From newsroom to nowhere: Human cost of contract jobs in journalism

By Jag Jivan

The death of , a long-serving employee of , has left the journalistic fraternity shaken. His suicide, reportedly by consuming sulphas tablets, was not just an isolated tragedy but a reflection of the silent struggles faced by countless .

For years, Awasthi had dedicated himself to the newsroom. Colleagues remember him as hardworking and committed, someone who carried the weight of deadlines and the responsibility of truth with quiet resilience. But behind the professional façade lay a man battling illness, depression, and the crushing reality of after being dismissed from his job.

His story is painfully familiar. Many journalists, despite decades of service, earn wages too low to sustain families with dignity. often pushes them into poverty, with little or no savings to fall back on. Without pensions, they become dependent on their children, stripped of independence in their later years.

The Delhi Union of Journalists () has pointed out how recent changes in have worsened the situation. Under the , retrenched employees were entitled to three months’ wages. have slashed this to just one month’s compensation. The rise of has further eroded job security, leaving journalists vulnerable to sudden unemployment.

Awasthi’s death is not just about one man’s despair. It is about a profession where insecurity has become the norm, where the absence of drives people to desperate measures. His passing is a reminder that behind every byline is a human being, often struggling to survive in a system that undervalues their work.

DUJ has demanded proper compensation for Awasthi’s family and urged governments to provide . More importantly, it has called upon journalists themselves to unite — to fight for better wages, an end to , and dignity in retirement.

Rajesh Awasthi’s story is a human tragedy, but it is also a call to action. His death should not fade into silence; it must spark a conversation about the urgent need for reform in the profession he served so faithfully.

Neville Cardus: The man who turned cricket writing into poetry

By Harsh Thakor* Neville Cardus was one of the most remarkable literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific English writer and critic, he achieved distinction in two vastly different fields: cricket and classical music. Entirely self-taught, Cardus rose from humble beginnings to become both the cricket correspondent and chief music critic of The Manchester Guardian . His achievements in these contrasting disciplines earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the foremost critics of his generation. In February 2025, the cricketing and literary world marked the fiftieth anniversary of his death, which occurred in February 1975.

Garba on the tarmac and other lessons in tourist arrogance

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat A video of a group of Indian tourists, reportedly from Gujarat, performing Garba on the airport tarmac in Vietnam has gone viral on social media. The group, consisting of men and women, was seen dancing in front of their aircraft, making considerable noise, ignoring instructions from airport staff, and disrupting the boarding process for other passengers. The incident triggered widespread criticism online. Many viewers expressed outrage and began recalling similar episodes in which Indian tourists have displayed a disregard for local norms, civic behaviour, and public etiquette while travelling abroad.

Ideological shifts and structural realities within India's left-wing insurgency

By Harsh Thakor* The Maoist insurgency in India is arguably at its weakest point since the formation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004. Years of sustained counterinsurgency operations, leadership losses, shrinking territorial influence, declining recruitment, and growing technological advantages enjoyed by the state have significantly eroded the movement's operational capabilities.

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