By Bhaskaran Raman*  On 14 Oct 2024, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the side-effects of the Covid vaccine. In 2021, the world saw the rollout of various Covid vaccine candidates. In India, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Serum Institute of India’s Covishield were rolled out. Covishield was nothing but Oxford’s AstraZeneca relabelled in India. The importance of open-minded and scientific probe of Covid vaccine safety In 2020/2021, all Covid vaccines were authorized for emergency use, which meant that the necessary efficacy and safety follow-up was incomplete at that time. The originally approved trials – called randomised controlled trials (RCT) had a “vaccine” group and a “placebo” group for comparison. Such experimental comparison/control is the cornerstone of the scientific method – which even children learn in photosynthesis experiments in class-1. The vaccine trials were scheduled to conclude in late 2022/early 2023. For instance, Covaxin’s

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ*  About a month ago, on 15 October, the 2024 Global Hunger Index was released. India ranks 105 out of 127 countries; with a score of 27.3, India has a level of hunger that is serious. On that day, a World Bank report stated that “almost 129 million Indians are living in extreme poverty in 2024, on less than $2.15 (about Rs 181) a day.” These are hard facts by independent agencies, which the Government of India is unable to find fault with. These statistics should not surprise anyone: whilst India boasts of producing some of the richest persons in the world, the fact is that millions of Indians still do not have access to roti- kapda- makhan (food-clothing-shelter), clean drinking water and the other basic amenities of life. Theirs is a journey of survival, struggling to eke out a living!

Counterview Desk   Expressing solidarity with recently detained Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) environmental activists, the top NGO network National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) has said that in the midst so much turmoil that J&K has seen in past many years, "we have this disturbing development that requires urgent attention."

By Shamim Ahmed*   In a historic meeting that highlighted both environmental and social concerns, four Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) visited Wular Lake to meet with the fisherfolk community, signaling a significant step in addressing their longstanding issues. This gathering, organized with the support of dedicated advocates, marks a strengthening of efforts to both safeguard the lake’s ecosystem and support the community’s welfare.

By Our Representative  The advocacy group, Campaign for Peace and Justice in Chhattisgarh (CPJC), in a statement has condemned what it called "recent surge in state-led violence, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings of members of the Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM) and local villagers in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district." Following events on November 7 and 8, which it said included the abduction and killing of citizens, CPJC described the incidents as a continuation of severe human rights abuses in a region increasingly marked by military presence.

By Harsh Thakor*  Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

By Ram Puniyani*  India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

By Our Representative  The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

By Vikas Meshram*  The crisis of drinking water has become a serious and growing challenge worldwide. This issue is worsening due to several factors, including climate change, population explosion, urbanization, industrialization, and imbalanced water usage. Human life depends on water, but currently, many parts of the world face a shortage of clean drinking water. This crisis could be the seed of many future disasters. Although about 71% of the Earth is covered with water, only 2.5% of it is fresh and suitable for drinking. A large part of this fresh water is trapped in glaciers and ice caps. Thus, the amount of water available for human use is minimal. In many countries around the world, water sources are depleting, and water misuse is increasing. This exacerbates the drinking water crisis. According to UNESCO, the situation is so severe that there is an urgent need to establish a robust international system before this global crisis spirals out of control. According to the World Wat

By Bharat Dogra*  The word ‘Naxalites’ has been generally used in routine discussion among common people in India to denote various groups dedicated to the pursuit of justice for the poorest people without having any inhibition regarding use of violent means for achieving their justice based objectives. Now of course several of these groups may disagree strongly with such a simple description as they are very strong on ideological issues (and get very upset if their precise ideological position is stated even in a slightly mistaken way), and what is more, some have actually moved over to parliamentary politics and it may be factually wrong to say that they now use violent means for achieving their justice and equality related objectives. Nevertheless in public perception the word Naxalite is often used for groups firmly dedicated to justice related objectives and not hesitating to use violence for achieving justice related objectives. So here we use the word broadly in this sense to de

  By Charlotte Dun*   You might be surprised to learn the sex life of a long-dead conqueror is making headlines in 2024. Netflix documentary Alexander the Great: The Making of a God has provoked outrage for its portrayal of Alexander in a romantic relationship with his male companion Hephaestion . Alexander the Great (356–323 BC) spent his short life undertaking an enormous military campaign. He defeated the Persian king Darius III and created an empire that stretched from Europe into Egypt, Western and Central Asia, and all the way to India. After dying at the young age of 32, he has remained the subject of intense fascination and speculation. The six-episode series is the latest to tackle some interesting questions about the conqueror’s life through dramatised scenes and commentary from a range of experts. Although the show doesn’t try to cover everything – and there are several gaps – its portrayal of Alexander’s sexuality is what has caused the greatest stir. Alexander, the great

By Ram Puniyani*  Communal violence has long plagued Indian society, intensifying over the past decades. In pre-colonial times, such conflicts were rare and mostly ethnic, but under British rule, communal violence took root as a more frequent occurrence. The British promoted a divisive view of history, interpreting events through the religious identities of rulers, which fueled the rise of communal ideologies in both Hindu and Muslim communities. These narratives fostered a "social common sense" that exploited religion to incite conflict. Over the last 30 years, scholars, journalists, and researchers have worked to understand how communal groups have found new ways to instigate violence, particularly targeting the majority Hindu community.

By Faisal Khan*  In recent times, some activism seems to have lost its inclusivity, becoming more insular and limited. The same voices are heard repeatedly, the same narratives retold, without fresh perspectives or attempts to connect with new communities. However, Khudai Khidmatgar remains committed to reaching beyond traditional activist circles, upholding values of secularism, humanity, and fraternity. In light of these, we want to share a recent experience that reflects our effort to bridge gaps and foster unity.

By Abhaya Raj Joshi*   On the morning of August. 1 in Dodhara-Chandani, a town on the banks of Mahakali, which serves as the western border between Nepal and India, a 23-year-old woman was attacked and killed by a tiger while working next to a sugarcane field. The big cat emerged from the sugarcane field and struck a blow on her head, killing the woman instantly.

By Costas Velis, Ed Cook, Josh Cottom*  We have used machine learning to identify the biggest plastic pollution hotspots across more than 50,000 towns, cities and rural areas worldwide. Our new global model reveals the most detailed picture of plastic pollution ever created with the highest environmental concentrations in India, predominantly because so much of its waste isn’t collected.

Counterview Desk  Over 100 activists, environmentalists, academics from all across India as well as Telangana issued an urgent open Statement today, on the eve of the launch of Musi Riverfront Development Project by the Chief Minister of Telangana. Initiated by the National Forum of Urban Struggles (SHRAM) of the National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM), the statement calls for an immediate and comprehensive review of the Musi Riverfront Project, from all angles, in a truly consultative, people-centric and ecologically just manner.

By Amitav Banerjee, MD*  Recently, the National Medical Commission (NMC) of India, introduced two curricular changes in medical education, both at the undergraduate and the postgraduate levels, ostensibly to offer opportunities for quality medical education and to improve health care accessibility among the underserved rural and urban population.

By Harsh Thakor*  The 40th anniversary of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots marks a somber reminder of one of the most harrowing communal massacres in India since Partition. On November 1, 2024, citizens across India reflected on the brutal events that followed the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, when over 2,500 Sikhs were systematically murdered. Descriptions alone cannot capture the horror and scale of this massacre, which left deep scars on the Sikh community and strained the long-standing bond between Hindus and Sikhs.

By Rosamma Thomas*  November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.  

By Raqif Makhdoomi*  Drug addiction has become a serious problem, affecting not only Kashmir but communities worldwide. In the shadowy world of drug trafficking, vast networks and powerful organizations play pivotal roles. These criminal enterprises, often bolstered by influential backers, operate with impunity, profiting from human suffering. For those able to evade law enforcement, drug trafficking can lead to staggering wealth; even at a local level, small-time peddlers can earn substantial sums. Despite international efforts to curb this menace, the drug syndicate is highly complex, eluding even the most determined governmental crackdowns due to its global reach and the powerful networks that support it.

By Gajanan Khergamker* In the corridors of justice, the essence of the law frequently clashes with its literal interpretation, particularly when such interpretation undergoes significant transformation. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Indian Justice Code), which came into effect in July 2024, signifies a considerable transition by abolishing Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. Once regarded as an archaic provision that criminalised same-sex relations, Section 377 evolved over time, through judicial interpretation, into a protective mechanism for individuals on the fringes of society.

By Harsh Thakor*  Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

By Our Representative  In a strong show of opposition, multiple health associations under the umbrella of the United Organisations for Action against Privatisation of Health Services have condemned the Government of Madhya Pradesh’s recent moves towards privatising public health facilities. They argue that these actions, including outsourcing and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, will compromise the availability and accessibility of essential health services for the state’s citizens.

By Dr Antony KR*  In the history of Public Health in India, a significant mile stone was, the introduction of Target Free Approach in 1996 by the visionary Secretary of Health Shri J.C. Pant. A shift from centrally set targets to the felt and expressed needs of the community in Programming. This was a liberation from the age-old yoke of targets upon the Health Staff, from the lowest cadre ANM to District Medical Officer and State Health department Supervisors. Ever since the first two National Health Programmes of Family Planning and Malaria Control started, it was always a target driven monitoring and performance assessment. Targets and number games have no human face, consideration for patient rights, quality of services, or client satisfaction. This paradigm shift led to the local adaptation in need assessment, approach to community for their involvement and support in programme planning and implementation.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  The simmering border conflict between India and China in the Himalayan region has come to an end, with both nations committing to cooperate in resolving their border disputes. Both countries recognise that such conflicts hinder the progress of peace and prosperity in the region, posing obstacles to establishing a multipolar world and the democratisation of global geopolitics. 

Street play on anti-Sikh riots by Nishant Natya Manch By Shamsul Islam* Inssan abhee tak zindaa hae, Zindaa hone per sharminda hae! (Human beings are still alive; They are ashamed to be alive!) [Renowned cultural-political-human rights activist of Pakistan, Shahid Nadeem's Urdu couplet on the silence of the civil society on attacks on minorities in Pakistan. He received forty lashes for writing and singing these lines by the Zia regime in Pakistan. It would be no different in present day India ruled by RSS-BJP.]

Counterview Desk Constitutional Conduct Group of former civil servants writes an open letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on fomenting of communal unrest in Uttarakhand: Text: As you probably know, we, the members of the Constitutional Conduct Group of former civil servants, have frequently expressed our views on the systematic erosion in recent years of constitutional values in public policy, governance and politics. This erosion has been most evident in the way the authorities have dealt with situations of communal conflict. 

By Harsh Thakor*  Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.