Open Forum

The term “alternative media” is in vogue worldwide for providing information from non-conventional sources, in contrast to the "mainstream" media, which is, more often than not, a commercial venture. An international trend, alternative media is unique in form, content and audience relations. One of its principal features is, its sources information from alternative, often contrasting quarters.

As an open forum, in Counterview.in, an attempt has been made to reflect the views -- in news form, or as articles and blogs -- of all those who feel that official information cannot be synonymous to authenticity. We seek to reflect the alternative views of those who do not wish to rely on the "mainstream" media, which heavily seeks to rely upon and comment on information available in official sources. The aim, certainly, is not to tell the reader what and how to think, but to reflect on different, often opposing, views.

A closer look at the word "counterview" reveals something interesting -- it doesn't just mean "an opposite point of view", but also "a position in which two dissimilar things illustrate each other by opposition; contrast" (click here). In this sense, "counterview" would connote reflecting news and views from alternative (even contrasting) sources.
A voluntary initiative, Counterview.in is not supported by any organization. It is inspired by the view expressed by litterateur George Orwell, who said, "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations." A more recent definition of journalism has been by Andrew Gelman, professor of statistics and political science at the Columbia University. His take is...
"Journalism: Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
Public relations: Serve the client (who is likely to be comfortable)."
Kindly enrich the effort by contacting us.
For guidelines to submit news stories/articles/blogs click here.
Our email id: counterview.net@gmail.com
Twitter: @CounterviewNet
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CounterviewIndia

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A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

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.

Four J&K MLAs visit Wular lake, pledge support to fisher community, environmental conservation

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.

Supreme Court’s dismissal of PIL on Covid vaccine safety is counter to known science and mathematics

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, Covax...

70,000 migrants, sold on Canadian dream, face uncertain future: Canada reinvents the xenophobic wheel

By Saurav Sarkar* Bikram Singh is running out of time on his post-study work visa in Canada. Singh is one of about 70,000 migrants who were sold on the Canadian dream of eventually making the country their home but now face an uncertain future with their work permits set to expire by December 2024. They came from places like India, China, and the Philippines, and sold their land and belongings in their home countries, took out loans, or made other enormous commitments to get themselves to Canada.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Kerala government data implicates the Covid vaccines for excess deaths

By Bhaskaran Raman* On 03 Dec 2024, Mr Unnikrishnan of the Indian Express had written an article titled: “Kerala govt data busts vaccine death myth; no rise in mortality post-Covid”. It claims “no significant change in the death rate in the 35-44 age group between 2019 and 2023”. However, the claim is obviously wrong, even to a casual observer, as per the same data which the article presents, as explained below.

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

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.

Human rights group condemns 'escalation of state violence' in Chhattisgarh, demands release of detained activists

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.

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