Elephanta Caves' 'Adoption' Triggers Familiar Row With Stakeholders

India | Asia | Heritage Management

In an unprecedented step that heralds a new chapter for India’s approach to heritage conservation, Maharashtra’s iconic Elephanta Caves have been adopted by a private firm, marking it as the first monument in the state to fall under the Archaeological Survey of India’s (ASI) ambitious 'Adopt a Heritage’ scheme. 

This adoption comes as a turning point in India’s conservation ethos, where private corporations are invited—through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives—to take on the responsibilities of not merely safeguarding but actively enhancing the country’s cultural legacy. 

India's Trans Community Struggles Despite Sec 377 Repeal

India | Gender Rights | Law

Once seen as an outdated relic that criminalised same-sex relations, Section 377 gradually evolved, through judicial interpretation, into a protective tool for those on society's margins, writes Gajanan Khergamker.

In the corridors of justice, the spirit of the law often collides with its literal meaning, particularly when that meaning undergoes profound change. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Indian Justice Code), which came into force in July 2024, marks a major shift by removing Section 377 from the Indian Penal Code.

India Flexes Muscle, Rebukes Iran With Swift Retort

India | Iran | Diplomacy

In a move reflective of its firm diplomatic stance, India has unflinchingly responded to the contentious remarks made by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, over the purported discrimination against minorities within India’s borders. 

The assertion, laced with veiled criticism, drew an immediate and sharp rejoinder from New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), unequivocal in its response, dismissed Khamenei’s observations as “misinformed and unacceptable,” setting the tone for a larger geopolitical rebuke.

India, That Is Bharat - Law | Policy | Perception | Practice

India | Asia | Democratic Processes

Within the legal framework of India, provisions exist to facilitate a transition from India to Bharat. It is plausible for this transition to occur, contingent upon political resolve and a societal climate conducive to change. All talk, till it converts into action, remains empty, writes Gajanan Khergamker

The roots of “Bharat”, “Bharata”, or “Bharatvarsha” are traced back to Puranic literature, and to the epic Mahabharata. The Puranas describe Bharata as the land between the “sea in the south and the abode of snow in the north”.

Breaking Speed, Even The Law

India | Public Space | Law

Installed at whim randomly by locals in violation of the law, with the authorities looking the other way, speed breakers harm more than help, writes Gajanan Khergamker

The most customary method for regulating traffic remains the use of traffic calming devices, commonly referred to as vehicle speed reducers. These calming mechanisms aka speed breakers are employed to prevent accidents and often turn into the cause of accidents, injuries and loss of life, if employed incorrectly. 

Sadly, in India, speed breakers are installed at the sweet whim of vociferous residents enjoying the patronage of local political leaders while giving the law a miss.

We, The People | World Population Day

India | World | Population | Democracy

We, The People is a DraftCraft International report, authored by Manu Shrivastava, analysing what it means for India to become the world’s most populated nation, the State’s attempts to tackle issues and the challenges ahead.

Burgeoning India Must Reap In Rich Dividends Smartly

India has now overtaken China to become the world's most populous nation. And, that could have well happened sometime last year itself, feel experts. South Asia already had a larger population — around 1.8 billion people — than China for at least a dozen years and had the shift from British rule not divided the landscape into India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, an undivided India’s population would have already exceeded China’s long back.

The Food Report January 2023 (Maharashtra)

India | Public Health | Food and Health

We are living in tricky times. Older generations, which valued the merits of naturally-produced foods like the small Gauthi Methi (indigenous fenugreek) or the thin-skinned locally-produced Tamatar (tomato) consumed on a daily basis once, have now either been elbowed out of an existence that counts towards consumers or simply relegated to a minority whose opinion doesn't matter, writes Gajanan Khergamker

Food choices, patterns and benefits were brought down generations by families that cherished values and processes innate to the land. But, with the burgeoning of consumers and, concurrently, their market-manufactured desires, the compulsion to copy tastes and ratify non-native foods and choices, is now overwhelming. Also, gluttony is the new normal.

World Street Art: Bold, Inspiring And Grabbing Headlines

World | Arts and Cinema | Public Space | Freedoms 

Street Art has origins from a time we are yet to fathom and, in time, discover, writes Gajanan Khergamker

Limited as we are by man-made language, nomenclature, and terminology besides the means so simplistic and apparent like paper and other media, like say walls, Art, and in particular, Street Art, is an extension of that what can be generated on traditional medium but extends to public spaces.

DraftCraft International Supports Widow Rights Campaign in India

India | Affirmative Action

In a move braced to initiate widow reforms across India, Media-Legal Thinktank DraftCraft International headed by Solicitor Gajanan Khergamker launched a Ground Zero Project on 'Widow Reforms: Mores And Laws' at Herwad Village in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra starting 1 June 2022. 

The move is an outcome of resolutions passed unanimously by the Herwad Gram Panchayat, headed by Sarpanch Surgonda Patil and Social Reformer Pramod Zinjade’s organisation Mahatma Phule Samaj Seva Mandal (MPSSM) requesting DraftCraft International to intervene and provide media-legal assistance for the issue. 

COVID Restrictions May Push ‘Criminal’ Tribes To Extinction

India | Affirmative Action
Among humans, it is the indigenous who lives the closest to the environment, to animals, foliage, and a topography, and closely in sync as an extension of his very existence. Yet, over the years, the native has transformed to adapt, with undocumented deft, to urban spaces and modern living. However, in his adaptations too, he has stayed loyal to nature: His friend for live. 

Over the last year and half, however, the COVID lockdown restriction imposed across India hit him the worst, restricting his physical movement, interactions with his ‘family’ of animals and his association with land – his home. 

The native’s tryst with animals is an association that transcends generations together in sharp contrast to the modern-day ‘ownership of pets’ and selective ‘love’ for pedigrees like the Pug spurred solely by Telecom advertisements. 

Power Corrupts On Elephanta Island

India | Environment
It was incredulous yet true! For years on end, Elephanta Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site registering 20 lakh footfalls annually, received power for not more than two and half hours in the night through an MTDC generator; hadn’t a single doctor on the entire island; had no facility for formal education beyond Standard 10th and absolutely no crisis management process in place. And, the island was located barely 10 kms away from India’s financial capital…Mumbai!

Solutions For The BEST

India | Sustainable Development
Blinded by cataract in both his eyes, 20-year-old street dog ‘Biscuit’ had lived beyond his years owing to timely care provided by local Samaritans in Colaba, a South Mumbai district and would have survived even longer. However, on June 4, 2018 when the city was hit by a sudden pre-monsoon spell, he ambled away for shelter, dodging the humans, taxis, motorcyclists rushing helter-skelter.

East Turns Stumbling Block For ‘Un’Civil Society

Indo-China | Diplomacy
“Doing good work does not give Civil Society groups immunity from laws,” said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while defending the Indian government’s crackdown on foreign-funded NGOs. This, simply put, summed up the mood of the moment: That India, under the present-day Modi government, was no longer going to put up with illegality.

Implementation, Viable Alternatives Need Political Will For Plastic Ban To Succeed

India | Environment
The lack of alternatives to plastic for packing goods sold at stores across Maharashtra have led to the first major backtracking move by the State government which has relaxed the ban on plastics for general and grocery stores. Several shopkeeper associations had approached Maharashtra’s Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam and complained about the situation.

Elephanta Island Gets Powerful, Finally

India | Development
Elephanta Island aka Gharapuri is in the news and for all the wrong reasons. That the Elephanta Island, known for housing UNESCO World Heritage Site Elephanta Caves and receives more than 20 lakh footfalls of tourists annually, was shrouded in darkness every night for years on end – 70 in all - dashing all hopes and aspirations of progress for the 1,200 islanders living in three villages on the island didn’t quite qualify as news for the mainstream media.

The Mining Story

India | Policy
Mining has always been controversy’s child all over the world, and in India too. The stories we see and read in mainstream media are mostly those related to environmental damage, human rights violations, and health issues caused by mining activities. However, the significance of mining for development of a nation, industries and employment opportunities is hardly talked about. Mining industry provides employment to 0.7 million individuals in India.

Law On Rape Of Minors Is Populist, Must Be Inclusive

India | Gender
Of all offences, it’s the crime of rape that fires public sentiment the most, eliciting an outrage that exceeds the seemingly worst felony of all - murder too. It has probably more to do with the offence and associated gory details staying, even being replayed ruthlessly in memory with continual mention and recall that compound its severity. It’s this outrage that offsets any chance of the very objectivity needed to tackle the issue. The Kathua crime followed by the most recent Ordinance on ‘child’ rape, being a case in point.

Slow But Steady Upgrades In Gender Law

India | Gender
The recent rape incidents in Kathua and Unnao in Jammu & Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh respectively, have once again brought the issue of women’s safety in India to the forefront. These incidents garnered global attention, albeit negative, of national and international media with some groups allegedly even donning T-shirts across the world warning women to not visit India. The Kathua rape and murder case, in particular, brought back memories of the Nirbhaya rape case and triggered widespread protests.

Stunned By Law Mine, Goa Govt Treads Gingerly

India | Policy
In a breather for the mining industry, the Supreme Court on April 4, 2018, allowed the export of iron ore from loading points on river jetties while disposing a joint special leave application filed by Vedanta Resources and another local mining company. The Apex Court bench of Justice Madan Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta maintained the iron ore for which royalty has been paid to the state government and has been extracted on or before March 15 this year, should be allowed to be transported. Senior advocate Shyam Divan and Kapil Sibal, appearing for the firms, had argued those ores were excavated prior to March 15 and firms had statutory approvals for export.

Mumbai's Metro Battles Activists, Fears, Divine Fury

India | Development
The storm is yet to die out over the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited's (MMRC) taking over 30 hectares of the famed Aarey colony, a green belt of Mumbai, when another application has come in from MMRC demanding another 12,000 sq metres of land.