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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BJP-Trinamool brinkmanship in Bengal boils communal cauldron

West Bengal is witnessing frequent communal flare ups these days in tandem with the gradual emergence of the Modified BJP as the principal opposition...

Pakoda: More a part of our culture than a tool in political gimmick

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Pakoda sellers as employment gainers at a TV interview, he did two grave blunders: first, he displayed his...

The curious case of BJP parliamentary candidate’s election funds!

Diamond Harbour’s Abhijit Das Bobby had contested Lok Sabha elections (2009 and 2014) as Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)’s candidate from Diamond Harbour. He was...

Republic Day loses touch with Bharat as Indians get rootless in India

The Republic Day on Friday saw the heads of the 10 ASEAN member nations, for the first time, attending the mega celebration which also...

Tale of a Judge and innocent villagers of India

The so called Indian elites—lawmakers, media professionals, legal eagles and ubiquitous politicians—will endlessly debate if the four sitting Supreme Court justices, J Chelameshwar, Ranjan...

How Electoral Bonds Were Designed to Weaken the Opposition, Not Clean Political Funding

The Electoral Bonds scheme, notified by the Union Government on January 2, is a clever step towards emaciating the opposition parties. Neither will it...
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