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Jawaharlal Nehru: Architect of modern India

Jawaharlal Nehru was a central figure in India’s freedom struggle and the principal architect of the country’s early post-independence framework. As India’s first Prime Minister, he laid the foundations of parliamentary democracy, secularism, planned economic development, scientific advancement, and an independent foreign policy based on the Non-Aligned Movement. His vision of a modern, self-reliant, and progressive nation continues to influence India’s political, economic, and global trajectory.

India’s Mental Health crisis: Challenges, Budget response, and the way ahead

India is facing a growing mental health crisis marked by a high burden of depression, anxiety, addiction, and suicides, with nearly 70–92% treatment gap and a severe shortage of professionals. The Union Budget 2026 has focused on institutional expansion, including a second campus of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, upgradation of regional institutes, and continued support for digital services like Tele MANAS. However, mental health spending remains below 2% of the health budget, and challenges such as stigma, limited community-level services, workforce shortages, and rising youth and digital-age stress persist. Addressing the crisis requires greater funding, community-based care, preventive strategies, and stronger primary healthcare integration to ensure accessible and affordable mental health services for all.

MOTILAL NEHRU : ARCHITECT OF EARLY INDIAN CONSTITUTIONAL THOUGHT

Motilal Nehru was a prominent lawyer, nationalist leader, and constitutional thinker who played a crucial role in India’s freedom struggle. Beginning as a constitutional moderate, he gradually aligned with mass nationalism under Gandhian influence while continuing to believe in constitutional methods. As Congress president, Swarajya Party leader, and chairman of the Nehru Report (1928), he significantly shaped early Indian constitutional ideas. His life reflects the transition of the national movement from elite politics to broader political mobilisation.

Chauri chaura incident and its impact on freedom movement

The Chauri Chaura incident of February 1922 was a significant turning point in India’s freedom struggle. During a protest linked to the Non-Cooperation Movement, a clash between demonstrators and police escalated into violence, resulting in the burning of a police station and the death of 22 policemen. The episode shocked Mahatma Gandhi, who believed that the national movement must remain firmly rooted in non-violence. As a result, he called off the Non-Cooperation Movement, despite its growing momentum across the country.

Although the incident led to a temporary halt in mass political action, it had lasting consequences. It reinforced non-violence as the core principle of India’s struggle for independence, highlighted the difficulties of controlling large-scale popular movements, and prompted a phase of organisational rebuilding and constructive work. In the long run, Chauri Chaura shaped the strategy, discipline, and moral direction of future Gandhian movements.

Warren Hastings and the foundations of company rule in India

Warren Hastings was a pivotal early administrator of British India who strengthened the rule of the British East India Company through major revenue, judicial, and administrative reforms. He abolished the Dual System, reorganized courts, and centralized governance in Bengal, laying the foundation of structured colonial administration. However, allegations of corruption and abuse of power led to his historic impeachment trial in Britain, which—despite ending in acquittal—sparked enduring debates about imperial ethics and the accountability of colonial officials.

Bhil Tribe and Tatya Mama

The Bhil tribe are one of India’s largest tribal communities, historically rooted in forested regions of western and central India and known for their rich culture and warrior traditions. From this community emerged Tatya Mama Bhil, a 19th-century resistance leader who used guerrilla tactics against British rule and exploitative forces. Remembered as a folk hero and symbol of tribal pride, his legacy highlights the vital role of Adivasi communities in India’s early anti-colonial struggles.

Lala Lajpat Rai and his contributions

Lala Lajpat Rai was not only a prominent freedom fighter but also an influential writer and journalist who used literature to promote nationalism and social reform. Through newspapers, journals, and books, he exposed the economic and political exploitation under British rule and emphasized the need for national education and social upliftment. His works such as England’s Debt to India, Young India, and The Story of My Deportation connected India’s struggle with global movements for freedom. His writings played a vital role in shaping political awareness and inspiring participation in the Indian independence movement.

8th-Century Telugu inscription unearthed in Andhra Pradesh

An early 8th-century Telugu inscription was discovered at Pitikayagulla village in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, engraved on a stone slab near the historic Pitikesvara temple. Written in early Telugu script, the four-line record refers to the construction of a new embankment (nava katta), likely linked to irrigation. It mentions Pranimilli Achari, a craftsman, highlighting the role of artisans in public works. The inscription is significant for understanding the evolution of Telugu as a written administrative language, as well as providing insights into rural infrastructure, temple-centered settlements, and social organization in early medieval South India.

UNEP’s State of Finance for Nature 2026

The UNEP State of Finance for Nature 2026 report highlights a severe global imbalance in environmental finance, revealing that more than $30 is spent on activities that harm nature for every $1 invested in protecting it. Nature-negative financial flows reached around $7.3 trillion annually, while funding for nature-based solutions (NbS) stood at only $220 billion. Harmful subsidies for fossil fuels, industrial agriculture, and resource-intensive sectors continue to dominate global spending patterns. Although investment in NbS has shown modest growth and some decline in fossil fuel financing is visible, progress remains far too slow. UNEP warns that NbS funding must rise to at least $571 billion per year by 2030 to meet global climate, biodiversity, and land restoration targets. Without redirecting financial systems toward nature-positive investments, the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution will intensify.

MAHATMA GANDHI AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS

Mahatma Gandhi was the central figure who transformed India’s freedom struggle into a mass movement based on truth and non-violence. After returning from South Africa, he led early local struggles like Champaran, Kheda, and the Ahmedabad Mill Strike, which established Satyagraha as an effective method of resistance. He later spearheaded nationwide movements such as Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, and Quit India, mobilizing millions against British rule. Beyond political freedom, Gandhi promoted social reform, self-reliance through Swadeshi and Khadi, communal harmony, and upliftment of the weakest sections. His principles of Ahimsa, Sarvodaya, and Trusteeship continue to influence ideas of ethical governance, social justice, and peaceful conflict resolution worldwide.

LAKKUNDI AS ACENTRE OF REIGIOUS PLURALISM & TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE IN MEDIEVA DECCAN

Lakkundi in Karnataka is an important medieval heritage town known for its rich cultural, religious, and architectural legacy. Flourishing under the Western Chalukyas and Hoysalas, it became famous as the “village of a hundred temples and wells.” The site reflects religious pluralism, with strong associations with Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Jainism, and the Virashaiva Bhakti movement.

Its beautifully carved temples and stepwells, built in the distinctive Kalyana Chalukya style, highlight both artistic excellence and sacred utility. Recent archaeological excavations, including evidence of much earlier habitation, have strengthened efforts to include Lakkundi in UNESCO’s World Heritage tentative list, underscoring its enduring historical significance.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

Subhas Chandra Bose, popularly known as Netaji, was one of the most dynamic and radical leaders of India’s freedom struggle. Born in 1897 in Cuttack, he resigned from the Indian Civil Services to join the national movement and later rose to become President of the Indian National Congress in 1938 and 1939. Due to ideological differences with Mahatma Gandhi, he formed the Forward Bloc and pursued a more militant path to independence.

During World War II, Bose reorganized the Indian National Army (INA) and established the Provisional Government of Azad Hind with foreign support, inspiring Indians with slogans like “Delhi Chalo” and “Give me blood, and I will give you freedom.” His courage, leadership, and spirit of sacrifice gave a powerful international and military dimension to India’s struggle for freedom, leaving behind an enduring legacy of patriotism and determination.