Postscript: A Two-Week Pause In Our Programming

Hello Behans,

At the start of this year, we shared our vision to radically reimagine hope in 2025. And now, more than half the year has passed. In these seven months, we have published 55 original, deeply reported long-form stories from 15 states across India — that’s an average of eight stories every month from half the states in the country. These stories address urgent and interconnected issues such as labour, climate, politics, economy, governance, and natural resources–all from the lens of gender and marginality. They connect the dots between the past and present, reveal structural inequalities and governance gaps within the broader framework of neoliberal systems and offer new ways of imagining a just and equitable polity and society.

We explored the rising toll of heat stress through diverse perspectives, exposed the collusion between the state and private interests driving evictions, redevelopment, and disappearing forests — alongside the resulting disenfranchisement of Adivasi and other communities. We’ve examined the many dimensions of gig work, scrutinised corporate governance and its regulatory challenges, and raised critical concerns about the growing use of invasive facial recognition technology in care work. Our coverage also includes powerful investigations into caste — highlighting issues like a silent suicide crisis, rollbacks on inter-caste marriage initiatives, and caste-based labour exploitation. While these stories might seem disparate, together they paint a broader picture of India’s governance — who it serves, and who it leaves behind.

At the core of every story are the people — those living at the margins facing multiple and overlapping oppressions. Our journalism is dedicated to centering their lives, desires, rights, and aspirations, which are invisible to policy as well as to the larger public. This has been our mission, and we continue to pursue it with unwavering passion and care.

And now we are taking a mid-year publishing break. As a small, mission-driven feminist newsroom, we believe in modelling the world we imagine: one where labour is valued, people are cared for, and burnout is not worn as a badge of honour. Feminist work is often invisible, emotional, and unrelenting. Our team of seven — reporters, editors, visual designer and outreach manager — work tirelesslessly, to bring you consistent quality journalism.

Our team gets a breather as do our readers in a world where the news cycle is relentless. It is a reiteration of what we believe — that rest is not a luxury. It is essential. We should not have to snatch moments of rest and leisure but make adequate space for it. And workplaces must actively do this.

From this year, as a policy, we are taking two long breaks — one mid year and one at the end of the year. It is a practice that we strongly advocate for, because we believe that care must be a central part of our work and praxis. And as Audre Lorde reminded us, caring for oneself is a political act.

We will be back to our journalism on August 4. Until then, take good care of yourselves.