Cover Stories

Guardian of Dignity Dehumanises Citizens

When the Chief Justice called citizens “cockroaches,” it was not merely a remark. It revealed how the language of dehumanisation, perfected by majoritarian politics, has seeped into the Republic’s hig

Fr. Gaurav Nair Fr. Gaurav Nair
25 May 2026

No, My Lord, India's Youth Are Betrayed, Not Cockroaches

The Chief Justice's "cockroach" remark exposes the fundamental ideological rot that has penetrated our institutions. Far from pests, India's struggling youth represent a betrayed generation demanding

Oliver D'Souza Oliver D'Souza
25 May 2026

Articles

India's discomfort with a Norwegian cartoon and European questions about press freedom expose the erosion of democratic accountability. The issue is not foreign criticism, but a leadership culture tha

A. J. Philip A. J. Philip
25 May 2026

Amid the BJP's growing dominance and the weakening of opposition forces, Kerala's UDF victory under VD Satheesan offers Congress a rare chance to build a secular, employment-driven governance model ro

Jacob Peenikaparambil Jacob Peenikaparambil
25 May 2026

In his message for World Communications Day, Pope Leo XIV urges communicators to preserve human voices and faces amid AI's growing influence. He warns against technological dehumanisation and challeng

Cedric Prakash Cedric Prakash
25 May 2026

Strikes and protests are vital democratic tools in India, but the Mahila Morcha's KSRTC protest before Kerala's new government assumed office was marked by legal ignorance and political theatrics. Ele

Jijo Thomas Placheril Jijo Thomas Placheril
25 May 2026

Punjab's new sacrilege law, introduced by the Bhagwant Mann government, creates sweeping non-bailable offences that could intimidate converts, minorities, scholars, and ordinary citizens while deepeni

John Dayal John Dayal
25 May 2026

If the Chandala, i.e., untouchable, hears the Veda, then molten lead must be poured into his ears; if he recites the Veda, then his tongue should be cut off; if he memorises Veda, then his body must b

Dr Suryaraju Mattimalla Dr Suryaraju Mattimalla
25 May 2026

Donald Trump went to Beijing like a wounded soldier, seeking attention and assistance after his Iran misadventure, and returned almost empty-handed after what seemed an eager shopping expedition. He c

Thomas Menamparampil Thomas Menamparampil
25 May 2026

For the first time in years, the cockroaches may actually seem like a refreshing change from the polished hypocrites and well-dressed impostors who have crawled through our political system pretending

Robert Clements Robert Clements
25 May 2026

VD Satheesan emerges as a leader shaped by accessibility, intellect, and democratic openness rather than authoritarianism. His rise reflects Kerala's desire for generational change, responsive governa

A. J. Philip A. J. Philip
18 May 2026

Hatred may yield short-term political gains, but history shows that it ultimately destroys societies, economies, and democratic values. Rising communal rhetoric in India threatens social harmony, maki

Jacob Peenikaparambil Jacob Peenikaparambil
18 May 2026

NEET has become more than an exam; it reflects deep inequalities in India's education system. Repeated paper leaks, excessive reliance on coaching, limited seats, and crushing pressure have undermined

Jaswant Kaur Jaswant Kaur
18 May 2026

The contrasting first weeks of C. Joseph Vijay and Suvendu Adhikari revealed two distinct political paths shaped by populism, symbolism, and religious messaging. Their early decisions, controversies,

Julian S Das Julian S Das
18 May 2026

Recent electoral gains have given Rahul Gandhi and the Congress a renewed opportunity to challenge the BJP nationally. Yet rebuilding weak grassroots structures, unifying opposition forces, and presen

John Dayal John Dayal
18 May 2026

From silence to sacrifice: three Imphal Salesian martyrs chose death over betrayal, leaving a legacy of courage that endures twenty five years on.

CM Paul CM Paul
18 May 2026

Dvija (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya) must throw leftover food of Shraddha on the ground for Chandala (Untouchable), dogs, and birds to eat. (Manu Smriti 3.92, Markandeya Purana 26.45-46; Kurma Purana

Dr Suryaraju Mattimalla Dr Suryaraju Mattimalla
18 May 2026

Not dictatorship by tanks. Not an emergency rule. But something far more dangerous. Which is a democracy where the scoreboard still works, the crowds still cheer, the commentators still shout, the pla

Robert Clements Robert Clements
18 May 2026

The 2026 West Bengal elections exposed how democratic institutions can be weakened without a formal suspension of democracy. Through voter deletions, administrative filtering, heavy enforcement deploy

Oliver D'Souza Oliver D'Souza
11 May 2026

The proposed School Management Committees mark an unprecedented Union encroachment into school governance, threatening state powers and minority rights. The guidelines lack constitutional backing, und

Joseph Maliakan Joseph Maliakan
11 May 2026

I first heard your name when my friend, an IAS officer, now retired, served under you in the Petroleum Ministry. Recently, I had occasion to write an editorial on the reforms that you introduced in th

A. J. Philip A. J. Philip
11 May 2026

The Assembly election results underline a stark warning for India's opposition: disunity is strengthening the BJP's expanding dominance and weakening democratic pluralism. Critics argue that fragmente

Jacob Peenikaparambil Jacob Peenikaparambil
11 May 2026

The 2026 Assembly elections showed that Christian voters remain influential in areas where communities are concentrated and institutionally organised, especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Vijay's rise

John Dayal John Dayal
11 May 2026

When flames tore through the fragile shanties along the Narkeldanga canal one humid evening in February 2025, families lost everything in minutes. Bamboo poles, tin sheets, plastic and tarpaulin roofs

CM Paul CM Paul
11 May 2026

To split human beings into Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra, Untouchable: To place some at the summit of heaven And bury untouchables below the floor of hell Is not just a mistake of history;

Dr Suryaraju Mattimalla Dr Suryaraju Mattimalla
11 May 2026

Francis Fukuyama, quoting Hobbes, says, people usually fight over necessities, but often enough they contend over trifles. That is to say, many quarrels arise over non-issues. They are expressions

Thomas Menamparampil Thomas Menamparampil
11 May 2026

Many of us grew up hearing a sentence repeated by parents, teachers, coaches and even old uncles sitting with cups of tea after a cricket match. "Learn to lose gracefully." We were told that being a g

Robert Clements Robert Clements
11 May 2026

The defection of seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs simultaneously crossed the anti-defection law's two-thirds merger threshold, exposing how constitutional safeguards themselves can be used to legitimise mass

Jacob Peenikaparambil Jacob Peenikaparambil
04 May 2026

The reason I write this now is that you once tried to show the Congress Party in a poor light by claiming its leaders have few qualms about leaving and joining the BJP. You asserted that, in contrast,

A. J. Philip A. J. Philip
04 May 2026

Worker unrest in Noida exposes the hollow promises of Labour Codes, as exploitative conditions persist amid weak protections and repression. Rooted in dignity and justice, the call for solidarity high

Cedric Prakash Cedric Prakash
04 May 2026

Despite massive violence and displacement in Manipur, justice remains absent and accountability elusive. Increased militarisation without political resolution risks deepening conflict, as unresolved g

John Dayal John Dayal
04 May 2026

A tribal man carrying his sister's corpse to a bank exposed the cruelty of a governance system obsessed with documentation and authentication. The article argues that welfare, pensions, food, labour,

Jaswant Kaur Jaswant Kaur
04 May 2026

The Kerala High Court reaffirmed that an adult woman's choice of faith, celibacy, or religious life lies within her exclusive private domain. The judgment stressed that parental displeasure cannot jus

Jessy Kurian Jessy Kurian
04 May 2026

While powerful businessmen loot public wealth with impunity, widows, migrant labourers, and the poor struggle for survival through humiliation and neglect. Fraud, inequality, and proximity to politica

Prakash Louis Prakash Louis
04 May 2026

Manu Smriti 2.148: "Jati stands for 'Janma,' birth." Apastamba Dharma Shastra 1.1.1.4-5: "[There are] four castes Brahmana, Kshatriyas, Vaishya, and Shudra."

Dr Suryaraju Mattimalla Dr Suryaraju Mattimalla
04 May 2026

Trump's threats to "wipe out" Iran are a warning against arrogant majoritarian politics everywhere. Violence, hubris and intolerance ultimately destroy both empires and constitutional societies.

Thomas Menamparampil Thomas Menamparampil
04 May 2026

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has apparently discovered a revolutionary alternative to air conditioning. A humble onion in his pocket!

Robert Clements Robert Clements
04 May 2026