If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, you’re probably aware that it’s been quite hot. This summer, North India has been no exception, grappling with relentless heat waves that are becoming increasingly unbearable and life-threatening. From record-breaking temperatures to devastating impacts on daily life, the heat is no longer just a discomfort—it’s a clear sign of […]
As a sweltering Patna waits in desperation for some cooling showers, so do folks in civil society and social action long for the next national Census. That mundane yet essential national headcount. One might wonder why the 2021 Census has been delayed so long it’s starting to feel like waiting for Godot. The answer, dear […]
India, we have risen. A hugely autocratic government has finally fallen! In the 2024 General Elections, we have elected a strong and empowered opposition, a crucial pillar of democracy. Our ‘new government’ is now built on consensus rather than the whims of a single autocrat, embracing shared power over concentrated control. This marks a profound […]
As we contemplate the tragic loss of two young lives in Pune, ruthlessly taken by an irresponsible teenager. But while we share the families’ pain, we can’t ignore the glaring flaws in our criminal justice system. If the drunk, reckless rich kid was out of line, what about the Juvenile Justice Board that treated his […]
No, people who protest aren’t anti-national. Citizens in a democracy elect a government, and the elected government has a ‘dharma’ to safeguard the rights and protect all its citizens, regardless of whether they voted for them or not. One may say that citizens have a right to protest peacefully, and violence will be answered with […]
A ‘Save the Constitution, Save the Country’ rally was held on Sunday, attended by some 1500 people in the pouring rain. These folks came from several districts around Patna. They were ordinary folk: daily wage earners, teachers, students, a professor or two, a couple of government employees and so on and so forth. So, what […]
Freedom of speech is under attack! Even more so, as somebody said just recently … Freedom of speech is only meaningful if there is freedom after speech. Over the past three years, we have observed carefully how difficult it is becoming to have freedom after speech. Criticize Prime Minister Modi and his moves, question flawed […]
The killing of eight prisoners belonging to an outlawed group hours after their escape from the high-security Central Prison in Bhopal during the festive season has set off a chain reaction of fireworks that is unlikely to die down soon. The eight under-trials, belonging to the Students’ Islamic Movement of India, had been charged with […]
Ever since the ‘new dispensation’ of the Right Wing BJP has come to power, the nature of public discourse has shifted from ‘development’ to ‘demagogy’. Never before have such regressive narratives been heard than in the past two years. Just pause to think about what topics are hitting the airwaves over the past month or so. […]
What does the term ‘Jesuit Education’ mean to me? I was thrown into a Jesuit school by my parents at the very beginning of my school life, and now that my crucial first seven years of scholastic life were already thrust into the hands of Jesuits, like it or not, I am one of those […]
The political climate of India is fast becoming critically polarised. The nature of discourse is being vitiated by divisive, shallow diatribe. Parliament, supposedly the platform for enlightened, purposeful discussion and farsighted legislation has been all but reduced to a ridiculous circus of shallow, shouting, sloganeering, and slanderous attention seekers. Where the political leadership in the […]
The first of May is Workers’ Day, and a fit time to start off the next round of NEWSNET ONE sessions. This website becomes active as a training ground for those who want to pick up communication skills every summer. It’s hot, there’s an election in the air, and several other things happening around us. […]
