‘Silence is no solution’

Psychologist Rajat Mitra’s radical book about transgenerational trauma, based on the lives of Kashmir Pandits, attracted the wrath of both Left and Right Psychologist Rajat Mitra, who has worked in India and abroad, was specially deputed by the then chairman of National Human Rights Commission and former chief justice of India, J S Verma, to […]

Tok-ing about sex

A unique awareness campaign in social media ‘#CoolNotFool’ – with the aim to promote safe sexual practices and encourage conversations about family planning — has grabbed the attention of millennials How often do children discuss sex with parents in India? Almost never. How often do people talk about safe sex and its importance out in […]

Over 47 lakh consumers enjoying electricity subsidy

election gimmick or not AAP’s electric subsidy has brought relief to many consumers, especially lower income groups. But at what cost to its budget? A Patriot audit As winter sets in, zero bills have been delivered to the houses of those who consumed less than 200 units in November. In the months ahead, Delhi Chief […]

No school, no Internet

The education sector has taken a major hit in ‘Naya Kashmir’, and students are worried about their futures The idea of bunking classes once in a while, or not attending school to have a lazy, carefree day or two, is fun for students in a “normal” society. But in Kashmir, things aren’t normal. It’s been […]

Five calls made everyday to the police to report rape

PCR call centres and patrol vehicles are an essential link in police efforts to prevent crime and respond quickly enough to catch perpetrators. Here’s how it works A little before five in the morning on October 31, a call comes through to the Police Control Room (PCR). The caller, a girl, starts shouting, telling the […]

Mind your language!

Their Lordships have suddenly discovered that 383 Urdu and Persian words used in police reports are incomprehensible to the public — even to persons filing the report Hindi movie buffs who like crime dramas may well be aware of words like Saboot (evidence), Anjam (result), Jama Talashi (personal search), Hirasat (custody), Gair Kanooni (illegal), Mujrim […]

Toxic truth?

RO companies are members of the organisation that declared Delhi’s water toxic. In an apparent conflict of interest, some of these companies are fighting an NGT order that prohibits the use of water purifiers in certain situations The Bureau of Indian Standards is currently under the radar for an ambiguous tapwater study that rated Delhi […]

Sticklers for honesty

Some government functionaries are driven by their unflinching loyalty to the Constitution and the rule of the land. They are good examples to emulate Former election commissioner TN Seshan, who died last week, epitomised how an officer should conduct and be guided by the constitution and rule of the land. The former election commissioner enforced […]