Counterview

By Phebyn Joseph, Maggie Paul, Ruth Gamble  The greatest challenge to India’s government in years began as an online joke. On May 16, after Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant described unemployed youth as “cockroaches”, Abhijeet Dipke, an international student in the United States, mused on X, “What if all cockroaches come together?”

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan  A curious pattern has emerged in contemporary India. Governments that constantly speak of innovation, entrepreneurship and the country's demographic dividend often appear deeply uncomfortable when young people think independently or challenge authority.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  Britain's two dominant political parties—Labour and the Conservatives—appear to have turned the children's party game of "musical chairs" into a governing strategy. As democratic accountability steadily erodes, the quality of life and dignity of citizenship continue to decline. Food banks are expanding, poverty and homelessness are rising, and economic insecurity has become a defining feature of everyday life for millions. Yet neither of the mainstream parties has offered a meaningful alternative capable of reviving the British economy, building a progressive society, or strengthening the welfare state and democratic institutions.

By Bharat Dogra   There has been growing concern in recent decades about the breakdown and disintegration of families. Although an enormous body of data and research exists on this issue, it has generally not been possible to achieve significant success in reversing these trends or improving the situation. To achieve better results, efforts to strengthen and protect families must be more closely integrated with wider efforts to improve communities and social relationships. The values needed to improve social relations are largely the same as those required for healthy family life.

By Raqif Makhdoomi*  The tragedy of Karbala remains one of the most significant and emotionally charged events in Islamic history. It continues to shape religious thought, political discourse, and communal identities across the Muslim world. However, discussions surrounding Karbala are often influenced by historical interpretations that differ among various schools of thought. Understanding these differences is essential for appreciating both the tragedy itself and its enduring lessons.

By Harsh Thakor*  On May 23, 2026, the birth centenary of Joe Slovo was commemorated across South Africa and beyond. Slovo was a distinguished anti-apartheid fighter, leader of the South African Communist Party (SACP) from 1984 to 1991, and a leading member of the African National Congress (ANC). He served as Minister of Housing in Nelson Mandela's first democratic government from April 1994 until his death on January 6, 1995, despite prolonged ill health.

By Venkatesh Nayak*  The Annual Report of the Central Information Commission (CIC) for the year 2024-25 was released in mid-February this year. Some trends with regard to the disposal of RTI applications, particularly rejections, were reported by some segments of the media. But there is much more in these statistical reports that deserves our attention with regard to the manner of implementation of The Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act) across the Union Government.