Counterview

By Jag Jivan   A new study, " Exploring the interlinkages between child marriage and family laws in South Asia ," has shed light on the profound legal ambiguities and systemic challenges that perpetuate child marriage in India , despite the country's significant progress in reducing its prevalence. 

By A Representative   In an extraordinary display of institutional dissent, a group of 93 former top civil servants, police officers, diplomats, and members of the All India and Central Services has issued a searing open letter condemning the police action against student protesters in the national capital on July 20, 2026, describing it as "unacceptable," "illegal and disproportionate," and a grave violation of constitutional governance that threatens to erode public trust in democratic institutions.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  Every generation gets the India it deserves—but this one is demanding the India it was promised. For too long, students and young people have been dismissed by older generations as apolitical, self-absorbed, and glued to screens, too distracted to care about the nation’s direction. This condescending stereotype has suited the ruling classes just fine. It has allowed them to underfund education, neglect science-based learning, and undermine secular institutions—without fear of pushback from the very demographic that should matter most.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The people of this country must be far more careful the next time someone invokes Gandhi and sits on a fast for a public cause. It is important not to elevate every protester into a Gandhi or a Bhagat Singh. Time and again, people have been betrayed because Gandhism itself has often been used as a tool to manage contradictions and confuse public opinion. It is also a fact that fasting has historically been a practice associated with dominant castes, and not the political path of Ambedkar, Phule, or Periyar.

By Guillermo R. Barreto   It is 19 April 2025. A 12-year-old girl and her 3-year-old brother are playing in front of their house in the village of Bert-Furik. A group of Israeli settlers kidnaps them. At knifepoint, they drag the children to an olive grove where they are tied to a tree and gagged. Fortunately, the family manages to arrive and untie them. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. A report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, dated 8 May 2026, and identified by the acronym A/HRC/62/22 , reveals a bleak picture.

By Biljana Vankovska  The history of warfare shows that conflicts end either with a clear victory by one side or through negotiations when both face the exhaustion of resources and the will to continue sacrificing lives. There is also a third way: a silent ending of hostilities, the establishment of a 'cold peace,' and the freezing of the conflict without an explicit acknowledgment of defeat.

By Laura Violeta Devia López  There are just over three weeks left before Abelardo De La Espriella takes office as Colombia’s new president, despite the numerous allegations that cast a shadow over his election and, as usual, discredit the Colombian electoral system. The announcements already being made by Abelardo and his designated cabinet mark a significant change of course, not only for the Colombian people but also for the country’s place in the world.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  The question that haunts Indian political discourse—“If not Modi, then who?”—is not a genuine inquiry about leadership. It is a rhetorical trap, designed to shrink the imagination of a nation of 1.4 billion people into a single, chest-thumping silhouette. It presumes that without one man, the world’s largest democracy would collapse into chaos, as though the Indian republic were a startup dependent on a visionary CEO rather than a constitutional democracy built on the collective will of its citizens.

By Bharat Dogra   Across India’s cities, coaching institutes have mushroomed at breakneck speed—not through careful planning, but through a reckless pursuit of profit. In this gold rush, safety has been the first casualty. Congested buildings, never designed for mass instruction, now pack in hundreds of students with woefully inadequate fire exits, overloaded electrical systems, and staircases that choke at the first sign of rush hour.

By A Representative   The National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) has condemned what it described as the "brutal and unprovoked" police action against peaceful students, youth, parents and citizens who gathered at Jantar Mantar and nearby areas in New Delhi on July 20 to protest against alleged failures in the country's public examination and education system. In a statement issued on July 23, the organisation alleged that the police response represented a serious assault on democratic rights and called for accountability, judicial inquiries and dialogue with protesters.

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  The discontent over India's education and public recruitment examination system has now taken the shape of a wide-ranging social and political movement. For nearly a month, thousands of students and young people have been protesting peacefully. Their central demand is that accountability be fixed for the deepening crisis in the education system and in public recruitment and competitive examinations, and that transparency and credibility be restored to the examination process.

By A Representative   Multiple civil society organisations, lawyers' bodies, religious groups, feminist collectives and rights groups have issued strongly worded statements condemning the police crackdown on student protesters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, even as concerns mount over press freedom, custodial violence and the safety of demonstrators demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

By Ravi Ranjan*  Kedarnath Singh's poem 'Banaras' cannot be adequately understood merely as a cultural, historical, or urban meditation. The poem constructs an experiential structure in which place, time, memory, the body, language, and cultural consciousness together forge a comprehensive lived experience. Reading the poem through phenomenology proves particularly fitting for grasping its inner architecture.

By Harsh Thakor*  Graham Bradley, one of the most gifted and controversial jump jockeys of his generation, recently died at the age of 65 after a five-year battle with semantic dementia. The rider, affectionately known as 'Brad' to his peers, passed away peacefully with his wife Amanda and daughter Georgia May at his side. His career was a tapestry of extraordinary highs and damaging lows, but his talent in the saddle was never in question.

By Rajiv Shah   Away from my home (Ahmedabad) in the United States, I have been staying in Los Angeles for quite some time. "Los Angeles" is Spanish for "The Angels." Founded in 1781, the city was originally named El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles , which translates as The Town of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels—a reference to the Virgin Mary.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The police brutality unleashed against peaceful protesters at Jantar Mantar is neither new nor exceptional. It reflects a structural problem in our policing system. The police have long served those in power, often becoming instruments of political authority rather than protectors of citizens' rights. The difference today is that earlier governments, at least occasionally, held the police accountable for unlawful actions. Today, however, the government itself appears increasingly driven by the bureaucracy and the police establishment.

By Vijay Prashad   On 20 July, thousands of young people attempted to march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament. They carried placards, shouted slogans, and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over repeated examination irregularities, paper leaks, cancelled tests, and the government’s refusal to accept responsibility for the devastation inflicted upon students. The Delhi Police answered them with barricades, batons, and tear gas. Some protesters were detained, while others reorganised themselves into smaller groups and continued towards Parliament. The movement had crossed an important threshold: what began as satire on social media had entered the streets as a confrontation with state power.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  Bloodied faces, battered bodies and broken bones stood in stark contrast to the remarkable resilience of students and young people who filled the streets of Delhi. Amid pain and fear, many continued to smile, refusing to abandon their commitment to non-violent protest. Their determination offers hope in a political climate increasingly defined by intolerance, repression and unaccountable governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

By Vikas  Meshram*  When the numbers are examined closely, one conclusion is inescapable: Indian agriculture is passing through a deep and prolonged crisis. Farming is no longer a dependable source of livelihood, while public support remains inadequate to restore its viability. The Indian farmer, who once relied primarily on his land, is increasingly being pushed towards wage labour. Today, barely one-third of a farming household's monthly income comes from cultivation, while nearly two-thirds is earned through wage labour, salaried jobs, or small businesses. Farming alone is no longer sufficient to sustain a family.

By Ram Puniyani*  A sit-in protest is currently underway outside Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur. The university is run by the Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, chaired by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, who is presently in jail. Students are protesting a notice issued by the Rampur Development Authority (RDA), directing the demolition of 38 out of the university's 40 buildings. If implemented, the order would effectively shut down the university.

By Bharat Dogra  As the rainy season arrived, people in many villages worried about paths becoming difficult to navigate. However, in over 150 villages of Kherwara block in South Rajasthan, there was much less concern on this front. Well before the onset of the rains, villagers had held meetings to reduce anticipated problems as much as possible.

By Lathamala   Peaceful protest has always been central to India's democratic tradition. From the freedom struggle onwards, non-violent demonstrations, hunger strikes, writing, theatre and satire have been used to question injustice and hold governments accountable. Every government has, at different times, tried to control dissent, but the space for peaceful protest has narrowed considerably in recent years.

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan   The recent crackdown on students protesting under the banner of the Campaign for Judicial and Public Justice (CJP) has once again ignited a national debate on accountability, democratic rights, and the functioning of India's education system. Images of injured students, heavy police deployment, and confrontations near Parliament have sparked outrage among opposition parties, civil society groups, and thousands of citizens who believe that peaceful dissent should never be met with excessive force.

By Rumaan Mecci*   Friends, we have finally reached an epochal moment in history. The media has now become worthy of ruling this country. I suggest we do away with the courts, the police, Parliament, and educational institutions altogether. The media has got it all covered.

By Bharat Dogra  Lakshmi and Reeta are from Sagavara village in Udaipur district, Rajasthan. Three changes in their lives have brought unexpected yet highly welcome improvements for them and their households.

By Vikas Meshram*  Directed by Nithilan Swaminathan, the Tamil thriller 'Maharaja' became a resounding success upon release, powered by the compelling performances of Vijay Sethupathi, Anurag Kashyap, and the rest of the cast, and it continues to be talked about today both for the success it earned and for the storytelling craft behind it. Released in theatres on June 14, 2024, the film drew positive responses from critics and won over audiences, going on to consistently perform well at the box office and cross the hundred-crore mark worldwide.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  American capitalism has long promised the pursuit of the so-called American Dream —a society built on individual freedom, free markets, consumer choice, and competition. According to this ideal, hard work, determination, and innovation would enable individuals to prosper in an open economic system where success depends on merit rather than privilege. Yet widening inequality, stagnant wages, growing poverty, and recurring economic crises have steadily eroded this promise, exposing the contradictions between the rhetoric and the reality of American capitalism.

By Harsh Thakor*   The cricketing world mourns the loss of Sir Garfield Sobers , who passed away at his home in Barbados at the age of 89, just eleven days short of his 90th birthday. His departure marks the end of an era, leaving a void that can never be filled. Sobers was not merely a cricketer; he was the embodiment of sporting excellence, a prophet who descended upon the cricket pitch and redefined the very essence of the game. To watch Sobers play was to witness art in its purest form, a masterpiece crafted with bat and ball that transcended the boundaries of sport and entered the realm of the supernatural.

By Mohd Ziyauallah Khan   The Comptroller and Auditor General of India 's (CAG) latest audit of Maharashtra 's finances has raised important questions about the fiscal management and implementation of the BJP-led state's flagship Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana . While the scheme has been projected as a landmark initiative to empower women through direct financial assistance, the audit presents a more complex picture—one that invites scrutiny of financial discipline , transparency , and the state's long-term development priorities .

By A Representative   On the 84th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, the Youth Socialist Initiative (YSI) staged a mass public rally at Jantar Mantar on July 19, issuing a sharp indictment of what they term the "merchants of education" and demanding a complete reversal of the privatization, commercialization, and globalization of India’s educational system.

By Bharat Dogra   On July 19, police dispersed a peaceful protest against the Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district. The movement's leader, Amit Bhatnagar, who had been on an indefinite fast for nearly two weeks, was taken to hospital. According to "The Tribune" (July 20), he announced soon after his admission that he would continue his fast.

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ  The proverb “Old is gold” has stood the test of time—and for good reason. It speaks of enduring value, accumulated wisdom, and the irreplaceable quality of things that have weathered the years. Whether we think of cherished traditions, vintage treasures, or timeless music, there is an authenticity in the old that the new often cannot replicate.

By Rezgar Akrawi   When Vladimir Lenin wrote about imperialism and considered it the highest stage of capitalism, he was tracking the moment capital shifted from the space of free competition into the world of monopoly, where banks merged with industry, the state turned into a direct instrument serving finance capital, and the world was redivided by force among the great monopolistic blocs. 

By Balram Banskota, Jeong-eun Hwang   On 4 March 2026, a US military vessel torpedoed and sunk the unarmed Iranian frigate IRIS Dena off the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The illegal strike killed over 80 and injured over 30 Iranian sailors, who were returning home after participating in the Indian Navy's flagship biennial multilateral naval drill, Exercise MILAN, and the International Fleet Review, in Visakhapatnam.

By Harleen Kaur  Four years ago, Colombo was the world’s cautionary tale. A sovereign default, fuel queues that stretched for kilometres, a presidential palace occupied by its own citizens. This week, the same city is hosting trade unionists, party cadre, scholars, and ministers from across Asia, from Nepal to the Philippines and from Iran to Indonesia. They have gathered under a banner that would have sounded utopian in 2022: Hands Off Asia.

By Rajiv Shah    A new study analyzing the attendance records of Members of Parliament during the Budget Session of 2026 has revealed significant disparities in the attendance patterns of MPs across both Houses of Parliament, highlighting that less than two-thirds of the members met a minimum attendance threshold of 75% of the sittings, raising crucial questions about legislative accountability and citizen representation.

By A Representative   The All-India Feminist Alliance (ALIFA) has joined the national campaign for the immediate and unconditional implementation of the Women's Reservation Act, 2023, calling on the government to introduce a constitutional amendment in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament to delink the quota from the census and delimitation processes. 

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  Hunger strikes are moral strategies in politics, used to awaken the human consciousness of the governing classes. As a political strategy, it has been employed in various struggles against ruling elites to humanise power and democratise society for the greater common good. Mahatma Gandhi used the hunger strike to appeal to the political consciousness of the masses, urging them to join the anti-colonial struggle against British rule. He also wielded the threat of "fast unto death" as a strategy to appeal to the moral conscience of society to end communal conflict between Hindus and Muslims during the partition of India. The strategy worked; the Noakhali riots were halted by Gandhi's non-violent intervention.

By A Representative   A group of academics, former diplomats, retired civil servants, writers, and activists has issued two public representations expressing concern over the indefinite hunger strike led by education and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, urging the Union government to engage in dialogue with protesting students and address concerns over alleged irregularities in national examinations.

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  Since it was dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister on 17 September 2017, the Sardar Sarovar Dam has remained synonymous with incomplete rehabilitation of the people displaced by the project. Now, it faces fresh controversy. 

By Bharat Dogra  In Sema, a remote village in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, Bhagwati Lal and his wife Rekha share equal credit for creating a remarkable farm that has become an inspiration for villagers and visitors alike. Their achievement demonstrates how even a very small piece of land can provide a strong foundation for sustainable livelihoods while enhancing climate resilience and protecting the environment.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  The rise of racism, xenophobia, anti-migrant mobilisation, and flag-waving nationalist movements proclaiming that "Britain is for the British, Europe for Europeans, and America for Americans" is no longer a fringe phenomenon confined to isolated communities. These reactionary movements increasingly influence mainstream political parties, encouraging an illiberal turn in electoral rhetoric, public policy, and governance across much of the Western world.

By Jag Jivan    A technical regulatory notice issued by India's Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) in April 2026 has drawn sharp criticism from public health advocates and farmers' organizations, who warn that proposed relaxations in pesticide residue testing could compromise food safety and public health. The notice invites comments on recommendations from the Scientific Panel on Pesticide Residue (SPPR) under FSSAI , proposing the adoption of a " Crop Grouping " framework for setting Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)—the legal ceiling on pesticide residues permitted on food crops.

By Kumar Krishnan*  The most troubling image of a democracy is not always found inside Parliament. More often, it emerges outside it—on a street, at a protest site, or beside a hospital bed. That unfolded in New Delhi on Saturday. After 21 days on an indefinite hunger strike, social activist Sonam Wangchuk was moved by the Delhi Police from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital following directions from the Delhi High Court and the advice of a panel of medical experts. The court underscored a fundamental constitutional principle: every citizen's life is precious. The police maintained that they were simply complying with the court's order. Protesters, however, viewed the move as an attempt to weaken the movement and registered their opposition.

By Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ*  It was the twenty-first day (since 28 June) of the hunger strike of noted environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk. On the morning of 18 July, the Delhi police forcibly, and against his will, admitted him to hospital, apparently due to his deteriorating health condition. Sonam, along with some other students, had been on a fast in support of the demands of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). For almost a month, led by Abhijeet Dipke, hundreds of youth had been protesting at Jantar Mantar. They were demanding the resignation of the Education Minister, after a key entrance exam for aspiring doctors, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), was cancelled in early May following a paper leak. They said he must take moral responsibility for the leak and resign immediately. The protesters were also demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister. They plan to march to Parliament on 20 July, but the Government has still not relented or agreed to dia...

By Vikas Meshram*  Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike has reached a dramatic and troubling turning point. After more than twenty days of fasting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, the 59‑year‑old activist was removed from the protest site early Saturday morning and taken to Safdarjung Hospital. According to Delhi Police, the action was taken “in accordance with the orders of the High Court and on expert medical advice due to the deteriorating health condition of Sonam Wangchuk.” 

By Bharat Dogra   The Banas River flows for over 500 km through water-scarce Rajasthan, fulfilling important ecological functions and meeting the needs of countless people. The Bisalpur Project has further extended its importance by supplying drinking water to many more people, including those in Ajmer. In its upper reaches in southern Rajasthan, nestled in the Aravalli Hills, this seasonal river has sometimes been referred to as Van ki Aas (Hope of the Forests), a reminder of its vital ecological role. The river, a tributary of the Chambal River, is also closely associated with several mythological tales that reflect an enduring recognition of its significance and the need to keep it clean and protected.

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  The evolving conflict between the United States and Iran is increasingly reshaping the geopolitical landscape of West Asia. Beyond the battlefield, the region is witnessing significant diplomatic shifts that could redefine the balance of power for years to come. Before the outbreak of the current war, a key objective of the United States and Israel reportedly was to trigger an anti-regime uprising in Iran following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, this strategy appears to have failed. Instead of weakening the Iranian state, the crisis has, in several respects, strengthened national unity. 

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  Elon Musk is a wealthy person and an influential figure in global right-wing politics, known for spreading controversial rhetoric. As a supporter of U.S. President Trump, he led the federal initiative called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which operated from January 20, 2025, until July 4, 2026. Under Musk's leadership, the department worked toward shutting down the U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID ) and eliminating its $40 billion budget in the name of efficiency and austerity. Critics argue that while substantial funds are allocated for military spending, humanitarian aid is deprioritized under American capitalism .

By Ajay Chaudhary*  For centuries, the Indian Ocean has been more than a vast expanse of water—it has been the artery of global commerce. Today, it carries more than one-third of the world's bulk cargo and nearly two-thirds of global seaborne oil shipments, making South Asia's ports indispensable to international trade. For the region's littoral states, these maritime gateways have traditionally been viewed as engines of economic growth, regional connectivity, and national development.