Cherylann Mollan

Thousands of protesters aligned with the Cockroach Janta Party have intensified demonstrations in Delhi, demanding education reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after a violent police crackdown injured dozens. Opposition Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, joined the protests and attempted to march to the prime minister’s residence, further increasing pressure on Narendra Modi’s government. Police used batons and tear gas to disperse crowds, while government officials denied opposition accusations and said they were open to debate. The movement, bolstered by hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk, has expanded to major cities across India, becoming a significant challenge to the government amid growing public dissent.

Large youth-led protests by the Cockroach Janta Party intensified in Delhi, demanding education reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following a violent police crackdown. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, joined the demonstrations after being prevented from raising the issue in parliament. Government officials rejected allegations of suppressing debate, accusing the opposition of politicising the unrest. Support for the movement has expanded nationwide, bolstered by activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike and growing public dissent toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.

Sonam Wangchuk continues an indefinite hunger strike supporting the Cockroach Janta Party’s demand for education reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after a major exam paper leak. Despite weakened health, he urges supporters to join an upcoming protest march. Opposition figures, including Arvind Kejriwal and Omar Abdullah, call on the government to engage with protesters, while the Delhi High Court orders authorities to monitor Wangchuk’s condition. The federal health ministry has directed multiple hospitals to conduct twice‑daily examinations.

Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have ordered all educational institutions to review books and academic materials for content deemed objectionable, including material seen as promoting separatism or undermining national security. Officials say the move aims to remove inaccurate or unlawful content, but opposition parties, academics and students argue it threatens academic freedom and could suppress the region’s complex history. The directive follows controversy over two school books accused by the Bharatiya Janata Party of glorifying separatist leaders, leading to arrests and suspensions. Critics view the broader effort, which includes past bans and police seizures of books, as part of an expanding pattern of state control, while government representatives defend the order as necessary to prevent unrest.

A district court judge in India, Tabassum Khan, faced death threats and communal abuse after sentencing 14 men to life imprisonment for the mob lynching of Nazir Ahmad in 2022. Influencers and groups aligned with Hindu right‑wing activism accused her of targeting Hindus, prompting protests and violent rhetoric. Judicial bodies and legal experts publicly backed her, stressing that threats against judges undermine democratic institutions. Police made arrests and monitored online activity, while higher courts demanded continued protection and accountability measures to ensure her safety.

A judge in Madhya Pradesh who sentenced 14 men to life imprisonment for the lynching of a Muslim man has faced widespread online abuse, communal attacks, and death threats. The backlash has come primarily from Hindu right-wing groups and influencers who accuse her of acting against Hindus, prompting protests, violent rhetoric, and calls to free the convicted men. Judicial bodies and legal experts have condemned the threats and urged stronger protection for the judge. Police have opened investigations and made arrests, while higher courts have demanded accountability and continuation of security measures.

Vijaya Mehta is remembered as a pioneering figure who modernised Marathi theatre through bold experimentation, nurturing influential actors and shaping a generation of playwrights. Her work with the theatre group Rangayan and her role as chair of Mumbai’s National Centre for the Performing Arts significantly expanded the scope of Indian performing arts. She directed acclaimed films, collaborated with major Indian and international theatre figures and inspired many artists who credit her with transforming their understanding of the craft. Her death is widely regarded as an irreplaceable loss to Indian theatre.

Vijaya Mehta, a pioneering figure in modern Marathi theatre, is remembered for her experimental productions that reshaped the art form and inspired generations of actors and playwrights. Emerging during a period of cultural transformation in Maharashtra, she co‑founded the influential theatre group Rangayan, championed bold new writing, revived classical works and adapted global playwrights for Indian audiences. Her impact extended into cinema with acclaimed films such as Rao Saheb and Pestonjee, and she later chaired the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai. Tributes from prominent cultural figures highlight her artistic rigor, mentorship and lasting influence on Indian theatre.

The Editors Guild of India condemned the removal of former Telegraph editor R Rajagopal from the electoral roll and the resulting delay in his passport renewal during the nationwide Special Intensive Revision voter list update. Critics say the exercise has wrongly excluded millions, including nine million in West Bengal, though the Election Commission rejects the claims. Rajagopal, a longtime voter, has appealed the decision and says authorities cited his exclusion as a barrier to verifying his passport renewal. Journalists and opposition figures expressed support and urged restoration of his voting rights, arguing the case illustrates broader risks of disenfranchisement.