Counterview

By Palla Trinadha Rao  The history of tribal struggles in Andhra Pradesh is not merely a history of economic deprivation or social exclusion. It is fundamentally a political history of communities asserting control over their land, forests, resources, identity, and systems of governance against powerful external forces. From the colonial period to the present day, tribal regions have witnessed numerous struggles against exploitation, land alienation, administrative domination, and political marginalisation. These struggles shaped many of the legal and constitutional safeguards that exist today. Yet while the issues confronting tribal communities remain largely unchanged, the political character of tribal struggles has undergone profound transformation.

By Mythri Tewary   The establishment laughed. Twenty-two million people didn’t. What unfolds when a generation loses faith in its institutions and finds faith in a joke instead? There is something deeply fascinating as well as humorously unsettling about the fact that an entire generation has started identifying with cockroaches. Not lions. Not eagles. Not lotus flowers, national animals, or glorifying symbols. But cockroaches. An insect everyone wants dead, yet one that survives everything. That alone is a gruesome representation of the times we live in. The origin of any movement holds a story. In politics, it might emerge with manifestos, rebellion, revolutions, or a single vote. The ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP), though, has its origin as an insult—rather, a sentence that millions of youngsters heard as one. “They (youngsters) are like cockroaches,” or “parasites” in society, were the words of the Honourable Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, during a court hearing...

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak   The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), have long promised to decolonise India's educational system and celebrate Indian culture, history, languages, and local knowledge traditions. Their stated objective has been to shape young minds within a framework of cultural nationalism by promoting a distinctly Indian educational vision. Hindutva politics has consistently opposed the dominance of the English language and advocated the inclusion of indigenous traditions and values in educational curricula. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, introduced under the BJP government, promised to Indianise the country's educational system. In reality, however, it facilitates the privatisation, marketisation, commercialisation, and commodification of education. For a rent-seeking state, education is increasingly treated not as a public good but as a commodity for sale. This approach is fully compatible w...

By Jag Jivan    The death of Rajesh Awasthi , a long-serving employee of Dainik Jagran , 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 journalists across India .  

By Bharat Dogra   It has become increasingly important to read and discuss history carefully so that the right lessons can be drawn from it. Careless conclusions, reached hastily and often driven by preconceived hostility, can be harmful to our country and society, undermining unity and harmony. This is particularly important in the context of South Asia's complex and shared history.

By Harsh Thakor*  The 60th anniversary of China’s Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution invites renewed reflection on an event that continues to shape debates on bureaucracy, class power, and socialist governance. Far from losing relevance, it remains a reference point for understanding how revolutionary societies confront the re‑emergence of privilege. As the original text notes, the Cultural Revolution “has not lost its relevance,” and its lessons still resonate in contemporary struggles against inequality and elite detachment. The movement began on 16 May 1966 with the adoption of the May 16 Circular, which dissolved the earlier Group of Five and accused it of suppressing revolutionary criticism. The circular declared that “representatives of the bourgeoisie had infiltrated the party, the government, the army, and all domains of culture,” and called for an ideological struggle to prevent a drift toward capitalist restoration. This document laid the foundation for the Central Cul...

By A Representative   The NREGA Sangharsh Morcha (NSM), a national platform of workers' organisations and activists associated with rural employment rights, has strongly opposed the introduction and proposed implementation of the VB-GRAMG Act, demanding an immediate halt to its rollout and a comprehensive consultation process involving workers and civil society groups.

By Ram Puniyani   In a recent article published in Scroll, titled “The Gandhi Family Has Helped Modi to Consolidate His Power,” noted historian Ramachandra Guha offers what I consider a rather superficial explanation for the rise and consolidation of the power of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP over the last decade.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  On May 15, 2026, Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant reportedly referred to unemployed people, youth, activists, and journalists as "cockroaches" and "parasites." Whether or not the remarks were made in a specific context, the controversy they generated has exposed deeper questions about social attitudes, institutional biases, and the functioning of justice in India.

By Adnan Asrar*  An Open Letter to CM Vijay from a Teacher in Delhi Dear Vijay, I hope you are doing well. Congratulations on achieving what many thought was impossible. I am sure you must be receiving many letters these days, and I am not the only one troubling you with my words. Kindly be patient—every time a new entrant comes into politics, we begin to think that a messiah has arrived who will address all that ails us.

By Bharat Dogra   More than five centuries after his lifetime, Sant Kabir continues to live in the hearts and minds of millions. He remains one of India's most widely quoted poets, a fearless social reformer, a people's philosopher, and a symbol of moral courage. His verses continue to resonate because they address timeless questions of truth, justice, compassion, and the meaning of a good life.

By A Representative   In an urgent and unprecedented joint statement, more than 140 prominent Indians—including former union ministers, retired civil servants, artists, scientists, and activists—have warned that the country stands on the “verge of a fratricide” unless citizens break their silence over what they call a complete breakdown of the rule of law in West Bengal.

By Devidas Tuljapurkar  The documentary film " The Great Indian Illusion " by the young and promising filmmaker Varun Sukhraj arrives at a critical historical moment. The Indian banking sector is increasingly being projected as a spectacular success story through carefully curated balance-sheet figures, rising profits, and declining non-performing assets (NPAs). Yet beneath this glossy narrative lies a far more disturbing reality of deepening inequalities, growing corporate concentration, privatisation pressures, and the systematic marginalisation of ordinary bank employees, rural customers, and small borrowers. The film deserves appreciation because it courageously attempts to dismantle this manufactured narrative and bring before the public the structural contradictions of India's neoliberal banking model .

By Vikas Meshram  In Indian cinema, there are some directors who place greater importance on social truth than commercial success. Anubhav Sinha is one of them. His films "Article 15," "Mulk," and "Thappad" have commented on social issues and held up a mirror to the collective conscience of our society. Sinha, who was once a commercial filmmaker, turned toward social themes over the past nine years, and this shift gave him a distinct identity. In today's entertainment-driven marketplace, making a socially conscious film is like swimming against the current. His new film, "Assi," belongs to this very tradition.

By Ravi Ranjan*  In contemporary Hindi poetry, few voices have explored the philosophical and creative possibilities of women's experience as powerfully as Savita Singh. Across collections such as "Svapna Samay" (Dream Time), Aapne Jaisa Jeevan, and "Prem Bhi Ek Yatana" Hai, she has developed a poetic world in which woman is not merely a subject of suffering or social commentary but a creator of knowledge, meaning, and alternative realities.

By A Representative   An industry-sponsored report , "From Wheat Straw to Wardrobes: Fashioning a new fibre future", based on a pilot project has claimed that India’s agricultural waste can be transformed into sustainable fashion fabrics, offering a viable alternative to tree-based fibres. Project Latvus, led by Canopy and Laudes Foundation with global fashion brands including H&M Group, C&A, and Reformation, says, it successfully produced lyocell garments from wheat straw residues collected in Punjab and Haryana.

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ  The editorial of the latest issue of the Economic and Political Weekly (Vol. 61, No. 22, 30 May 2026) carries a compelling and incisive title: “The Great Nicobar Project: A Holistic Folly.” Its central argument is unequivocal: the project's claims of strategic significance are questionable, while the environmental damage it will inflict is certain.

By A Representative  Jan Swasthya Abhiyan India (JSAI) organized a national conference on occupational and environmental health at Gandhi Bhavan in Bhopal on World Environment Day, bringing together representatives of labour organizations, public health experts, environmental activists, and community members from across the country to discuss pressing concerns related to workers’ health, environmental degradation, climate change, and public health. Participants from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Assam, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan attended the conference, which featured four thematic sessions on occupational health, environmental health, climate change, and water and global warming. The conference stressed that occupational health and safety continue to be major public health concerns in India, particularly for workers employed in industries, mining, construction, domestic work, and other informal s...

By Raqif Makhdoomi*  "I want to burst like a cloudburst," Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah remarked on 6 May, a few days before Eid. The statement generated considerable speculation, with many wondering whether it signaled a major political move. However, given the experience of the past two years, many people concluded that it was likely to remain just another statement rather than a precursor to decisive action.

By A Representative   More than 200 prominent Adivasi-Mulvasi leaders, academics, activists, representatives of mass organizations and traditional self-governance bodies have jointly appealed to the people of Jharkhand to observe June 9, the martyrdom day of tribal icon and freedom fighter Birsa Munda, by commemorating his struggles, culture and the historic Ulgulan movement across the state.

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.

By A Representative   The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has strongly condemned the Supreme Court's May 27, 2026 judgment in the case of Association of Democratic Rights vs Election Commission of India, describing it as a landmark setback to political equality and democratic rights in India. In a statement, PUCL President Kavita Srivastava and General Secretary V. Suresh alleged that the ruling effectively legitimises what they termed a "mass disenfranchisement exercise" carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI) through the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls.

By Gajanan Khergamker  On June 3, 2026, a fire ripped through Flourish Stay, a bed-and-breakfast in Hauz Rani, Malviya Nagar, South Delhi. At least 21 people died, most of them foreign nationals from Nigeria, Mozambique, Liberia, and Bangladesh. Over 40 were rescued. Many victims were medical tourists or attendants of patients at Max Super Specialty Hospital nearby.  

By Vikas Meshram   George Matthew Fernandes occupies a distinctive place in the history of Indian politics. Over a public career spanning more than five decades, he emerged as a trade union leader, socialist activist, parliamentarian, and Union minister. His political journey traversed ideological battles, mass movements, coalition politics, and some of the most consequential moments in post-Independence India. Whether admired for his role in labour struggles and resistance to the Emergency or debated for his later political choices and controversies, Fernandes remains one of the most significant political figures of his generation.

By A Representative   For millions of women who menstruate every month, the simple act of bleeding has become a battleground for fundamental human rights. From refugee camps in war-torn regions to informal settlements hit by climate disasters, menstruators face discrimination that activists say goes far deeper than access to pads. Radha Paudel , a nurse and activist from Nepal who founded the Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation , argues that dignified menstruation is not merely about hygiene products but about the very rights that define humanity. "Dignified menstruation is rooted in right to dignity, right to freedom, right to equality and right to non-discrimination," she said.  "It means no matter whether menstruating persons are in the evacuation camp or refugee camp or camps for the war-affected population, or any climate or manmade disaster relief camps, we need to prioritise the needs and priorities of menstruators." Paudel challenges what she ...

By Ravi Ranjan*  In an age that has perfected the art of communication while steadily eroding the possibility of genuine encounter, poetry becomes something more than aesthetic exercise—it becomes a moral and existential necessity. The irony of modern times is unmistakable: despite unprecedented connectivity, human beings have grown more lonely, more spiritually fragmented, more incapable of true dialogue than ever before. Voices have multiplied; listening has declined. Presences have grown; real presence has blurred.

By  Dr. Mansee Bal Bhargava  Looking from afar, from a region unaffected by the immediate crisis, it almost seemed strategic to use water cannons against protesters in the midst of the shocking water crisis in Indore, India's cleanest city. For the police, deploying water cannons may have felt like a subtle way of delivering water, since they are not directly responsible for water management. For the protesters, it may have felt like receiving water—at least temporarily—to quench thirst, bathe, drink, or wash clothes. Through the water cannons, there was, after all, some water. This may seem better than having none at all.

By Palla Trinadha Rao   The debate over whether India's tribal communities should be regarded as Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, or followers of distinct indigenous religions has re-emerged in recent years. The issue has gained prominence in discussions on census enumeration, cultural identity, constitutional recognition, and the growing demand for the delisting of Christian tribal communities from the Scheduled Tribe category.

By A Representative   Fifteen citizens associated with the Ahmedabad Rationalist Association have submitted a representation to Gujarat’s Director General of Police (DGP), the Rajkot Police Commissioner, and the Rajkot Rural Superintendent of Police, demanding preventive action against alleged “miracle demonstrations” by preacher Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, popularly known as Baba Bageshwar, during his scheduled visit to Rajkot from June 5 to 7.

By Citan Pertin   The recent controversy surrounding the application of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to the Mising community in Arunachal Pradesh has exposed a troubling contradiction at the heart of contemporary politics in Northeast India. In the name of protecting indigenous identity, certain sections of the ongoing ILP movement have begun treating the Mising people as outsiders to a region with which they share centuries of historical, cultural, and ancestral ties. 

By Himadri Priya   The recent controversy surrounding the application of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to the Mising community has become one of the most emotionally charged political debates in Arunachal Pradesh . Much of the criticism directed at the state's position portrays Arunachal Pradesh as unfairly treating a culturally related community as outsiders. Yet, when viewed through the lens of Arunachal Pradesh's historical experience and political realities, its insistence on maintaining the integrity of the ILP system appears not only understandable but, in the eyes of many, necessary for the long-term preservation of its indigenous tribal character.

By Dr. Gurinder Kaur  India is currently in the grip of intense heat waves, with most of its cities experiencing exceptionally high temperatures. According to global air quality and temperature data, 97 of the world's 100 hottest cities on May 22, 2026, and all of the 100 hottest cities on May 23 were located in India. Maximum temperatures in these cities ranged between 44°C and 48°C. The scale and intensity of this heat underline a growing environmental crisis that can no longer be ignored.

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.

By Jag Jivan    A massive gathering in the national capital last month has thrust a long-simmering political demand into the mainstream — the removal of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status from tribal individuals who convert to Christianity or Islam. The development has set off alarm bells across Northeast India , where tribal identity, religion, land, and political autonomy are inseparably intertwined.

By A Representative   A People's Tribunal on Violence Against Christians in India, organized by Karwan-e-Mohabbat and a collective of concerned citizens, heard testimonies from survivors, community representatives, researchers, lawyers, and human rights defenders regarding alleged violence and discrimination against Christians in several states. The tribunal was held at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on June 1.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak   Universities and institutions of higher learning are meant to be spaces where secular, scientific, and critical ideas flourish. Their purpose extends beyond the mere dissemination of information; they are sites for the creation of knowledge, where dominant ideas, entrenched power structures, and inherited intellectual traditions are continuously questioned and re-examined. Through the democratization and decolonization of knowledge , universities deepen democratic values and strengthen resistance to authoritarian tendencies. By combating ignorance and fostering critical inquiry, they contribute to social progress and the struggle against exploitation and discrimination.

By Bharat Dogra  While many war films have been made, there are not many that can be called truly anti-war —films that focus on the essentially tragic nature of most wars and the importance for all humanity of trying to avoid them. Such films can play an important role in promoting peace and disarmament.

By Harsh Thakor*  On June 1, 2026, the world marked the centenary of the birth of Marilyn Monroe , one of the most iconic figures in the history of cinema. The occasion has been commemorated by institutions such as the British Film Institute and the National Portrait Gallery , prompting renewed reflection on the life and legacy of a woman who was far more complex than the glamorous image that Hollywood projected. For much of the mainstream media and the general public, Monroe has long been remembered as the archetypal "dumb blonde" and a glamorous sex symbol. Yet this image concealed a very different reality. Marilyn Monroe was neither a natural blonde nor intellectually shallow. Behind the carefully crafted Hollywood persona stood a politically conscious woman of considerable intelligence, sharp wit and strong convictions. She challenged many of the social and cultural structures that sought to confine her and helped redefine what female stardom could mean in mo...

By Rajkumar Sinha*  Several Gram Sabhas have taken independent decisions regarding the collection, storage, and sale of tendu leaves . With the role of middlemen diminishing, the wage benefits are now reaching tribal families directly. This is a constructive example of economic self-reliance.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  The history of organised terrorist violence has deep roots. The Sicarii and Zealots conducted the first recorded organised campaign of political violence against Roman occupation of Judaea during the 1st century CE. Historical accounts suggest that Roman governor Antonius Felix also used members of this group to eliminate political opponents, including Jonathan, the Jewish High Priest. Contemporary analysts have noted that certain Zionist movements draw ideological inspiration from the Sicarii and Zealots, while critics argue that ongoing conflict in the Middle East serves the commercial interests of the defence industry and facilitates access to regional natural resources.