By A Representative   A collective of 81 retired civil servants from the Constitutional Conduct Group has written to the President of India expressing alarm over what they describe as the wrongful dispossession of tribal lands in Odisha’s Rayagada district. The letter, dated April 19, 2026, highlights violent clashes in Kantamal village where police personnel reportedly injured over 70 tribal residents attempting to protect their community rights. 

By A Representative   On April 18, World Heritage Day, Sarkhej Roza in Ahmedabad once again came alive with the energy and creativity of children. Nearly 100 students from Gul International School, Safal School, and Gulshan-e-Maher School participated under the theme “Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan” (Our Heritage, Our Identity). Through their paintings, the children sought not only to depict buildings but also to reconnect with their cultural roots.  The event was organized in collaboration with Saanjhi Virasat and the Archaeological Survey of India, with speakers including Bhavna Ramrakhiani of Saanjhi Virasat, Shubho Majumdar of ASI, historian Rizwan Kadri, Dr. Utpala Desai of Intact Gujarat, Abrar Ali Saiyed, President of the Sarkhej Roza Committee, and trustee Rafiq Kotharia.  They shared insights into the monument’s history and significance, fostering awareness among the younger generation about their heritage. Sarkhej Roza, located in Makarba on the outski...

By Bharat Dogra   The Chambal Valley peace initiative led by followers of Mahatma Gandhi and the Sarvodaya movement—which ultimately resulted in the surrender of over 600 dacoits between 1960 and 1972—began in a modest yet deeply inspiring way under the leadership of Vinoba Bhave, one of Gandhi’s most committed disciples.

By Vikas Meshram*   On April 10, 1965, a boy was born in New York City, USA. His father, Muthusamy Varadarajan, was a distinguished officer of the Indian Administrative Service, and his mother, Usha, was the pillar of the family. The boy’s name was Siddharth Varadarajan. Because of his father’s frequent transfers, his childhood was spent across many cities, from La Martiniere School in Lucknow to Mayo College in Ajmer. But this wandering gave him a priceless gift: a deep, intimate understanding of India’s diverse society, its sorrows, and its richness.

By Harsh Thakor*  The passing of Professor Vijay Singh on April 17 marks the end of a significant scholarly career devoted to the study of Marxist theory, Soviet history, and the documentation of debates within the international communist movement. His work, particularly through the journal “Revolutionary Democracy”, represents a sustained effort to assemble archival material, translations, and interpretive essays that engaged with contested histories of socialism in the twentieth century.

By Ravi Ranjan*  The poetry of Kumar Ambuj, specifically the twelve works published in 'Samalochan' in April 2026, serves as a profound and vibrant document of contemporary Indian society that intertwines personal wounds with deep-seated social structures. Ambuj’s sociological and aesthetic vision is one that peels away layers of reality without resorting to slogans, standing firmly in favor of democracy, secularism, and scientific consciousness while critiquing the minutiae of capitalist modernity.

By Bharat Dogra   In 1972, as part of a peace initiative led by followers of Mahatma Gandhi in the Chambal Valley, hundreds of dacoits surrendered voluntarily. This marked a turning point for a region long associated with the terror of dacoit gangs, enabling a transition toward normal, peaceful conditions in which development initiatives could take root. The episode is widely regarded as a significant example of how non-violence and a genuine change of heart can foster durable peace.

By Ram Puniyani*  In Delhi’s Tri Nagar , some Hindu families appear to have embraced a new form of devotion—and a way to deter Muslim neighbours—by keeping pigs as pets. The animals are kept in cages at homes, while the walls display posters of a powerful, pig-faced deity in jewellery, much like other gods.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  It is encouraging to see that the Delimitation Bill was effectively stalled in Parliament. Credit is due to opposition party members who grasped the seriousness of the issue and returned to Delhi even during the peak of their election campaigns in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. Their arguments exposed significant weaknesses in the government’s position. The parliamentary debate also highlighted that parties such as the TMC, DMK, and Congress possess articulate voices capable of presenting well-researched and data-driven perspectives.