Counterview

Adatata Narayanan, Aruna Asaf Ali   By Rajiv Shah Alternative media, as we know it today in the age of information and communication technology (ICT), didn't exist in the form it does today during or around the time I joined formal journalism at Link Newsweekly as a sub-editor in January 1979. However, Link, and its sister publication Patriot, a daily—both published from Delhi—were known to have provided what could be called an alternative media platform at a time when major Delhi-based dailies were controlled by media barons.

By Bharat Dogra*  Till just about five years ago, in Nadna village of Shivpuri district (Madhya Pradesh) in Central India, the situation for most households was quite distressing. As several women of this village related recently in a group discussion, most of the rainwater rapidly flowed away from the village quite rapidly on sloped land, leaving hardly anything for the longer dry season ahead and contributing very little to water recharge. What is more, on the sloped land the rapid water torrents carried away a lot of the fertile topsoil as well.

By Bharat Dogra*  At a time when several environmental problems have become so serious as to threaten the basic life-nurturing conditions of our planet, thoughtful and concerned people all over the world are looking for effective solutions with an increasing sense of urgency sometimes bordering on desperation. In this search for durable solutions, community strength and spirit of voluntarism are being seen as very important means of achieving success, or even as the key to success. It is increasingly realized that no matter how well-intentioned various plans and projects aimed at environment protection and regeneration are, their sustainability and durability are best achieved when these are based on community strength including a spirit of voluntarism.

By Indira Khurana, Ashok Khurana*    Glaciers hold 69 per cent of the world’s freshwater and are melting at a rapid rate. As the roof tops of the world melt away, the consequences are many. This year’s theme for the United Nation’s World Water Day, celebrated on March 22, is Glacier Preservation. From this year, March 21, will be recognised as the World Day for Glaciers.

By Syed Ali Mujtaba Here’s a heartwarming story of compassion, faith, and unity that shines brightly from India! In the heart of Chennai, an interfaith spiritual center called Sufi Dar has been serving Iftar to Muslim devotees during the holy month of Ramadan—for nearly 40 years. As the sun sets at Wallajah Mosque in Triplicane, an inspiring scene unfolds. Every evening, volunteers from Sufi Dar, located in Mylapore, arrive at the Big Mosque carrying food for those observing the Ramadan fast. Respectfully wearing traditional Muslim caps, they assist the fasting devotees by distributing dates and water bottles to break their long fasts, which can last 13 to 14 hours in this part of the world.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat   Noted scholar and historian Dr. Atul Krishna Biswas, popularly known as Dr. A. K. Biswas, passed away on February 28, 2025, at his home in Kolkata. He was 79 years old and had been suffering from age-related ailments for the past few days. The death of Dr. Biswas came as a shock to many of his admirers, including myself. Dr. Biswas was an exceptionally hardworking individual who wrote extensively based on his research from various archives and documents to which he had access. He served as Home Secretary of Bihar in 2005 and, prior to that, as Vice-Chancellor of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar.

By Sandeep Pandey*  During the 7 October, 2023 attack by Hamas, 1195 Israelis were killed and 251 taken as hostages. There was worldwide condemnation of the ‘terrorist’ attack carried out by Hamas. In response Israel has killed approximately 70,000 Palestinians, which includes about 15,000 missing or presumed dead, close to 60% of whom are women, children and elderly and still continues to kill Palestinians on one pretext or the other. Before the 2023 war began, 5200 Palestinian prisoners were in Israeli jails or captivity. The numbers increased to 10,000 by November, 2023. There is a category called Administrative Detention which allows Israel to keep Palestinians without any charge or trial indefinitely. Since 1967, 10 lakhs Palestinians have been in Israeli jails, which is 18% of the total Palestinian population. 40% male Palestinian population has been to Israeli jails at some time or other.

By Bharat Dogra   Before the advent of colonial rule India was a world leader in the production of cotton cloth and in growing a diversity of cotton crop varieties which provided the base for this cotton cloth. India’s cotton fabrics of diverse forms and colors were in demand even in distant countries of the world. This provided the base for sustainable livelihoods of a vast number of farmers, spinners and weavers and other artisans providing a wide range of related services, including making various implements, looms and colors. In particular highly skilled weavers with the distinct identity of their creations became famous over vast parts of the country and abroad.

By A Representative  The All India Network of NGOs and Individuals (AiNNI) has launched a three-day social media campaign, #ReformNHRC, urging systemic changes to India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) as it undergoes a critical re-accreditation review by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI). 

By Harsh Thakor*  Syed Abid Ali, 83, who passed away in Tracy, California, on March 12th, will be remembered as the epitome of courage on the cricket field. He was the fittest player of his era, an outstanding fielder, and a personification of joy. Abid Ali’s spirit, sportsmanship, and selflessness defined an era, with his legacy occupying a permanent niche in the annals of Indian cricket. His deeds remain etched in the folklore of the game.