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National Press Day: When Will Quality Match Freedom?

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Today we mark National Press Day, commemorating the establishment of the Press Council of India in 1966, the body entrusted with safeguarding standards of reportage across Indian media. Its mandate is simple but vital: to uphold ethical journalism and check the quality of the news that reaches citizens. Yet, anyone following Indian media closely will agree that a gulf persists between that mandate and reality, especially in broadcast and digital outlets. Freedom of expression is a universal right. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts the right to hold opinions and to seek, receive and impart information. And yet journalists worldwide, including in India, face growing pressure: editorial interference from corporate owners, intimidation from state actors, legal harassment, and even violence. The statistics are grim. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, dozens of journalists have been killed in India since the early 1990s while reporting. In many...
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Chhath Puja : A Living Heritage of Faith, Ecology, and Togetherness

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For me, Chhath Puja has never been just another religious ceremony. It is a profound seasonal ritual of sun worship, a tradition where prayers are offered uniquely to both the setting and the rising sun. The evening sun represents closure, surrender, and peace, while the rising sun embodies hope, renewal, and the beginning of life. Rooted in ancient agrarian culture, Chhath is a way of honouring sunlight, water, and fertile land, an act of gratitude to the supreme natural forces that sustain every grain and every life form on this earth (Jagat). In this sense, Chhath is not only spiritual, it is deeply ecological. Being born in Bihar, I carry a natural sense of memory and belonging to this festival. My first encounter with Chhath was around the age of ten, at my Nana’s house in the village. He came from an agricultural family and his fields were near a large village pond. I still remember how every member of the family, along with neighbours, would clean and prepare the Chhath ghat w...
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Location: New Delhi, Delhi, India
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Bihar’s Political Moment and the Silence Within the INDIA Alliance_#Electionnama2

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The reports evolving from Bihar election, towards growing unease within the INDIA alliance. What was envisioned as a broad-based front to counter the BJP’s dominance now appears fragmented and uncertain, at least in its public perception. From a distance, one observes a worrying absence of cohesion and purpose among the alliance partners. Most conspicuous is the near-complete silence of Rahul Gandhi. His absence from Bihar’s political developments raises uncomfortable questions. Why has he not intervened at a time when confusion and mixed messaging threaten to erode the credibility of the alliance? Some reports from the field may be exaggerated, others may carry a kernel of truth, but what remains undeniable is that this is a critical juncture for the opposition. The Congress party risks repeating a historical mistake if it fails to respond with political pragmatism. The reality in Bihar is clear, only the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), under Tejashwi Yadav’s leadership, commands bo...
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Amit Kumar: The Quiet Strength Who Touched Many Hearts at Jamia Millia Islamia

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We are deeply troubled by the passing of our dear friend, classmate, and a true lover of composite culture, Amit Kumar . Late last night, I came across this heartbreaking news through a social media post shared by one of our classmates. It was difficult to process this information in the quiet of the night. I immediately reached out to friends to know more, and they shared that Amit had been unwell for some time and was facing serious health issues. After completing his M.A. in History from Jamia Millia Islamia in 2005 , Amit devoted himself to preparing for the Civil Services Examination in Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi. He was deeply committed to his goal and, as far as I know, achieved considerable success, even though he could not make it to the final list. Later, I learned that he joined Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to pursue a Ph.D. in History . During my previous job, I often traveled to eastern Uttar Pradesh. Once, while visiting Varanasi, I called Amit. Though he was not in t...
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ECI Briefs on Bihar Election 2025, but Questions Remain_#Electionnama1

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  Today, the Election Commission of India (ECI), through an extensive press conference, shared detailed updates about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and briefed the media about its preparedness for the upcoming Bihar Assembly Election 2025. I found the information shared by the ECI somewhat confusing, especially since there is little clarity about the actual level of preparedness on the ground. How will the election ensure a level playing field for all political parties? Although the ECI appeared well-prepared for the press conference, it also seemed intent on convincing the public and institutions including the Supreme Court of India,   that everything concerning the SIR process is functioning smoothly and without fear. The Commission reiterated that there is still an opportunity for individuals whose names have not been included in the final electoral roll to get them added. It remains to be seen how the Supreme Court will react in its next hearing regarding the S...
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"Almost Hacked on WhatsApp: My Experience and How to Protect Yourself"

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  A couple of days ago, I received a strange message from one of my close contacts on WhatsApp. It read: “Hi, sorry, I accidentally sent you a 6-digit code via SMS. Can you forward it to me? It’s urgent.” At first, it seemed like a normal message, but something didn’t feel right. Why would someone accidentally send me a verification code? And why was it so urgent to get it back? I quickly suspected that something was off, so instead of responding right away, I decided to call the same WhatsApp number. When I called, my contact didn’t answer but instead sent me a text saying: “Can’t talk now. Call me later?” This seemed even more suspicious, but I still didn’t want to jump to conclusions. I replied, “OK,” hoping to get a clearer sense of what was going on. Then, I got another message almost immediately: “Don’t worry, just send me my 6-digit code.” Now, alarm bells were ringing in my head. Why would anyone insist so much on a code like that? I had read about scams where hacke...
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My note about the new USA administration

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The recently concluded US election is widely considered a historic turning point, marking significant shifts in political dynamics, changing voter priorities, the unprecedented direct involvement of corporations in the electoral process, and the transformative role of social media as a new and powerful tool in shaping public opinion and electoral outcomes. On the evening of November 6th, during the final stages of election result counting, I was engaged in a conversation with a friend over the phone regarding the outcome. As our discussion concluded, my 12-year-old daughter, who had been silently observing, interrupted with an expression of confusion and disbelief. She remarked, "How could this happen? Kamala Harris Aunty lost the election, and Trump Uncle became the US President again. Oh my God!" This moment underscored the challenges of shielding children from the complexities of contemporary politics. Despite my conscious efforts to limit her exposure to the often c...
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