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.

By Vikas Meshram The implementation of government schemes in rural areas is often hindered by technical shortcomings and administrative complexities. Ambitious programmes like the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aim to deliver clean drinking water to every household, frequently get stuck in paperwork and procedural delays. However, when villagers become aware of their rights and responsibilities, they often find solutions through collective initiative. Bijlpur, a tribal-dominated village in Rajasthan’s Banswara district, stands as an example of such public awareness and determination.

By A  Representative  On World Fisheries Day 2025 , the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People ( SANDRP ) released a damning compilation of reports that spotlight the devastating toll of dams and river obstruction projects on India’s freshwater fish species and the millions of fisherfolk who depend on them for survival. According to the network, the damming of free-flowing rivers has emerged as the single largest driver of aquatic biodiversity collapse in the country, chiefly by blocking ancient fish migration routes that many species need to spawn and survive.

By A Representative   A detailed communication addressed to senior officials in the Karnataka government and the Union Ministries of Power and New and Renewable Energy has warned that the state is entering a phase of structural power imbalance in which annual energy surplus coexists with rising peak-time shortages. 

By Raqif Makhdoomi*  The political landscape in Jammu & Kashmir has shifted markedly since the Budgam by-election was announced. With Aga Muntazir Mehdi now elected as the MLA from Budgam, celebrations continue at his residence as people congratulate him on what many describe as an exceptional victory. He will represent Budgam for the next four years, and his performance during this term will determine his future in the constituency.

By Nava Thakuria  The third edition of the Pragjyotishpur Literature Festival (PLF) 2025 concluded on 16 November with two Assamese writers being felicitated at the valedictory function held at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati. PLF president Phanindra Kumar Dev Choudhury, chief guest Dr Apurba Kumar Saikia and a large gathering of authors, critics, journalists and literature enthusiasts were present. The annual festival, which began on 14 November, set out on a literary exploration with the mission of reconnecting Assam’s younger generation with the region’s rich literary heritage.

By Bharat Dogra*  About a year ago, in late 2024, when a small team of development activists began visiting several villages in the Bamaur block of Jhansi district in Uttar Pradesh to establish their first contacts, they quickly realized they were entering an area burdened by harsh environmental conditions and long-standing anxieties. Local well-wishers advised them to be cautious, warning of the region’s history of criminal activity and the occasional presence of dacoits crossing over from nearby border areas. 

By ​Bharat Dogra  ​As big agro-business interests have often faced criticism for not giving adequate attention to the social and ecological concerns of India’s villages, can we, as an alternative, create models of small businesses that are very closely aligned with protecting the environment and the livelihoods of small farmers? ​

By Syed Ali Mujtaba  The 2025 Bihar election generated expectations among supporters of the Grand Alliance that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, after nearly two decades in office, might face an electoral setback. Some observers also anticipated a shift in national political trends or a decline in the Lok Janshakti Party, led by Chirag Paswan. The results, however, surprised those who expected a change in the state’s leadership and prompted renewed debate about electoral processes in India. The election was framed by competing narratives: calls for political change versus support for continuity. 

By A Representative   The Forum for Electoral Integrity has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to immediately pause the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2.0 of electoral rolls, warning that the exercise is generating widespread distress and may result in unlawful exclusion of valid voters. In a memorandum dated November 20, 2025, addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, M.G. Devasahayam, Convener of the Forum for Electoral Integrity and Coordinator of the Citizens’ Commission on Elections, called the process legally unsound, administratively disruptive, and constitutionally problematic.

By Subin Dennis  Zohran Mamdani, who describes himself as a “democratic socialist”, has won the New York City mayoral elections. He is a vocal critic of billionaires, ran on a plank to make the city affordable to the working people, and took a firm pro-Palestine stand in a country whose government is the staunchest supporter of the genocidal Zionist state. His campaign overcame the challenges posed by the propaganda fuelled by billionaires and the Zionist lobby . This, therefore, is a moment for cautious optimism. Why optimism? Optimism, because of the reasons stated above, and because such victories and campaigns (the other most notable campaign in the recent decades being the presidential campaigns of Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020) have helped make the term "socialism" less taboo in the US, a society where scaremongering about socialism and communism has been widespread, and where those suspected of communist sympathies have been witch-hunted. This, along with a campaign...

By Aravind Kumar*  As Nepal prepares for its March 2026 elections , India ’s core interests remain unchanged: a stable, democratic, and cooperative neighbour. For decades, New Delhi has pursued a neighbour-first policy grounded in open borders, development cooperation, shared culture, and mutual security. In this context, the rapid rise of Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah as a potential prime ministerial contender presents both opportunities and risks. His popularity among urban youth and his assertive political style have made him a prominent figure in Nepal’s political landscape, but his unpredictability and his openly confrontational posture toward India introduce strategic uncertainties.

By Cade Dunbar   On Friday, 17 October 2025, the UN Development Programme released the 2025 edition of its Multidimensional Poverty Index Report . For the first time, the report directly evaluates their multidimensional poverty data against climate hazards, exposing the extent to which the world’s poor are threatened by the environmental crisis. According to the UNDP, approximately 887 million out of the 1.1 billion people living in multidimensional poverty are exposed to climate hazards such as extreme heat, flooding, drought, and air pollution.

By Ibrahim Khalil Ahasan*  On November 17, 2025, Beijing hosted the Fourth China–Germany High-Level Financial Dialogue, co-chaired by China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng and Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil. The meeting took place amid persistent trade frictions, supply-chain challenges, and geopolitical uncertainty, creating a context in which both countries are seeking clearer economic coordination.

By Guillermo Barreto   This year marks the 222nd anniversary of the Battle of Vertières. It took place on November 18 south of Le Cap, in what was then known as Saint Domingue. In that battle, which lasted five hours, Napoleon Bonaparte's elite troops were defeated by battalions of former slaves led by Jean Jacques Dessalines, who consolidated the independence of what would henceforth be called Ayti or Haiti.

By Bharat Dogra   Adopting climate-resilient farming is often portrayed as a difficult or burdensome task. Yet Saroj Kushwaha, a small farmer from Pathari village in Tikamgarh district, Madhya Pradesh, is practising it with remarkable enthusiasm and creativity. She has reduced the use of fossil-fuel-based inputs, planted numerous trees, improved soil health and diversified her crops. In doing so, she has adapted well to the uncertainties of climate change while also increasing her net income. All this has been achieved on a small landholding, alongside improvements in family nutrition, health and the ability to support the college education of both her daughter and daughter-in-law.

By Ram Puniyani*  As the RSS marks 100 years of its existence, a relatively new and little-known development has emerged: reports that the organisation engaged a lobbying firm in the United States. Several YouTube channels and media platforms have pointed out that the firm hired for this purpose is the same one that also lobbies for Pakistan . This recalls an earlier instance from 2007, when Narendra Modi , then chief minister of Gujarat, hired the Washington-based firm APCO Worldwide to promote his image ahead of the Assembly elections. 

By A Representative   The Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch (AARM) has criticised a Supreme Court judgment that permits post-facto environmental clearances for projects begun without prior approval, calling the decision a major setback for environmental safeguards and Adivasi rights.

By A Representative   The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), a collective of several rights-based organisations, has issued a statement condemning the State Investigation Agency’s (SIA) raid on the Kashmir Times office and the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against its Managing Editor, Anuradha Bhasin.

By Harsh Thakor*  Madvi Hidma ’s killing in an encounter in the Maredmilli forests along the Chhattisgarh–Andhra Pradesh border recently marks a significant moment for the  CPI (Maoist). His wife, Rajakka, and four others were also killed. Hidma, long considered one of the organisation’s most influential field commanders, had been associated with the insurgency in Bastar for nearly three decades. He was one of the few tribal cadres to rise from a child recruit to the upper decision-making levels of the banned Maoist party.

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  The sentencing of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death has once again exposed the deep politicization of Bangladesh’s judicial institutions. The International Crimes Tribunal-Bangladesh (ICT-BD), in indicting Hasina for directing a violent crackdown on student protests in the summer of 2024, relied heavily on a recorded conversation that investigators deemed authentic and that allegedly showed her authorizing excessive force, including the use of helicopters, drones, and live ammunition on unarmed protesters. 

By Dr. Mohammad Asaduzzaman*  Indian media outlets began reporting on 10 November that the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) may be seeking to use Bangladeshi territory to conduct attacks in India. These reports emerged soon after the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack near the Red Fort in Delhi , which killed at least 13 people and injured more than 20. Indian authorities have described the incident as a terror attack and detained at least nine Indian nationals for suspected involvement. While there has been no official attribution from the Indian government, several Indian media reports have linked the attack to either the LeT or the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), another Pakistan-based armed group.

By Bharat Dogra  Kudri village in Jhansi district, Uttar Pradesh, lies close to the Betwa river, yet in recent years it has faced an acute water crisis. Its higher elevation and the impact of relentless sand mining in the river and other water channels have contributed to worsening scarcity. In this already rocky terrain, the situation has become increasingly precarious.

By Rajiv Shah*    I usually avoid being interviewed. I have always believed that journalists, especially in India, are generalists who may suddenly be assigned a “beat” they know little—sometimes nothing—about. Still, when my friend Gagan Sethi , a well-known human rights activist, phoned a few weeks ago asking if I would join a podcast on civil society and the media, I agreed. Out of ignorance, I assumed a podcast was simply a live audio broadcast. I didn’t bother dressing up. But when I reached the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Gagan’s office, I discovered it was going to be a full-fledged video discussion—Gagan on one side, top rights leader Minar Pimple on the other, and me in between. I had been given a questionnaire and had prepared my responses, but I did not realise the format would involve both of them posing thoughtful, probing questions. The set-up was fully professional. My phone was kept outside, and the recording was handled by a team from Drishti , a video ...

By A Representative   A nationwide campaign titled “Together for Tranquillity” has been launched to bring activists, organisations, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ communities, Tribals, Dalits, and grassroots networks across India onto a single platform committed to peace, equality, and collective action. The initiative aims to build a support and vigilance network working toward a world free of violence, hatred, and conflict, while strengthening efforts to safeguard the planet.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  As the United States adopts broad tariff measures to protect its economic position and influence in global markets, China has introduced a zero-tariff policy for fifty-three African countries in an effort to expand trade, share skills, and support economic cooperation. In contrast, the United States continues to frame its commercial engagement with Africa through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

By Harsh Thakor*  While condemning the liquidators and examining the CPI(Maoist), it is necessary to objectively identify the major aberrations that have shaped the trajectory of the Maoist movement in India.

By Bharat Dogra   With COP30 underway, I travelled through parts of Bundelkhand to understand how India’s small farmers—who make up the overwhelming majority of cultivators—are coping with the stresses of climate change. I wanted to meet those who are increasingly vulnerable as well as those who have begun adapting, and to understand both adaptation and mitigation efforts on the ground.

By Sumeet Agarwal  South Asia stands at the frontline of the global heat crisis, with climate change driving longer, more frequent, and more intense heatwaves across the region. The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report identifies South Asia as among the world’s most heat-vulnerable zones, and India’s escalating urban heat stress is a stark reflection of that reality. The summer of 2024 was among the hottest on record, with Delhi breaching 46°C and the Indo-Gangetic Plain sweltering under prolonged heatwave conditions. Yet even these record temperatures tell only part of the story; in Indian cities the burden of heat is highly uneven. 

By Aditya Verghese  The recent devastation caused by Cyclone Montha —87,000 hectares of cropland submerged, along with collapsed bridges, culverts, and roads across Andhra Pradesh —has once again underscored the mounting threat of climate-related disasters. Similar scenes unfolded in Jamaica , where Hurricane Melissa displaced thousands and damaged critical infrastructure, and across Southeast Asia , where typhoons Kalmaegi and Bualoi left hundreds dead and thousands homeless. These events form a sobering pattern: climate-driven extreme weather will continue to intensify, disproportionately impacting those already living on the margins.

By Manu Shrivastava  As the sun dips low over the Mandovi River, casting a golden hue on Panjim’s colonial facades, the city’s arteries pulse with the rhythm of stardust already descending on Goa. The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) began earlier this week and continues until November 28, drawing more than 7,500 delegates to the Goan capital. Preparations across Panaji now surge into full view, blending meticulous logistics with bursts of cultural fervour. From festooned streets to fortified venues, Panaji is no longer just a quaint riverside town — it is a global stage alive with cinematic energy.

By Medha Patkar*  In Gora village of the Narmada Valley, the death of three young Adivasi labourers during the construction of a ghat is a grave and tragic incident. Along with this incident, irregularities in tourism activities centered around the ‘Statue of Unity’ and in religious works have also come to light. When local Adivasi leaders, activists and a few concerned citizens raised their voices, officials who initially refused even ₹5 lakh compensation finally agreed to ₹50 lakh, and then actually provided ₹20 lakh with a written promise of the remainder. But no amount of money can bring back a life, and those suffering today fear that Adivasi communities will face even greater deprivation in the future. They are shocked by this reality.

By A Representative   Tata Sons and the New York Academy of Sciences have announced the three winners of the 2025 Tata Transformation Prize , recognising Indian scientists whose breakthrough work promises major advances in food security , sustainability and healthcare. The prize, established to support high-risk, high-reward research that can improve quality of life, selected its winners from 212 nominations received across 27 states. Each scientist will receive INR 2 crore to further develop and scale their innovations. The award ceremony will be held in Mumbai in December 2025. Padubidri V. Shivaprasad of the National Centre for Biological Sciences won in the Food Security category for pioneering epigenetic engineering and small RNA–based modifications in rice . His research enhances stress tolerance and nutritional value while reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides, offering a potential boost to productivity and resilience as India prepares to feed an ...

By A Representative   More than 120 children were rescued from a mushroom processing unit in Raipur in a joint operation carried out by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Women and Child Development Department, the police and the Association for Voluntary Action (AVA). 

By A Representative  The Asian Development Bank has released a major policy report,  'Bridging Climate and Biodiversity Law: Coherent, Rights-Based Governance in Asia and the Pacific', warning that Asia and the Pacific, including India , face deepening climate and biodiversity crises unless countries urgently integrate their legal frameworks to deliver on both the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework .  Published this month, the document highlights that the region is warming faster than the global average, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise without peaking, and extinction rates are accelerating, while fossil fuel subsidies reached a staggering 1.3 trillion dollars in 2022 alone.

By Harasankar Adhikari  In India, political parties are both the architects and adversaries of democracy. Since independence, governance has been dominated by ruling parties, while the voices of ordinary citizens have been drowned out by partisan agendas. Every party pursues its own power games, often at the expense of democratic ideals.  

By N.S. Venkataraman*  I am 80 years old, and one of the unfortunate residents of 4th Cross Street in Besant Nagar, Chennai. 4th Cross Street is a small stretch with five building blocks, of which three have been demolished and are now unoccupied. I have counted 11 stray dogs on this short street, with two additional pups seen in the last few days. In effect, the number of stray dogs nearly matches the number of residents.

By Harsh Thakor*  Nikolai Ostrovsky was a Soviet author and political activist best known for his novel How the Steel Was Tempered , published between 1932 and 1934. His life reflected continuous struggle and resilience, echoing the experiences of the protagonists in his works.

By Harsh Thakor*  Kamini Kaushal, one of the earliest and most enduring figures of Hindi cinema, has passed away at the age of 98. Born on February 24, 1927, she would have turned 99 next year. Her career spanned more than seven decades, beginning in the mid-1940s and extending well into contemporary Indian cinema.

By Arsalan Ahad Reshi    Chilly winds blow through the offices of the National Conference after the loss of their bastion. They appear unable to understand what went wrong, but the people know. Ego and the mishandling of Aga Ruhullah Mehdi did it all. Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister, still refuses to show humility. His interview soon after the results revealed his anger toward Ruhullah, but also his refusal to accept defeat. No one in the NC is willing to say, “Yes, we lost, and we accept our mistake.”  

By A Representative   A detailed representation sent to the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has raised strong objections to the consideration of the 2,000 MW Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project (PSP) proposed inside the Sharavathi Lion-Tailed Macaque (LTM) Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka. Dated November 14, 2025, the communication from power and climate policy analyst Shankar Sharma argues that the project continues to move forward despite what he describes as “massive opposition,” serious procedural lapses, and extensive evidence of potential ecological damage.

By Dr Palla Trinadha Rao  Reserving Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) seats for non-tribals in the Scheduled Areas of Telangana violates the spirit of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution and runs contrary to the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA). PESA was enacted to guarantee self-governance and political empowerment of STs in constitutionally protected areas. Yet, the present reservation pattern notified for local body elections in Telangana undermines this constitutional mandate.