Opinion

When “Why?” Becomes a Threat: Is West Bengal’s Democratic Space Shrinking?

West Bengal’s recent clashes over classrooms, universities, the press and cultural institutions raise a larger question: what happens when political power enters spaces meant for independent thought? The incidents may not be connected, but together they reveal how easily institutional autonomy and dissent can come under pressure.

‘Assalamu Alaikum, Inshaallah, Jazakallah’: Peace, Hope and Gratitude Don’t Cancel Out Your Merit

Dr Bushara Bano’s use of “Assalamu Alaikum”, “InshaAllah” and “Jazakallah” has sparked controversy. But can three expressions of faith overshadow an IPS officer’s qualifications, competitive achievements and professional record? The debate raises a larger question about identity, neutrality and merit in public service.

You Can Crack IIT. Can You Crack Its Caste System?

IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode’s suicide has revived questions about caste discrimination, merit and student rights in India’s elite institutions. As allegations of harassment and casteist abuse emerge, the larger concern is whether campuses meant to nurture talent are becoming hostile spaces for marginalised students

What Is India’s Youth Asking For: Cultural Identity or the Right to a Future?

India’s youth have always questioned power, from the student movements of the 1970s to the Anna movement. Today, programmes in Ujjain and Indore raise a new question: is young India seeking cultural identity, political recognition or something more basic — the right to shape its future?

BRICS Isn’t Beijing’s Game. It’s India’s Strategic Autonomy

India’s BRICS engagement is not about choosing China over the West but protecting its strategic autonomy. As the global order turns multipolar, India must retain strong ties across competing blocs while defending its independent foreign policy and ensuring that national interests, not Western approval, shape its international choices.
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Big Tech’s Bloody Code: How Microsoft, Google, and Amazon Power the Gaza Genocide

U.S. Big Tech powers Israel's war machine. Microsoft's Azure stores mass surveillance data, while Google and Amazon's Project Nimbus provides AI for targeting. These companies are not neutral; they are complicit partners in the infrastructure of occupation and genocide in Gaza, profiting from the destruction.

When Even the CJI Isn’t Safe: Hari Om’s Lynching Tells the Rest

The attack on the Chief Justice of India and the lynching of Hari Om expose India’s deepening crisis of caste hatred and impunity. Hate is being glorified in the name of ‘Sanatan’, while political parties and intellectuals remain silent, allowing the normalisation of violence to erode justice and constitutional morality

Weaponizing Faith, Normalizing Hate: The Political Project Behind ‘I Love Mohammad’ FIRs

A peaceful Milad-un-Nabi banner reading ‘I Love Mohammad’ triggered police action and unrest across several districts. The controversy highlights India’s growing intolerance, where love for the Prophet becomes a political weapon, exposing how religion is manipulated to marginalize Muslims and polarize society for electoral gains

From 1943 Bengal to 2025 Gaza: Behala Friends’ Durga Puja Strikes a Chord

Behala Friends’ Nabanna Pandal in Kolkata connects the 1943 Bengal famine with the 2025 Gaza genocide. Through art, poetry, and music, the installation portrays war, hunger, and survival, reflecting human suffering and resilience. Visitors experience a powerful blend of history and contemporary crises, evoking hope amid tragedy

When Pather Panchali Challenges Bengal Files: A Puja Tells Kolkata’s Forgotten Story

Samajsebi Sangha’s Pather Panchali puja revisits 1946 Kolkata, highlighting how Bengalis resisted communal riots and upheld unity. Against the distortions of Bengal Files, the pandal celebrates secularism, communal harmony, and humanity, honouring historical figures like Leela Ray while reminding visitors of Bengal’s enduring tradition of solidarity and resistance

London Dreams, Kolkata Nightmares: Why the City Deserves Better, Not Bigger Promises

Kolkata doesn’t need London’s grandeur but urgent fixes to everyday decay. Encroached sidewalks, broken roads, garbage piles, vanishing parks, and hospitals where patients sleep on cardboard define the city. Small reforms — clean water, storage for the poor, night cleanups, and restored public spaces — could restore dignity and livability.
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