By A Representative  The National Alliance for Climate and Ecological Justice (NACEJ), a national platform of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), has sharply criticised the Delhi Government for what it termed as an “ institutional and moral collapse ” in responding to the capital’s escalating air pollution emergency. The alliance condemned the detention of peaceful protesters who had gathered in Delhi earlier this week to demand urgent measures against worsening air quality and called the state’s actions “an affront to democratic and environmental justice.”

By Thomas Franco   The Finance Minister has once again revived talk of merging two or three large public sector banks to make them globally competitive. Reports also suggest that the government is considering appointing Managing Directors in public sector banks from the private sector. Both moves would strike at the heart of India’s public banking system . Privatisation undermines the constitutional vision of social and economic justice, and such steps could lead to irreversible damage.

By Tseten Lhundup*  Since the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, the Tibetan exile community in Dharamsala has established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as the guardian of Tibetan culture and identity. Once admired for its democratic governance , educational system , and religious vitality , the exile community now faces an alarming demographic and institutional decline. 

By Sudhansu R. Das  The Ramayana, one of India’s most revered epics, has had a deep cultural influence across the subcontinent, including Tamil Nadu. According to the text, the Vanaras—forest-dwelling communities believed to have lived in southern India—played a crucial role in assisting Lord Ram in his battle against the demon king Ravana. These communities are often described as possessing engineering skills, knowledge of natural medicine, and deep familiarity with the forest ecosystem.

By Bharat Dogra  Raj Kapoor ’s Jagte Raho is one of the all-time great films of Hindi cinema . It received international acclaim and won prestigious awards. The film revolves around the simple story of a migrant worker who, being thirsty, enters a gated colony in a big city to find water but is mistaken for a thief. The film narrates his experiences as he is chased throughout the night within the housing complex. The filmmakers use this setting to make many significant social observations — sometimes with sadness, and at other times with great humor. It is a film with many smiles and a few tears too, as Charlie Chaplin might have said.

By Harsh Thakor*  On October 24, 1955 , the Soviet Union lost one of its most pioneering figures in cinema — Yuri Zhelyabuzhsky . More than a cinematographer and director, he was a chronicler of revolution, an innovator in animation, and a tireless documentarian whose work vividly captured the transformation of an era. His films trace the evolution of Soviet culture from the fervour of revolution to the reconstruction of the post-war period.

By Bharat Dogra  According to recent reports, India has recorded the highest growth rate in total beverage alcohol (TBA) consumption among 20 global markets for the third consecutive first half-year period. The global alcohol-focused industry research firm IWSR reported that TBA volume in India grew 7% year-on-year during January–June 2025 to over 440 million nine-litre cases. Sarah Campbell of IWSR observed, “India is increasingly one of the most important global markets for the beverage alcohol industry.”

By Sunil Kumar*  The majority of Delhi's working-class population lives in slums (jhuggi-jhopris) and unauthorized colonies . These settlements are home to the people who build the cities, run them, and do the sanitation work. One such settlement is the Kabadi (Bengali) Colony in Rithala . This colony is surrounded on three sides by high boundary walls. Multi-story apartments are on one side of the settlement, and Rithala village is on the other.

By Syed Ali Mujtaba*  The prolonged detention without bail of Umar  Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, and Shifa-ur-Rehman—five individuals accused in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots—raises serious questions about the administration of justice in India. Arrested in 2020 and charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, the Arms Act, and various sections of the Indian Penal Code, they have spent over five years in prison while their trial remains ongoing before a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria.