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Category: India

  • Assam’s Worst Flooding in Decades Leaves Nearly 100 Dead

    Assam’s Worst Flooding in Decades Leaves Nearly 100 Dead

    Six weeks into the monsoon season, Assam is living through what officials are calling its worst flooding in more than sixty years. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), by Wednesday, the death toll since mid-July had climbed to 95, with over 1.6 lakh people across 14 districts still caught in the aftermath. Just days earlier, on 3 August, the toll stood at 87, with two more fatalities reported and over 1.28 lakh people across seven districts still affected by the deluge, a sign of how fast the numbers have kept moving even as floodwaters recede in some pockets.

    It began around 10 July, when days of nonstop rain over Nagaland and upper Assam sent the Brahmaputra’s tributaries surging well past their banks. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the region received roughly 500 percent more rainfall than normal, driven by sustained heavy rain rather than a single cloudburst.

    None of this is new territory for the state. Close to 40 percent of Assam sits on land the National Flood Commission has long flagged as flood-prone. The Brahmaputra tumbles down from the Himalayas, picks up more than 50 tributaries along the way, and drops silt as it crosses Assam’s flatlands slowly narrowing its own capacity to hold water. Researchers have flagged the same culprits for years: upstream deforestation, aging embankments, and monsoons growing heavier as the climate shifts. Earlier, ASDMA figures from late July put the toll at 68, with more than 10 lakh people affected at that stage, a scale of displacement that’s only grown since.

    This year, the defenses simply couldn’t hold. At least seven major embankments gave way (five near Brahmajan in Biswanath district and two at Mangaldoi in Darrang) and a steel bridge in Charaideo came down, along with a footbridge in Udalguri. The flood emergency has also reached beyond the usual rural hotspots: urban flooding has persisted in parts of Kamrup Metropolitan district, with the Padumbari and Tetelia-Boragaon Service Lane areas still waterlogged, and Guwahati neighbourhoods including Lachit Nagar, Zoo Road, Rukminigaon, Hatigaon, and Jorabat were also hit. The Dhansiri river at Numaligarh has stayed above the danger mark for weeks now, and ASDMA has repeatedly warned residents living nearby to stay clear of the riverbank.

    Sivasagar has been among the worst-hit districts. Tens of thousands there have been affected, and roughly 8,500 livestock are reported to have been swept away by a gutting loss in a district that runs largely on farming and animal husbandry. At one point in late July, ASDMA put the toll even higher statewide: official figures showed more than 11,000 animals washed away and 17,000 head of livestock affected across the flood zone. Nearly 17,000 hectares of cropland remain submerged statewide, and the flood emergency has covered 437 villages across 21 revenue circles in eight districts at its widest point.

    For a lot of families, the weight of what has happened is only now settling in. On 19 July, in Seleng Sumoni Pathar village in Jorhat district, 18-year-old Saline Patro watched the Jhanji river, a tributary that floods her village nearly every year, but never like this, a rise with alarming speed. She got her parents and younger brother to higher ground in time. But when she went back for their belongings, the house was already gone. She lost everything, she said, right down to the glass they used to drink water from.

    Over in Sivasagar district, a mother and her seven-year-old son climbed a mango tree and waited out the night as water swallowed their neighborhood whole. Rekhamoni Gogoi later told local reporters she refused to give up hope even as darkness closed in around them. They were pulled to safety the next morning, one of countless similar stories now coming out of upper Assam, where rescue crews in boats have spent weeks hauling people off rooftops, out of trees, and off whatever scraps of dry ground they could find.

    The response effort has scaled up fast. As of late July, more than 16,500 displaced people were sheltering in 71 relief camps, while another 72,000 were being assisted through 30 relief distribution centres. Those numbers have since shifted as camps opened and closed with the water levels. 

    The severity of the crisis also drew national attention. Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Chief Minister Sarma to take stock of the flood situation. The central government has released an advance of over ₹2,117 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund to Assam and six other flood-hit states, and Sarma says the focus is now shifting from rescue toward rebuilding, including talks with insurers over homes, vehicles, and livestock lost to the water.

    Even so, it isn’t over. The India Meteorological Department has issued fresh heavy-rain warnings for neighboring Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, raising the odds of more flooding along Assam’s border rivers in the days ahead.

    For people like Saline Patro, the road back looks long. Her parents, both daily wage workers, spent years saving up for the home that vanished in a single afternoon. She says, honestly, she has no idea when or how they’ll manage to build another one.

  • India’s Race Against Superbugs: Can New Research and Policies Outpace Antimicrobial Resistance?

    India’s Race Against Superbugs: Can New Research and Policies Outpace Antimicrobial Resistance?

    What began as an ordinary and persistent fever and stomach ache turned into a life-threatening infection when a young man, instead of going to the doctor, took ciprofloxacin on his own. The antibiotic failed to work because the bacteria had become resistant. By the time the patient reached the hospital, he had severe intestinal bleeding and a perforated intestine that required surgery. 

    This is a documented case of Antimicrobial Resistance. In India, according to the most recent data,1.04 million deaths were associated with AMR between the years 1990-2021 and around 1 out of 3 sepsis deaths are linked to AMR, according to a 2024 Lancet Analysis 2024.

    WHY INDIA IS AT HIGH RISK

    There are a number of reasons why India is considered one of the countries most vulnerable to AMR. This happens because, in an Indian household, self-medication is common; instead of going to the doctor to get yourself checked, people treat antibiotics as quick fixes. For instance, some people, instead of taking the complete course, just take it until they feel better. One of the major issues remains cost; going to the hospital is still not accessible to low-income families. In this economy, health is not treated as a priority. One of the other reasons we are ahead of other countries is the over-the-counter access to antibiotics; without prescriptions, we can get medicines at the chemist.

    AMR SURVEILLANCE AND RESEARCH NETWORK (AMRSN)

    The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) launched the AMR Surveillance and Research Network in 2013, which every year publishes reports based on data from hospitals across India, and these consistently show that E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are among the most drug-resistant pathogens.

    AMRSN has created the first national database on this issue. Instead of capturing one-time snapshots, the network continuously monitors resistance patterns; it supports genomic research by using molecular techniques and whole-genome sequencing to understand how bacteria develop resistance, how resistance spreads between hospitals and communities and whether outbreaks are caused by the same bacterial clones, helping scientists detect emerging superbugs earlier and design targeted interventions.

    NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON AMR 2.0 (2025-2029)

    This was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The National Action Plan on AMR builds on the first national action plan (2017-2021). It has been designed to be aligned with the WHO Global Action Plan and adopts a One Health approach.

    The One Health approach states that this issue is not just a hospital problem but rather something which involves other dimensions such as Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment by bringing in these ministries as well.

    NAP-AMR 2.0 encourages development of rapid diagnostic tests, research into new antibiotics and alternative therapies and greater collaborations between research institutions. Many supporting initiatives have also taken place, one of the major ones being the Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programme; these programmes review antibiotic prescriptions, recommend the most appropriate drug and dosage, restrict unnecessary use of last resort antibiotics and monitor resistance trends within hospitals.

    While these initiatives represent a moving trend and hope for a better future with controlled AMR cases, records of implementation suggest that the above statement might just be an overestimation of governments’ powers, as we see that certain rules like prescription-only rules are not always enforced, surveillance coverage in rural India remains a question mark, and public awareness about antibiotic use remains limited. So, in conclusion, these steps have given us some hope for betterment, but whether these policies will translate into measurable betterment or not is yet to be seen.

     

     

  • The Games No One Seems to Want Are Coming to India

    The Games No One Seems to Want Are Coming to India

    “People of Ahmedabad, be prepared, because the city is also going to welcome the Olympics in 2036.”

    Amit Shah made this promise last December at the closing ceremony of the Sansad Khel Mahotsav in Ahmedabad, only days after the city won the hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Funnily enough, this is still not officially guaranteed. The IOC has not opened any host race for 2036 and India has merely expressed its interest. Yet, this announcement was made to loud applause inside a sports complex the government had just built for Rs 800 crore.

    It’s not as if our ambition is futile either. Last Sunday night, at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Sport President Donald Rukare handed the flag to P.T. Usha and Neeraj Chopra, who passed it on to Gujarat’s Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi. There was also a cultural showcase, with Scottish and Indian musicians performing a jugalbandi, that gave the world its first look at Amdavad 2030, the branding for the centenary edition that India will now host.

    But the question is, if hosting these Games is such an honor, why did no other country seem to want them?

    Well, one country did want them once. Victoria in Australia had signed up to host but backed out in 2023 once estimates crossed AU$6 billion, which left Glasgow as the backup plan. They had to pay AU$380 million in compensation. So, in one of the stranger arrangements we’ve seen, it was this exit payment that largely funded Glasgow’s Games. Scotland agreed to step in only if its own taxpayers paid nothing. Naturally, the event had to be shrunk to ensure affordability, going from nineteen sports to ten across four venues. All of it was to be accommodated within a budget of about £160 million, where Birmingham had spent £780 million on the previous edition. The cuts effectively removed shooting, wrestling, badminton, hockey and cricket from the scheduled roster. These happen to be the five sports most of India’s medals have always come from.

    Through the two weeks of competition, British newspapers repeatedly asked whether the Commonwealth Games are dying, and it is pretty difficult to argue with them. It is true that Britain has hosted twice in a row just because no other country came forward. It’s also true that the edition that just concluded was running on money paid by a host that fled.

    Suddenly, in the middle of all this uncertainty, India volunteered. When Commonwealth Sport confirmed Ahmedabad as the centenary host last November, ours was the bid chosen over Nigeria’s Abuja, the only other city in the race. Nobody is hiding what this is really about either, with a letter of intent already sent to the IOC for the 2036 Olympics and our sports minister linking the 2030 Games with India’s plans of becoming a sporting powerhouse by 2047. In fact, Harsh Sanghavi ran an “Ahmedabad Experience Centre” in Glasgow itself, promoting the next edition before these Games got over.

    Now while this sounds alright, there is a valid concern. Ahmedabad intends to stage seventeen sports on a budget that the BBC reports as nearly double Glasgow’s, the exact opposite of the formula that just kept these Games alive. If we were to go by our own record, the last time India hosted was back in 2010. And that event in Delhi became infamous for delays, inflated costs and corruption inquiries that carried on for years after the closing ceremony, all of it paid for with public money. Perhaps Ahmedabad will turn out differently. So far, though, what exists on record is a cost estimate still being worked out and assurances that lessons have been learned.

    Then there is the question of who this big audition is even for. The IOC, under its new president Kirsty Coventry, has paused the entire 2036 host race while a committee reviews how hosts should be chosen. The same body has raised concerns about the way the Indian Olympic Association is governed. Glasgow, unfortunately, proved its point, since doping violations during the qualification period cost India weightlifting quota places that the rules did not let us refill. The IOA itself sounds careful these days. Asked by the BBC about delivering 2030, its chief executive Raghu Iyer replied, “I don’t think one can give any guarantees.” Odd, right, when you think about it? The home minister guarantees an Olympics that does not exist, while the Olympic association will not guarantee the Games we already have.

    The whole display becomes ironic when you consider how well this year’s smaller, humbler Games treated us. India sent 122 athletes, nearly half of Birmingham’s 210, yet finished fourth on the table with 39 medals. Almost one in three of them came home with something around their neck. Neeraj Chopra and Yash Vir Singh took silver and bronze together in the javelin final. Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh became India’s first ever judo gold medalists at these Games, in the very sport that had lost an athlete to a doping suspension before the contingent even left. Mirabai Chanu defended her weightlifting title, while every single one of our ten boxers who entered the semifinals fought through to the finals. Stripped of half its spectacle, missing our strongest sports, this was still among the most capable runs India has had at the Commonwealth Games.

    That, then, is the peculiar inheritance India carried home along with the flag. These Games survived by becoming modest. Modesty, it turns out, suited our athletes far more than anyone expected. Nonetheless, the ambitious plan for Ahmedabad is to make everything ‘wow’ again, on a promise our own history argues against, for a prize whose selection process currently stands suspended. Hopefully, somewhere between the showcases and the countdown, those in charge will spend as much time answering the hard questions as they have spent applauding themselves for the easy ones.

  • Justice on the Streets: A Look Into the CJP Protests

    Justice on the Streets: A Look Into the CJP Protests

    In the wake of the alleged paper leaks in NEET and other competitive examinations, deaths of at least twenty students have been reportedly associated with examination-induced distress. Against this backdrop, protests have been organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)  demanding systematic changes in the education system and the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, the Education Minister of India. 

    Sonam Wangchuk, who is an engineer, educator and an activist from Ladakh,  joined the protest on 29 June, and started an indefinite hunger strike to further support the cause of the movement. Alongside him, multiple CJP members also joined the hunger strike, holding out until their demands were met. 

     

    The protests that started on 29 June intensified after Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly moved to a hospital on 18 July in hopes to end his hunger strike. On 20 July 2026, India saw a revolutionary youth movement called ‘Chalo Sansad’, a march to the Parliament, led by Abhijeet Dipke, leader of CJP. Thousands of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar, and took to the streets of New Delhi, infuriated with the government and determined to secure concrete reformation.

     

    Protesters continued to set up tents at the protest site. The tents brimmed with posters, expressing the displeasement of the civilians. The names of those on hunger strike were stuck on boards, along with the number of days that they have been protesting. 

     

    After 21 long days, Sonam Wangchuk decided to continue his fast even at the hospital and refused to stop until the students received the justice they deserve, even after exhibiting clinical signs of dehydration and severe health deterioration. 

     

    However, as days passed the events at Jantar Mantar spiralled out of the control of the CJP leaders. On July 20, during the ‘Chalo Sansad’ movement, the use of force by Delhi Police against the protesters ended up severely injuring them. Among these were also children and youngsters who arrived at the site with peaceful intentions. This incident spread online quickly, and sparked widespread anger amongst the youth of India. Following this, protests were initiated in different parts of India as the youth stood in solidarity with all those injured at Jantar Mantar. 

     

    In Patna, Bihar, hundreds of student demonstrators gathered at Gandhi Maidan and marched toward Dak Bungalow and Bailey Road; as police deployed water cannons and tear gas, leading to viral moments where students danced under the water spray. 

     

    In Kolkata, West Bengal the unified student march commenced in the Sealdah Station area and continued till the Esplanade area. Another solidarity rally was witnessed as thousands of citizens, students, and youth groups walked from the Jadavpur 8B area to Golpark.

     

    Mumbai-based activists and citizens gathered at the Azad Maidan, echoing the voice of youth all around India. Mumbai Police registered eight First Information Reports (FIRs) in connection with the protests held across the city with the largest case being registered at Shivaji Park Police Station with over 600 protesters booked. 

     

    In Pune, the march began at Shaniwar Wada and concluded at the Collector’s Office, as participants arrived with placards highlighting their demands, deterred by the intermittent rain. They peacefully carried forward their march to the Collector’s Office while the Pune Police showed complete cooperation and handled the event with utmost precision. 

     

    Following these events, Sonam Wangchuk on 24 July, during the early hours of the morning, broke his indefinite hunger strike after twenty six long days, in the presence of two Union Ministers only on the condition that the government will take into account the compensation for the NEET aspirant students who lost their lives. He also demanded the cases of students present in the protest be taken back. He successfully got a written agreement for both his demands and finally broke his fast. 

     

    This, however, did nothing to help the protests die down. Abhijeet Dipke, along with many CJP members, was still on a hunger strike and the protests carried on in full force until the demands were met. Crowds still gathered at protest sites in respective cities, civilians were still waiting for answers and the youth was still hopeful. In support of those spending nights at Jantar Mantar, Indians from all around the country sent food, water, medicines and other necessities at the site as a symbol of silent support. 

     

    Those who could not join the protests, helped spread awareness about the situation on digital platforms. Social media played a significant role in amplifying and spreading awareness about the protest. Social media covered the information on the protest that mainstream media did not broadcast. Students used platforms like Instagram and X to share updates and document events in real time. Celebrities and public figures also shared posts expressing solidarity and helping the movement gain momentum. Renowned personalities like Shabana Azmi, Imran Khan, Swara Bhaskar, Huma Qureshi and Prakash Raj also joined the protest and stood with thousands of students for their cause. 

     

    Fortunately, their efforts and struggles did not go unnoticed because on July 25, Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation as the Education Minister after serving five years of his term. In his letter, Dharmendra Pradhan mentions that more than his ‘individual prestige’ he was disturbed to see the series of events that took place over the last ten days.

     

     This development prompted the CJP to call off the protests at Jantar Mantar after a prolonged 36 days. President Droupadi Murmu accepted his resignation letter. Later, on the advice of the Prime Minister, she appointed Pralhad Joshi as the new Education Minister of India. Ultimately, the protests transformed public outrage into a coordinated movement for change. While the immediate demands remain contested, they succeeded in significant structural reform in the education system.

  • Education Mafia in India : Does Merit Even Matter Anymore?

    Education Mafia in India : Does Merit Even Matter Anymore?

    An editorial from 2010, named “The decay in Indian education and society: Are we responsible for it?” tactfully examines popular trends in medical and educational institutions and puts forth the term “education mafia” to describe the motley crew of powerful people who puppeteer students according to their whims. The education mafia then springs into conversations here and there sporadically until the paper leaks of 2026 NEET exams. Rage spreading like wildfire about the corruption in the noble field of education consumes students who have piously devoted their life to the pursuit of erudition. 

     

    This education mafia refers to the nexus of politicians, bureaucrats and private entities who profit off the education system by exploiting it. This network involves rigged examination processes, faulty admissions and hyper-commercialized coaching culture which boosts a toxic environment for students and other individuals entrenched in this culture. One of the most prominent fields of their influence are the examination and paper leak rackets. The integrity of some high participation exams like the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and other central and state examinations have been compromised by organised paper leaks and paper solver gangs. Though there have been strict legislations passed against the act with 10-year jail term and a fine of up to ₹1  Crore, the mafia still continues to operate with negligible conviction cases. 

     

    The mafia is also secretly providing individuals with degree certificates without actually going through coursework through Degree Mills. “Degree Mills” are counterfeit institutions that exist only on paper and provide degrees to teachers to certify them as a pupil of B.Ed and D.El.Ed. This hampers the quality of educators of the country therefore, making the foundation of the whole system weak. The government has conducted various crack downs and undercover operations pertaining to this issue but was unable to eliminate the problem from its roots.  

     

    Another kleptocratic practice includes the huge hole that remains unaddressed by the government. The government of India provides top tier colleges for students pursuing engineering and medical but the student-to-seat ratio is highly disproportionate with students competing with thousands for their opportunity and this is capitalized heavily by coaching institutes. These conglomerates create a hegemonic system – dictating curriculum, draining the middle class families and creating a stressful and extremely competitive environment for students which is not at all conducive to them. 

     

    The cartel also works at K-12 level where alliances between state officials and private school management results in exorbitant school fees, hidden charges, mandatory overpriced books and school stationery from specific vendors and subversion of regulations. These are all the different scope of the mafia’s clout. The education mafia is also involved in the hundreds of cases of mass copying and providing employment to thousands of incompetent job seekers. But the question is – what happens to those affected by the deliberations of this syndicate when the government’s efforts seem to be ineffective? Do they deserve to go through the rigmarole of these exams again and again till their faith in merit is completely shattered? Or do they take a backseat in their own life and see where others’ decisions take them? Hopefully in the following years, it’s neither of these choices and students are allowed to participate in a system that works for them and not against them. 

     

    Image credit – Wikimedia Commons

  • The Virus That Will Not Go Away: DRC’s Outbreak of Ebola

    The Virus That Will Not Go Away: DRC’s Outbreak of Ebola

    On 5 May 2026, World Health Organization (WHO) received reports of an outbreak of an unknown disease in Mongbwalu Health Zone, Ituri Province, in the Democratic republic of Congo causing high mortality, including among health workers. These patients showed symptoms common in Ebola viruses. Ten days later on 15 May scientists at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa confirmed that 13 blood samples were positive for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD). 

     

    Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease is a very rare and severe variant of Ebola virus disease, also known as viral haemorrhagic fever. It is a zoonotic disease ,with fruit bats suspected to be the natural reservoir. Human infection is attributed to direct exposure to blood or other body fluids from infected wild animals (such as bats or non-human primates) and then to direct contact with the blood, other body fluids, organs or contaminated surfaces or items from infected humans. A vaccine or specific therapeutics for Bundibugyo virus is not available. The Virus therefore presents a significant threat to the potential widespread international spread.

     

    In response to the outbreak, the DRC Ministry of Public Health declared an Ebola outbreak on May 15. By the next day there were confirmed cases of BVD in Kampala, the capital of neighboring country Uganda. They were attributed to travel from the Congo into Uganda. On May 17, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The highest alert given by WHO, it seeks coordinated international funding and response mechanisms. 

     

    As of June 17 the DRC’s total number of confirmed cases was 837 and the total number of confirmed deaths was 196, with sixteen health workers confirmed infected. The International Council of Nurses (ICN) reported that the health care workers in DRC were reporting shortages in PPE and testing kits leading to high points of exposure to the disease.

    There are a number of problems that are slowing down the response to the outbreak. In eastern DRC conflict amongst various militant and ethnic groups is an obstacle in providing medical care. Large amounts of the population in disease stricken regions such as Ituri are displaced. Estimates put the number of displaced populations at over 990,000.

     

    Out of a $319 million response budget, $2,87 million still remains unsecured. With the cutting of USAID by the Trump administration and the exit of the United States from the WHO, raising funding still remains to be a big issue in combating the epidemic.

     

    There have also been multiple instances of people not cooperating with health workers and clashing with police and authorities over the deceased bodies of family members. Multiple suspected Ebola patients have run away from their medical centers where they were kept for observation.

     

    Eastern DRC borders 9 countries and is a crossroads of trade, mining and industry. The region also has frequent movement of refugees due to various conflicts leading to a high risk of transmission that might affect trade and commerce around the world. Unlike Mongbwalu , Kampala is a capital city. The international airport in Kampala has routes to other parts of Africa along with several intercontinental destinations. Transmission could soon leave Africa and trouble the rest of the world.

     

    The DRC has successfully contained Ebola outbreaks before. There are numerous international organizations and institutions set in place to fight back against the virus. At the forefront of response is the development of a vaccine. The coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has announced funding to fast track 3 vaccine candidates that can counter BVD. The vaccines are being developed by IAVI, Moderna and the University of Oxford. According to health officials the outbreak needs to be fought on a global level with various nations providing financial, logistical and medical support. The next few months are critical in the fight against the outbreak and is a test of not only DRC’s medical safeguards but the world’s.

    Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons

  • FIFA 2026 and the Indian Dilemma: Why Cricket Still Prevails

    FIFA 2026 and the Indian Dilemma: Why Cricket Still Prevails

    With a grand opening ceremony held separately at three different venues, the FIFA World Cup began on 12 June. Except for not holding it twice, when the world was at war in 1942 and 1946, the mega sports extravaganza has been consistently held every four years since 1930, and is now in its 23rd edition.
    The Indian sports enthusiast is viewed as a consumer of sports rather than being physically on the ground (India, ranked third in the world, has a considerable adult and children population that is classified as obese), and is now all geared up for FIFA26. From which OTT or subscription channels are live-telecasting the FIFA matches, to which matches to view and which players not to be missed, while in action, all these calculations were clearly mapped by the Indian television audience much in advance and even before the games kicked off.

    Whenever football is discussed, it inevitably brings the game into question, in contrast to the most popular game in India, cricket. No one would disagree with this choice. Despite the spirit of shrugging off colonial baggage and the decolonisation of various spheres of knowledge and ways of life, the game of cricket, handed down to Indians by the colonisers, still seamlessly sneaks into conversations people wish to have at typical social gatherings.

    With the addition of the glamour quotient from Bollywood, which is a strong allyship to the game (cricketers’ affairs/marriages with Bollywood cine idols) and, in some instances, partnerships in the ownership of IPL teams (Periti Zinta, Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla), as well as ownership of teams, has helped draw more viewers and spectators to the game.

    Cricket is always regarded as a religion in India, and its demigods are followed by millions. Not long ago, the celebrations (victory parade) that culminated at the Chinnaswamy stadium left 11 people (RCB Fans) killed in a stampede. Just for argument’s sake, in India, is cricket and a cricketer worth dying for? This is altogether taking a different trajectory from the present argument. Though India has never played in FIFA, hopes are always high that cricket is one such game where both the men’s and women’s teams are sure to bring laurels.

    The likes of Baichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri (called in after he retired from active participation) are among the very few men’s football players in the country whose names people usually drop. It would take some effort and would not immediately strike one’s mind to shout out a few more names. Though, for commercial interests, the Indian Super League (ISL) did generate some interest in Football amongst the TV viewers in India, it failed to be an economically viable proposition, muddled with bureaucratic hurdles. ISL failed to exist this year.

    Which game has a longer historical past? The obvious answer is football. The modern game of football originated from the Chinese game of tsu chu (also known as cuju), which was played around 2500 BC. Tsu chu, which translates to ’kicking the leather ball with feet’, was part of physical instruction for troops during the Tsin Dynasty. The game has unquestionably grown to be the most popular, played, and watched game in the entire World, as it has spread to all corners of the globe over time. According to FIFA, more than 250 million people play Football across more than 200 Nations. Cricket is predominantly patronised by countries that were once British colonies. No wonder there is a strong lobby pushing to make cricket a permanent sports event at the Commonwealth Games.

    When it comes to the nuances of both games, there are far too many rules that govern the game of cricket than football. Can anyone explain to someone without throwing them into a state of confusion about the DLS rule (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern) in cricket? The rule (which involves a lot of calculations) is applied when a game of cricket is interrupted by conditions not suitable for playing. Football, however, is considered an all-weather game with fewer rules compared to cricket. No disruption to the game from rain or slight snow. Moreover, the equipment for the game of cricket is far larger in comparison to football, where 22 people huddle in and play with a leather ball. The UN has a special mention of the game and its power for global peace and solidarity. May 25 is designated as World Football Day by the UN. Except for offside, Football is simple to understand, follow, and play.

    Cricket continues to attract viewership irrespective of the formats. May it be 20-20, IPL, Legends (players from yesteryears), Women’s IPL, or the extended version of a 5-day test series. An average Indian, on any given day, can double up as an expert in the game. From choosing the playing eleven to the role of winning the toss and making the right choices. The well-informed audience is aware of the pitch condition 22 yards pitch. How overcast weather can actually help the seamers, and the dew that makes the ball grip difficult.

    Most discussions, predominantly on football, frequently start and end with the goal scores of teams. Not much discussion thereafter is sustained. Unless a first-world nation and a few look out to watch for players in this World Cup edition, or the underdog team becomes part of social interactions.
    An extended game (soccer as in America and Football for the rest of the dwellers on the planet) lasts at least 90 minutes. With no result from the designated time, an extra 30 minutes is granted, and even when the result is a draw, it would be decided by penalty shootouts. Despite all this, at times the final score may be read as a draw. The predictability of the match is difficult because if the ball is found inside the net, the game would have been in the last few minutes/seconds before the final whistle is blown three times) Indicating the game headed towards its conclusion. Well, in a typical 20-20, each ball seems to be far more exciting. Even a dot ball leads to the planting of trees.

    Sport and Geopolitics

    People who prefer following and commenting on geopolitics will be much more interested in watching Iran and the US face off on the pitch and in the field. Remember, during the Cold War, the Olympics were one of the battlefields to show superiority beyond military accomplishments and technological advancements. Sports, as one of the tools for the exhibition of soft power, may gather some traction in high-brow people’s gatherings. The ongoing war between the US and Iran (15 weeks since it began) is still dictating the world economy, grabbing headlines in the media, and competing for the Cup. With Iran and the US playing in different groups (Iran in G and the US in D), there is no immediate chance to play each other. However, the possibility may not be ruled out completely as the progress beyond the Group stage. Depending on the performances of both teams in the group stage and the various qualification permutations, an Iran–United States clash in the knockout rounds would not come as a surprise to either football fans or geopolitical observers.

    This year will see a total of 6 women referees officiating in the FIFA tournament. Have we ever, by chance, witnessed women umpires in men’s cricket matches? Well, football has set the precedent of inclusivity in sports. The ever-encountering discourses in academia strongly speak about how to break away from Eurocentrism. Third-world nations, particularly Latin American countries, have so far won 10 FIFA World Cups. This is very close to the European countries’ tally of 13 wins. One can clearly place football as a sport that has come close to breaking away from Eurocentrism.

    Fouls and rule-breaking are celebrated and fresh in the memories. The controversial ‘hand of gold’ (Maradona) statues are installed at various places. So is head-butted by Zidane. As a tribute to yesteryear football players who were legends in the game, roses were given their names. David Beckham is one of them. There are some streets and roadways named after football players for their contributions. Naming of food and drinks in celebration of a football player is not a new phenomenon. One of the primary sources of fashion is diffused through football. Inking of the body(tattoos), styling of the mane, wearing the wrong color shoes and socks.

    Catching up about the highlights is another way to take part in those office conversations about last night’s game/games. This year’s tournament has a tri-nation fixture with the US, Canada, and Mexico hosting FIFA 2026. 48 teams from nations with populations as small as 5 lakh people (There are 46 cities in India with a population of 10 lakh and above) make the cut for the most-watched sport on the planet. Cabo Verde qualified for the present World Cup for the first time along with three more nations.
    The question then pops up, which leads to what the youth of the country are doing and what the country is doing for sport. With over 350 million youth population, what has India’s contribution been in football? Does the game demand more endurance? Team camaraderie. A batsman or a bowler can decide the fate of the result in cricket. Football required more than a bit of anticipation, collaborative efforts expected from the playing 11. Can India, with its social hierarchies and favoritism exhibited on all fronts, be a good team? Well, the glories brought by hockey to the country stand as testimony to a team sport on display. What then is holding back football in India? Like all arguments and suggestions point out, at the end is the lack of proper infrastructure, nutrition, professionalism, and the incapacity of political offices and administration in encouraging and promoting sports culture. As a career, sports is always a second option. Gopichand, the all England badminton winner, cautioned the Indian middle class to keep their options open before choosing sports as a career.

    The question of which nation will emerge as the best among the 48 competing teams will be answered in a month’s time. The experience is a sort of rarity, as the next edition will take place only in 2030. Till 19 July, happy owl-viewing for people who go by the IST.

  • Cockroaches in Politics: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

    Cockroaches in Politics: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

    Recently, a new party has become the topic of many conversations. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), is a youth-centered party that was born as a satirical movement, quickly gaining momentum and virality. Though it’s more of a protest collective than a registered official party, it seems that the youth is using this space to voice their concerns about the undemocratic practices that are plaguing India right now. 

    The CJP emerged in May 2026 after a remark by Chief Justice Surya Kant sparked a lot of controversy. He allegedly had compared the unemployed youth who turn to journalism and activism with cockroaches saying, “There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment or have any place in the profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, RTI activists and other activists and they start attacking everyone.” Later on, he clarified that his statement was targeted towards those who get bogus, fake degrees and was blown out of proportion. But the comments had already begun to make its rounds over X and other social media sites. As a response to this, Abhijeet Dipke, a 24 year old Indian student in Boston posted a tweet announcing the nascency of a political platform “for all the cockroaches”, with an enrolment Google Form. The popularity of this platform was unseen with 46,000 people signing up in a few hours and 100,100 people, a website and a party anthem emerging within 28 hours. In less than three days, the party had gained nearly 3 million followers across all social media platforms. The reason for this huge surge in their popularity was the criteria required to be part of the party: being unemployed, lazy, chronically online, and able to rant professionally. The youth of India identified with these traits and related to them, and may even have planted the sapling of hope for change amid the current scenario of unemployment, limited opportunities, and constant bureaucratic failures.

    The party labelled itself as “apolitical” and “spontaneous” but political experts have found deep political connections fabricating the CJP network and thus started the suspicion of apparent opposition backing of the party. Abhijeet previously was a part of AAP’s communication team and spokesperson Saurav Das’s opinions have resurfaced online where he backed Umar Khalid and opposed Article 370 and the Ayodhya – Ram Mandir verdict. CJP also garnered celebrity endorsements with Anurag Kashyao and Sonam Wangchuk supporting the party. Some speculate that the movement might be orchestrated by opposition while some might argue that CJP has a varied base. 

    CJP’s manifesto, named the “The Swarm Manifesto” lists five non-negotiable demands from the government regarding judicial reforms, youth representation, media and democratic accountability and electoral rectifications. The party seeks to address issues that get lost or ignored by mainstream media and politics. Dipke has stated that he would not engage with “Godi media” and even passed comments like “Why is the government so scared of cockroaches?” after CJP’s website and certain social media accounts were blocked on national security grounds. 

    Recently, CJP has evolved from AI generated content and online memes to physical protests across the nation. The protestors in Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Pune all demanded the resignation of Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan and warned against an indefinite sit-in if their stipulations were not attended. Due to the gravitas of their demands and protests, critics have started to consider CJP more than just a Gen-Z trend or viral bandwagon with actual concerns being vociferated by the party. 

    The hopes raised by the party are the silent dreams and aspirations that get clouded by identity and power politics and seldom find any outlet. Countless count upon the party to get a flicker of the light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully the party can render these expectations successfully.

    Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons

  • Namo Oxygen Parks or Court-Mandated Afforestation? Investigating Delhi’s Green Branding Claim

    Namo Oxygen Parks or Court-Mandated Afforestation? Investigating Delhi’s Green Branding Claim

    On World Environment Day, June 5, Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated “Namo Oxygen Parks” at Maidangarhi. A total of 185.5 acres of land throughout 18 parks are covered under this initiative, where they will be developed as green zones and a place where indigenous, environmentally beneficial species such as peepal, banyan, jamun and mango trees will be planted.

    “The Delhi government has set an ambitious target of planting 70 lakh trees and saplings this year. The objective is not merely plantation but ensuring 100% survival through geo-tagging and proper maintenance.” Rekha Gupta said. However, questions have emerged over whether the initiative is entirely new or largely overlaps with a court-mandated afforestation programme.

    The controversy can be traced back to the Delhi Ridge tree-felling case dating to May 2024, which came before the Supreme Court after around 1,100 trees were allegedly felled in the Southern Ridge area, which serves as  the ultimate environmental lifeline for the National Capital Region (NCR) and Delhi. The felling was for a road-widening project linked to the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS). The Court found that the felling had taken place without obtaining the necessary permissions and initiated contempt proceedings against officials of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). In its judgment dated 28 May 2025, the Supreme Court held DDA officials guilty of contempt and directed extensive compensatory afforestation measures to restore the ecological damage caused by the tree loss. 

    According to the Supreme Court judgment, the restoration exercise was to be carried out under judicial supervision through a large-scale plantation programme. Subsequent DDA status reports filed before the Court proposed afforestation across 18 land parcels covering nearly 185 acres, with approximately 1.67 lakh saplings to be planted. The Court later approved the afforestation plan and sought periodic compliance reports from the DDA and the Delhi Forest Department. 

    The overlap between the court-approved afforestation plan and the Namo Oxygen Parks initiative has raised questions among journalists and environmental activists. Both programmes involve 18 sites spread across roughly 185 acres. Media Reports done by PeekTV and Times Of India examining DDA filings and court records found that several of the locations inaugurated as Namo Oxygen Parks correspond with land parcels identified for compensatory afforestation in the aftermath of the Supreme Court proceedings. The connection became more apparent after a DDA status report referred to the plantation exercise as part of compliance with the Court’s directions.

    Environmental activist Bhavreen Kandhari, who was among the first to publicly raise questions about the project, argued that the branding of the parks obscures their origins. “Calling these parks a new environmental achievement is misleading. This was a penalty and a restoration measure,” she said.

    Government officials, however, maintain that the initiative forms part of a broader environmental agenda. At the inauguration event, CM Gupta said the previous government had not shown the required rigour in addressing the growing pollution problem over the years, whereas the present government has placed environmental protection among its highest priorities. 

    Field biologists note that while newly planted saplings begin producing oxygen within weeks, they may take between two and five years, depending on the species, to deliver broader ecological benefits such as temperature regulation, biodiversity support and a meaningful increase in green cover.

    This leaves a question about the initiative, whether trees are being planted as an independent program or compensatory afforestation mandated by the Supreme Court. The extent of overlap between the two programmes will remain a matter of public interest and scrutiny until further reports from the supreme court proceedings become public and an on ground report of  reviewing the 18 zones with the court assigned areas are done.

  • Met Gala 2026: Interpreting ‘Costume Art’ Through Fashion

    Met Gala 2026: Interpreting ‘Costume Art’ Through Fashion

    If fashion is art, then the 2026 Met Gala was its boldest gallery yet.

    On the first Monday of May, The Metropolitan Museum of Art held the year’s most anticipated night of fashion. As guests arrived, the 2026 Met Gala carpet showcased a multitude of celebrities in expressive outfits, all true to the evening’s theme. Each year, the Met Gala theme is designed to align with the museum’s spring exhibition; in 2026, this was ‘Costume Art.’ The red carpet dress code, ‘Fashion is Art,’ emphasised portraying one’s body as a canvas for sculptural and conceptual art through fashion choices.

    The theme ‘Costume Art’ was set to explore the relationship between the body and garments. The exhibition highlights the theme by analysing dressed bodies through art-driven reinterpretations. This particular theme celebrates over 5000 years of art history. The guests were encouraged to present themselves as wearable art with a theme so diverse that it leaves a lot of room for imagination. Several outfits were seen that were directly inspired by famous artworks, sculptures, and paintings.

    The evening’s highlights began with Emma Chamberlain, Vogue’s red-carpet correspondent, unveiling the first impactful look. Emma appeared in a custom hand-painted Mugler gown, created in collaboration with artist Anna Deller-Yee.

    The gown incorporated visible influence from painters Vincent van Gogh and Edvard Munch with intricate brush strokes and a raw blend of art.

    This incredibly captivating look was followed by Anna Wintour, the lead chair of the night and her co-chairs, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams. Beyoncé, who is also a part of the chair, arrived later in the evening in a magnificent Olivier Rousting gown portraying a silver skeleton look, with her daughter, Blue Ivy. Although only 14 years old, Blue Ivy’s debut was just as spectacular and also rule-defying, considering individuals below the age of 18 are forbidden to attend the Gala.

    Some of the most talked-about looks of the night included that of supermodel and television host, Heidi Klum. Heidi arrived at the carpet in a complete head-to-toe transformation into a living sculpture. Her look referenced the famed 1847 sculpture, ‘The Veiled Vestal’ by Raffaelle Monti. She achieved this look with the help of prosthetic makeup designer Mike Marino, who had also previously worked with Klum.

    Another memorable look of the night was that of singer-songwriter SZA. She had adorned herself in a beautiful marigold-yellow corset gown with an embroidered layered skirt. Her colour theme included radiant combinations of yellow, golden and hints of rose. Her stylist, Emily Adams Bode Aujla, revealed that the two worked with a vintage dealer who sourced over a hundred yards of fabric in various materials to work with. The Grammy winner’s look included a floral headpiece and butterfly wings that appeared when she lifted her arms. The look was rooted in the craftsmanship of Viennese artists that aligned with SZA’s love for nature.

    Amongst the numerous debuts this year, Hudson Williams’ look stood out the most. The actor arrived in a baby blue Balenciaga cropped blazer, adorned with ornate black tassels. The show stopper, however, was his bold makeup look featuring metallic blue and red eyeshadow and his spiked hairstyle. The makeup look was inspired by the 2010 film ‘Black Swan’.

    Sabrina Carpenter arrived at the Met Gala steps dressed in Dior and channelling old Hollywood with her look. The singer was wrapped up in actual film strips of the 1954 Oscar-nominated film ‘Sabrina’ featuring Audrey Hepburn. Following this look, Sabrina changed into a 2018 Versace piece for her performance. As she treated the guests with her iconic hits ‘Espresso’ and ‘House Tour’, she captivated the audience with the silkscreen prints of pop culture icons like Marilyn Monroe on her dress.

    Karan Johar made his debut dressed in a custom look by collaborator and friend Manish Malhotra. He arrived in a structured jacket and a dramatic hand-painted cape that took over 5600 hours to make. The paintings were a homage to the legendary Indian painter, Raja Ravi Varma. Pieces like Kadambari, Hamsa Damayanti, Krishna Shishtai and many more were painted by over 80 artists in the span of three months.

    Also deriving her looks from historical Indian references was Isha Ambani. She wore a custom-made Gaurav Gupta sari adorned with two hundred old mine-cut diamonds, collected over time as Nita Ambani’s private collection, that were sewn across the bodice. To complete this look, Isha carried an actual sculpture of a mango made by renowned artist Subodh Gupta. Her look was said to be inspired by India’s rich textile heritage for this piece.

    A notable element about this year’s gala was the number of young debuts. Influencers, young actors, and global pop culture figures are given the exclusive opportunity to present themselves on the biggest fashion stage in the world. Sombr, Alyssa Liu, Tate McRae, Odessa A’zion, Connor Storie, Jisoo, Lauren Wasser, Marcello Hernandez and many others marked their debut as emerging rising talents.
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    As the evening concluded, it ultimately showcased that fashion continues to evolve beyond trends. It is a culmination of craftsmanship, self-expression and unapologetic extravagance. This year’s theme, ‘Costume Art,’ pushed the attendees to experiment with their knowledge of fashion while celebrating artists who deserve to be remembered in history. With striking debuts and creative interpretations of the theme, the biggest night in the landscape of contemporary fashion came to an end.