Counterview

By Sandeep Pandey*  Manipur has been known for more than just the existence of numerous insurgent groups. It is known for the bravery of its people, especially women, against the injustices of the state. Who doesn’t remember the one of its kind protest, in 2004, in front of Assam Rifles headquarters when 2-3 dozen naked women protested with the banner ‘Indian Army Rape Us’ after the abduction and murder of a young lady Manorama or the 16 years long lonely battle that Irom Sharmila fought from the hospital with a rubber tube inserted in her nose to feed her as she fasted against the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act? 

Shankar Sharma, Power & Climate Policy Analyst, writes to R K Singh, Union Minister for Power, with copy to Vice-Chairperson, NITI Aayog, Union Finance Minister, and the Prime Minister: *** This has reference to the Gazette of 14th June 2023 notifying amendments to Electricity (rights of consumers) Rules 2020, wherein it is mentioned that the Consumers will be asked to pay at least 20% Lower Electricity Tariff During Solar Hours, and 10- 20% Higher Electricity Tariff During non-Solar Hours. This amendment seeking to implement the Time-of-Day (TOD) metering system to optimise the usage of electricity across the country so as to minimise the overall societal level costs, is one of the best decisions to be implemented to improve the overall performance of electricity sector in the country in recent years, and the same was long overdue. May I take this opportunity to congratulate you, your team and all others who have contributed to this critical policy decision, which will go a long...

By Rahul Sejwal*  Wildfire risks could be reduced by strengthening Indigenous knowledge in management strategies, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA), UK. Combining traditional knowledge and techniques with modern approaches, Indigenous communities in Bolivia are finding new ways of dealing with increasingly flammable landscapes that threaten their lives and livelihoods. Studying how the Monkoxɨ indigenous people use and manage fire in the dry forest, shrublands and savannah of the Bolivian lowlands, the researchers found they not only protect their territories but also ensure more political self-determination. In doing so, the Monkoxɨ are changing the terms of the conversation about the role of indigenous knowledge in wildfire management. Dr Iokiñe Rodríguez, an associate professor in UEA’s School of International Development, led the research, with Mirna Inturias from Bolivia’s NUR University, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, and Elmar Masay from the U...

Counterview Desk  Commenting on the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for School Education, 2023, the Right To Education (RTE) Forum, claiming to be India’s largest education civil society network working on realising RTE, has said that while the emphasis on teaching children about India’s contribution to the world is welcome, “At the same time, the child should also learn to critically appraise India’s weaknesses so that she will learn from past mistakes and find out a way for the future.”

By Our Representive  Coinciding with Prime Minister Modi's address at the joint meeting of Congress three US Congresspersons and a US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) commissioner joined human rights experts and leaders of Indian-American advocacy groups have told a policy briefing in Washington DC that the Biden government must hold the "authoritarian rule" in India responsible for "human rights abuses".

By Sandeep Pandey*  Narendra Modi’s United States visit has made big news. In his seventh trip to that country as the Prime Minister he has been able to get himself invited as a state guest for the first time, riding on the back of a proposal from an Indian private company Air India to buy 220 aircrafts from another U.S. private company Boeing.

By Sudhansu R Das  After Mahinder Singh Dhoni, Team India has failed to find a good captain. Dhoni turned defeats into victories on a number of occasions. He had the ability to turn the match with innovations, superb bowling changes and field placement. An avid reader of batsman’s footwork flaws, Dhoni is like a doctor who could give the right medicines to the opponent batsmen after studying their footwork flaws. He was unpredictable in his move; he is more like a spider who can catch the opponents without being noticed. While batting, Dhoni has “fear to none approach.”  He takes a few balls to settle down and later unleash a hell on the opponent's bowling attack; he is unstoppable in the slug over and can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Even in his 40s, Dhoni has shown his incredible ability to chase a near impossible target against Rajasthan Royal in the IPL 2023. The target was 54 runs in 18 balls; it had no impact on Dhoni’s composure. The epic chase had begun. Dho...

By Bharat Dogra*  Recent preliminary findings of important research conducted by the Central University of Rajasthan has identified over 31 hills in the upper Aravalli range that have disappeared during just the last 20 years or so. This has been recorded in the context of Naraina, Kilwar, Kotputli, Jhalana and Sariska (Rajasthan), with heights of 200 to 600 meters above sea level. The number of hills similarly affected in the lower and middle ranges of the ancient hills are many more.

By Harsh Thakor  On 25th June we celebrate the 40th anniversary, of India winning the 1983 Prudential world cup. It was close to sport’s greatest upset or India’s best ever sporting achievement. The ultimate epitome of triumph from regions of adversity. It is hard for words to describe or do justice to the sheer ecstasy or joy amongst Indians at Lords and in India. It gave an effect of new epoch written in Indian cricket or a sporting renaissance. India had achieved the equivalent of a David conquering Goliath .The scene was reminiscent of an invincible emperor or nation overpowered, when overpowering West Indies. India literally resurrected itself like a phoenix from the Ashes not only at Lords, but a week ago against Zimbabwe, after tottering at 17-5. Although in terms of strength well below par with the might of the West Indies, India elevated fighting spirit or resilience to heights rarely scaled in sport. It transcended boundless energy levels. World cup Final India was bundle...

By Bhaskar Sur*  Rammohun Roy (born May 22, 1772) lived in many worlds -- Hindu, Islamic and the European. Though deeply imbued with the late Mughal culture, he nevertheless had a feeling that it was a vanishing world giving way to a more vigorous, varied and profound European way of life. It was not a starry eyed view of a colonized 'native' but one who had developed a deep sense of history and a comparative view of civilizations.