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Dec 9, 2024 | 
countercurrents.org | Vikas Meshram |Hiren Gohain |Abdulrahim P Vijapur |Bharat Dogra
Abstract:This paper challenges the assumption that Islam mandates a theocratic form of governance, arguing instead that a secular state aligns more closely with Quranic principles. By examining key themes in the Quran—such as freedom of choice and moral agency, pluralism and the recognition of human diversity, and a vision of justice that transcends religious boundaries—it demonstrates how secular governance upholds and amplifies these values.
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Nov 8, 2024 | 
countercurrents.org | Mohd Khan |Syed Ali |Abdulrahim P Vijapur |Justice Markandey Katju
This article examines how puritanical, literalist, and intolerant interpretations of the Quran have contributed to Islamophobia and explores the scholarly arguments advocating for more contextual, pluralist, and human rights-based readings of Islamic texts. Scholars such as Abdolkarim Soroush, Mohammed Arkoun, Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im, Fazlur Rahman, and Mohammad Abed al-Jabri argue that rigid interpretations can perpetuate stereotypes, fostering misunderstanding and hostility toward Islam.
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Oct 11, 2024 | 
countercurrents.org | T Vijayendra |Vikas Meshram |Bill McKibben |Abdulrahim P Vijapur
Mulk Raj Anand (1905 – 2004) is considered to be a father figure in the history of Indian English writings. A lifelong socialist, he is known for depicting life of the poor in India in his novels. He became known for his protest novel Untouchable (1935), which was followed by other works on the Indian poor such as Coolie (1936) and Two Leaves and a Bud (1937). He is also noted for being among the first writers to incorporate Punjabi and Hindustani idioms into English.
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Oct 11, 2024 | 
countercurrents.org | Rakesh Shukla |Madabhushi Sridhar |Bill McKibben |Abdulrahim P Vijapur
To, Sh. Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman, Bar Council of India CC: Sh. Srimanto Sen, Secretary, Bar Council of India Re: The illegality and unconstitutionality of the notification dated 24.09.2024 issued by BCI regarding implementation of criminal background check system, employment status, biometric attendance, installation of CCTV Cameras in Law Colleges Dear Sir, We the undersigned, lawyers, law teachers, law students and other concerned citizens of India write to you to express our concern...
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Oct 11, 2024 | 
countercurrents.org | Bill McKibben |Abdulrahim P Vijapur |Cameron Hunt |Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd
*Joint statement by women’s organisations in the matter of acquittal of accused in the Glorification of Sati cases of 1987**CM Bhajan Lal, ensure that appeal be filed against the recent acquittals in the Gorification of Sati cases* *Pursue appeal or any other remedy so that justice Is ensured*.
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Oct 10, 2024 | 
countercurrents.org | Abdulrahim P Vijapur |K M Seethi |Praba Mahajan |Suresh Khairnar
Syed Ahmad Taqvi bin Syed Muhammad Muttaqi, KCSI (Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India), commonly known as Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898), was an Islamic pragmatist, reformer, rationalist, liberal, modernist, creative philosopher, historian, jurist, legislator, statesman, social and human rights activist, and above all a public intellectual or “a renaissance polymath”, and a renowned educationist in nineteenth-century British India”.
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Jun 22, 2024 | 
countercurrents.org | Abdulrahim P Vijapur |M Adil Khan |Abdul Ahad |Nadeem Khan
Islam is one of the great religions of the world, whose followers are found in every country and continent. Muslims constitute 1.5 billion people in the world today. As an egalitarian belief system, Islam introduced the concepts of universal brotherhood and non-discrimination among Muslims on the ground of sex or race. Islam gave women fundamental rights and championed all movements to improve the status of women at a time when societies were overtly traditional and socially underdeveloped.
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May 15, 2024 | 
countercurrents.org | Bilal Dar |Anwar Khursheed |Abdulrahim P Vijapur
I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library because library, as we know, is a powerhouse of productive knowledge and vibrating ideas. Maulana Azad Library of AMU in Aligarh is not only the powerhouse of knowledge and vibrating ideas but also a springhead of inspiration, hope, liveliness, wisdom, secular culture and many other tenable things. Knowledge seems to trickle down from the walls of the library.
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May 10, 2024 | 
countercurrents.org | Bharat Dogra |Cedric Prakash |Ashlynn Dania |Abdulrahim P Vijapur
Innocent till proven guilty is the most widely accepted precept of justice, yet thousands of possibly innocent persons have to languish for years in jails. In a recent excellent report published in The Times of India (May 3 2024) titled ‘10 years in jail for nothing—Who should pay for it? Sunil Baghel has given several examples of such shocking injustice. One of these is the by now well-known case of the Delhi University professor GN Saibaba.
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Apr 17, 2024 | 
countercurrents.org | Cedric Prakash |Ashlynn Dania |Abdulrahim P Vijapur |Andre Damon
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second term in power was sustained by a pattern of repression to undermine democracy and civic space, the global civil society alliance CIVICUS said today. A new CIVICUS Monitor report, published ahead of the 2024 elections, shows that the Indian government used an array of restrictive laws and policies to silence dissent by targeting critics including civil society groups, human rights defenders and independent media.
