By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The beginning of this year has been deeply unsettling. With each passing day, the lofty ideals we invoke—“rule of law,” “human rights,” women’s rights, and children’s rights—appear increasingly hollow. Those who once claimed to be their architects now seem the first to undermine them. The killing of over 70,000 innocent people in Gaza by the Israeli state has failed to evoke meaningful condemnation across Europe and the United States.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  In the chessboard of global politics, often dominated by capitalist and imperialist forces, multi-alignment is presented as a pragmatic diplomatic strategy. In reality, it often appears opportunistic and weak, where transactional relations define foreign policy and countries pursue their interests in what resembles a moral vacuum. Multi-alignment can dilute strategic independence and autonomy while compromising national interests when dealing with powerful states such as the United States or the former colonial powers of Europe. 

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  West Asia has long been the epicenter of global energy politics . A major portion of the world's total crude oil and natural gas reserves is located in this region. Consequently, any military or political crisis in this area directly impacts the global energy market. Iran is one of the world's largest holders of oil and gas reserves, possessing approximately 9 percent of the total global oil reserves and ranking second in the world for natural gas.

By A Representative   A policy dialogue convened at the Constitution Club of India brought together Members of Parliament, economists, activists and workers under the banner of the Joint Platform of Agricultural and Rural Workers’ Unions and the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha, to deliberate on the future of rural employment in India.

By Vikas Meshram*  In the small village of Kundli, under Rajia Panchayat in Ghatol tehsil of Banswara district, Rajasthan, begins the story of a 43-year-old tribal farmer, Vanta Ramdas Charpota. Despite repeated setbacks, she never gave up. Through hard work, determination, and improved agricultural practices, she transformed her land into a field of hope.

Harsh Thakor*  Bijan Jazani (1938–1975) stands as one of the most outstanding Marxist intellectuals and revolutionary theorists produced by modern Iran. A founder of the Organization of Iranian People’s Fedai Guerrillas (OIPFG), he was among the earliest thinkers to articulate a coherent Marxist revolutionary strategy suited to the conditions of a dependent capitalist society under authoritarian rule. Even while imprisoned, Jazani developed theoretical frameworks that would inspire generations of socialist activists. Half a century after his assassination, his intellectual and political legacy continues to be debated within the broader history of the Iranian Left.

  By Rajiv Shah   Following  my recent blog on Dalit cuisine —where I argued, citing several studies, that it is deeply shaped by the caste system and the history of untouchability —I received an intriguing response on a private WhatsApp chat from a retired Gujarat-cadre bureaucrat. A likeable and thoughtful official, I have known him since the early 2000s, when I was covering the Gujarat Sachivalaya for The Times of India .

By Ravi Ranjan*  The announcement that Vairamuthu has been selected for the Jnanpith Award for the year 2025 marks a significant moment in Indian literary history and a moment of pride for Tamil literary culture. Widely regarded as one of the most influential contemporary voices in Tamil literature, Vairamuthu has spent decades crafting poetry, fiction and essays that reflect the struggles, aspirations and dignity of ordinary people. 

By A Representative   Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi) has written to the Chairperson of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), expressing concern over the regulator’s decision to convene another stakeholder consultation on the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020 , particularly regarding the introduction of front-of-pack warning labels on packaged food products.