By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*     The murder of Saksham Tete , a Dalit described as a ‘ jaibhim wallah ’ by the family of his girlfriend Anchal Mamidwar in Nanded, should not surprise anyone. The bitter and brutal fact is that we are a highly caste-conscious society, and anyone venturing beyond caste boundaries must be prepared for the repercussions that Saksham faced. There is not one single caste, region, or identity to be blamed for this. The reality is that we are all proud of our castes, and anyone who crosses the red line becomes unwanted and unaccepted.  

By Ravi Ranjan*  In an India still fractured by caste, religion, and language, where narrow loyalties repeatedly threaten to tear the nation apart, Rammanohar Lohia once observed that the true leader of the bahujans is one under whose banner even non-bahujans feel proud to march. The remark applies far beyond politics. In the literary-cultural and social spheres as well, only a person armed with unflinching historical consciousness and the moral courage to refuse every form of personality worship—including worship of oneself—can hope to touch the weak pulse of the age and speak its bitter truths without fear or favour. 

By Bharat Dogra   Mahatma Gandhi once said that one of the most important tests of a society is how it cares for its elderly. In many parts of India, particularly in villages facing poverty and outmigration, this test is increasingly being failed in the lives of the most vulnerable older people whose needs remain invisible and unmet. Recent visits to several villages in the tribal belts of South Rajasthan reveal painful stories of neglect but also inspiring examples of collective effort and hope shaped by a wellness-based model of elderly care emerging through the Prabal Yatra (PY) initiative of ARTH, a voluntary organisation working in the region.

By Harsh Thakor*  Robin Smith, who has died at the age of 62, was among the most adept and convincing players of fast bowling during an era when English cricket was in decline and pace bowling was at its most lethal. Unwavering against the tormenting West Indies pace attack or the relentless Australians, Smith epitomised courage and stroke-making prowess. His trademark shot, an immensely powerful square cut, made him a scourge of opponents. Wearing a blue England helmet without a visor or grille, he relished pulling, hooking and cutting the quicks. 

By Sandeep Pandey, Shahnawaz Mir  The Bharatiya Janata Party considers itself nationalist, and Narendra Modi has built a tall statue of Sardar Patel near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat , known as the Statue of Unity . However, the politics of the BJP heavily revolves around Hindu–Muslim polarisation. The latest incident in this regard is extremely shameful.

By A Representative   The Union government has faced sharp criticism  following allegations that its newly announced mobile application Sanchaar Saathi could enable large-scale surveillance of Indian citizens. The controversy grew even as journalist Bhasha Singh , in a widely circulated video statement, accused the Centre of forcing all mobile manufacturers to pre-install the app and preventing users from deleting it.

By A Representative  A detailed representation addressed to Union Environment Ministers Bhupender Yadav and Kirti Vardhan Singh has urged the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to undertake a serious reassessment of India’s environmental governance in the context of accelerating climate impacts , continuing diversion of forests and increasing ecological stress. The letter, written by Power and Climate Policy Analyst Shankar Sharma from Sagara, Karnataka , has also been marked to the Prime Minister.

By Bharat Dogra  Although more than four decades have passed, several elderly residents of Jamun village still vividly remember the inspirational early days when the voluntary organization Seva Mandir came to this remote tribal community—then marked by high levels of illiteracy—with an adult literacy programme.

By A Representative   Aahwahan Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental protection and rural development in India, is transforming lives through its Solar Village Project, known as Chirag. Led by CEO and Founder Braja Kishore Pradhan, the Foundation has been working to bring clean, solar-powered electricity to underserved communities across the country, offering a sustainable alternative to unsafe kerosene lamps and the darkness that has long defined rural nights.