Female prisoners are ‘supplied’ to male inmates of West Bengal jails, sexual abuse is commonplace and hundreds of children are born in prison. But the women are too scared to speak out. “As of January, this year, there were 196 children living with their incarcerated mothers across West Bengal prisons,” says Tapas Kumar Bhanja, citing… Read More The hidden scandal of rape in Indian prisons
The Union government is nervous because the farmers are the only social group that has dared to take it on Bharat Bhushan The nervousness of the Union government over the farmers’ agitation from Punjab is palpable, as it exerts pressure on X (formerly, Twitter) to take down accounts and posts related to the farmers’ protest. These… Read More Farmer protests could upset BJP’s political calculations in North India
First posted September 17, 2012 “War begins in the mind, with the idea of the enemy” NB: John Mack (1929 – 2004) was an immensely insightful psychiatrist, and this essay is an example of the contemporary relevance of his ideas and his research. A short biography may be read here. DS There is a substantial,… Read More John Mack: The Enemy System
From the morning mist suspended above a lake to the unspoken friendship between a rescued pangolin and her caretaker to a molten galaxy of fire spewing from a volcanic crater, photographs have the power to inspire, captivate and haunt us. “Gold mist is suspended on the still lake surface, and amid this dreamy scene is… Read More The best travel photographs from around the globe
NB: Allahabad was my father’s birthplace and hometown; and that of his two sisters. It was the place where they went to school and college. My father’s closest friendships dated back to his childhood and youth in Allahabad. My grandparent’s home was located on 9, Kamala Nehru Road (once City Road); and I have fond… Read More Allahabad that is Prayagraj: The Politics of Erasure
Nihal Abu Ayash, 16, was reportedly the 100th Palestinian child to be killed in the West Bank since Hamas’s 7 October attack Nihal was the 100th Palestinian child to be killed in the occupied West Bank since Hamas’s 7 October attack on Israel, according to the human rights group Defense for Children International – Palestine… Read More ‘It was an execution’: family mourns boy shot dead by Israeli forces
Increased military spending prompted by Russia’s war on Ukraine and the Israel-Gaza conflict helped the British weapons manufacturer BAE Systems to record profits last year, with further growth expected in the year ahead. The FTSE 100 company made underlying profits before interest and tax of £2.7bn on record sales of £25.3bn in 2023. Shares in weapons manufacturers… Read More Arms maker BAE Systems makes record profit amid Ukraine and Israel-Gaza wars
GAZA casualties live statistics Mr. Secretary, you have provided the weapons and the political cover that enabled the murder of 65 members of my family, mostly women and children, over the past four months. In strikes in mid-November, three generations of my family were killed by missiles as they sought shelter and safety. I carry their… Read More Secretary Blinken, this is the uncomfortable truth about America and Israel
The episode reveals that when a strong executive decides it wants something, even something that is dangerous and unconstitutional, there is little resistance from within to stop it. Many will not know how diabolical the electoral bonds enterprise was, and it is for their benefit that this is being written. Aakar Patel India’s electoral bonds scheme… Read More Modi Government’s Tryst with Electoral Bonds Should Neither Be Forgotten Nor Forgiven
They have taken the decision after seeing any role in enabling ship to carry armaments which may aggravate the war in Gaza and particularly in Rafah. Amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine war, the Water Transport Workers Federation of India – representing 3,500 workers at 11 major Indian ports – declared to refuse to load or unload… Read More Gaza war: India’s Water Transport Workers’ Union refuses to load, unload Israel-bound weapons on any ships
After the truth-shower 