How AI, Media, and Visual Shape Our Sense of Threat

Whither Commitment to Truth? How AI, Media, and Visuals Shape Our Sense of Threat

The social media takes advantage of the reward systems in the brain, especially the dopamine circuits within the basal ganglia and the prefrontal cortex. Using signals of micro-engagement, including the duration of time a user hovers over a video or the number of times a user rewatches a clip, algorithms develop a feedback loop that over time redirects the feed of a user to more intense or provocative content.

Mental Health in Schools and Colleges: An Ignored Chapter in Bangladesh's Education System

The loss of 403 young lives is a stark wake-up call for Bangladesh. Schools and colleges are meant to nurture dreams, not silently witness the suffering of students. A collaborative effort involving the government, educational institutions, and families is urgently needed. With empathy, awareness, and institutional support, many of these young lives can still be saved.

The Hormuz Lifeline: Why India’s Energy Security Still Runs Through A 33-Km Strait

India’s diversification strategy, often cited as a mitigating factor, provides only partial relief. The country now sources crude from over 40 countries, and in recent years has increased imports from Russia, the United States, and West Africa. In fact, about 70% of crude imports are now routed outside Hormuz, reflecting a conscious shift in sourcing strategy.

South Asia’s Cities Are Growing - But May Not Remain Livable

What is unfolding across South Asia’s cities is not just an urban crisis, it is a reflection of deeper tensions within development itself. Growth is happening, but it is not translating into stability. Opportunities exist, but they are unevenly distributed. Systems are expanding, but not fast enough to keep up with demand. Cities, which have long been seen as places where people come to improve their lives, are increasingly becoming spaces where people struggle to sustain them. 

More on Open Forum

Hijab controversy is a pointless exercise: Unshackle the feminine force instead

Whether a woman wears a dupatta wrapped over her head, a ghunghat, ghomta or hijab as an expression of fashion, custom or faith, they should be at perfect liberty to do so. It is part of their right to equality and freedom of expression. They should not be castigated but respected for making their choice, whether they be Hindus, Christians or Muslims.

Rahul Gandhi's Uniting India March: Ignored by media but welcomed by social groups

Another welcome part of Yatra is the proactive response of these social groups and many political parties to affirm the values of pluralism, diversity and democracy. 

To wear or not to wear the hijab: Global polarisation over a piece of clothing

Just like the crisis in Islam itself, the hijab will continue to spark controversies with its fair share of supporters and antagonists. Wearing the hijab is seen by many women as an exercise of their agency - the freedom to wear clothes of their woman’s choice, I have the right to wear whatever I deem fit is good for me; the state, society and community cannot dictate my choice of clothing.

Energy security and zero emission targets in India: Are they contradictory goals at present?

Ethanol production from beet sugar should also be promoted in India in a big way as ethanol from beet sugar has even more advantages than ethanol from sugarcane as it is less water consumption.

Misrepresenting Subhash Chandra Bose's philosophy

While the ruling Hindutva ideology sees Islam and Christianity as "foreign religions" and developed this ideology into misconceptions and hate against Muslims and Christians, the understanding of Gandhi, Nehru, Bose and most leaders of the freedom movement revolved around seeing the diverse religions as a point of welcome and strength to the nation.

Cryptocurrencies are alluring but associated with high volatility

Cryptocurrency is prone to cybercrime and fraud. Cryptocurrency's novelty and lack of information allow con artists to trap the less informed - often the elderly - easily.

Why Patanjali is the teacher who I never saw

To me Patanjali has been a true scientist who gave the first knowledge about the control of mind.

India needs to give up its colonial mindset, embrace Gandhi's ideals

If India has to truly give up its colonial mindset, it must reform the bureaucracy, remove undue privileges for those in power, offer firm, enforceable and many more protections for ordinary citizens and decide on a growth journey that does not mimic the destruction that the West and China have wrought on the environment. 

Divided by borders, united by aspirations

The workshop provided a safe space to open up, share what we felt, and connect with one another. This event made us feel like one big South Asian FAMILY

Hate speech, nationalism and its impact - as seen through a celebrated novel's prism

In India, the core of the issue is that nationalism is now being built by arousing religious sentiments and instigating animosity against followers of other beliefs

Land acquisition for industrial/infrastructure projects in India: Need for a humane policy in consultation with state governments

It is high time that the Government of India creates a comprehensive policy along with a suitable compensation mechanism for acquiring land for industrial and infrastructure projects

New Education Policy in India: Frequent policy revision creating uncertainty, fundamental issues unaddressed

Instead of designing and announcing a new education policy every now and then, it would have been appropriate to bring some modifications to the existing system to the extent needed and from time to time, without tampering with the entire system

Divisive communalism, patriarchy and honouring culprits of mass rape and murder

The Supreme Court must respond to the PILs and put these Gujarat convicts back to where they belong -- the prison

A historic college walks the talk, pledges to be carbon-neutral

The movement of Net Zero signals the end of empty talks and hollow street protests and triggers real action by transforming the college and university campus into a laboratory for Net Zero.

The changing contours of India's neighborhood policy

The best part of the ongoing neighborhood policy is its flexibility and pragmatism