By Bharat Dogra   Waste management has been a weak link in India’s development story, and within this, the failure to ensure proper waste segregation has been particularly disappointing. This is despite the fact that, in some smaller initiatives, committed officials working with community participation have achieved very good results. However, such success has not been replicated at a wider level.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*   Hindutva, as a political ideology and movement, has been widely debated in India’s public sphere. Critics argue that it does not emerge organically from India’s plural civilisational traditions but represents a modern political project shaped by global ideological influences and domestic power structures. From this perspective, Hindutva is viewed not merely as a cultural assertion but as a political and economic framework that aligns closely with contemporary forms of capitalism and majoritarian nationalism.

By Vikas Meshram   In today’s digital age, where reels and short videos dominate attention spans, watching a silent film for over two hours feels almost like an act of resistance. Directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar, “Gandhi Talks” is a bold cinematic experiment that turns silence into language and wordlessness into a powerful storytelling device. The film is not mere entertainment; it is an experience that pushes the viewer inward, compelling reflection on life, values, and society.

By Raqif Makhdoomi  Much has been said and written about the Delhi riots case. Seven out of the eleven accused, after a long and arduous legal battle, have been granted bail. However, the bail comes with stringent conditions, prompting the question of whether they have truly been released or merely transferred from one jail to another. Two accused—Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid—remain incarcerated.

By Raqif Makhdoomi*  The government in Jammu and Kashmir has completed approximately one and a half years in office. During the initial phase of its tenure, public expectations were shaped by commitments made during the election campaign. In particular, the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, stated at a press conference held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) that major promises would be addressed within the first six months of governance. As the government has now crossed two such six-month periods, public discourse continues to assess the extent to which these commitments have been met.

By Bharat Dogra   Making agricultural and rural development climate-resilient is an increasingly urgent challenge. Of crucial importance is ensuring that sustainable rural livelihoods—particularly those of small farmers—are not only protected but strengthened as villages move towards climate resilience.

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The year 2026 has not begun on an optimistic note, despite the customary celebrations that accompany the end of one year and the arrival of another. Across the world, people are grappling with the consequences of incompetent political leadership increasingly captured by large corporate interests.

By A Representative   A complaint alleging torture, degrading treatment and abuse of power by personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF), with alleged collusion of local police and medical officials, has been submitted to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in connection with an incident in the Indo–Bangladesh border area of North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. The complaint has been filed by Kirity Roy, Secretary of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) and National Convenor of the Programme Against Custodial Torture and Impunity (PACTI).

By Dhanapal Govindarajulu*  For many years, I lived in the Indian city of Chennai where the summer temperatures can reach up to 44°C. With a population of 4.5 million, this coastal city is humid and hot. Its suburbs are home to 600 Hindu temples and there’s a wildlife reserve called Guindy national park in the heart of the city. Trees line some of the streets but green parks are few and far between – as is the shade.