Counterview

By Bharat Dogra  Parmarth, a leading voluntary organization in the Bundelkhand region of India, has developed a model of climate mitigation and adaptation that aligns with the sustainable livelihood needs of rural farmers. As Sanjay Singh, Secretary of Parmarth, explains, “We strive to strengthen climate resilience in a way that simultaneously enhances the sustainable livelihoods of villagers.”

By Sudhansu R. Das*  Crop diversity is essential for ensuring food and nutritional security. A diverse agricultural system not only provides a wider range of nutritious foods but also strengthens resilience against climate change, pests, diseases, and market fluctuations. While global food demand continues to rise, crop diversity has been declining at an alarming rate, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of food systems.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Chandra Singh, a widely respected public figure in Uttarakhand who served in various capacities in both the Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh governments, passed away on July 9, 2026, at his home in Dehradun. He was 84. A former Secretary in the Uttarakhand Government and a member of the Uttarakhand Lok Seva Aayog, he lived a life marked by simplicity, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the most marginalized communities. Despite holding high administrative positions, he lived like a rishi—travelling in private vehicles, owning almost nothing, and walking like any ordinary citizen.

By Bharat Dogra   Baghaura is a very remote village in the Babina block of Jhansi district. In the hamlet of the Sahariya tribal community in this village, about 25 students have gathered under a tree. Most of them attend the regular government school in the morning, but after returning in the afternoon, they find it helpful to revise their lessons and seek additional guidance from their teacher, Neelu, at this non-formal school. The school is run by the social organization Parmarth as part of its Sabal project.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  Human beings and their societies established universities and institutions of higher learning to challenge orthodox knowledge, advance new discoveries, and overcome the pressing challenges of their time. Social, economic, and political necessities, along with human curiosity, formed the foundations upon which these centres of higher learning were built. They were designed to produce knowledge and skills tailored to the specific needs of their people, places, and historical contexts.

By Biljana Vankovska  When one has witnessed not only a colour revolution in her own country (Macedonia, 2015–2016) but also sensed its arrival during Ukraine’s Euromaidan in 2014, every new outburst of supposedly spontaneous revolt provokes scepticism. Regrettably, this scepticism is usually justified. Nearly two years ago, I wrote similarly about student protests in Serbia and later about Nepal . The point is this: for those of us on the periphery, when you have seen one 'revolution' of this industrial kind, you have seen them all. Unfortunately or not, their outcomes are nearly identical: nothing essential changes after the supposed revolution succeeds. Its purpose was never radical transformation, but regime change in service of some geopolitical actor.