By Bharat Dogra  Few would dispute that reducing drug addiction and the trafficking networks that fuel it should be a high global priority. These problems ruin countless lives, particularly among youth, and destabilize societies. But history shows that a sustainable solution cannot come from bombs, drones, or special forces. What is needed is a multi-dimensional, carefully crafted strategy—one centered on social reforms, community action, and medical care, with law enforcement playing only a supporting role.

By Raqif Makhdoomi  The opposition Congress has alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is involved in electoral malpractice after the Election Commission of India (ECI) released the latest voter list. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, presented examples in which the same individual appeared multiple times on voter rolls in different locations. He cited instances from previous years, claiming that records show some voters have cast ballots in more than one constituency.

By Humaira Jawed  The recent release of Indian Muslims’ Tryst with Democracy: Challenges and Opportunities by Syed Ali Mujtaba at the ICCR Library in Kolkata brought together academics, activists, and public figures to discuss the political, social, and educational challenges facing India’s 210 million Muslims. The event featured former Rajya Sabha member and bureaucrat Jawhar Sircar, public intellectual Saira Shah Halim, Professor Maidul Islam of the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata, Dr Abdul Matin of Jadavpur University, philanthropist Dr Fuad Halim, and social leader Imran Zaki.

By Harsh Thakor*  On August 15, we mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary film Sholay. Watching it at Minerva theatre with a friend on its release day remains unforgettable. Sholay is widely regarded as the most impactful Indian film of the millennium, a movie that captured audiences with a magnetic force rarely seen before. No other film has so deeply embedded itself in Indian folklore or shaped the collective psyche with such permanence.

By Rosamma Thomas*  The Central Board of Film Certification regulates only the public exhibition of films in India. A film banned from public screening can still be viewed privately. And having watched just one banned film—“Santosh”—this reviewer would recommend that in New India’s Acche Din, time is better spent watching banned films than National Award winners.

By Prof. Hemantkumar Shah*  The Registrar of Gujarat University wrote a letter on 11 August 2025 to the principals of all affiliated colleges and the directors of the university’s postgraduate departments. In it, he stated that on 13 August at 11:00 a.m., a Tiranga Yatra (Tricolour March) would be organised at the university, and that a coordinator should be sent along with the students.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak   Commentators from liberal and right-wing circles often argue that leftist politics has lost its ideological relevance and must reform to regain electoral significance. Despite setbacks, leftist movements continue to identify imperialism and capitalism as systems that conflict with the interests of working people and environmental sustainability.

By Sunil Kumar  The Delhi government has repeatedly assured citizens that slums will not be demolished. Yet, when the bulldozers arrive, the explanation shifts—these demolitions, we are told, are simply court orders. But why doesn’t the government defend its rehabilitation policy strongly in court? Why not push for outcomes where either the slums remain untouched or their residents are relocated with dignity?

By Harsh Thakor*  Javed Miandad, more than any other cricketer of his era, epitomized the qualities of a street fighter, relishing a duel or a scrap in the manner of a hungry person consuming a sumptuous meal. In his day, no batsman was more adept at battling a crisis to resurrect a team from the doldrums. Javed would escalate his combative spirit to its highest pitch, scaling intensity in a tussle to heights rarely seen. He would literally "tickle" the most lethal of bowlers, being the ultimate scourge among batsmen with his sheer impetuosity. Javed lacked the grace of a Zaheer Abbas or Majid Khan or the technical solidity of Hanif Mohammad, but in a total package, he possibly overshadowed them all. Miandad was a batting genius in his own right.