Featured stories about South Asia
Stories about South Asia
Online gender-based violence: A tool of digital authoritarianism in India
Women journalists in India have been trolled, received death and rape threats, found themselves objectified on apps, and are allegedly targeted by spyware like Pegasus.
Women marched in Pakistan despite resistance from authorities and religious groups
Despite encountering some obstacles, women in Pakistan were ultimately able to get permission and come out in large numbers on March 8th for "Aurat March", albeit with certain conditions attached.
India's war against a BBC documentary on Modi
The recent raid on the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai shows a pattern of using state agencies to target think tanks, NGOs, and media outlets that criticize the government.
Hazardous air pollution reduces life expectancy by eight years in Bangladesh
This January was a terrible month for the residents of Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, as air quality was at a dangerous level for a total of nine days.
India’s burning challenge of youth unemployment
There needs to be a concerted effort to shift the paradigm towards the industrial and service sectors and encourage more workers to move sectors — all with extensive government support.
Biodynamic agripreneurs are set to trigger an organic farming trend in Nepal
A new wave of organic farming using biodynamic composts is becoming popular in Nepal. It is helping to revive the soil and also providing better harvests and yield.
Pakistan suffers widespread power outages amidst financial crisis
In January, Pakistan suffered a major power breakdown, plunging major cities into darkness and impacting millions of people. The disaster occurred amidst a rolling blackout meant to save costs.
The ‘sinking of Joshimath’ leaves thousands homeless in an Indian hill town
People face displacement in Joshimath, a Himalayan town in India due to added burden of anthropogenic activity in an earthquake prone zone.
Public self-immolation puts the spotlight on mental health issues in Nepal
A Nepali entrepreneur set himself on fire in front of the federal parliament building to bring attention to the challenges in Nepal's private sector and the state's mental health crisis.
Bollywood’s ‘Faraaz’ raises questions about trauma exploitation in art
The upcoming Bollywood thriller “Faraaz” sparked controversy in Bangladesh and a legal battle in India because of the incorrect portrayal of the key characters and the victims’ right to privacy.
Cut from a different cloth: Former Nepali migrant worker is now an entrepreneur
Former migrant worker Krishna Raj Timilsina returned to Nepal and started his own garment business; now he is providing jobs for many fellow Nepalis.
Are youth in India, now more than ever, disinterested in politics?
It is challenging for millennials and gen-Zers to claim an "interest" in politics when the system is rife with corruption, nepotism, and chauvinism.
Rescued at sea, why do Rohingya refugees end up in Sri Lankan detention centers?
" ... [T]hey had not landed illegally or even tried to enter Sri Lanka illegally but had been brought in by navy personnel who had rescued them from a boat in distress."
Money may not grow on trees, but in Nepal it grows on bushes
Money may not grow on trees, but it grows on bushes in Nepal that are used to print Japanese currency notes. Argeli promises to be one of Nepal’s best-known exports.
BBC Bangla issues its final broadcast after 81 years
BBC Bangla radio was a source of impartial and credible news during crises in Bangladesh over the decades. The closure of its radio broadcasts marks the end of an era.
Undertones in India: Going undercover in Hindu supremacy networks
A group of researchers went undercover in far-right Hindu groups to break their bubble.
Can a literary festival bring Nepali literature to the international stage?
The 10th edition of the Nepal Literature Festival, Nepal’s only international literary festival, brought together local and international writers and prompted discussions on literature, culture, poetry, music and many more topics.
Climate change, digital authoritarianism and disinformation campaigns ruled in South Asia in 2022
With 2022 nearly over, situations in countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka were extremely difficult. So, what did this year hold in store for South Asia? Read on.
A fact-check of India’s socio-political undercurrents: the case of Zubair
The reactions and subtle usage of language and labelling by and of different actors in the Indian ecosystem symbolise the undercurrents in Indian society.
The climate crisis is a water crisis in the Himalayas
Climate change is heating up the Himalayas faster than the global average, disrupting this water cycle. The rains are becoming more erratic, groundwater is depleting, and glaciers have shrunk.
Twitter Space: What’s next for the Aragalaya movement in Sri Lanka?
Read excerpts from our Twitter space on Sri Lanka's notable Aragalaya movement. Find the full audio here.
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