–Devendra Kumar Budakoti A recent petition filed before the Uttarakhand High Court by adult petitioners from different religious backgrounds highlights a larger social question surrounding marriage, family and community in India. The petitioners sought assistance in getting married as their families and relatives were opposing their alliance and had allegedly threatened them with serious consequences. … Read more
Devendra Kumar Budakoti The debate over Indian parenting came to my mind again while reading about an incident involving a child’s behaviour on a flight in Canada on August 6. The child reportedly refused to sit down and fasten his seat belt. As a result, the flight was delayed, eventually cancelled, and rescheduled for the … Read more
Devendra Kumar Budakoti The recent protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the alleged paper leak drew attention not only because of the issue being raised but also because of the language used by some protesters. Placards, banners, slogans, and social media reels contained abusive and derogatory expressions that many citizens found offensive. While … Read more
Devendra Kumar Budakoti The recent protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the alleged paper leak drew attention not only because of the issue being raised but also because of the language used by some protesters. Placards, banners, slogans, and social media reels contained abusive and derogatory expressions that many citizens found offensive. While … Read more
Devendra Kumar Budakoti Parents of young children and adolescents today are increasingly worried about excessive mobile phone use. It is now common to see children glued to their screens for hours, often remaining online almost around the clock. When I once asked a teenager, Padhani, why he was constantly on his mobile phone, he looked … Read more
By Devendra Kumar Budakoti The chief of the Cockroach Janta Party, Abhijeet Dipke, recently remarked that if he was not provided adequate security, he would be compelled to return to America. While the statement generated some discussion, it also raises a broader and more relevant question: what truly determines where Indians choose to live? Is … Read more
By Devendra Kumar Budakoti The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) victory with a clear majority in West Bengal in May 2026 marks a significant turning point in the state’s political history. Bengal, long regarded as a bastion of intellectualism, progressive politics, and ideological experimentation, has witnessed dramatic political transformations before. Yet, the emergence of the BJP … Read more
By Devendra Kumar Budakoti The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) victory with a clear majority in West Bengal in May 2026 marks a significant turning point in the state’s political history. Bengal, long regarded as a bastion of intellectualism, progressive politics, and ideological experimentation, has witnessed dramatic political transformations before. Yet, the emergence of the BJP … Read more
By Suresh Nautiyal Greenananda A Garhwali proverb says, “Na mama sye ta kaanu mama bhalu”—better a one-eyed uncle than no uncle at all. The saying aptly describes the condition of Uttarakhand’s film industry. We are proud to have a regional cinema of our own, yet when we examine its creative achievements, the reality is less … Read more
– Devendra Kumar Budakoti Gopal Krishna Gokhale, famous quote, “What Bengal thinks today, the rest of India thinks tomorrow,” emerged during a period when Bengal stood at the forefront of India’s intellectual, cultural, social, and political awakening under British colonial rule. To understand whether this idea still holds relevance today, one must examine the historical … Read more