Culture

Hegemony: Kerala’s Bharatapuzha as a political stage

Unlike the North Indian Kumbh, the Bharatapuzha by contrast has never functioned as a Pan-Hindu pilgrimage centre. It has no historical association with mass ritual bathing, no priestly networks that regulate sacred time, and no inherited mythological mandate that binds the river to cyclical purification rites. The introduction of the Maha Magha Mahotsavam is a clear cultural imposition by Hindutva

Tamas and the Shadow Over Empuraan: A Nation Still Disturbed With Itself

Tamas encountered legal and political challenges in the late 1980s. The government attempted to prevent the series from airing. There was fear it would provoke unrest. Now, if Empuraan disturbed us, it should, for who we are: a culture that justifies and forgets.

India’s Heartfelt Eid: where flowers & faith bridge divides

India celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr with unity and love, as people from different faiths come together to spread joy and kindness, in sharp contrast to the hate-driven politics that politicians and police displayed in some locales like Varanasi and other parts of UP; from Jaipur to Mumbai, Prayagraj to Indore, heart-warming gestures of communal harmony paint a vibrant picture of the nation's diverse yet cohesive social fabric, showcasing the enduring power of unity and mutual respect for each other

Mughal Emperors Played Holi And Called It Eid-e-Gulabi

Amir Khusro And Other Muslim Poets Composed Beautiful Verses On Holi; Now It is Being Weaponised

Colours of Discord: How Holi is being turned into a battleground for hate and exclusion

Once a festival of unity and joy, Holi is now marred by political rhetoric and exclusionary calls. While some leaders push for harmony, the ruling establishment fuels division

The Story of Shivaji’s Coronation

First published on December 15, 2015The Coronation …“By the...

Sikhs, Muslims of Prayagraj welcome Kumbh pilgrims with shelter, food, and warmth

In the spirit of unity, a profound display of unity & compassion, prayers were offered at Daragh for the wellness of those injured in the Maha Kumbh stampede. Prof. V.K. Tripathi distributed fliers of love and peace at Kumbh Mela. In a heroic act, Farhan Alam saved the life of devotee Ram Shankar with CPR, Sikhs and Muslims selflessly served by providing food to Kumbh devotees, while Mosques opened for help: provided beds and blankets to 25,000, served food; said, 'Devotees Are Our Guests'

Celebrate Diversity

It was late evening, on the day after Uttarayan...

Heroes among us: Waris Khan’s rescue of 7 after road accident, Arif Bamane’s rescue after Neelkamal ferry accident

Waris Khan and Arif Bamane embody selfless heroism in times of crisis. Khan saved 7 lives after a car accident in Madhya Pradesh, while Bamane rescued 30 passengers from the sea following a ferry collision in Mumbai

Spreading Light and Love: Diwali festivities unite communities in Bareilly and beyond

Celebrating unity in diversity, from Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya’s Dargah to Diwali fairs in Syana and Bareilly. Through shared prayers, festive lights, and acts of kindness, India’s rich tradition of interfaith harmony continues to inspire, bridging divides and fostering peace across cultural and religious boundaries

Language as Unifying Force: Sitaram Yechury

“Here I am, born in Tamilnadu, mother tongue Telugu, settled in Hindi-speaking Delhi, representing the people of West Bengal in Parliament and addressing the august gathering here of Tamil speaking people from all over the world. This is India,” said Sitaram Yechury, in 2010, the erstwhile general secretary of the CPI (M) whose demise after a prolonged lung infection on September 12 this year, has drawn forth an outpouring of shared memories

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Temple Leases, Food Morality: Rajasthan’s new Panchayat order

The recent decision by the BJP-led government in Rajasthan of granting land parcels to temples, moreover those controlled by Brahmins and Banias, and further making it “mandatory” for meat shops to obtain NOCs from the local Panchayat, privileges caste elites and food choices while also being fundamentally exclusionary

66 Deaths in 13 Months: Uproar in Chhattisgarh Assembly by opposition over prison conditions and custodial accountability

Government confirms inmate deaths; Opposition alleges overcrowding, medical neglect, and governance failure — demands legislative probe into tribal leader’s custodial death

Bail Granted, Freedom Denied: Madhya Pradesh High Court upholds detention of Bangladeshi woman citing “international scenario”

Despite six years in custody and a prior bail order, the Madhya Pradesh High Court refuses release, directing the State to conclude the long-pending trial within six months while holding her continued stay in a detention centre justified for safety and trial purposes

Alleged Pattern of Denigration: High Court seeks response from Himanta Biswa Sarma on PIL against his alleged hate speeches

Petitioners allege a “pattern of incendiary rhetoric” targeting minorities; Court issues notice to Union, State, DGP and Chief Minister, defers interim relief till after Bihu holidays

JNU Students Lathi-charged, Injured, first detained during protest over V-C remarks, UGC Equity guidelines, now Jailed

Fourteen of hundreds of protesting students from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were sent to Tihar Jail on Friday, February 27 after a late night brutal lathi charge by the Delhi police on February 26, attacking a student protest and long march aimed to march towards the Ministry of Education; protesters were demanding the resignation of Vice Chancellor (VC) JNU Ms Pandit who had made derogative remarks against Dalits and Blacks recently

Policing Identity: Maharashtra’s birth certificate crackdown and the politics of belonging

What is framed as an administrative clean-up of fraudulent records in Maharashtra has unfolded into a securitised campaign in Mumbai — raising urgent constitutional questions about due process, discrimination, and the weaponisation of civil documentation