Shani Temple Controversy: Why Are Women Considered ‘Impious?’
What Was The Controversy? In January this year, a group of four hundred odd women belonging to the Bhumata Ranragini brigade, led by Trupti Desai, a 31-year old housewife, attempted to break a tradition no one woman had ever dared of doing before. They tried to barge into the Shani Shingnapur …
Rohith Vemula And The Ugly Side Of Indian Institutions
Background Of The Incident: On January 18, Rohith Vemula, a 26-year old research scholar at the University of Hyderabad, committed suicide on the college premises by hanging himself. He was one of the five Dalit students, who had been protesting against their expulsion from the university’s housing facility. Vemula was …
Operation Dhangu: Was It Really A Success?
Background of the Incident An attack took place in Pathankot, a city in Punjab, which also happens to a part of the Western Air Command of the Indian Air Force. It began on the second of January, when six terrorists entered the air force base, dressed heavily in army uniforms. …
Dress Codes At Religious Places: Personal Choice or Requirement?
Introduction Recently the Madras High Court passed a verdict that from the year 2016, all temples should have a certain dress code for their devotees. From January 1, all men entering a temple in Tamil Nadu will have to either wear a dhoti and upper clothing or formal pant and shirts, …
Section 377: How Long Can India Live With This Victorian Age Law?
What is Section 377? Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code(IPC) is defined as: ‘Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years and should also …
Devastation in Chennai: Result of Unusual Weather and Unplanned Infrastructure
Introduction: The Chennai floods, which have been wreaking havoc since the past one week, do not seem to retreat, as the weather forecast has predicted heavy rains in the coming days. Due to the floods, around 450 people have died, several have been displaced, there have been huge losses of property …
Devastation in Chennai: Result of Unusual Weather and Unplanned Infrastructure
Introduction: The Chennai floods, which have been wreaking havoc since the past one week, do not seem to retreat, as the weather forecast has predicted heavy rains in the coming days. Due to the floods, around 450 people have died, several have been displaced, there have been huge losses of property …
‘Plastic Cow’ Becomes an Issue of Intolerance
Background of the Incident Last Saturday, two artists were detained by the police, after a controversy erupted regarding their plastic cow installation at the Third Summit of Jaipur Art Summit at the Jawahar Kala Kendra(JKK) in Jaipur. Why was the artwork misinterpreted? The cow had been suspended fifty feet high …
‘Plastic Cow’ Becomes an Issue of Intolerance
Background of the Incident Last Saturday, two artists were detained by the police, after a controversy erupted regarding their plastic cow installation at the Third Summit of Jaipur Art Summit at the Jawahar Kala Kendra(JKK) in Jaipur. Why was the artwork misinterpreted? The cow had been suspended fifty feet high …
Access to Toilets: Need of the Hour
What is World Toilet Day All About? Since the year 2013, 19 November is celebrated as World Toilet Day. The aim of this day is to recognize the sanitation crisis across the world and urge the global community to take steps to solve this issue, since 1.3 billion people on the …