Menstrual equity is key to gender equality

Since 2014, May 28 has been observed globally as Menstrual Hygiene Day, drawing attention to the importance of menstrual health and hygiene. The occasion is marked by awareness campaigns and pad distribution drives. But for millions of menstruating people across India, this day passes like any other — shrouded in silence, discomfort, and exclusion. While … Read more

‘David Harvard’ versus ‘Goliath Trump’

The Harvard University shield “VERITAS” sits above a campus entrance gate at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 15, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters The ongoing conflict between Harvard University and the Trump 2.0 administration has dramatically escalated since the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) declared on May 22 that it would prohibit … Read more

It is time to stop ritualistic hunting

Since the 1980s, West Bengal’s Joint Forest Management committees, which are local community organisations that work with the State Forest Department to protect and manage forests, have fostered community cooperation, improved forest cover and biodiversity, and local livelihoods. However, south-west Bengal continues to face significant challenges related to wildlife protection. One of these challenges is … Read more

​Reign of chaos: on Bangladesh’s inner tensions

Tensions between Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, and the military are no longer a secret. On Monday, an army spokesperson publicly voiced opposition to the government’s proposal to open a “humanitarian corridor” to Myanmar’s conflict-torn Rakhine State, home to the persecuted Rohingya. The government’s plan is to supply medicines and other aid, but … Read more

Letters to The Editor — May 28, 2025

NEET-UG and hardship The hardship and the trauma that many candidates faced during the conduct of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG) 2025, mainly because of power breakdowns, needs to be highlighted. It is appalling that they have not been adequately compensated despite many an appeal. That many examination centres did not provide a … Read more

India’s new urban worry — rising overnutrition

A recent article in Nature that studied the prevalence of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) among IT employees in Hyderabad had alarming findings: 84% of the participants had fatty liver, indicating MAFLD, and 71% were obese. This striking statistic underscores a larger, more insidious public health crisis that is emerging in tandem with the … Read more

The silver jubilee of a strategic partnership

The Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail | Photo Credit: THE HINDU/R.V. MOORTHY This month, India and Germany celebrate 25 years of strategic partnership. It is a partnership that has steadily evolved and is well equipped to take on the challenges of today’s world. Germany’s ‘Focus on India’ strategy outlines our vision for the future of the bilateral … Read more

Manage anaemia before pregnancy – The Hindu

In my nearly four decades of practice, one recurring reality has stood out — far too many women begin pregnancy already struggling with undiagnosed anaemia. Maternal health in India is often viewed through the lens of pregnancy and childbirth, but its foundation is laid much earlier — long before conception. A woman’s health at the … Read more