fernández  Daniel Noboa's government in Ecuador is characterized by the implementation of neoliberal austerity policies dictated by the IMF, the violent repression of social protests, and a series of legal reforms aimed at increasing state authoritarianism, and aligning the country with U.S. foreign policy. All this is taking place amid an unprecedented security crisis.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat    Tiladi is an open space on the banks of the Yamuna River near Barkot town in Uttarakhand . Anyone tracing the Yamuna Valley must pause to remember this historic site — a place of courage, tragedy, and resistance.

By Syed Ali Mujtaba   After the demise of Subrata Roy on November 14, 2023, the once-mighty Sahara Empire appears to be crumbling like a house of cards. The story of its rise and fall is both fascinating and tragic — a tale of ambition, power, glamour, and eventual collapse.

By Vikas Meshram  After two years of brutal conflict in the Gaza Strip , a ray of hope has finally emerged. The devastating clashes between Israel and Hamas have claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions, and left the region in ruins. Now, under the initiative of U.S. President Donald Trump , discussions held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt , have opened the possibility of ending the violence. These talks have paved the way for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, rekindling hopes for long-term peace in West Asia.

By Prof. Sudhanshu Tripathi*  While examining the challenges confronting India’s current foreign policy, one finds the country’s leadership clearly supporting a multipolar world order, despite the United States’ still-unmatched dominance and its self-obsessed approach in international relations. This tendency endangers the national interests of relatively weak and developing nations of the so-called Third World, including India—though it is now the world’s fourth-largest economy. Such unilateralism discourages the consolidation of global and regional institutions in a multipolar world and undermines the spirit of multilateral negotiations, causing significant loss to developing nations.

By N.S. Venkataraman*  It appears to be human nature—and indeed the nature of every creature in the world—to desire to live as long as possible. In spite of such wishful thinking, humans are subconsciously aware of the grim reality that living forever is impossible, as death is a natural and unavoidable event. In this context, many people wish to be remembered for as long as possible after their passing.

By A Representative   Nearly two decades after the Right to Information (RTI) Act came into force, the institutions meant to safeguard this fundamental right are facing a severe crisis. The Report Card on the Performance of Information Commissions in India, 2024–25, released by Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS), reveals alarming levels of vacancies, case backlogs, and institutional dysfunction across the country.

By A Representative   As India marks 20 years since the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act on October 12, 2005, a new analysis by Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel (MAGP) reveals how Gujarat citizens have used the landmark law to seek accountability and transparency from government departments. The report shows that more than 21.29 lakh RTI applications have been filed across the state over the last two decades, with the highest number received by the Urban Development Department, followed by Home and Revenue. Together, these three departments account for 58 percent of all applications.

By Alejandra Amor, Mansee Bal Bhargava  The tropical Indian ecology pushed communities to develop the art and science of rainwater collection since antiquity. Traditionally, harvesting rainwater through ponds, lakes, and wetlands formed an integral part of a holistic water system that included rivers, canals, wells, aquifers, and springs. These decentralized systems sustained irrigation, livestock, and domestic needs in rural areas, supported by generations of community water management practices embedded in both utilitarian and ritualistic values.

By A Representative   The Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has accused the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), the accountability arm of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), of concealing crucial evidence related to the Tata Mundra coal power project in Gujarat during the period when the case was being heard in U.S. courts. In a press statement released on October 10, 2025, CFA said that the CAO’s final monitoring report, which was completed in 2019 but released only in September 2025, revealed that IFC had failed to take remedial action for years, even as environmental and livelihood harms to local communities worsened.

By Syed Ali Mujtaba*  The attack on Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai by advocate Rakesh Kishore , who described himself as a Sanatanist , raises serious concerns about intolerance and social division. The incident reportedly occurred after Justice Gavai dismissed a plea seeking the reconstruction of a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at a temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh . In his remarks, the CJI stated that India is governed by the Constitution and not by religious beliefs. Following this, the lawyer allegedly hurled a shoe toward the CJI, accusing him of insulting Hinduism and later claiming that his actions were divinely inspired.

By A Representative   The Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), comprising 113 retired civil servants, has sharply criticised the Union government’s handling of the ongoing people’s protests in Ladakh, calling it “knee-jerk and negative” and emblematic of a larger pattern of intolerance toward peaceful public dissent. In a statement issued on Saturday, the group accused the government of resorting to excessive force and punitive legal action instead of addressing the legitimate grievances of the people of Ladakh.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Awards have often been used to impose the choices of power elites or imperial interests upon people. I have never been fascinated by awards that seek to set agendas for us. Many individuals and their work become known only after receiving awards, and for some, the financial benefit attached to them is undoubtedly welcome. But recognition that comes from structures of power must always be viewed with caution.

By Prof. Hemantkumar Shah*  The accounts of Gujarat ’s eight municipal corporations have not been audited for several years, leaving financial records worth over ₹2 lakh crore unaudited. Information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by citizen Santoshsinh Rathod reveals that the office of the Examiner of Local Fund Accounts has failed to conduct timely audits, leading to an alarming lack of financial transparency across Gujarat’s urban local bodies .

By Palla Trinadha Rao  K. Balagopal , the noted human rights activist, lawyer, and writer from Andhra Pradesh , passed away on October 8, 2009. Yet, his ideas and work continue to inspire generations of activists, lawyers, and citizens committed to upholding constitutional and human values in India. October 12, 2025 marked his 16th memorial meeting at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram , Bagh Lingampally , Hyderabad — a fitting moment recalling his life and legacy.

By A Representative  In a move likely to raise eyebrows among the powers-that-be, a voluntary organisation founded during the “dark days” of the Indira Gandhi -imposed Emergency has announced that it will hold a public conference in Ahmedabad to highlight what its office-bearers call today’s “undeclared Emergency.”

By Rosamma Thomas*  On October 9, 2025, renowned social worker Medha Patkar delivered the second annual Rev Fr Dr Jose Joseph Pulavelil Memorial Lecture at Alphonsa College, Pala , to a packed auditorium. Invited to speak on “Challenges before the New Generation for Democratic Development,” she wondered whether the topic had been suggested because of her age. She urged her young audience to first consider what development really means, and who should plan it, in a true democracy.

By Sunil Kumar*  “Volunteers will pick up sticks to remove every obstacle that comes in the way of Sanatan and saints’ work.” — RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat (November 6, 2024, Chitrakoot) Eleven months later, on October 6, 2025, a man who threw a shoe inside the Supreme Court shouted, “India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan.” This incident was not an isolated act but a continuation of a pattern seen over the past decade—attacks on intellectuals, writers, activists, and journalists, sometimes in the name of institutions, sometimes by individual actors or organizations.

By Prof. Hemantkumar Shah*  Rakesh Kishor, who attempted to throw a shoe at India’s Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, claimed in an interview that he did nothing of his own accord—“I only did what the Divine made me do.” This controversy began when the Supreme Court dismissed a public interest litigation demanding the proper reinstallation of a seven-foot-tall broken idol of Lord Vishnu in Khajuraho. Justice Gavai had remarked at the time, “Go and ask the deity himself…”

By Harsh Thakor*  The Man Who Became Cinema: Dilip Kumar , by Ashok Chopra , explores the magic of Indian cinema ’s greatest icon with meticulous research. The book navigates and dissects Dilip Kumar’s journey, film by film, scene by scene, and song by song. It intricately examines the psychological, behavioral, and improvisational aspects of the actor, offering a testament to his unparalleled place in Indian cinema. Chopra also investigates the filmmakers, music composers, lyricists, writers, cinematographers, and critics who shaped his career.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  It was perhaps the best thing that could have happened to Uttar Pradesh after a long lull—the massive show of strength by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and its leader, Mayawati . The grand rally made a mockery of those who had been writing the party’s political obituary. A few years ago, after BSP’s electoral defeat, at a Delhi conference aimed at bringing together SCs, STs, OBCs , and minorities, some young YouTubers asked me about the party’s future.

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ   A few weeks ago, Jesuit Fr. Hedwig Lewis released his latest book “Being Extraordinarily Ordinary: 30 Strategies for Wholesome Living.” This remarkable book is compact, concise, and direct—without any frills. It makes for compelling reading and challenges one to live a more meaningful life in practical, doable ways—to become a person who makes a difference by doing ordinary things in extraordinary ways.

By Ram Puniyani*  On the occasion of the 100th year of the RSS ’s foundation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi , a former Pracharak of the RSS, paid glowing tributes to the organization. He said that the RSS had made tremendous sacrifices for the freedom of the country and that in places like Chimur , it had organized protests. According to him, the RSS’s contribution to nation-building has been immense. What is the real story? 

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  Communal harmony and brotherhood between Hindus, Muslims , and other religious communities have long defined the synchronised secular culture of Cuttack , a historic city in Odisha . From Dargah Bazar and Pir Hat to Idgah Maidan , generations have witnessed the making of independent Odisha and India through shared spaces and collective struggles. 

By Buddhdev Pandya MBE   I was visiting Northwest London, a region with one of the largest concentrations of the Hindu diaspora in Britain, during the auspicious season of Navratri. The festival, celebrated with music, devotion, and community gatherings, signifies the triumph of good over evil, the victory of righteousness over arrogance, and the worship of the Divine Mother (Shakti) in her many forms — Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, and others — embodying both the force that destroys injustice and the grace that nurtures creation.

By A Representative  In an urgent communique, the animal welfare organization People for Animals (PFA) has reported a major disturbance at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where authorities at Gate No. 10 are violating judicial directives by refusing to release 13 sterilized community dogs back into their original territory. In a letter dated October 9, PFA stated that the dogs had been confined in a van for over three hours, causing significant distress. 

By A Representative   Emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and hygiene as essential for strengthening the health of women and children, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Women and Child Development, Leena Johri, said that cleanliness should become a collective habit. She claimed that “cleanliness is the key to the health of lactating women and children. It should become a communal habit, not just a personal practice.”

By Ravi Ranjan*  Poetry, as Manager Pandey once said, is a “tough nut to crack for sociological criticism .” Even great literary sociologists tend to avoid it because the meeting point of sociology and poetry often leaves both a little bruised. Yet, the poetry of Dinesh Kushwaha , a Hindi poet, invites precisely such an encounter. His poems are not abstractions or riddles of language—they breathe the life of ordinary people, their hopes, disappointments, labour, and longing for dignity.

By Harsh Thakor*  The autobiography of Bob Avakian, founder of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) in the United States, stands as a significant document of radical thought and political engagement. Despite its importance, “From Ike to Mao and Beyond” has remained largely overlooked by the mainstream press and public libraries. The book chronicles Avakian’s evolution from a middle-class youth in Berkeley to a revolutionary communist leader who has spent decades articulating and defending his ideological convictions.

Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ*  On the late evening of 8 October 2020, Fr. Stan Swamy was summoned from ‘Bagaicha’ in Ranchi — the social centre he founded in 2006 and where he lived — by officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He was detained overnight and flown to Mumbai the next morning, where he was unceremoniously lodged in Taloja Jail. His arrest followed months of raids, interrogations, intimidation, and harassment. The treatment he received in jail was even harsher. The frail, ailing 84-year-old Jesuit priest was first denied a straw sipper he needed due to Parkinson’s disease, and then deprived of proper medical care. When finally admitted to Holy Family Hospital in Bandra, it was too late. He died on 5 July 2021. His death, widely regarded as an institutional murder, symbolised the cruelty of an unjust system.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The recent attempt to assault the Chief Justice of India inside his courtroom has shocked the nation. That anything can happen today in the name of “Sanatan” is no longer surprising—but it is deeply alarming. This incident cannot be seen as an isolated one. While the Supreme Court has not pressed charges against the lawyer involved, the matter is far from simple. The normalization of hate has become the most powerful and lethal weapon in the hands of these hate mongers.

By Ishwar Das Khajuria*   The recent statements by the heads of the armed forces of two neighboring countries, warning each other of potential consequences, are deeply unfortunate—especially in this era of growing interdependence among nations.

By A Representative   The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has strongly condemned what it described as the “regressive, defamatory and unconstitutional” remarks made by Delhi University Vice Chancellor Prof. Yogesh Singh in a speech delivered on September 28, 2025. The address, titled “Naxal Mukt Bharat: Ending Red Terror Under Modi’s Leadership — Why Campuses Are Targets?”, was given to university teachers and students, and later circulated via email and social media.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  The Receipt Budget (2025–2026), published by the Budget Division of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, reveals the scale and structure of India’s debt. As of 31 March 2025, the internal debt and other liabilities of the Government of India amount to ₹175,55,988.60 crore, which is estimated to rise to ₹190,14,852.01 crore by 31 March 2026.

By N.S. Venkataraman*   When U.S. President Trump announced a 50% tariff on many goods exported from India, followed by an increase to 100% on branded drugs, heavy trucks, and furniture, concerns arose in India about the impact on exports. It became evident that Indian exports to the U.S. could decline substantially, raising questions about how India might respond. The general consensus that followed was that India should reduce its dependence on exports and strengthen domestic consumption of goods produced within the country.

By Harsh Thakor*  Konstantin Rokossovsky is often considered the least known of the three major Soviet generals to emerge from the German-Soviet war, alongside Georgy Zhukov and Ivan Konev. He embodied a complex identity, being viewed as Polish by Russian nationalists and as a Soviet figure by Polish nationalists. Ultimately, his loyalty was directed more toward the Soviet state and Joseph Stalin than to any single nationality.

By Martin Macwan*  Sonam Wangchuk represents India’s progressive civil society. To brand him as “anti-national” is not just an insult to one individual—it is an affront to the entire civil society of this country. I strongly condemn his arrest under the National Security Act (NSA). The government must make public the reasons why Sonam Wangchuk has been labeled anti-national, so that the citizens of India may understand what, in today’s times, truly defines a “nationalist citizen.” In the cold desert of Ladakh, where 97 percent of the population is tribal, it was Sonam Wangchuk and his team who, within a short span of ten years, raised the school pass rate of tenth-grade students from 5 percent to 75 percent. At an altitude of 10,500 feet, in the most difficult mountainous terrains, he used innovative technology—without cables or complex infrastructure—to connect Ladakhi tribal students through the internet to the global world of education. It was Sonam Wangchuk who, in sub-zero tem...