By Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava*  Misunderstood, misinterpreted and misguided governance and management of urban lakes in India —illustrated here through Hyderabad —demands urgent attention from Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), the political establishment, the judiciary, the builder–developer lobby, and most importantly, the citizens of Hyderabad. Fundamental misconceptions about urban lakes have shaped policies and practices that systematically misuse, abuse and ultimately erase them—often in the name of urban development.

By Bharat Dogra   Recent discussions with several women workers in the Bawana resettlement colony in Delhi revealed that although they work very hard, their wages remain extremely low—far below the legal minimum wage .  

By Ram Puniyani*  India is a land defined by its staggering religious and cultural diversity. Historically, this pluralism was the bedrock of a mostly cordial coexistence between Hindus and Muslims. However, the British "divide and rule" policy expertly exploited these identities, sowing seeds of discord that were later nurtured by communal streams like the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha-RSS . 

By A Representative   A coalition of more than twenty civil society organizations, alumni associations, academic networks, and diaspora groups spanning the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Bahrain, Brunei, and India issued a joint public statement this week urging the Government of India and Parliament to enact comprehensive legislation implementing Article 15(5) of the Constitution — a provision that has remained without enabling law for nearly two decades.

By Syed Ali Mujtaba*  Good news for Tamil music lovers—the Mozart of Madras is back in the Tamil music industry with his song “Yethu” from the film “Moonwalk.” The track has climbed international charts, once again placing A. R. Rahman on the global stage.

​ By Ravi Ranjan*  ​Senior poet Kumar Ambuj, the creator of seminal works such as Krurata (Cruelty) and Nagrik Parabhav (Civilizational Defeat), remains one of the most distinct and morally fortified voices in contemporary Hindi poetry. In an age that the medieval poet Vidyapati once characterized as gehe gehe kalau kāvyam (in the Kali age, there is a poet in every house), Ambuj’s work stands apart due to its ideological clarity and subtle artistic sensibility. His collections— Kivād, Krurata, Anantim, Atikraman , and Ameeri Rekha —serve as an unbreakable testimony against the socio-political hypocrisies of our time. His recent poem, ‘Uttar-Katha,’ is a soul-piercing document of the cruelty permeating civil society and the "cultural abduction" carried out by the invisible machinery of power in our post-truth era.

By Harsh Thakor*   This is my selection and ranking of the most complete and versatile fast bowlers of all time. They are not rated on the basis of statistics or sheer speed, but on all-round pace-bowling skill. I have given preference to technical mastery over raw talent, and versatility over raw pace.

By A Representative   The New Delhi-based think tank Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has released its analysis of contribution reports submitted by electoral trusts for the financial year 2024–25, revealing that a total of Rs 3,826.3417 crore was received from corporates and individuals and Rs 3,826.3522 crore was disbursed to political parties during the year. The report is based on annual contribution statements filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI) by trusts registered with the Central Board of Direct Taxes under the Electoral Trusts Scheme, 2013.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among the most electorally successful politicians in contemporary India, having avoided defeat in the arithmetic of democratic contests. He has mobilised and mesmerised large sections of the electorate with a confident—critics would say combative—style that projects decisiveness. Yet performance in political theatre is not the same as performance in governance. 

By A Representative   The Ministry of Power’s Draft National Electricity Policy (NEP), 2026 has drawn sharp criticism from power and climate policy analyst Shankar Sharma, who has submitted detailed feedback highlighting what he calls “serious omissions” in the government’s approach to energy transition. 

By Bharat Dogra   Several recent initiatives in the Jaitpur block of Mahoba district in Uttar Pradesh to reduce water scarcity and irrigation costs have produced very encouraging results by combining new technologies with the protection of traditional water sources. In Laadpur village, a solar pumping set now provides irrigation to 54 acres of land belonging to 11 beneficiary households. Earlier, these farmers depended on diesel pumping sets, and due to the high expenses involved, they were unable to irrigate their land optimally. Now, they are able to irrigate and cultivate more effectively. On the farm of one of the beneficiaries located closest to the solar pumping set, additional vegetables were already being grown. Based on quick on-site calculations, it is estimated that, on average, each family saves about ₹13,500 annually in diesel expenses. This means that the 11 farmers together save approximately ₹1,50,000 every year. As some additional farmers also use water...

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The #BuddhistMonks in the United States have completed their #WalkForPeace after covering nearly 3,700 kilometers in an arduous journey. They reached Washington, DC yesterday. The journey began at the Huong Đạo Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 26, 2025, and concluded in Washington, DC after a 108-day walk. The monks, mainly from Vietnam and Thailand, undertook this journey for peace and mindfulness. Their number ranged between 19 and 24. Led by Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara (also known as Sư Tuệ Nhân), a Vietnamese-born monk based in the United States, this “Walk for Peace” reflected deeply on the crisis within American society and the search for inner strength among its people.

By Guillermo Barreto   On 20 May 2017, during a violent protest planned by sectors of the Venezuelan opposition, 21-year-old Orlando Figuera was attacked by a mob that accused him of being a Chavista. After being stabbed, he was doused with gasoline and set on fire in front of everyone present. Young Orlando was admitted to a hospital with multiple wounds and burns covering 80 percent of his body and died 15 days later, on 4 June.

By Harsh Thakor*  Javier Fuentes Gutiérrez played a role in the development of Maoist political currents in Mexico during the Cold War period, particularly through his involvement in the formation and leadership of the Revolutionary Party of the Mexican Proletariat (PRPM). His political trajectory unfolded within a national and international context marked by ideological divisions in the communist movement following the dispute between the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). These divisions led to significant realignments among left-wing militants in Mexico, with some distancing themselves from the Mexican Communist Party (PCM) and aligning with positions associated with Beijing, which they regarded as closer to Marxism-Leninism. During the 1960s, several leftist organizations

By A Representative   In an open statement marking the 20th anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), comprising 88 former civil servants from the All-India and Central Services, has expressed "deep anguish" over the Union government’s decision to repeal the landmark legislation. 

By Aysha*  In a press release issued on 10 February, the government described the VB-GRAM G Act, 2025 as more “women-friendly” than MGNREGA. This claim must be examined through the lens of food security. For rural women, an employment guarantee is not a routine welfare measure; it is often the foundation of household survival. The central question is whether the new law genuinely strengthens women’s ability to feed their families or merely expands entitlements on paper. Most of the provisions presented as “women-centric” are not new. The one-third mandatory participation of women already existed under MGNREGA, and in practice women’s participation consistently exceeded 50 percent. This was not symbolic. It demonstrated that MGNREGA functioned as a critical pillar of food security for rural households. When agricultural employment declined or seasonal migration was not feasible, these wages enabled women to purchase grain, pulses, oil and other essentials. The new Act does not clari...

By Neha Desai  The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) is the apex student body of Arunachal Pradesh, representing the interests of students across the state. Established to advocate educational reform, social justice, and youth empowerment, AAPSU has historically played an influential role in public life, often acting as a bridge between society and the government.  Over the years, it has emerged as a powerful platform for student voices. However, in recent times, the organisation has drawn growing criticism for internal dysfunctions, including allegations of corruption, violence, scandals involving office-bearers, and a broader erosion of moral credibility.

Counterview Desk  A recent  commentary, "Cultural Uprising Against Caste Hegemony", by the Editorial Team of the Tamil monthly Puthiya Jananayagam (January 2026 issue), has examined the intensification of caste-based violence, particularly against Dalits and women, and situates it within broader socio-economic and political changes in India. It argues that the rise in honour killings and targeted attacks is not merely a residue of traditional caste dominance but is increasingly driven by organised caste-fanatic groups and right-wing forces resisting social transformation. 

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan  In recent weeks, renewed public attention to court documents and disclosures related to Jeffrey Epstein has once again ignited debate about power, privilege, and accountability. The so-called “Epstein files” have resurfaced in political discourse across several countries, prompting questions about the relationships Epstein cultivated with influential figures in business, politics, academia, and royalty. While the appearance of a name in such records does not in itself establish criminal conduct, the political and reputational consequences of association have proven significant.

By A Representative   Cost pressures showed a moderate uptick in December 2025 even as sales and profit margins remained subdued, according to the latest round of the Business Inflation Expectations Survey (BIES) of the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A).

By Harsh Thakor*  On February 17, the horse racing world marks the 50th birth anniversary of the superhorse Spectacular Bid, foaled on this day in 1976. Sired by Bold Bidder out of the mare Spectacular, he carved a permanent niche among the immortals of American Thoroughbred racing. In full stride, he gave the sensation of lightning streaking across the track—his charcoal-grey coat, marked with a star on his forehead, adding to his striking presence.

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  Dindori has been declared a water-scarce district. This designation indicates that the crisis of inadequate water availability for drinking and irrigation has deepened in the current year, especially with the approaching summer season. In response, restrictions have been imposed on the regulation and use of water resources. The order will remain in force from 10 February to 30 June 2026, aiming to curb unnecessary extraction and promote conservation-oriented practices. The administration has also prohibited unauthorised digging and drilling of private tubewells, borewells, and handpumps to safeguard groundwater levels and availability.

By Dr. Ravi Ranjan*  Ashok Vajpeyi’s poem “Ant” appears, at first glance, to be a quiet meditation on an ordinary insect. Yet beneath its restrained surface lies a powerful philosophical statement about existence, history, truth, and freedom. The poem is not merely about ants; it is about modes of being. Through the image of the ant, Vajpeyi questions the authority of history, the arrogance of “truth,” and the tyranny of time, while offering an alternative vision of life that exists outside these dominating frameworks.

By Syed Ali Mujtaba*  A report published by Awaz–The Voice (ATV), a news platform, highlights 10 Muslim change-makers in Tamil Nadu, among whom four are women. These individuals are driving social change through education, the arts, conservation, and activism. Representing diverse fields ranging from environmental protection and literature to political engagement and education, they are working to improve society across the state.

By A Representative   Allegations of bonded labour and human trafficking have surfaced from Jammu district, where three migrant labour families from Chhattisgarh are reported to have been confined and compelled to work at brick kilns for nearly a year. The National Campaign Committee for Eradication of Bonded Labour (NCCEBL) has claimed that the families, including women and children, were subjected to forced labour, wage manipulation and restrictions on movement, and that efforts are underway to secure their release.

By A Representative   The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has called for the resignation of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging that he has repeatedly violated his constitutional oath by making divisive and inflammatory statements targeting religious minorities in the state.

By A Representative   The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has released a statement raising ten questions to Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan regarding the proposed Seed Bill 2025, alleging that the legislation is biased in favour of large multinational and domestic seed corporations and does not adequately safeguard farmers’ interests. 

By Nava Thakuria*  As Bangladesh heads for its 13th Parliamentary election and a referendum on the July National Charter simultaneously on Thursday (12 February 2026), interim government chief Professor Muhammad Yunus has urged all participating candidates to rise above personal and party interests and prioritize the greater interests of the Muslim-majority nation, regardless of the poll outcomes. 

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  The more than three million Epstein files, including those already released, reveal not only an entrenched criminal network of perverted ruling elites and decayed capitalist socialites with an inhuman sexual appetite for young girls, but also expose their immense power, influence, and complete lack of accountability. Sexual trafficking and the exploitation of young girls lie at the heart of this criminal network of social, political, and economic elites. 

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan   Recent developments have renewed debate over the Modi government’s handling of national security, particularly in relation to the India–China standoff in eastern Ladakh. The discussion follows the publication of excerpts from the forthcoming memoir of former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Naravane, which raise questions about decision-making during a critical moment in 2020.

By A Representative   Farmers’ organisations and political groups have sharply criticised the emerging contours of the US–India trade agreement, warning that it could severely undermine Indian agriculture, depress farm incomes and open the doors to genetically modified (GM) food imports in violation of domestic regulatory safeguards.

By Bharat Dogra  India has recently concluded a number of trade agreements and interim trade arrangements. Although not all aspects and full texts of these agreements are yet in the public domain—and some are still works in progress—they have already raised serious questions. The latest interim trade agreement with the United States has proved to be the most controversial. While the Indian government has strongly asserted that the key interests of agriculture, and particularly the dairy sector, have been safeguarded, opposition parties and several farmers’ organisations allege that the interests of the people, including farmers, have been compromised.

By A Representative   A broad coalition of farmers’ organisations, trade unions, traders, public health advocates and environmental groups has raised serious concerns over India’s recently concluded trade agreements with the European Union and the United States, warning that the deals could have far-reaching implications for livelihoods, policy autonomy and the country’s long-term development trajectory. In a public statement issued, the Forum for Trade Justice described the two agreements as marking a “tectonic shift” in India’s trade policy and cautioned that the projected gains in exports may come at a significant social and economic cost.

By N.S. Venkataraman*  In recent years, India has entered into trade agreements with several countries, the latest being agreements with the European Union and the United States. While the India–EU trade agreement has been widely viewed in India as mutually beneficial and balanced, the trade agreement with the United States has generated comparatively greater debate and scrutiny.

By Nava Thakuria*  Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation of over 170 million people, goes to the general election on 12 February 2026 to elect its 13th Jatiya Sansad in Dhaka. According to the Bangladesh Election Commission, a total of 127,711,895 voters are eligible to cast their ballots, including more than 4.5 million newly registered young voters who have attained the age of 18. Voting will take place at 42,766 polling stations across the country, with 785,225 presiding and polling officers deployed. More than 900,000 security personnel are expected to oversee the process and ensure the safety of candidates and voters.

By Aysha*    Cities are often portrayed as spaces of opportunity—jobs, services, and the promise of a better life. Nearly 30 years ago, Meenakshi’s parents came to Delhi with the same hope. When steady employment did not materialise, her father began working as a waste picker in North East Delhi. Life was never easy, but the family managed to survive. Today, however, they face a new crisis. With the introduction of SIR , their fragile existence has been pushed to the brink—there is not a single identity document in their household.

By Prof K S Chalam*  Vidya Bhushan Rawat ’s three-volume body of conversational works constitutes an ambitious and largely unprecedented intellectual intervention into the study of marginalisation in South Asia . Drawing upon the method of extended dialogue, Rawat documents voices from across caste, region, ideology, and national boundaries to construct a living archive of dissent, memory, and struggle. 

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin recently unveiled a statue of Karl Marx on February 6 at the historic Connemara Public Library in Chennai. While the gesture may appear merely symbolic to some, it carries deep-rooted resonance within Periyarist and Dravidian political thought, which has long accorded importance to Marxist philosophy and regarded the Left as part of the larger Dravidian ideological universe.

By Vikas Meshram   The proposed trade agreement between India and the United States has triggered intense debate across the country. This agreement is not merely an attempt to expand bilateral trade; it is directly linked to Indian agriculture, the rural economy, democratic processes, and global geopolitics. Free trade agreements (FTAs) may appear attractive on the surface, but the political economy and social consequences behind them are often unequal and controversial. Once again, a fundamental question has surfaced: who will benefit from this agreement, and who will pay its price?

By Rosamma Thomas  Kerala held local body elections in December 2025. By February 2026, the first ward-level meetings chaired by newly elected local representatives were under way. Pala Municipality is divided into 26 wards and has an equal number of councillors. This time, Ward 23 was reserved for women candidates, and Princy Sunny emerged victorious after a closely fought contest, defeating former municipal chairperson Mary Dominic by 33 votes. Sunday, February 8, saw the first ward meeting in Ward 23, held at Brilliant College, Pala, near St Thomas College.

By A Representative   A federation of Adivasi gram sabhas from Nagarahole has strongly opposed the holding of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) summit in Nagarahole and Bandipur tiger reserves from February 9 to 12, 2026, accusing the Centre and the Karnataka government of ignoring long-standing human rights violations faced by Indigenous communities in the name of wildlife conservation. The objections were raised by the Nagarahole Adivasi Jammapale Hakku Sthapana Samiti (NAJHSS), which represents gram sabhas within the Nagarahole forests, following the Union Finance Minister’s recent announcement that the IBCA summit would be hosted at the two protected areas.

By Harsh Thakor*  "Anuradha—Through the Eyes of Her Contemporaries" by Kobad Ghandy  (28 March 1954 – 12 April 2008) is a biographical account of the late Anuradha Ghandy , drawing on personal recollections, political writings, and testimonies of her contemporaries. Written by her husband, the book traces her life as a revolutionary activist , intellectual, and organiser, and situates her work within broader debates on caste , gender , and revolutionary politics in India .

By Jag Jivan   A new study titled “From Tobacco to Ultraprocessed Food: How Industry Engineering Fuels the Epidemic of Preventable Disease”, published in The Milbank Quarterly , warns that ultraprocessed foods are deliberately engineered in ways similar to cigarettes and should be treated as a major public health threat rather than as ordinary food products.

By Alejandra Amor, Mansee Bal Bhargava  Indonesia, like many fast-developing nations including India, is grappling with a deepening water crisis driven by both human pressures and climate-induced impacts. Despite being home to more than 1,000 river basins, a majority of Indonesian households continue to face serious challenges in accessing safe drinking water and sanitation. Water resource management remains constrained by high levels of contamination, excessive dependence on groundwater, declining water retention capacity, and inadequate wastewater management systems.

By Carmen Navas Reyes  Venezuela, under threat following the attacks of January 3, and in perspective alongside the historical mirror that is Iran, allows us to study the models of classic oil nationalism and pragmatic resistance. But beyond the economy, some analysts have put forward the theory that Venezuelan and Iranian oil is not just a business, but vital ammunition in the war scenario being proposed by the United States.

By Kay Young   Since the American War on Vietnam, Bangkok has been a key hub for international journalists and academics in Southeast Asia. It offers modern infrastructure, easy travel, and a high quality of life, allowing them to chopper into the periphery and return home for drinks. These advantages foster a professional environment removed from the region it purports to cover. Western expatriates operate engulfed within a certain elite social and informational milieu, often resulting in confused, racially essentialist coverage aligning with the interests of the moneyed Bangkok elite.

By Celina della Croce   U.S. President Donald Trump has not shied away from admitting his thirst for Venezuelan oil. On 16 December 2025, in the leadup to the 3 January bombing of Caracas and kidnapping of the country’s president and first lady, Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, he claimed ownership over Venezuela resources, stating that “America will not… allow a hostile regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States, IMMEDIATELY”. 

By Tings Chak, Atul Chandra   We descended into Chibichibi Cave in southern Okinawa with the heavy feeling that this was not a site of distant history, but a warning. The cave is low enough that you have to bend forward as you walk. The air is damp, the light disappears quickly, and the air becomes suffocatingly warm. In April 1945, as US forces landed on the island, 140 Okinawan civilians—mostly elders, women, and children—hid here. Eighty-five of them would die by their own hands. Parents killed their children first, then themselves. This was not an act of collective madness, nor a cultural predisposition to suicide. What happened here was manufactured. It was the consequence of disinformation used as a weapon of war.

By N.S. Venkataraman*  The year 2025 closed with bloody conflicts across nations and groups, while the United Nations continued to appear ineffective—reduced to a debate forum with little impact on global peace and harmony.  

By Rajiv Shah  More than a decade ago, when I was with The Times of India, I used to write a regular weekly column called True Lies. The column—which still continues—was mainly about gossip surrounding Gujarat government bureaucrats, though I occasionally wrote about ministers as well. In that column, I would often refer to what IAS officials described as their informal weekly Monday morning tit-a-tat over tea.

By Vikas Gupta  Yuvraj Mehta—an ideal middle-class, upwardly mobile young man—died at the age of 27 in Noida, an archetypal North Indian town, in an equally upwardly mobile neighbourhood. He died in a deeply disturbing way—disturbing, that is, for the government and its constituents who control the system—causing immense agony and embarrassment to local authorities, the state government, the police, the fire department, and disaster relief forces.