Ramachandra Guha: Why Modi And Shah Fear Young Activists // "Attempt To Browbeat Disha Ravi Into Submission": Mount Carmel Alumni

Why would the Indian state arrest a 21-year-old woman activist who seeks a cleaner and safer planet? Should not the country want young people to look beyond their narrow personal interests to the interests of society at large? Why did our government lock up a young citizen seeking to build a better future for herself… Read More Ramachandra Guha: Why Modi And Shah Fear Young Activists // "Attempt To Browbeat Disha Ravi Into Submission": Mount Carmel Alumni

Nivedita Menon: Toolkits of democracy and a paranoid Hindu Rashtra

Let me tell you what the Delhi Police knows. And I do not mean the abstract entity called Delhi Police. I mean every single IPS officer and every constable involved in carrying out the “toolkit investigation.” They know that 22 year old Disha Ravi is not the Prime Mover along with the relatively recently formed… Read More Nivedita Menon: Toolkits of democracy and a paranoid Hindu Rashtra

Helen Davidson: High profile pro-democracy figures go on trial over Hong Kong protests

Nine high-profile activists and pro-democracy figures have gone on trial in Hong Kong in one of the biggest court cases linked to the protest movement that paralysed the city for more than a year. Among the defendants are Martin Lee, considered the father of the democracy movement in Hong Kong, media tycoon Jimmy Lai, veteran activist Lee Cheuk-yan, and… Read More Helen Davidson: High profile pro-democracy figures go on trial over Hong Kong protests

SIMRAN JEET SINGH: The Farmers' Protests Are a Turning Point for India's Democracy

NB: This article is presumably meant to explain the ongoing Indian farmers’ movement to Western audiences. If it was intended to help the farmers’ struggle, it will do just the opposite. The author highlights the Sikh and Punjabi element in the protests, when in fact it has been a non-denominational movement from the start. He… Read More SIMRAN JEET SINGH: The Farmers' Protests Are a Turning Point for India's Democracy

Protesting farmers hand PM a lesson for his 'Andolan Jeevi' comment

The protesting farmers on Monday wore as a badge of honour Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reference to some of them as “Andolan Jeevi” and handed him a lesson in history. Modi’s comment had come in the Rajya Sabha while he was replying to the motion of thanks to the President’s address. “Farmers would like to… Read More Protesting farmers hand PM a lesson for his 'Andolan Jeevi' comment

Bharat Bhushan: How farm protests may change political equations and hurt BJP in key states

The number and size of protest meetings or Mahapanchayats across villages of North India against the government’s obduracy on farm laws recalls the crisis faced by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2011. Six years into power, and with just about three years to go till the next general elections, its credibility was so eroded by… Read More Bharat Bhushan: How farm protests may change political equations and hurt BJP in key states

The extraordinary power struggle between Vladimir Putin and Alexei Navalny

Alexei Navalny was in defiant mood last Tuesday, as he waited for his inevitable sentence. He made a heart gesture for his wife, Yulia, who was sitting at the back of Moscow’s city courtroom. Navalny smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t be sad! Everything is going to be all right,” he yelled at her. She… Read More The extraordinary power struggle between Vladimir Putin and Alexei Navalny

Martand Kaushik, Ahan Penkar: Reporting is not a crime. So why has India’s government charged our magazine?

On 26 January, India celebrated the anniversary of its constitution, which 74 years ago promised citizens a secular, democratic state and justice, equality and liberty for all. But as the traditional Republic Day parade took place in New Delhi’s centre, across the city those very values were being violated in the most egregious manner. Hundreds… Read More Martand Kaushik, Ahan Penkar: Reporting is not a crime. So why has India’s government charged our magazine?

Avay Shukla – ARE THE FARMERS MAKING DELHI IRRELEVANT ?

The irony of this is lost on a government drowning in its testesterone: with every nail studded barricade installed at Tikri, Ghazipur or Singhu, Delhi is making itself progressively redundant to the ongoing course of events, and perhaps even to the future shape of things in India. A subterranean tsunami is slowly building in the… Read More Avay Shukla – ARE THE FARMERS MAKING DELHI IRRELEVANT ?

Navalny urges Russians from jail to overcome their fear / Putin Resorts to Jailing Journalists for Retweeting Jokes

Navalny, who was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison earlier this week, said in a statement posted on his Instagram account that “iron doors slammed behind my back with a deafening sound, but I feel like a free man. Because I feel confident I’m right. Thanks to your support. Thanks to my… Read More Navalny urges Russians from jail to overcome their fear / Putin Resorts to Jailing Journalists for Retweeting Jokes