Kolkata’s Rally Revolution: The RG Kar Tragedy and the City’s Defiant Stand
“Kolkata has transformed into a city of rallies,” observed Mayurakshi Banerjee, a Mumbai-based cine worker who has called the city home for over two decades
Sharing Fears and a Voice: A First-Person Account of a Historic Night for Women
The crowd was a sea of humanity, stretching endlessly in every direction. From toddlers taking their first steps to elderly women leaning on canes, from celebrities to students, it seemed like the entire world had converged.
Abraham Verghese’s epic The Covenant of Water is richly researched and paced, but has conflicts that resolve too easily
The narrative shuttles between past and present, countries and continents, weaving a tale of love, loneliness, longing, and death, perforated by moments of wit, humour, and joy. Each story is interconnected like water “that connects them all in time and space and always has”
How a centuries-old story of a Bengali writer finds new echoes in a Spanish animator’s film
The animation film celebrates women through Sultana’s Dream, a story of Bengali writer-activist Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain
The legacy of Sandip Datta’s little magazine library
From giving up lunch and cigarettes to taking up part-time jobs, Datta’s obsession with little magazines led to a library, at Kolkata's College Street, that kept a part of Bengal’s history alive
Why, as a woman born into a Muslim family, I have reservations about the Uniform Civil Code
A party which thinks criminalising Muslim men is the primary strategy to address a complex socio-political issue justly raises concerns about the obsessive push for the UCC. But Muslim bodies have been silent too. Muslim women are now forced to choose between their rights and their community
Noida row over bachelor tenants: Desperately searching for the ‘ideal’ tenant
The economy is changing, as is society, but homeowners and housing societies are holding on to past notions of family and stability
No matter how you celebrate Karwa Chauth, it is not a feminist choice
‘Choice feminism’ is such a success because it is convenient. It is easier than questioning our own privileges and complicities which aid, and not hinder, patriarchal domination.
'The Gods of Bengal's Villages': A Film Explores the Dying Art of Bohurupis
'If the young generation doesn’t come forward and revive the dying art, then a whole chapter of Bengal’s tradition will be wiped away.'
Reaching out to women voters
The ongoing 2021 Legislative Assembly election in West Bengal has spawned a campaign called ‘No Vote To BJP’, which includes messaging meant specifically for women in the state.
The campaign was launched by ‘Bengal against Fascist RSS-BJP’, a platform of multiple left, feminist and civil society movements that came into being in the first week of January 2021. Those associated with the campaign reveal a deep fear of a party whose leaders have been known to felicitate rapists and who regularly make misogynist comments.
The campaign was launched by ‘Bengal against Fascist RSS-BJP’, a platform of multiple left, feminist and civil society movements that came into being in the first week of January 2021. Those associated with the campaign reveal a deep fear of a party whose leaders have been known to felicitate rapists and who regularly make misogynist comments.
‘We Will Return’: 72 Years of Nakba and the Continuing Destruction of Palestine
15 May 2020, marks the 72nd anniversary of the Nakba (Catastrophe) in Palestine. More than 800,000 Palestinians were ethnically cleansed and forced to become refugees in the neighbouring countries. Yet, the Nakba did not end in 1948. It is the ongoing story and plight of the Palestinian people and is likewise a motivation to continue the steadfastness and resistance of the Palestinian people.
Hunger, Humiliation, and Death: Perils of Migrant Workers in the Time of COVID19
Utsa Sarmin, "Hunger, Humiliation, and Death: Perils of Migrant Workers in the Time of COVID19" in "Borders of an Epidemic: COVID-19 and Migrant Workers" edited by Ranabir Samaddar
Rapper and Ambedkarite Activist Sumeet Samos Talks About Life, Politics and Art
Sumeet Samos, a rap artist from Odisha and an Ambedkarite activist was in Kolkata to perform at the People’s Literary Festival organized by Bastar Solidarity Network. Utsa Sarmin talked to him on behalf of GroundXero about his activism, politics and music.
UP Police Detained, Tortured Minors for Involvement in Anti-CAA Protests
A report titled, Brutalising Innocence – Detention Torture & Criminalization of Minors by UP Police to quell anti-CAA protest, has recently been published by a group of civil society organizations. Utsa Sarmin talked with the members of the fact-finding team.
A Gargi College Student Recounts the Night of Horror
"Female students are in a state of trauma,” Mehreen Shah, a student of Gargi College told GroundXero while describing the recent incident of mass molestation and abuse at the college on February 6, during its annual festival Reverie 2020. A report by Utsa Sarmin.
“The fact that an atmosphere
“The fact that an atmosphere
Bidhannagar Police brutalizes anti CAA/NRC protestors at the Kolkata Book Fair
Today (Saturday, 8 February), the supporters of the BJP/VHP launched a brazen attack on a group of peaceful anti-CAA/NRC protestors at the Kolkata Book Fair. In spite of their presence in large numbers, the Bidhannagar police allowed the attack to happen. Utsa Sarmin writes about her horrifying encounter with these uniformed men on a rampage.
Indigenous communities, peasants, workers and students take to streets in Ecuador to protest austerity package.
The indigenous communities, diverse social movements, trade unions, peasants and students in Ecuador are vociferously opposing the Moreno government’s decision to cancel fuel subsidy and to impose IMF dictated austerity package. The violence seen on the streets of Quito, and elsewhere in Ecuador is
Tulsi Gabbard’s Kashmir Comment Reeks of Ill-Conceived Progressiveness
The United States Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard after more than a month of restrictions on Indian Administered Kashmir, commented on the situation in early September.
She gave all the diplomatic jargons used by the Indian Hindu-nationalism government before abrogating north Indian state Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
Tulsi’s short comment on the conflict-ridden valley which has been under lockdown for more than a month was:
“First of all recognizing that it is complex. It is not as clear c
She gave all the diplomatic jargons used by the Indian Hindu-nationalism government before abrogating north Indian state Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
Tulsi’s short comment on the conflict-ridden valley which has been under lockdown for more than a month was:
“First of all recognizing that it is complex. It is not as clear c
Kashmir Under Seige: Is India Using Israel's Colonial Playbook in Kashmir?
The current measure by the Indian government is "the beginnings of a settler-colonial project in Kashmir, one similar to Israel’s in the Palestinian territories.”
Within few days over the weekend, the Indian government over the last weekend instructed tourists to leave occupied Kashmir, imposed an indefinite curfew, arrested local political leaders, cut off all forms of communication, deployed more troops.
The threat of a potential terror attack was the publicly declared justification for such
Within few days over the weekend, the Indian government over the last weekend instructed tourists to leave occupied Kashmir, imposed an indefinite curfew, arrested local political leaders, cut off all forms of communication, deployed more troops.
The threat of a potential terror attack was the publicly declared justification for such
Sanction to Kill: How US Blockade Is Taking Venezuelans' Lives
The sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Venezuela is killing people in the country and risking lives of millions by depriving them of basic necessities.
While continuous and intensified sanctions against Venezuela by the United States aim to put pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s administration they are mostly hurting the country's population, of which at least 40,000 deaths have been recorded, according to a study released by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) in April 2019.
While continuous and intensified sanctions against Venezuela by the United States aim to put pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s administration they are mostly hurting the country's population, of which at least 40,000 deaths have been recorded, according to a study released by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) in April 2019.
Sanctioner-in-Chief: 10 Countries Hit by Trump's Favorite Regime Change Tactic in Just Two Years
This can be clearly seen on the 2017 “Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act”, as the name suggests President Donald Trump has opted on sanctions as his preferred mean to attack.
Sanctions can take various forms as embargoes, travel bans, asset takeovers and freezes, capital restraints and trade restrictions. The United States government has been using them against countries and governments that do not comply with their interests.
However, it has been under the recent Trump Adm
Sanctions can take various forms as embargoes, travel bans, asset takeovers and freezes, capital restraints and trade restrictions. The United States government has been using them against countries and governments that do not comply with their interests.
However, it has been under the recent Trump Adm
71 Years of Nakba: Palestinians Continue to Suffer 'The Catastrophe'
71 Years of Nakba: Palestinians Continue to Suffer 'The Catastrophe'
“The memory of the Nakba … We salute it with our tears and suppress our pains and our sins. We salute it on the same day that Israelis commemorate the establishment of their state. Starting from the ashes of the Nakba to the battle to stay on our land in order to preserve our heritage and identity, and to confront a series of authoritarian and racist laws,” wrote Palestinians poet Dareen Tatour about Nakba.
Nakba, or catastro
“The memory of the Nakba … We salute it with our tears and suppress our pains and our sins. We salute it on the same day that Israelis commemorate the establishment of their state. Starting from the ashes of the Nakba to the battle to stay on our land in order to preserve our heritage and identity, and to confront a series of authoritarian and racist laws,” wrote Palestinians poet Dareen Tatour about Nakba.
Nakba, or catastro
Sri Lanka's Bloody Legacy: A Country Ravaged by UK-Fueled 26-year Civil War
The history of Sri Lanka is marred with bloodshed and a 26-year-old civil war caused by British colonial rulers pitting Sinhalese and Tamil against each other.
Located in the Indian Ocean south of India, the small island country of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka witnessed one of its deadliest attacks in recent history.
On Easter Sunday a series of suicide bombings claimed 359 lives. However, the bloodbath is not uncommon in the island which was ravaged by a civil war spanning o
Located in the Indian Ocean south of India, the small island country of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka witnessed one of its deadliest attacks in recent history.
On Easter Sunday a series of suicide bombings claimed 359 lives. However, the bloodbath is not uncommon in the island which was ravaged by a civil war spanning o
‘Soul of India at Stake': Why Progressives Want Modi Out
‘Soul of India at Stake': Why Progressives Want Modi Out
India is all set for its election on April 11. The country’s election is regarded as the world’s biggest one this year with 900 million citizens, an eighth of the world’s population registered to vote and choose the next prime minister who will hold office for the next five years.
After being ruled by the far-right Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), many sections of the Indian society are seeking a change. Even t
India is all set for its election on April 11. The country’s election is regarded as the world’s biggest one this year with 900 million citizens, an eighth of the world’s population registered to vote and choose the next prime minister who will hold office for the next five years.
After being ruled by the far-right Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), many sections of the Indian society are seeking a change. Even t
Load More