Challenging Elites, Defending Democracy: Oxfam’s Amitabh Behar Speaks Out

Challenging Elites, Defending Democracy: Oxfam’s Amitabh Behar Speaks Out

Amitabh Behar speaks to IPS at ICSW2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. Credit: Zofeen Ebrahim/IPSBy Zofeen EbrahimBANGKOK, Nov 2 2025 (IPS) Speaking to IPS on the sidelines of the International Civil Society Week in Bangkok (November 1–5), Amitabh Behar, Executive Director of Oxfam International and a passionate human rights advocate, highlighted his concerns about rising inequality, growing authoritarianism, and the misuse of AI and surveillance. Yet, h…

Bihar Democratic Forum rallies civil society to reclaim democracy ahead of 2025 polls

The BDF is mobilising farmers, workers, students, women, migrants, and activists across the state, aiming to build a people-driven movement rooted in awareness, participation, and accountability

Civil society steps up: Bihar Democratic Forum leads people’s call to reclaim democracy

Many believe that in recent years, democratic values have been steadily eroding, constitutional rights and freedoms are being curtailed, and systematic efforts are being made to benefit politicians and wealthy elites. It is in response to these growing concerns that the Bihar Democratic Forum (BDF) has emerged, a civil initiative dedicated to reviving democratic values and reinforcing secular, constitutional ideals in the state. The forum argues…