Culture

UP’s syncretic warrior cults facing Hindutva challenge

Be it the attack on the Gogamedi shrine in the Hanumangarh district of northern Rajasthan or the Neja Mela in the Sambhal district of western Uttar Pradesh, Hindutva’s systemic attack on India’s syncretic traditions, past and present, reveals its rigid and Brahmanical ideological orientation: imposition of a strictly hierarchical, exclusionary and structured notion of faith and practice

Punjab’s Robinhood Dulla Bhatti: Why Lohri is celebrated

Every Lohri, Punjabis sing the songs of Dulla Bhatti and build a bonfire for the community. The story behind this is complex, endearing, and dates back to the legend of India’s very own Robinhood.

One Country, Many New Years

As we enter the year 2020, let us explore the unique New Year traditions across different parts of India and appreciate the strength of our diversity.

Christmas is a Seven-Point Star

A reflection for Christmas 2019 and the times to follow

The Language of Hate – BHU students protest Muslim Sanskrit teacher

As we watch yet another pointless controversy unfold with a handful of BHU students protesting the appointment of a Muslim teacher in the Sanskrit department, we have to question the big picture.The brighter side is the larger number of students who came out in Prof Khan’s support

Build Peace and Friendship on the Foundation of Kartarpur

It was heartening to hear NarendraModi praise Imran Khan,...

Assamese Gamosa gets international recognition, granted GI Tag

The traditional Assamese scarf known as ‘Gamosa’ has been granted a Geographical Indications (GI) tag.

‘Indians Less Charitable Than Asian Counterparts’

 Mumbai: India ranked 82nd among 128 countries for generosity...

On 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji- Hope, Faith live on

With the opening of the Kartarpur corridor on this auspicious occasion, many Sikhs’ prayers have been answered.

Bengal’s Syncretism: Hindus & Muslims share worship of Satya Pir

Worshipped by Hindus as Satya Narayana, the legend of Satya Pir is syncretic

Movies that make you think: A Regular Woman & Aise Hee

What happens when women break out of the rigid...

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Noida Protest 2026: A labour uprising the state refused to understand

The protests that paralysed Noida’s industrial belt in April 2026 exposed not only worsening labour conditions but also the growing tendency of the state to treat democratic labour mobilisation as a law-and-order problem

Three Years of the Congress Government

A People’s Critique: Expectations and Disillusionments

Bhojshala Judgment: MP High Court declares Dhar site a Saraswati Temple, ends Namaz rights at complex

Relying on ASI findings, historical records and the Ayodhya framework, the Court held the structure was built over a pre-existing temple and Sanskrit learning centre linked to Raja Bhoj

Cracks in Indian Environment Jurisprudence: An examination of High Courts of central India

Given the flip-flops by India’s constitutional courts on protection of the environment, this three part legal investigation delves deep: In Part 1, we look at how High Courts across different regions of India are contributing to, or departing from, the trajectory of environmental jurisprudence. This part looks at Central India: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand. A region that is home to some of the country’s richest forests, its most significant mineral reserves, and its most vulnerable tribal populations.

The Faultlines In Secularism

A secular republic is one of humanity's most difficult political achievements.

Flood of Fake Narratives & Misinformation: How TVK’s propaganda machine is attempting a re-write of TN’s governance history

Claims of being first, the innovator of significant schemes like the “Naan Mudhalvan” to other policy decisions—are not borne out by facts; yet these were the concerted focus of a well-oiled social media machine orchestrated by the winner, TVK Vijay; the real issue however is, is the commercial, read can the corporate media be held responsible when it only dishes out mis-information?

UAPA: ‘99% Possibility of Acquittal’: What the SC said on Conviction Rates

While granting bail to Syed Iftikhar Andrabi, the Supreme Court on Monday, May 19, observed that UAPA conviction rates stand between 1.5% and 4% nationally, while remaining below 1% in Jammu and Kashmir.

India Economic & Social Justice Report 2025: First-ever study measures constitutional justice across union and state governments, have they delivered?

India Economic & Social Justice Report, 2025, Author: Prof K S Chalam, published by: Institute for Economic and Social Justice, Vishakhapatnam, price: Rs 500, Pp: 180 (A-4 Size): This report is first of its kind to measure and indicate where both the Union and State governments stand in providing constitutional guarantees of Justice --both economic and social--- equally and to all citizens of the country.