By Valjibhai Patel*  Rajiv Shah, who is among those esteemed journalist friends who have stood by the issues of the Dalit and oppressed communities, has raised a question regarding our 1972 protest in a recent blog,  “Would breaking idols, burning books annihilate caste? Recalling a 1972 Dalit protest” ( Counterview , January 9, 2026): Why did Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar feel the need to burn the Manusmriti? Why did Periyar lead a procession crowning the idol of Rama with a garland of footwear? Why did Jyotiba Phule write so harshly against Rama, Krishna, the Gita, and Varnashrama in his book Gulamgiri? And why did we feel the need to break the idol of Krishna?

By Harsh Thakor*  The Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela, launched under President Hugo Chávez starting in 1999, represented a major attempt to transform the country's political, economic, and social systems. It drew inspiration from Simón Bolívar's vision of Latin American unity and independence, while aiming to reduce poverty, challenge foreign influence (especially from the United States), and promote a form of socialism suited to the 21st century.

By Harsh Thakor*  Zhou Enlai (1898–1976) served as the first Premier of the People's Republic of China (PRC) from 1949 until his death and as Foreign Minister from 1949 to 1958. He played a central role in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for over five decades, contributing to its organization, military efforts, diplomacy, and governance. His tenure spanned key events including the Long March, World War II alliances, the founding of the PRC, the Korean War, and the Cultural Revolution. 

By Bharat Dogra    It is now widely recognized that the global humanitarian crisis has reached an extremely serious stage. Even more worrying is the growing likelihood that conditions will deteriorate further during 2026. The reasons are clear. Conflicts and destabilisation are increasing due to aggressive and short-sighted policies promoted by powerful actors, coupled with the weakening of peacebuilding efforts at local levels. Although the overwhelming majority of people desire peace, this sentiment does not translate into organisational strength, as the forces driving violence are far more powerful. 

By Rajiv Shah    India must confront its accelerating ecological emergency with systemic reforms rather than symbolic gestures, climate and energy expert Soumya Dutta warned during an interactive workshop in Ahmedabad titled “India’s Environmental Crisis: Where Do We Go From Here Living?”. Introduced by Jesuit activist Cedric Prakash as both a scientist and people’s movement organiser, Dutta said India was already facing life-threatening consequences of environmental neglect.

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  Most major cities of Madhya Pradesh—Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain and Sagar—depend directly or indirectly on rivers, lakes and groundwater for drinking water. All these sources are under increasing pressure from urban sewage, industrial waste and solid garbage. Sewage treatment plants are either inadequately designed or, in many cases, completely non-functional. As a result, partially treated or untreated sewage flows directly into water bodies. The National Green Tribunal (NGT), based in Bhopal, recently acknowledged that serious risks of water contamination exist not only in Indore, but in other major cities of the state as well. The remark points not only to administrative failures but also raises deep questions about the model of urban water governance in Madhya Pradesh. The NGT’s comments come at a time when urban populations are expanding rapidly, yet sewage treatment, solid waste management and water protection systems have failed to grow in proporti...

By A Representative   In a strongly worded submission to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare , public policy expert Dr. Donthi Narasimha Reddy has signaled a red alert: the Pesticides Management Bill, 2025 , in its current form, is a paper tiger. Without sweeping amendments, this legislation risks becoming yet another ineffective administrative measure, incapable of stemming the tide of pesticide-related deaths and chronic health crises that continue to haunt India. ​Addressed to the Secretary at Krishi Bhavan , Dr. Reddy’s detailed 80-page critique argues that while the Bill introduces progressive elements like digital databases, it remains shackled to the outdated philosophy of the 1968 Insecticides Act . This fragmented regulatory landscape is precisely what has allowed devastating tragedies—from the 2013 Bihar poisonings to the recent 2025 Mysuru disaster —to repeat with sickening regularity. ​The fundamental failure of the Bill lies in its institutional architect...

By Bharat Dogra  As debate intensifies over a new seeds bill, groups working on farmers’ seed rights, seed sovereignty and rural self-reliance have raised serious concerns about the proposed legislation. To understand these anxieties, it is important to recognise a global trend: growing control of the seed sector by a handful of multinational companies. This trend risks extending corporate dominance across food and farming systems, jeopardising the livelihoods and rights of small farmers and raising serious ecological and health concerns. The pending bill must be assessed within this broader context.

By A Representative   The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) has written to the Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer alleging attempts to remove eligible Muslim voters from the electoral rolls in Ahmedabad’s Jamalpur constituency. In a letter dated January 18, 2026, MCC convener Mujahid Nafees said several Form 7 applications seeking deletion of names had been filed against registered voters in multiple parts of the assembly segment.