By A Representative   During the 2025 southwest monsoon , the Yamuna experienced one low, one medium, and one high flood spell in its upper segment, leading to a temporary but noticeable improvement in water quality along the Delhi stretch. According to a detailed analysis by the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) , the river received substantial flows for nearly six weeks—from the last week of July to the first week of September—owing to heavy rainfall in its catchment areas.

By A Representative   ArcelorMittal is facing mounting criticism after cancelling or delaying nearly all of its major green steel projects across Europe, citing an “unsupportive policy environment” from the European Union . The company has shelved projects in Germany , Belgium , and France , while leaving the future of its Spanish decarbonisation plan uncertain. The decision comes as global unions warn that more than 5,500 jobs are at risk across its operations, including 4,000 in South Africa , 1,400 in Europe, and 160 in Canada .

By A Representative   Two new investigations into Johnson & Johnson’s (J & J) history have raised serious questions about the company’s ethics, its approach to product safety, and the failures of regulatory systems in both the United States and India. Writing in Himal Southasian , journalist Disha Shetty reports that the two books — The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson: Inside the Global Pharma Giant’s Scandals by New York Times reporter Gardiner Harris , and The Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global Giant by Indian Express journalist Kaunain Sheriff M — together paint a picture of a multinational corporation that repeatedly placed profits above patient safety while exploiting gaps in regulation and accountability.

By Bharat Dogra    The world today faces a convergence of crises—wars that could turn catastrophic, environmental collapse , proliferation of hazardous technologies , deepening inequalities and humanitarian disasters of staggering scale. The sheer number and gravity of these dangers are no longer in doubt. What remains woefully inadequate is the collective imagination to chart a path out of this morass. The global discourse has done much to diagnose what is wrong, but too little to propose how to put things right. Humanity cannot afford to remain trapped in old paradigms and reactive criticism; it must now discover genuinely new pathways to survival and renewal.

By Harsh Thakor*  The Chinese revolution under Mao Zedong influenced the course of the Pan-African struggle by offering a non-Western interpretation of Marxism that emphasized local conditions and historical circumstances. Maoism was perceived by several African and African-American leaders as an alternative framework to European socialist thought, challenging the notion that socialism must develop in fixed stages or only under certain conditions.

By Martin Macwan*  What is the “ Supreme Court ” of India, and who is Justice Bhushan Gavai ? Many may not know. But even in the remotest village, Dalits know that someone from among “us” — a person of great stature — has been insulted by being struck with a shoe. The sense of humiliation resonates deeply, for in India, caste and insult are wounds that Dalits still live with every day. An insult cuts deep. In the Supreme Court itself, a lawyer hurled a shoe at Justice Gavai, and just a few hours later, the government returned that very shoe to him so that he could wear it home.

By Harsh Thakor*  On October 20, 2025, Indian cinema bid farewell to Govardhan Asrani — fondly known simply as Asrani — the timeless face of laughter and one of Bollywood ’s most beloved comic icons. He passed away in Mumbai at the age of 84 following prolonged respiratory complications. His passing marks the end of a golden era in Hindi film comedy . Fans, colleagues, and generations of film lovers mourned the loss of a man whose expressive eyes, distinctive glasses, and inimitable timing made millions smile across decades.

By Vikas Meshram   According to the National Labour Force Survey (2023–24), women constitute more than 42 percent of India’s agricultural workforce , and in rural areas, nearly two-thirds of women are directly engaged in farming. These figures reflect not only their economic role but also the emotional and social responsibilities they shoulder within rural India.

By Bharat Dogra   In some developed countries that boast of high-productivity agriculture and surplus food for export, this success has come at three heavy costs. Small farmers have been increasingly pushed out as big business interests take over; soil and environmental protection have been neglected; and excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has led to growing health concerns about the food produced. So serious are these concerns that even poorer nations facing food shortages have often hesitated to import such food.

By A Representative   A new multinational study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2025) has found a clear and consistent link between food marketing and unhealthy dietary choices among children and adolescents. Conducted across six countries — Canada , Australia , Chile , Mexico , the United Kingdom , and the United States — the study analyzed data from 9,057 participants aged 10 to 17. It revealed that children frequently exposed to advertisements for fast food , sugary drinks , cereals , snacks , and desserts were substantially more likely to have consumed those same foods the previous day.

By Raqif Makhdoomi    As the Government of Jammu and Kashmir completes its first year in office, the political atmosphere ahead of the Budgam by-elections appears tense and uncertain. These elections, the first after a five-year gap since the abrogation of Article 370 and the region’s transition into a Union Territory , were initially seen as a step toward restoring democratic representation for people who had long been without local governance. For many, voting was both an assertion of political rights and an expression of discontent with the changes of August 5, 2019 .

By N.S. Venkataraman*  Debates on the most effective form of governance have persisted across the world, with systems such as communism , dictatorship , military rule , feudalism , and democracy all finding supporters. Yet, there is broad agreement among scholars and policymakers that democracy remains the most suitable form, as it upholds the human desire for freedom of thought and action. At the same time, it is acknowledged that freedom in a democracy must operate within limits; liberty is a social contract that requires balancing individual interests with collective welfare.

By Bhaskaran Raman   Five years ago, around this time of year, the world had come to a halt under lockdowns—apparently to contain a novel and dangerous virus. However, the virus was not dangerous to most of the population, as it was not designed to be lethal. Who designed it, and why? 

By Bhavya Raj  From the once-in-a-millennium voice of Lata Mangeshkar to the youthful brilliance of Zubeen Garg , from the sacred resonance of Padma Vibhushan Sharda Sinha to the soulful renditions of S.P. Balasubrahmanyam , Bappi Lahiri , Vani Jairam , and KK —India has lost not just singers, but sacred echoes of its cultural soul. These voices transcended language and geography, becoming the emotional architecture of a billion lives.

By A Representative   New Delhi, October 22, 2025 — An analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Gujarat Election Watch of the self-sworn affidavits of all 26 ministers in Gujarat ’s reconstituted cabinet, announced on October 17, has revealed that a majority are wealthy and a few face criminal cases. The study, based on affidavits filed before the 2022 state assembly elections and subsequent bypolls, shows that 23 ministers (88%) are crorepatis, with average declared assets of ₹11.12 crore.

By A Representative   A recent appearance by New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli alongside Indian religious preacher Devkinandan Thakur has sparked criticism among sections of the Indian American community. Thakur, who has been accused of making inflammatory remarks against India’s religious minorities, appeared with Ciattarelli at a public event in New Jersey in late August.

By A Representative   The Campaign Against State Repression ( CASR ) has issued a statement expressing concern over the ongoing hunger strike by Dunna Keshava Rao , also known as Azad , a surrendered leader of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), who has been on strike for seven days at the Jharpada High Security Prison in Bhubaneswar .

By Rajiv Shah  As the world prepares for COP30 in Belém , a new global report has raised serious alarms about the continued expansion of coal-based industries, particularly in India and China. The 2025 Global Coal Exit List  (GCEL), released by Germany-based NGO Urgewald and 48 partners, reveals a worrying rise in coal-to-chemical projects and captive power plants despite mounting evidence of climate risks and tightening international finance restrictions.

By Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargava  This long-pending essay on whether academicians should be changemakers and/or activists finally sees the light of day after a call on World Teachers’ Day (October 5) from my Urban Design teacher (1997–99). While congratulating me for my sustained motivation and dedication toward water issues, he also remarked that had my approach not been so “activist-like,” I might have found a more secure position and made a deeper impact in academia. 

By A Representative    The South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) has said that water releases from the Ichari and Vyasi dams in Uttarakhand may have aggravated the flood situation in the Yamuna River during the 2025 southwest monsoon , when the river witnessed three flood spells in just two weeks between August 17 and September 1. The group’s analysis of official data shows that in several instances, the dam authorities released more water than was flowing into the reservoirs, thereby increasing the flood volume downstream.

By Harsh Thakor*  “ Let’s Call Him Vasu ” by Subhanshu Choudhary offers an illustrative and informative account of the Maoist movement in Bastar , presenting vivid depictions of life, struggle, and conflict in the region. However, while it succeeds in portraying the lived realities of those affected by the conflict, it falls short of offering a comprehensive or analytical understanding of the Maoist movement itself.

By A Representative   The Samerth Charitable Trust , a non-profit organization with more than three decades of service, has released its Annual Report for 2024–2025 , outlining a year of strategic growth and deepened community impact. Guided by a Results-Based Management framework , the organization expanded its reach in education, water conservation, natural resource management, and livelihood enhancement, transforming lives across Gujarat and Chhattisgarh .

By Rajiv Shah  A few days ago, I attended a press conference for the release of a study examining the impact of automation on women workers in Ahmedabad’s construction sector. Conducted by Geeta Thatra and Saloni Mundra for Aajeevika Bureau and Work Fair and Free , the study immediately caught my attention—particularly a passing reference in the presentation to how Marxist theory tends to reduce women’s oppression to class relations and economic structures such as private property, production, and wage labour.

By A Representative   In the Detroj Taluka of Ahmedabad district , a group of tribal construction workers from Gujarat's Mahisagar district and Rajasthan are struggling to recover their unpaid wages after weeks of labouring at a warehouse construction site of a prominent manufacturer of polypropylene composite materials and alloys , used in the automotive and other industries . The workers, including both men and women, were engaged through a contracted and subcontracted arrangement.

By Raqif Makhdoomi   The Indian National Congress , one of the oldest political parties in the country, played a historic role in India’s freedom movement and post-Independence governance. In Jammu and Kashmir , too, it has had a long and complex political history marked by both cooperation and confrontation with regional parties.

By Biljana Vankovska  The announcement of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado has sparked a wave of critical reactions. Many observers have questioned the decision, arguing that it reflects broader political considerations rather than a commitment to peace in the spirit of Alfred Nobel ’s original vision.

By Harsh Thakor*  Dmitry Fyodorovich Pirozhkov , a longtime member of the Proletarskaya Gazeta editorial board and occasional editor-in-chief, passed away on June 19th at the age of 79. He was known for distributing the newspaper at a public spot near Gostiny Dvor on Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg.

By Syed Ali Mujtaba*  The central question being debated among Muslims in Bihar is who they should vote for in the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled for November 6 and 11, 2025. This time, they have several options: the Mahagathbandhan comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress , and others; Asaduddin Owaisi ’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) as part of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA); Prashant Kishore ’s Jan Suraaj Party ; and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ’s Janata Dal (United) [JDU].

By A Representative   The Coalition for a GM-Free India has welcomed the Rajasthan High Court order that restrains the grant of permission for sale, manufacture, distribution, or import of any genetically modified (GM) foodstuffs or edible items in India until statutory regulations are framed under Section 22 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 . The court further directed that no import of any foodstuff, edible item, or packaged food be permitted unless certified and labelled as GM-free by the exporting country.

By Harsh Thakor*  It is necessary to recall the grassroots heroes who have contributed immensely to people’s struggles and quietly shaped the history of resistance in India. One such inspiring figure happens to be Dwaimati Hantal , a senior member of the Malkangiri Zilla Adivasi Sangh (MZAS) and a member of a small Left group, going by the name of Centre of Communist Revolutionaries of India. She passed away on January 16, 2025, at the age of 60, after battling diabetes for five years.

By Nava Thakuria*  Even a month after the death of Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg in Singapore under mysterious circumstances, thousands of his fans and admirers across eastern India continue their campaign for “ JusticeForZubeenGarg .” A large digital campaign has gained momentum, with over two million social media users from around the world demanding legal action against those allegedly responsible. Although the Assam government has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has arrested seven people, and a judicial commission headed by Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati High Court to oversee the probe, public pressure for justice remains strong.

By N.S. Venkataraman*  The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has completed a century of existence. A study of its history, functioning, and stated objectives shows that it has been one of the most influential socio-cultural organizations in India.

Ram Manohar Lohia, Acharya Narendra Dev By Dr. Prem Singh*  Enough has been written about defining and explaining imperialism; what is needed now is to eliminate it from the world. India’s socialist movement, with its revolutionary ideology and praxis, has several original characteristics:

By A Representative   A new scientific study published in Scientific Reports outlines a comprehensive strategy for developing sustainable tourism in the Char Dham circuit of Uttarakhand—Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri—using advanced geospatial and socio-economic analysis. The research, conducted by Jagdish Chandra Kuniyal and colleagues from the Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali University of Horticulture and Forestry and the G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, stresses the urgent need for balancing religious tourism growth with environmental preservation in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

By Devidas Tuljapurkar*  In recent years, there has been a concerning trend of increasing foreign control over Indian banks. It began with Laxmi Vilas Bank , which was acquired by Singapore-based DBS Group (Development Bank of Singapore). This was followed by the acquisition of Catholic Syrian Bank by the Canadian firm Fairfax . More recently, Yes Bank has seen a growing stake being taken over by Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), and now reports suggest that RBL Bank (formerly Ratnakar Bank Limited) is likely to be acquired by the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) public sector lender, Emirates NBD (Emirates National Bank of Dubai).

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  The recent visit of Taliban-appointed Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India and the warm reception extended to him by the Modi government have raised questions about India’s foreign policy direction. The decision appears to lend legitimacy to the Taliban regime, which continues to suppress democratic aspirations in Afghanistan. 

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ*  The Mission (1986) is a British period drama that portrays the experiences of a Jesuit missionary in 18th-century South America . The film is complex, compelling, and spiritually resonant. It centres on the moral stand taken by Spanish Jesuits to protect the identity and autonomy of the Guarani , an Indigenous tribe facing exploitation under European colonial expansion . Set against the backdrop of imperial politics, the narrative explores the tensions between colonial power, the greed of pro-slavery settlers, and the pragmatic dilemmas confronting the Church and the Jesuits.

By Vijay Prashad   Slowly, a full picture of the devastation of Gaza by Israel is becoming clear. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) released a report around the time of the ceasefire that began to lay out the numbers: Israel’s bombardment of Gaza resulted in the total destruction of 190,115 buildings and the almost total destruction of another 330,500 housing units. The constant artillery and aerial fire over the 734 days of the genocide resulted in the wrecking of eighty-five percent of Gaza’s water and sewage system. Only one medical facility remained open in Gaza City at the time of the ceasefire, with ninety-four percent of hospitals and clinics destroyed or badly damaged. In fact, according to the PCBS, Gaza is currently unlivable. It is impossible to know the full extent of the physical and mental damage inflicted upon the Palestinian people of Gaza: the Ministry of Health has inadequate numbers for the dead and injured, and the trauma will only be kno...

By Harsh Thakor*  Seventy five years ago a most devastating Korean War broke out, which lasted from 1950 to 1953. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) was established in 1948 under Kim Il Sung , following the end of Japanese colonial rule in 1945. After Japan’s surrender in World War II , Korea was divided along the 38th parallel into two zones of occupation — Soviet-controlled in the north and U.S.-controlled in the south. This division, initially intended to be temporary, became permanent with the creation of two separate governments: the Republic of Korea in the south and the DPRK in the north.

By Jaime Bravo, Jorge Coulon    Dina Boluarte 's removal from office is not a victory for the people, but an internal readjustment of power. Congress did not obey the clamor of the streets, but rather the need to preserve a system that is crumbling from within. The fuse was changed so that the same machinery could continue to run: the pact between plutocracy , corruption, and fear.

By Syed Ali Mujtaba*  The Malayalam film "Haal" has come under scrutiny by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), not for vulgarity or violence, but for allegedly failing to align with the ideological framework of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

By Prof. Hemantkumar Shah*  The Right to Information Act (RTI), introduced by Manmohan Singh ’s government in 2005, was conceived to ensure that citizens in a democracy can access how the government functions at every level. The law aimed to bring transparency and accountability into governance. Each state was mandated to form its own Information Commission to hear citizen complaints and ensure information access. Unfortunately, the Gujarat Information Commission appears to have failed to perform this duty effectively or with due integrity. Several troubling aspects illustrate this decline.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*   Travel connects the traveler with the destination, giving meaning to both the journey and the path. When there is a disconnect between the traveler, the road, and the destination, the journey becomes directionless. In politics, the value of international travel lies in the tangible and intangible dividends it yields—economic partnerships, diplomatic alliances, cultural exchanges, and strategic cooperation. It is not the frequency of travel that matters, but the depth of engagement and the outcomes achieved. Meaningful travel contributes to national interests through collective memories, friendships, and shared values.

By Carlos Ron   On Friday, 10 October 2025, Venezuela’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada , delivered a serious and urgent warning during an emergency session of the Security Council , asserting that Venezuela’s peace and security —and that of the entire region— is under imminent threat of military aggression by the United States.

By Manolo De Los Santos   The mood in the Caribbean grows increasingly tense, as the United States intensifies its military threats. Beneath the deceptive shroud of the “war on drugs,” the United States is actively executing a blueprint for military intervention in Venezuela, employing lethal force and projecting power in a manner that legal institutions and regional leaders have condemned as a profound threat to international order. 

By A Representative   The Wildlife Wing of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department has announced the results of the second state-wide snow leopard population assessment, confirming a robust population of 83 snow leopards across the state’s high-altitude landscapes. Conducted by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the Wildlife Wing, with support from the Snow Leopard Trust (SLT) and Royal Enfield Social Mission , the survey was completed in just one year, making Himachal the only Indian state to achieve a second state-wide assessment of this keystone species. Using the Snow Leopard Population Assessment of India (SPAI) protocol, aligned with the Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP), the survey employed large-scale camera trapping across six representative sites spanning 26,000 km² of snow leopard habitat. It detected 44 unique adult snow leopards, consistent with the 2021 assessment, captured in 262 photographs, leading to an estimated popul...