Valentine’s Day Is Not A Christian Festival: Forget the Church, February 14 Has Wilder Roots
Valentine’s Day isn’t a Christian tradition—it has ancient pagan roots in Rome’s Lupercalia festival. The Church rebranded it, replacing love deities with Saint Valentine. Similar to India’s Kamadeva, love’s symbols transcend cultures. So why the outrage? Let’s explore how February 14 became a global celebration of romance and affection.
Where Roads End and Courage Begins: The Life and Death of Mukesh Chandrakar
Mukesh Chandrakar, a fearless freelance journalist from Bastar, spent his life uncovering the harsh truths of India’s ‘red corridor.’ Despite growing up amidst conflict and displacement, he pursued a career in journalism, exposing corruption and human rights violations. His investigative report on a road construction scam in Bijapur led to his tragic death on January 1, 2025. Mukesh’s murder highlights the perilous reality faced by journalists in conflict zones, where seeking the truth comes at the highest cost. His legacy lives on in his work, challenging both authorities and the system that failed to protect him.
Ambedkar’s Vision Betrayed: Land, Education, and Equality Replaced by Statues and Speeches
Amit Shah’s statement underscores a troubling trend of reducing Ambedkar’s transformative vision to mere political convenience. Ambedkar’s India, built on inclusivity, education, and welfare for the marginalized, is far from realized. This is why Ambedkar’s India remains an unfulfilled dream in a society still plagued by inequality
Ahmed Wali Faisal Rahmani: Legitimised by Constitution yet Caged by Choices: The Plight of Indian Muslim Leadership
Despite being legally eligible as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to lead Islamic organizations, Rahmani faced unwarranted criticism questioning his commitment to the Indian Muslim community. His tenure as Ameer-e-Shariat has been marked by visionary leadership, bridging religious values with modern needs in education, technology, and healthcare. This episode highlights the urgent need for accountable, progressive leaders to uplift Indian Muslims amidst challenges of poverty and misrepresentation.
Sambhal Sparks Alarm on Constitution Day: Is Judicial Integrity Under Siege?
The Sambhal mosque survey plea is a disturbing reminder of how political and judicial lapses fuel religious polarization. Despite the Places of Worship Act, local courts continue to entertain petitions that undermine constitutional principles. On Constitution Day, it’s imperative to reflect on Ambedkar’s warnings and uphold the values of secularism and justice
From Worship to Exploitation: Ganga’s Journey Reflects India’s Environmental Hypocrisy
A four-year journey along the Ganga reveals a civilisational ecological crisis, where dams, pollution, sand mining and policy failures threaten rivers, communities, livelihoods and India’s environmental future across regions nationwide.
