INDIAN OBSERVER POST

23/07/2025

23/07/2025

Voter list dispute in Bihar: Nine myths and one truth

By Yogendra Yadav

First misconception : The Election Commission is conducting a thorough investigation and revision of the voter list of Bihar.

Fact : No. There will be no revision of the current voter list in Bihar. The old voter list will be discarded and a new voter list will be prepared.

Second misconception : Such review has been done 10 times before , there is nothing new in it.

Truth : No. What is happening this time is unprecedented. After the computerization of the voter list, there was no need to prepare a new list again and again. This is happening for the first time in 22 years. Never before was the responsibility of getting one's name included in the voter list put on the voter. Never before were voters asked for documents to prove citizenship. Never before was a new list prepared 4 months before the elections.

Third misconception : There were a lot of errors in the voter list of Bihar , that is why this had to be done.

Truth : No. Just 6 months ago, the entire voter list of Bihar was revised. Lakhs of names were added and deleted. The revised list was published in January. No complaint of any major discrepancy was made. Continuous revision was being done to fill the remaining gaps . If needed, another revision of that list could have been done. There was no demand or need to reject that list and prepare a new one.

Fourth myth : Those whose names were in the 2003 voter list will not need to do anything.

Fact : No. Every person will have to fill the new form. Those whose name is the same in the January 2025 list (same full name , same father's name , same address) as in the 2003 list will be given only this exemption that they will not have to attach proof of their date of birth and place of birth. But they will also have to fill the form with photo and signature , and will have to attach a photocopy of the page containing their name from the 2003 list.

Fifth myth : Certificate will be sought only from those whose citizenship is doubtful.

Fact : No. Those whose names were not in the 2003 list will have to fill the form and attach certificates. Those who were born before 1 July 1987 will have to provide proof of their date of birth and place of birth only. Those who were born between 1 July 1987 and 2 December 2004 will have to provide their certificate or the certificate of either one of their parents. Those who were born after 2 December 2004 will have to provide their certificate and the certificate of both their mother and father. If the name of the mother and father was in the 2003 list, then the photocopy of that page will suffice for their certificate but even then the applicant will have to attach proof of his date of birth and place of birth.

Sixth misconception : The Election Commission has given many options for citizenship certificate , one or the other document will be found in every house.

Fact : No. The Election Commission will not accept any of the identity or certificates that are commonly found in every household - neither Aadhaar card , nor ration card , nor Election Commission's identity card , nor MNREGA job card. Some of the 11 certificates that the Election Commission has accepted are not applicable to Bihar or are not seen anywhere. Some are possessed by only a few people , such as passport ( 2.4 percent) , birth certificate ( 2.8 percent) , government job or pensioner's identity card ( 5 percent) or caste certificate ( 16 percent) are not found in ordinary households. The only thing left is the matriculation or degree certificate, which less than half the people in Bihar have.

Seventh misconception : The rules are equal for everyone , there is no discrimination in it.

Truth : No. It is equal in words , but in reality there is discrimination against those who did not get the opportunity to study in life. The result of this will be that women , poor , migrant labourers and Dalit-tribal backward class people will lag behind in giving certificates and their votes will be cut. Being educated will become a condition for citizenship.

Eighth misconception : The Election Commission has given three months' time , everyone's name will be included.

Truth : No. The actual time is only one month , till 25th July. The remaining 2 months are for objection resolution and the commission's own paperwork. In this first month, the Election Commission expects that all booth level officers will be trained (while 20 thousand of them have not even been appointed yet) , they will train the party agents , new forms will be delivered to every house , every person will fill the form , attach the required certificates , the filled forms will be collected from every house and after uploading them on the computer, their verification will also begin! The name of any person whose form is not submitted by 25th July will not appear in the voter list.

Ninth myth : This revision will end the problem of Bangladeshi infiltrators.

Fact : No. If Bihar has a problem of illegal foreigners, it is not the Muslims who have come from Bangladesh but the Nepalis of Terai , who are mostly Hindus. It is possible that due to this, the names of a few thousand Bangladeshi citizens and tens of thousands of Nepali citizens may be deleted from the voter list. But due to this, the names of about 2.5 crore Indian citizens are also likely to be deleted. One does not use a hammer on the nose to kill a fly.

Final truth : The total population of Bihar is about 13 crores. Out of these, there are about 8 crore adults whose names should be in the voter list. Out of these, only about 3 crore people were in the voter list of 2003. The remaining 5 crore will have to provide proof of their citizenship. Half of them, that is, 2.5 crore people, will not have the certificates that the Election Commission is asking for. This means that with this 'special intensive revision', the last person will lose the only right that he still has today - the right to vote. First there was demonetization , then there was a countrywide lockdown during Corona , now there are preparations for a vote ban.

The views are author's own.

23/07/2025

An Ode to : The Theatre Scientist Who Wove Manipur’s Soul into the Global Tapestry

By Onkareshwar Pandey with inputs from Brown Nongmaithem

His theatre stood alone in India, blending Manipuri traditions with modern sensibilities, distinct from Badal Sircar’s urban realism or Habib Tanvir’s folk experiments. Globally, his ritualistic intensity mirrored Jerzy Grotowski’s spiritual minimalism, Peter Brook’s intercultural scope, and Tadashi Suzuki’s physical precision, yet remained rooted in Manipur’s syncretic culture.

Tonight, as we mourn on July 23, 2025, we remember Ratan Thiyam—a legend who poured his heart into peace amid Manipur’s Meitei-Kuki strife and violence. His unwavering fight for harmony echoed through his art.

To lose Thiyam is to lose a guiding star, but his light will shine on in every artist he inspired, every audience he moved, and every stage that dares to dream as boldly as he did.

Rest in peace, Oja Padma Shri Ratan Thiyam. Your theatre was a revolution, your science a revelation, and your legacy an eternal flame. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. You will be in our heart forever.





https://corporatetycoons.com/an-ode-to-ratan-thiyam-the-theatre-scientist-who-wove-manipurs-soul-into-the-global-tapestry/

22/07/2025

22/07/2025

500 करोड़ तक जुर्माना! पत्रकारिता की स्वतंत्रता पर खतरा बनता ‘डिजिटल डेटा कानून’
DPDP कानून के असली खतरे क्या हैं?

देखिए #जानने_भी_दो_यारों…

भारत का नया डिजिटल पर्सनल डेटा प्रोटेक्शन एक्ट 2023 ( ) — जिसे संसद ने पारित तो कर दिया है, लेकिन अब तक लागू नहीं किया गया है — स्वतंत्र पत्रकारिता और सूचना के अधिकार (RTI) पर गहरा प्रहार कर सकता है।

इस कानून के तहत:

🔴 पत्रकारों को किसी भी व्यक्तिगत जानकारी को प्रकाशित करने से पहले संबंधित व्यक्ति की अनिवार्य सहमति लेनी होगी — चाहे वह घोटाले में लिप्त नेता हो, अपराधी अधिकारी हो या मानवाधिकार हनन करने वाला कोई ताकतवर व्यक्ति।

🔴 यदि सहमति नहीं ली गई, तो डिजिटल डेटा बोर्ड, जो केंद्र सरकार के नियंत्रण में होगा, पत्रकारों या मीडिया संस्थानों पर 250 से 500 करोड़ रुपये तक का जुर्माना लगा सकता है।

🔴 यह कानून Right to Information Act (RTI) को भी कमजोर करता है — क्योंकि अब सभी 'व्यक्तिगत जानकारी' को RTI के दायरे से बाहर कर दिया गया है।

📌 Editor’s Guild of India, Press Club of India और कई वरिष्ठ पत्रकारों ने चेतावनी दी है कि यह कानून जनहित पत्रकारिता को समाप्त कर सकता है और व्हिसलब्लोअर्स को चुप कराने का माध्यम बन सकता है।

🎥 ज़रूर देखें — “जानने भी दो यारों”
👉 की यह 58 मिनट की वीडियो रिपोर्ट बताती है कि किस तरह यह कानून देश की पारदर्शिता, लोकतंत्र, और जवाबदेही के लिए खतरा बन सकता है।

🔍 चर्चा में शामिल हैं:
📌 संगीता बड़ुआ पिशारोटी – वरिष्ठ पत्रकार और प्रेस क्लब ऑफ इंडिया की उपाध्यक्ष
📌 अपार गुप्ता – अधिवक्ता और Internet Freedom Foundation के निदेशक
📌 नितिन सेठी – खोजी पत्रकार, The Reporters’ Collective
📌 अंजलि भारद्वाज और अमृता जौहरी – सूचना के अधिकार और पारदर्शिता की कार्यकर्ता

🛑 सवाल उठता है:
क्या अब भ्रष्टाचार उजागर करना अपराध होगा?
क्या यह कानून मीडिया को सरकारी भय का बंधक बना देगा?

क्या हम पत्रकारिता के सुनहरे दौर से अब अंधेरे युग में प्रवेश कर रहे हैं?

👇 नीचे कमेंट में अपनी राय जरूर दें।


https://youtu.be/Wv0KfRrTfIg?si=MSpWcHHfXCmlYO7U

Rahul Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Mamata Banerjee Akhilesh Yadav
Team Tejasvi Yadav Supriya Shrinate Pawan Khera Surendra S Rajput Imran Pratapgarhi Dr Vineet Punia Randeep Singh Surjewala विजय सिंह ठकुराय All India Trinamool Congress
Kapil Sibal

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) 2023 will have a chilling impact on the freedom of the press and people’s right to information. The exces...

22/07/2025

22/07/2025

Bengal’s Bhasha Andolan Begins: Mamata Banerjee Sounds the Bugle at Rally, Slams for ‘Assault on Identity’

By Onkareshwar Pandey
INDIAN OBSERVER POST

Kolkata | July 22, 2025:

In a high-voltage political and emotional outpouring at the heart of Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Central government, accusing it of orchestrating an “assault on the Bengali language and identity.” Speaking at the massive Shahid Dibas rally observed annually on July 21 to commemorate the 13 youth Congress workers killed in police firing during a 1993 protest, Mamata declared the beginning of a “Bhasha Andolan” (Language Movement) that she vowed would soon reach Delhi.

“Failing to win the people’s mandate through democratic means, BJP is now weaponising the Central agencies to tilt the scales in their favour. But this is Bengal, where even bullets failed to break our resolve. We will not be cowed into submission,” Mamata roared from the rally stage.

In a sharp and emotionally charged statement, Mamata invoked the pain of Bengalis across the country, alleging that workers from Bengal in BJP-ruled states are being branded as "Bangladeshis" or "Rohingyas," served NRC notices, detained, and even deported.

“Such attacks on our identity and language will not be tolerated. From July 27, every Saturday and Sunday, joined by people from all walks of life, we will launch Bhasha Andolan against this assault on our dignity. And if these injustices do not cease, we are prepared to take this fight to Delhi,” she warned.

The Chief Minister ended her powerful address with poetic rhetoric and a political war cry:

“Bodol chai, bodla noi (We want change, not revenge). But to those who mistake our humility for weakness, I say—Jobdo hobe, stabdho hobe! (You will be defeated, silenced).”

Language, Identity, and Politics: Bengal's New Front
The rally, attended by lakhs of TMC supporters, turned into a call to arms against what the party alleges is a systematic targeting of Bengali language, culture, and people across the country under BJP rule.

Prominent public figures and civil society leaders lent voice to this narrative online. Notably, former journalist and now TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose posted on Facebook:

“Stop attacking the Bangla language and Bengali speakers. Every language has its own heritage and identity. Massive Shahid Dibas rally in Kolkata. All India Trinamool Congress, Mamata Banerjee sounds the bugle: Bengal’s Bhasha Andolan begins.”

Photos shared by Sagarika from the rally showed vast crowds holding placards reading “Bangla Amar Ma” (Bengali is my mother) and “Bhashar Opor Akramon Bondho Koro” (Stop the attack on our language).

Political Undercurrent: From 1993 to 2025
Shahid Dibas, historically significant for West Bengal politics, has evolved into more than a remembrance event. Since 1993, Mamata Banerjee has turned it into a political platform, marking the beginning of major movements — from her break with the Congress to the launch of TMC, and the 2011 Poriborton (Change) campaign that ended 34 years of Left Front rule.

This year’s Shahid Dibas was not only about remembering the martyrs but also about laying a new political roadmap leading up to the 2026 Assembly and 2029 General Elections.

“Bengal witnessed a historic Poriborton in 2011. Now, it is Delhi’s turn. The foundation stone for that change was laid today, and our democratic struggle will continue until those who peddle hate, division, and fear are compelled to step aside,” Mamata declared.

A New Chapter or Political Deflection?
While critics argue that the “Bhasha Andolan” may be a tactical move by the TMC to counter rising BJP influence and deflect attention from corruption charges and investigations, the emotional tone struck a chord among many Bengalis who have felt sidelined in the national discourse.

Political observers say Mamata is trying to recapture her role as a national opposition face by combining regional pride with constitutional values.

Whatever the political outcome, Monday’s rally — with its passion, poetry, and political fire — has undoubtedly added a new chapter to Bengal’s long history of language and identity-based movements. Whether it leads to another "Poriborton" or not, Mamata Banerjee has clearly opened a front that will echo far beyond Kolkata.

Video courtesy - on X


All India Trinamool Congress
All India Trinamool Congress
Trinamool Congress LIVE

22/07/2025

राष्ट्रीय ध्वज अंगीकरण दिवस की सभी देशवासियों को हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएं।
हमारे तिरंगे का गौरव, हमारी पहचान और हमारे स्वाभिमान का प्रतीक है।
आज के दिन आइए हम सभी संकल्प लें कि हम अपने राष्ट्रध्वज के सम्मान और मूल्यों की रक्षा हेतु सदैव समर्पित रहेंगे।

जय हिंद! 🇮🇳

22/07/2025

Massive Rally in Kolkata Sparks ; MP Joins the Call to Protect

By Onkareshwar Pandey
INDIAN OBSERVER POST

Kolkata, July 22, 2025 — A massive rally organized on the occasion of Shahid Dibas in Kolkata has sparked a renewed movement for the protection of the Bengali language and identity. Trinamool Congress, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, appears to have set the stage for what some are calling a “ ” — a movement to assert Bengali pride and cultural sovereignty in the face of growing linguistic homogenization.

Tens of thousands joined the rally held on Tuesday (July 22), marking the historic 1952 Bengali Language Movement in erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), where student protesters laid down their lives demanding recognition of Bangla as a state language. Though Shahid Dibas has been commemorated annually in West Bengal, this year’s observance acquired political overtones.

In a powerful online post, Trinamool MP and former journalist Sagarika Ghose wrote on Facebook:

“Stop attacking the Bangla language and Bengali speakers. Every language has its own heritage and identity. Massive rally in Kolkata. All India Trinamool Congress. Mamata Banerjee sounds like the bugle: Bengal’s bhasha Andolan begins.”

She also posted photographs of the rally, with images of placards that read, “Bengali is our soul,” and “Respect All Languages, Insult None.”

Political observers note that the renewed emphasis on Bengali language identity comes amid broader concerns in Bengal over what some see as “Hindi imposition” or cultural centralization. The state government has recently faced criticism from BJP leaders who have objected to the prioritization of Bengali in administrative functions and education.

Several local newspapers in Kolkata, including Anandabazar Patrika and Ei Samay, highlighted how this year's Shahid Dibas rally was not just a commemorative event, but a strong political statement. Mamata Banerjee addressed the gathering, saying:

“Bengali is not just a language, it is our pride, our legacy. No one can force us to forget our roots.”

The massive turnout — including students, writers, artists, and ordinary citizens — indicates that the issue resonates far beyond political circles. Cultural figures like poet Joy Goswami and filmmaker Srijit Mukherji were seen attending the event, adding to its symbolic weight.

TMC insiders say that the party will continue to push for protection and promotion of Bengali language in all spheres — education, governance, signage, and cultural programming — especially as the 2026 state elections loom.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders from the BJP have accused the TMC of stoking linguistic chauvinism for electoral gains. “Nobody is attacking the Bengali language. This is manufactured outrage,” a senior BJP leader told reporters.

But Sagarika Ghose’s post struck a chord with many Bengalis on social media, reigniting debates on language, identity, and India’s federal diversity. With West Bengal now on alert for a new kind of political assertion — based not just on governance, but on culture and language — the Shahid Dibas rally may well prove to be a turning point in Bengal’s contemporary political discourse.

Image courtesy - Sagarika Ghose

22/07/2025

The BJP’s agenda is clear. After successive defeats in the 2021 and 2024 elections, the party is attempting to pigeonhole Bengal as a place of Rohingya, Bangladeshis, and Muslims.

22/07/2025

बंगाल में भड़का 'भाषा आंदोलन', शहीद दिवस रैली में ममता का हुंकार: "बांग्ला का अपमान नहीं सहेगा बंगाल"

सागरिका घोष ने शेयर की तस्वीरें, कहा – “हर भाषा की अपनी विरासत और अस्मिता होती है”

By Onkareshwar Pandey
INDIAN OBSERVER POST
कोलकाता, 22 जुलाई 2025
बंगाल में एक बार फिर भाषा और अस्मिता की राजनीति ने जोर पकड़ लिया है। सोमवार को कोलकाता में 'शहीद दिवस' (Shahid Dibas) के मौके पर आयोजित विशाल रैली में पश्चिम बंगाल की मुख्यमंत्री और तृणमूल कांग्रेस (TMC) सुप्रीमो ममता बनर्जी ने बांग्ला भाषा के सम्मान की हुंकार भरते हुए कहा, “बंगाल अब बांग्ला भाषा के अपमान को बर्दाश्त नहीं करेगा। हमारी मातृभाषा हमारी अस्मिता है।”

हजारों की संख्या में टीएमसी समर्थकों, छात्रों, युवाओं और सांस्कृतिक संगठनों ने कोलकाता की सड़कों पर मार्च किया। रैली की तस्वीरों और वीडियो ने सोशल मीडिया पर भी तेज़ी से जगह बनाई।

पूर्व पत्रकार और अब टीएमसी की राज्यसभा सांसद सागरिका घोष ने इस रैली की तस्वीरें अपने फेसबुक पर पोस्ट करते हुए लिखा:

"Stop attacking the Bangla language and Bengali speakers. Every language has its own heritage and identity. Massive rally in Kolkata. All India Trinamool Congress Mamata Banerjee sounds the bugle: Bengal’s bhasha Andolan begins."

कोलकाता के प्रमुख दैनिक ‘आनंदबाजार पत्रिका’, ‘ईईनाद’ और ‘प्रभात खबर’ ने इस रैली को ‘भाषा आंदोलन का नवसंग्राम’ बताया। रिपोर्ट्स के अनुसार, ममता बनर्जी ने अपने संबोधन में न सिर्फ बांग्ला भाषा के संरक्षण की बात की, बल्कि यह भी आरोप लगाया कि केंद्र सरकार और भाजपा शासित राज्य “एक राष्ट्र, एक भाषा” के नाम पर क्षेत्रीय भाषाओं और पहचान को मिटाने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं।

शहीद दिवस का ऐतिहासिक परिप्रेक्ष्य
21 जुलाई को हर वर्ष टीएमसी 'शहीद दिवस' मनाती है। यह 1993 में कोलकाता में पुलिस फायरिंग में मारे गए 13 युवा कार्यकर्ताओं की स्मृति में होता है, जो तत्कालीन वाम मोर्चा सरकार के खिलाफ प्रदर्शन कर रहे थे।

आंदोलन के नारे और स्वर
रैली में “Bangla Amar Ma”, “Bhasha Amar Gorbo” जैसे नारे गूंजते रहे। पोस्टर, बैनर और लोकनृत्य के माध्यम से युवाओं ने बंगाली संस्कृति और भाषा की विरासत को दर्शाया।

राजनीतिक निहितार्थ
विश्लेषकों के अनुसार, यह आंदोलन केवल भावनात्मक नहीं बल्कि राजनीतिक भी है। बंगाल में आगामी पंचायत चुनावों और 2026 के विधानसभा चुनावों की पृष्ठभूमि में TMC क्षेत्रीय अस्मिता के मुद्दों को पुनर्जीवित कर रही है। भाजपा की केंद्रीय भाषाई नीतियों के विरोध में यह एक सशक्त मोर्चा बनता दिख रहा है।

सागरिका घोष की भूमिका
सागरिका घोष, जो कभी CNN-IBN और Outlook जैसी संस्थाओं में वरिष्ठ पत्रकार थीं, अब बतौर टीएमसी सांसद सक्रिय राजनीति में हैं। उनकी फेसबुक पोस्ट ने इस आंदोलन को राष्ट्रीय विमर्श में ला दिया है। उन्होंने कहा, “बांग्ला बोलने वालों को निशाना बनाना बंद करें। हर भाषा का अपना गौरव है।”

इस रैली और आंदोलन ने यह स्पष्ट कर दिया है कि बंगाल में भाषा और संस्कृति का मुद्दा केवल भावुक नहीं बल्कि राजनीतिक रणनीति का भी हिस्सा बन चुका है। ममता बनर्जी ने इस आंदोलन को “संविधान की आत्मा और विविधता में एकता” से जोड़ा, जबकि विपक्ष ने इसे “सांस्कृतिक उकसावे की राजनीति” कहा।

Image courtesy - Sagarika Ghose




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