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

“Urdu Is Not Alien”: Supreme Court reclaims the language’s place in the Indian Constitutional fabric

By upholding the use of Urdu on a municipal signboard in Maharashtra, the Supreme Court reaffirms India’s plural ethos, debunks politicised language divides, and restores dignity to a shared linguistic heritage

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

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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

No Hearing, No Notice, Just Deletion: How Bengal’s SIR Erased a Decorated IAF Officer

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An Adivasi woman once in bonded labour now serves her village as a Sarpanch

As India marks 50 years of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, cases of bonded labour still surface in states like Telangana where many workers in sectors such as agriculture, brick kilns, fishing and construction remain trapped in debt and coercion; here the author reflects on a transformative journey of an Adivasi woman who serves as a Sarpanch.