Rock, Reaction and Revolution

Capitalism, as the dominant economic system of our time, shapes not just how we work and consume but also how we perceive happiness, success, and the meaning of life. It is a kind of system where happiness is equated with wealth, where happiness is something to be purchased rather than experienced. The system thrives by making us believe that financial success and constant work are the only paths to fulfilment, leaving us with little time and energy to truly live. In this article, I would try to explore how capitalism distorts our perception of life, why materialistic needs overshadow true happiness, and how we can reclaim the time and true priorities. Wealth over well-being. —  Under capitalism, happiness is commodified. Advertisements, social media, and corporate culture sell us the idea that happiness comes from the next purchase—a new phone, a luxury car, branded clothes. This traps us in a cycle of discontentment. When we acquire something, the system immediately presents us with ...

Lt. Lyudmila Pavlichenko We recently celebrated International Women’s Day on 8th March. The theme of 2025 was "Accelerate Action" , emphasising the urgency of advancing gender equality. It is being predicted that at the current pace, achieving full gender parity could extend to the year 2158.  The year was 1941. Lyudmila Pavlichenko was 25 years old and studying history at Kiev University when Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa and the Wehrmacht began its invasion of the Soviet Union. Instead of hiding or fleeing, she volunteered for the Red Army, not as a nurse (which was how the other countries were recruiting women), but as a sniper. She became one of 2000 female snipers in the Red Army. Here, let me remind you, the Soviet Union was the only country during World War II to recruit women in the army. During training, she outshot every man in her unit. The army soon realised that they weren’t dealing with an ordinary recruit.  Career at the Red Army— Pa...

Once upon a time, Germany swore to itself "Nie wieder" (Never Again). Yet here we are in 2025, after 92 years, a far right neo-Nazi party is winning the local body elections for the first time since 1933. Founded in 2013, Alternative Für Deutschland (AfD) is a neo-nazi party. It is no longer a far-right populist party; it has invoked Nazi sentiments, with some of its leaders openly glorifying Germany's history in WWII, while the cadres have been caught displaying Nazi symbols and shouting Nazi slogans. Their policies target migrants, LGBTQ+ communities, communists, and other political opponents dismantling the democratic institutions under the guise of nationalism.  With elections around the corner, the possibility of Nazi successors crawling back to power isn’t just a German problem; it’s a global one because the manifesto of AfD could start a chain reaction across Europe and beyond. So, let’s dissect why the AfD is a threat, why Germans (and the world) should be worried...

"One of the best British musicians of all time you've never heard of"—that’s how the BBC describes Steven Wilson. But if you have spent enough time in the progressive rock rabbit hole, you know exactly who he is. He is not just a musician but a sonic wizard who can pull you into his world, where you will probably have to deal with existential crises or occasional "What the fu*k did I just listen to?" or "Wait! What time signature is this?" moments. He wakes up every day, casually composes a 12-minute progressive rock track at breakfast with complex time signatures, remixes classic old rock n roll records of various artists at lunch, and then experiments with hauntingly beautiful soundscapes at dinner. Sleeps. Repeats. As a 29-year-old progressive rock nerd (translation: I’m either way too young to fully grasp Wilson’s sadness or already too old to escape it), I’ve spent countless hours spiralling into his discography. So, here’s my highly s...

"Religion creates a false consciousness for the proletariat. It distorts the proletariat's view of reality, so they do not realise their true exploitation." - Karl Marx. Introduction Throughout history, religion has inspired cultures and societies. It has significantly influenced art, medicine, and architecture. While religion is a deeply personal and cultural element of society, its role in politics motivates political decisions and policies, which eventually leads to division, inequality, and authoritarianism. The ruling classes use religion's influence in state affairs  to divert attention from the exploitation of the people  and impede the fight for justice and equality. T he negative impacts of intertwining religion with governance are seen around the world. Here are some examples of religious interference in countries like India, Bangladesh,  Egypt,  Israel, Myanmar,  Turkey, Afghanistan, and the United States.  Religious governance i...

" ' Violence never solves anything' is a statement uttered by cowards and predators. " - Luigi Mangione. Exposing the Truth: My Experience with United Healthcare Group— I have worked under the most evil company out there, called the United Healthcare Group. As a former employee, let me share some experience I had while working under them and how, through my experience, I’ve uncovered the harsh realities that make the US healthcare system a far cry from what it should be.  My Role As A Provider Service Associate— I used to work as a Provider Service Associate for the UHC commercial plans. My job was to assist the healthcare professionals and providers from the doctor's office and hospitals with patients' insurance policies, resolving the claims issues, and creating authorization for some critical 'services'(Treatments).  Inside the UHC's claims denial process — Let’s now discuss why the system is broken and what working under such a company reveals ...