By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Congress party’s internal developments have now become national news, with Karnataka emerging as a major challenge for the party high command. While Siddaramaiah has been regarded as an effective chief minister, it is also widely acknowledged that he returned to the position on the organisational groundwork laid by D. K. Shivakumar, who was assured the chief ministership after two and a half years. 

By Aditya Krishna Deora*  A new film titled “The Taj Story”—produced by CA Suresh Jha, written by Saurabh Pandey and Tushar Goel, and starring Paresh Rawal—has recently ignited controversy across India. Marketed as a “truth-telling” exploration of the Taj Mahal’s “hidden past,” the film claims that India’s most iconic monument is not a Mughal creation but an ancient Hindu temple—Tejo Mahalay. The film’s premise, directly derived from P. N. Oak’s long-debunked theory, attempts to reframe history through a lens of civilizational conflict, presenting Mughal India as a period of Hindu dispossession.

By A Representative  The National Alliance for Justice, Accountability & Rights (NAJAR), an initiative of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), concluded a three-day national conclave in Dharwad, Karnataka, held from November 22 to 24, 2025. The gathering brought together legal professionals, senior advocates, activists, researchers, social movement representatives and law students from across the country to discuss the current democratic landscape and collective legal strategies.

By A Representative  A broad coalition of organisations and prominent individuals has issued a strong statement opposing the proposed privatization of India’s nuclear energy sector, condemning the tabling of the Atomic Energy Bill, 2025 and reported amendments to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, which they allege are aimed at attracting private investment into nuclear operations.

By A Representative   Thousands of citizens across India on Saturday, 29 November, simultaneously posted letter petitions to the Supreme Court, urging a stay, recall and reconsideration of its 07 November 2025 order directing the removal of community dogs from institutional areas.

By A Representative   The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat has submitted a formal representation to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Gujarat, Harit Shukla (IAS), highlighting serious irregularities and difficulties faced by voters in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the electoral roll. The organisation warned that if corrective measures are not taken urgently, a large number of eligible citizens may be deprived of their voting rights.

By Harsh Thakor*  The Revolutionary Students’ Front (RSF) held its 6th State Conference on November 24, 2025, at Vivekananda Hall in Jadavpur University. During the event, Kolkata was symbolically designated as Koteshwar Rao Nagar, Jadavpur University as Basavaraju Auditorium, and Vivekananda Hall as Hidma Stage. 

By Martin Macwan*  Perhaps never before in Gujarat’s history has the issue of alcohol become such a widely debated subject. Here are some key facts. Ahmedabad Police seizes one bottle of liquor every two minutes. In 2024, they confiscated 300,600 bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor worth ₹5.78 crore. Across Gujarat, 82 lakh bottles were seized, valued at ₹144 crore. No one—not even God—can estimate how many bottles of liquor were not caught.

By Bodapati Srujana   It is that time of year again when India’s national capital Delhi ’s air quality turned acutely hazardous. Official Indian air quality indicators hit their maximum adverse readings of 500, while indices based on international norms shoot past 1,000 or even 2,000 —a level that effectively turned the city into a gas chamber . The thick smog, loaded with toxic gases, seeps into every corner of the city, including inside people’s homes, with residents having nowhere safe to go.

By A Representative   The National Campaign Committee for Eradication of Bonded Labour (NCCEBL) in report released in Delhi has alleged serious lapses in the implementation of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 (BLSAA). Titled “Report on Migrant Bonded Labour in India,” the document claims that millions continue to work under bonded labour conditions despite the legal abolition of the system nearly five decades ago.

By Jubil Das, Sandeep Pandey  Since the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party , many secular and progressive individuals worry, before every election, about the division of secular votes. They urge secular parties to form alliances and field a single candidate against BJP or the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, this rarely materialises fully, and BJP eventually benefits from the split in votes among its opponents. Some opposition parties are even accused of indirectly helping BJP by contributing to this vote division.

By Hidayat Parmar*  There is a fundamental difference between correcting electoral rolls and reducing the number of voters. One strengthens democracy, while the other weakens it. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR), now in its second phase across 12 states after Bihar, is intended to update and verify the voter list to ensure accuracy. The process has begun in nine states and three Union Territories, including Gujarat, where nearly 510 million voters—about 50 million in Gujarat—are being verified. The review compares the 2002–2004 rolls with the proposed 2025 rolls, marking only the ninth such nation-wide revision since Independence.

By Harasankar Adhikari  India’s democratic framework is increasingly perceived as shifting toward a system in which the ruling party exercises substantial influence over state institutions and public life. Many government actions appear closely aligned with the interests and directives of party cadres, blurring the line between governance and political organization. Public opinion is often shaped, mediated, or refracted through the priorities of those in power. While the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, critics argue that this right is frequently constrained, distorted, or met with punitive responses. In such an environment, political power and governmental authority tend to be viewed as indistinguishable.

By Harsh Thakor*  November 29 marks the 50th death anniversary of Jauhar, also known as Subrata Datta , who was killed in a police operation in the Bhojpur region of Bihar in 1975. His death, along with five others, is considered an important moment in the history of the Naxalite movement in Bihar .

By A Representative   The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) has expressed full solidarity with the nationwide workers’ protests held on November 26, demanding withdrawal of the recently notified labour codes. In a public statement, the organisation termed the move as an attempt to impose “corporate rule” and called for the immediate repeal of the new labour laws.

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  Extreme weather events in India are increasing rapidly, and they are no longer mere seasonal fluctuations but a serious threat to life, livelihoods, and economic stability. Heatwaves, floods, cyclones, droughts, cloudbursts, lightning strikes, storm surges, and glacial lake outburst floods in the Himalayan region have reached record levels in the past decade. The rising frequency, duration, and intensity of these events clearly reflect the escalating impact of climate change.

By A Representative   In a fervent appeal to civil society and policymakers, power and climate policy analyst Shankar Sharma has urged a massive campaign to prioritize rooftop solar panels, small- to medium-sized wind turbines, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) across India, arguing that this combination could drastically reduce the nation's reliance on coal, gas, nuclear power, and large-scale hydroelectric dams while minimizing the costs and risks of expanding the national grid.

By Bharti Rawat*  Delhi’s air pollution has turned into a chronic public health emergency that affects everyone who steps outside to breathe. What was once dismissed as a seasonal inconvenience now resembles a slow, invisible disaster that cuts across age, class and occupation, steadily damaging bodies and shortening lives.

By Bharat Dogra   At a time when debates over affordability and urban poverty have re-energized working-class mobilization in the USA, the writings of the late Barbara Ehrenreich have acquired a chilling new relevance.

By Vijay Prashad    US President Donald Trump has authorised the USS Gerald R. Ford to enter the Caribbean. It now floats north of Puerto Rico, joining the USS Iwo Jima and other US navy assets to threaten Venezuela with an attack. Tensions are high in the Caribbean, with various theories floating about regarding the possibility of what seems to be an inevitable assault by the US and regarding the social catastrophe that such an attack will occasion. CARICOM , the regional body of the Caribbean countries, released a statement affirming its view that the region must be a “zone of peace” and that disputes must be resolved peacefully. Ten former heads of government from Caribbean states published a letter demanding that “our region must never become a pawn in the rivalries of others”.

By Ricardo Vaz   Multiple international airlines have suspended flights to and from Caracas amidst a heightened US military presence in the Caribbean, after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) a few days back. Iberia (Spain), TAP (Portugal), LATAM (Chile), Avianca (Colombia) and Turkish Airlines (Turkey) were among the companies to cancel upcoming flights connecting the Venezuelan capital to international destinations.

By Jag Jivan    Bharat Beej Swaraj Manch (BBSM), a nationwide network of Indian seed savers and farmers, has written to the Prime Minister of India seeking urgent intervention against proposed amendments to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), currently under negotiation at the 11th Session of the Governing Body in Lima, Peru , from November 24, 2025. The group has also issued an open letter to national leaders of the Global South , warning that the changes could cause grave harm to India’s national interests, seed sovereignty and farmers’ rights .

By Jag Jivan    A detailed independent study titled “Bhandura Nala (Mahadayi Diversion)”, prepared by a group of committed environmentalists from Karnataka and Goa , has strongly questioned the ecological and social viability of Karnataka government’s ambitious plan to divert water from the Mahadayi river basin (locally known as Mhadei in Goa ) through the Bhandura Nala tunnel project .

By Sunil Kumar*  The world today is battling the grave threat of climate change . If this crisis deepens further, it may endanger the very survival of humanity. Even imperial powers express concern—though largely to shift responsibility onto others. The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-30), held in Belém, Brazil from November 10–21, ended without concrete results, despite coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement . India strongly argued that developed nations should not expect developing countries to compensate for their own failures, since they are the historical and primary contributors to carbon emissions. This was precisely why countries like the United States chose not to participate.

By Vikas Meshram   The Indian Constitution stands as the living symbol of the world’s largest democracy. More than a legal document, it embodies the nation’s struggles, sacrifices, dreams, and collective aspirations. India’s freedom movement was not merely a quest to end colonial rule, but a battle for universal values—human dignity, equality, justice, and liberty. Therefore, when the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, it marked the beginning of a new democratic epoch. Constitution Day is not just a ceremonial occasion; it is a reminder to renew our commitment to constitutional values in everyday life.

By A Representative   The Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) has imposed a penalty of ₹5,000 on the Public Information Officer ( Talati-cum-Minister ) of Sarigam Gram Panchayat in Valsad district for denying information to an RTI applicant by misinterpreting an earlier order of the Commission.

By Harsh Thakor*  On November 24, the superstar of Bollywood , Dharmendra , passed away at the age of 89, after suffering from breathing complications. He has left an indelible mark on Hindi cinema — a legacy few actors have achieved. His departure has taken away an era. Personally, I felt like a son to him, always aspiring to emulate his personality. Though I never met him in person, he remained my heartthrob and role model. In my life, I often felt an unspoken connection — as if I were an extension of him.

By Raqif Makhdoomi  “Be a man. Men don’t cry. Face it like a man.” Phrases like these are often heard in families, workplaces, and public life. While they may appear harmless, they reflect deep-seated expectations that restrict men from expressing vulnerability or seeking emotional support. Many men internalise their problems rather than speak openly, fearing ridicule or judgement. In recent times, an increasing number of voices argue that men are being socially cornered and expected to remain silent simply because they are men.

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ*  On 26 November, the nation will once again observe Constitution Day. As always, there will be the usual barrage of speeches—ad nauseam—about “how important the Constitution is for all of us,” “why it must be safeguarded,” and claims that “India has the best Constitution in the world.” These, however, increasingly sound like empty and hypocritical platitudes from those in power—who simultaneously eulogise the Constitution while systematically undermining the rights, freedoms, and values it embodies.

By A Representative   What has been described as “Aadhaar evangelism” (efforts to convert other countries to the Aadhaar biometric identity model), five civil society organisations  — the Internet Freedom Foundation, the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI), Rethink Aadhaar, Bahutva Karnataka and the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha — have expressed concern that it is spreading across the world. UK Prime Minister’s recent description of Aadhaar as a “massive success” is a good indication, among others, that the international audience "is being misled", they said. 

By Bharat Dogra   India has a rich legacy of freedom fighters who were also exceptional social reformers. Among these, one of the most remarkable figures—though still not widely known at the national level—is Govind Guru, also known as Govindgiri. He emerged as an inspirational leader for Bhil tribal communities and several other marginalized groups of central India. The colonial rulers quickly recognized his ability to mobilize the masses against both colonial authority and feudal oppression, responding with ruthless repression that culminated in one of the biggest massacres perpetrated in India by colonial forces in the 20th century.

By Shamsul Islam*   The Constituent Assembly (CA) of India passed the Constitution on November 26, 1949, after almost three years of deliberation. This was an extraordinary contribution to the history of modern liberal democracies. Not only was it the lengthiest constitution in the world—reflecting the vast diversity of the polity it was meant to govern—but it also set out egalitarian, democratic and non-sectarian ideals rarely attempted before in the non-Western world.

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  The Constitution holds an important place in creating a transparent system because it provides a fundamental framework that defines and limits the functions of the government. This ensures accountability and helps prevent the abuse of power . The Constitution clearly defines the powers and functions of the different organs of the government—the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. It prevents the concentration and misuse of power, ensuring that all actions are carried out according to law.

By Renuka Kumari*   Madvi Hidma, a senior member of the banned CPI (Maoist) and former commander of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army’s Battalion 1, was reported killed in an encounter on 18 November 2025. CPI (Maoist) sources have described the incident as a “fake encounter,” while the government has maintained that it was the result of an intelligence-based operation. 

By A Representative   The Campaign Against State Repression ( CASR ), a coalition of student groups, civil liberties organisations and mass movements, issued a statement on Tuesday alleging unlawful detention, mistreatment and custodial violations involving 23 individuals who participated in a protest against air pollution at India Gate .

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Film star Dharmendra lived a remarkably full life. Unapologetically himself, he was known as a man with a generous heart who cherished people and often spoke of love as a guiding principle. His career began in the black-and-white era, where some of his earliest and most memorable performances captured the imagination of audiences across India. He openly idolised Dilip Kumar , whom he regarded as family, and never missed an opportunity to express his admiration for the legendary actor.

By Rajiv Shah    A few days ago, I met a veteran Gujarat-based economist, the author of several books offering a critical evaluation of the state’s economy, poverty, and gender discrimination . Also present was a retired Gujarat-cadre bureaucrat with an economics background, known for his popularity in the cities and districts where he served during his heyday.

By Jag Jivan    In a significant development, the Supreme Court’s Centre for Research and Planning (CRP) has released a comprehensive report examining 75 years of judicial discourse on caste , analysing Constitution Bench judgments from 1950 to 2025. The report, authored by Dr Anurag Bhaskar , Dr Farrah Ahmed , Bhimraj Muthu and Shubham Kumar , highlights how the court’s language has evolved—and at times faltered—in addressing caste , discrimination and affirmative action .

By Shamsul Islam  Dr Vikas Bajpai , Assistant Professor at the Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health , Jawaharlal Nehru University , recently posted a message to the WhatsApp group of students of the Centre which he had received from an old friend of Virender Dahiya , a trade union activist with the Indian Federation of Trade Unions .

By Hidayat Parmar*   The central government has announced four new labour codes: (1) the Wage Code, (2) the Industrial Relations Code, (3) the Social Security Code and (4) the Occupational Safety and Health Code. These reforms had been pending for several years. Nearly five years after Parliament passed them, the government has now notified their implementation. The four codes subsume 29 earlier labour laws into a single, consolidated framework. Despite consistent resistance from trade unions, the Modi government has pushed ahead with their rollout.

By A Representative   The All India Save Education Committee (AISEC) has strongly criticised the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill 2025, which the Union government is expected to table in the upcoming winter session of Parliament. In a statement issued by Prof. Tarun Kanti Naskar, General Secretary of AISEC, the organisation warned that the proposed legislation would severely compromise the autonomy of higher educational institutions across the country. According to the statement, the Bill seeks to merge the functions of three key statutory bodies—the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)—into a single overarching commission. Unlike the UGC, which has the authority to disburse funds to higher education institutions (HEIs), the new body would be limited to regulation, accreditation and setting professional standards. This, AISEC argues, would turn the Commission i...

By A Representative   The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in New Delhi has issued notices to the Secretary of the Water Supply Department in Gandhinagar , the Ahmedabad District Collector and the Municipal Commissioner of Ahmedabad, seeking an action-taken report within four weeks on allegations of human rights violations arising from a major outbreak of waterborne diseases in Behrampura , Danilimda ward of Ahmedabad city.

By Harsh Thakor*  On November 24th the cricket world celebrated the 70th birthday of Ian Botham, arguably the most impactful and best match-winner amongst all English cricketers. Witnessing Botham on a cricket field in every department put a spectator on the edge of his seat. Botham manipulated and commanded proceedings in the manner of a great Hollywood actor. He was the ultimate epitome of aggression on a cricket field.

By Vikas Meshram  Vijay Tendulkar (Kolhapur, 6 January 1928 – Pune, 19 May 2008) remains one of the most influential voices in modern Indian theatre—a playwright, writer, screenwriter and commentator whose work reshaped Marathi drama . Born into a literary household where his father Dhondopant Tendulkar was a writer, publisher and amateur actor, he absorbed the world of words early. The writings of D.B. Mokashi, V.V. Bokil, Anant Kanekar and Shivrampant Vashikar further nurtured his emerging artistic sensibility.

By Ravi Ranjan*  Leeladhar Mandloi’s memoir, Jab Se Aankh Khuli Hain (Since the Eyes Opened), transcends the conventional boundaries of autobiography, establishing itself not merely as a chronicle of an individual life but as a searing, aesthetically conscious social narrative of the marginalized experience in post-colonial India. The text is a profound testament to the truth of life lived on the periphery, where personal pain becomes inextricably linked with the collective anguish of a community perpetually battling caste prejudice, economic deprivation, and systemic violence.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  The Jeffrey Epstein scandal is not merely the story of an individual offender or an isolated circle of accomplices. The material emerging from the Epstein files points to structural conditions that allow abuse to flourish when combined with power, privilege and wealth. Rather than a personal aberration, the case illustrates how systems can create environments in which exploitation becomes easier to conceal and harder to challenge.

By N.S. Venkataraman*   Yet another global climate summit has concluded without any meaningful breakthrough. Like the 29 earlier Conferences of the Parties (COPs) held across the world, COP30 in Belém, Brazil, began with expectations of decisive action on the climate crisis but ended with only familiar declarations and no significant progress.

By Harasankar Adhikari   Human relationships are purposive connections between individuals, groups, or organizations. They differ according to biological, emotional, social, cultural, economic, and religious factors. These relationships create bonds among people and are generally classified as primary (family and relatives) or secondary (peers, friends, colleagues, and other temporary associations). Primary relationships often arise from blood ties, lineage, and other biological factors, while secondary relationships evolve through social, political, religious, and professional interactions.

By Sudhansu R Das   Recent developments in global conflicts have drawn attention to the role of major powers in facilitating temporary truces and negotiations. Many observers credit diplomatic interventions for short-term reductions in violence in regions such as Gaza, where the release of Israeli prisoners briefly eased tensions. Similar efforts have been discussed in relation to the conflict in Ukraine, where prolonged hostilities have had significant humanitarian, economic, and social consequences for both the region and the wider world.

By Harsh Thakor*  November 20 marked fifty years since the death of General Francisco Franco, whose four-decade dictatorship shaped modern Spain in profound ways. Half a century after the end of his rule, debates over his legacy continue to divide Spanish society, revealing how deeply authoritarian structures can persist long after a leader’s death. The anniversary underscores a significant historical lesson: authoritarianism does not disappear automatically; it must be challenged through sustained democratic and civic engagement.