Counterview

By Lathamala*   Dear Bapu, No one can kill you. You are the soul of this nation and the life breath of its people. The one who walked the talk. You are the hermit that walked the length and breadth of this country, in your loin cloth, armed with your stick, shaking the sloth off people.

By Ram Puniyani*  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, citing new research on pre-modern history, stated that archaeologists have concluded that the Iron Age first began in Tamil Nadu. According to this research, iron smelting was introduced in Tamil Nadu 5,300 years ago, with precise dating indicating its first use in the region around 3345 BCE. Stalin emphasized the significance of this finding for understanding the historical timeline of the Indian subcontinent. He proudly declared, “I’m constantly saying that the history of India will be written from Tamil Nadu,” underscoring the potential of this research to reshape historical narratives. But how relevant is such a discovery to the present day?

By Harsh Thakor*  Dhurva Narayan, a prominent leader from Bihar and a Central Committee member of the former PCC, CPI (ML) as well as the newly merged CPI (ML)-MassLine, passed away on February 12, 2025. He was an influential figure in the Indian Communist revolutionary movement for over five decades, known for his role in opposing Hindutva politics and globalization. Narayan was committed to fostering unity within Communist ranks and advocating against opportunism and sectarianism.

By Gajanan Khergamker  As the sun rises over the Triveni Sangam, its golden rays glisten on the rippling waters where thousands of devotees, draped in saffron and white, take their sacred dips. The Maha Kumbh Mela is not just an event; it is a grand confluence of faith, tradition, and spirituality. Millions flock to Prayagraj with devotion in their hearts, hoping to cleanse their sins in the holy waters. But alongside the piety and grandeur of this ancient festival lurks an age-old reality—where faith becomes a business and trust, a commodity.

By Bharat Dogra  Vimla Bahuguna, who dedicated herself at a very young age to leading her life in accordance with Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings of serving people, breathed her last at her home in Dehradun on February 14. She was 92. She leaves behind her daughter Madhu Pathak and sons Rajeev and Pradeep. Her husband, the famous environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna, had died in 2021 at the age of 94.

Counterview Desk  Text of the open letter by Harsh Mander to Supreme Court Justice BR Gavai in response to the latter's description of homeless people as “parasites” seeking “freebies” in a hearing on 12 February: --- It is with respect but utmost dismay I feel compelled to respond to your remarks while hearing the civil writ petitions pertaining to provision of adequate shelter facilities to homeless persons, on 12 February 2025.   And since this concerns the lives (and possible deaths) of masses of our most destitute and dispossessed citizens in cities and towns across the country, I feel persuaded to place this letter in the public domain.  

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  While hearing a case on the right to shelter for homeless individuals in urban areas, Supreme Court of India Justices B.R. Gavai and A.G. Masih questioned the fundamental purpose and justifications of government welfare programs. Justice Gavai remarked, "Unfortunately, due to these freebies, often announced just before elections—such as the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme for women and others—people are unwilling to work. They receive free rations and money without doing any work." The justices further argued that welfare programs providing free rations and financial assistance discourage people from working. The bench asked, "Rather than integrating them into the mainstream and encouraging them to contribute to national development, are we not creating a class of dependents?" They suggested, "Would it not be better to make them part of the mainstream society and enable them to contribute to the nation's progress?". Calling the w...

By Vikas Meshram*  Despite the continuously deteriorating air quality in the country, air pollution has not become a major topic of national discussion. It is unfortunate that this crucial public health issue neither finds a place in the election manifestos of political parties nor is it addressed sensitively by policymakers. There is also a lack of sufficient public awareness, which prevents citizens from holding their representatives accountable for implementing effective air pollution control policies.

By Harasankar Adhikari  The transgender community in India includes diverse groups such as Hijras, eunuchs, Kothis, Aravanis, Jogappas, and Shiv-Shaktis. In West Bengal, Hijras form a prominent sub-group. Ancient Hindu texts, including Vedic and Puranic literature, acknowledge a "third gender" (tritiya prakriti), also termed napunsaka. Today, West Bengal’s Hijra population is estimated at over 50,000 (within India’s total transgender population of approximately five lakh, or 500,000). Many transgender individuals face exclusion from their natal families, leading them to form close-knit communities for survival and support. Despite enduring widespread social stigma, nearly 50% of transgender persons in India have attained at least a high school education.  

Counterview Desk  Shankar Sharma, Power & Climate Policy Analyst, in a representation has reminded Eshwar Khandre Minister for forests, environment and ecology, Govt. of Karnataka, that International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed Western Ghats as key freshwater biodiversity hotspot. Excerpt: ***