Sanjay Marathe

Photographer, Artist, Nature Lover. I capture the light & fleeting moments - landscapes, cityscapes, nature, wildlife, treescapes, people, festivals, abstracts.

[Akshay Marathe @AkshayMarathe]

Vasanti Utturkar
27 November 1939 - August 31, 2026

We lost my Khopa Aaji yesterday, August 31st. She was my maternal grandmother who I called Khopa Aaji, because when I was a toddler, she and my late grandfather lived in Khopoli - a word I could not pronounce. So I called her Khopa Aaji. She passed away peacefully at her home in Pune. She will be truly missed by all who were lucky to call her family.

She spent the last several days with her brothers in Sangli where she celebrated Rakhi one last time. While she had some ailments, they were mostly being managed through medication and didn’t stop her from living life on her terms.

Even in her last moments, she had no idea they were her final ones. She sent her sister a reel on Facebook a couple hours before she was gone. She had picked out her sari, had stocked up her purse with cash to pay for the doctor’s visit because she was feeling breathless all day.

Khopa Aaji had lived a full life - raised two children, four grandchildren. She was not only in touch with every one of her siblings but also supported countless nephews and nieces (many of whom returned the favour in her final days by taking great care of her).

Her enthusiasm for life was infectious. She was competing in carrom competitions in her neighborhood, she was playing cards with anyone who would, she was cooking for everyone who visited her until very recently.

Despite the several challenges she braved through her life, she was so strong and unfazed. She truly saw opportunities in all problems. Her household inventions of makeshift kitchen tricks, gardening tools, and housekeeping were freely shared with all. She was a lifelong learner of new recipes, new mobile phone games, new puzzles, and new social media apps.

From my earliest memories of her visiting her every summer as a child, to seeing her one last time just a few weeks ago, she had the same smile stubbornly adorning her face. All the birthday wishes, routine check-ins, accidental phone calls, her blessing Shreya and me on our wedding, and her approving our new apartment on video were all things I will cherish and miss deeply.

But most importantly, I will miss getting my ass handed to me at carrom by someone 56 years older than me.

We will miss you very very much Khopa Aaji. And we will celebrate you for the incredible life you led!

[Akshay Marathe @AkshayMarathe]

CJP’s School Thik Karo exposed the fact that most state governments have allowed schools to collapse, hoping that kids move to private schools so that the state can stop bothering about schools once and for all!

The visual nature of the campaign also helps educate those who had never imagined govt schools were in such bad shape to confront the reality of our public school system!

Watch the full podcast with @AdityaMenon22 and @parthpunter https://t.co/wTLbdAPUXz

[Saurav Das @SauravDassss]

#StoryAlert🚨

ALARMING

During the recently concluded Lok Sabha session, three sets of questions concerning the Cockroach Janta Party-led youth protests were DISALLOWED on the Union government’s behest.

Lok Sabha MP Matheswaran V.S. had sought answers from the Union Home Ministry and the Union Education Ministry through three sets of questions (Notice Reference Nos. 101799 and 101801). And look at what Parliament was being asked to seek answers on:

1. Refund of application fees for NEET-UG 2026
2. Growing public distrust in the government
3. Denial of drinking water and sanitation facilities to CJP protesters in Delhi
4. The government’s engagement with protesting students and youth
5. Student welfare, paper leaks and education reforms
6. The treatment of citizens exercising their fundamental right to peaceful protest

Yet, these questions were disallowed citing Rule 41(2), including clauses (i), (iv), (v), (xviii) and (xxii). Very bizarre justifications for perfectly legitimate questions.

If these questions cannot be asked in Parliament, where exactly is the Government supposed to be held accountable? Through protests? Why did Home Minister Amit Shah not come before Parliament during those crucial weeks and answer questions concerning the police action against protesters?

The right of an MP to question the Executive is not some procedural nuisance but is actually the heart of parliamentary democracy. Question Hour exists precisely because ministers who exercise enormous public power must answer to the elected representatives of the people. Otherwise of course people will be forced to come out on the roads.

You can’t gag the Parliament and make it a rubber-stamp for your half-baked policies. You cannot ignore the youth. This is not our idea of India!

@Cockroachisback @abhijeet_dipke @AshutoshRanka @whattalawyer

[Cockroaches of India @CJP_for_India]

Announced!!
Start ✅

#SchoolThikKaro

Comment your suggestions 👇

[Abhijeet Dipke @abhijeet_dipke]

Wow!!! Amazing work Ashu!

[Abhijeet Dipke @abhijeet_dipke]

Even after 80 years of Independence, our govt schools still lack basic amenities.

I spoke to the Sarpanch of my village, who has assured that the Panchayat will resolve all these issues within a week.

Change is possible when we come together and act.

#SchoolThikKaro

[Saurav Das @SauravDassss]

Is the BJP trying to create violence in schools by sending history-sheeters against a peaceful protest? Is the BJP trying to kill CJP supporters?

Is this what it has come to? @BJP4India @BJP4Rajasthan must answer immediately. Tell us, do you want murders and shootings to take place of youngsters? Disgusting.

[Sonam Wangchuk @Wangchuk66]

CAN WE SEEK THIS GIFT FROM THE HONOURABLE PM
ON THIS INDEPENDENCE DAY...!
A Decriminalised Parliament, as promised by the Prime Minister in 2014. And I'm sure the LOP Sh. Rahul Gandhi and all parties will readily agree for this revolutionary step to clean up our democracy.

And please don't forget my gift... Suggest names of selfless men & women substance for me to consult and learn from.

@narendramodi @RahulGandhi

[Saurav Das @SauravDassss]

🚨Friends, Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra’s Bar Council of India spent 14 CRORES on meetings and conferences in just one year.

Today, he had to withdraw a portion of his outrageous order on NALSAR students within 1 hour. So where and how is this 14 crores being spent?

12 crores was also spent on travel and accommodation.

But what has been the result? If Mr. Mishra is capable of issuing such a draconian order against young students, then what welfare has he been doing for young lawyers and law schools? He’s been in the position since 2012 and will be till 2030.

Time’s up, Mr. Mishra!

#LegalCockroachesUnite and hold him accountable.

@Cockroachisback

[Saurav Das @SauravDassss]

#Alert🚨

Two hours ago, the Pondicherry Police showed up at my family’s home and subjected them to all kinds of questioning. Why this harassment, @PuducheryPolice? Who ordered this and for what purpose? Is this the legal procedure? Why is the BJP government in Pondicherry intimidating my family? This is not the character of the Pondy government. This is being done at the behest of the Union government!

If the intention is to intimidate me into silence, it will not work. This will not cower me down. It only strengthens our resolve to build a better system, one where the police uphold the law instead of acting like goondas!

@Cockroachisback

[Abhijeet Dipke @abhijeet_dipke]

Salute to these kids who are fighting for their future!

All they are asking for is a road to their school. Is that too much to ask after nearly 80 years of Independence? This should have been done decades ago.

This 15th August, let’s pledge to work for the children and schools of rural India. 🇮🇳

[Maheshwer Peri @maheshperi]

Jantar Mantar protests did a world of good to India and Indians. It empowered students across states. It focussed on education as a need, a demand and a right that should be fought for. Indian students are done waiting. A wave of protests have hit UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra & Jharkhand etc.

In Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, about 1,500 students, Classes 6-12, staged a 6-hour sit-in at Sarvodaya Inter College. No fans, no library, no computer lab, unsafe drinking water, broken desks. Officials came calling within a day.

In Gays, Bihar, A government school with a broken hand pump, dead fans, shattered benches. Students protested and refused to speak to a junior official. They demanded the District Magistrate himself show up. He did.

In Jalore, Rajasthan, students locked the gates themselves, demanding teachers for grades 1-3 that simply weren’t there.

In Barmer’s Ramsar school, same story. Kids literally not being taught subjects due to staff shortages.

Across MP, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Similar walkouts reported. Same core demands echoing across states: functional fans, clean water, hygienic toilets, teachers actually in the classroom.

What Jantar Mantar protests achieved is exceptional. India is discussing education, faculty shortages, unfairness, paper leaks, lack of school infrastructure. None of these demands are unreasonable and the minimum a public school owes a child. The fact it took a viral sit in to get it fixed is the real story.

I only wish this continues. We should continue to bring student issues to the forefront. Empower them with coverage, conversations. This can’t be allowed to fade as a one week news cycle. Keep asking. Keep covering. About vacant teacher posts in your district? What happened to the school infrastructure budget? Tag your local officials.

Don’t let this fade.

Please don’t let it fade.

[Abhijeet Dipke @abhijeet_dipke]

Since we’re analysing Gen Z language…

[Arvind Kejriwal @ArvindKejriwal]

अगर हमें अपने देश को विकसित और समृद्ध बनाना है तो सभी बच्चों को अच्छी शिक्षा देना ज़रूरी है।

दिल्ली के बाद अब पंजाब में भी ��रीबों के बच्चों को शानदार शिक्षा देनी शुरू की है। ये वीडियो देखकर आपका दिल खुश हो जाएगा।

[The DeshBhakt 🇮🇳 Akash Banerjee @TheDeshBhakt]

Dear @TimesNow - do NOT let @the_hindu get away with this!
They took your exact same big story - time travelled a few hours into the past - and posted it earlier WITHOUT ANY CREDIT TO TIMES NOW!
What petty little thieves!! This must stop! 😵‍��

[Dhruv Rathee @dhruv_rathee]

Friends.. Modi is Fooling you Again!

[Cockroach Janta Party - CJP @Cockroachisback]

DEMOCRACY WINS! 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

[The Hindu @the_hindu]

JUST IN | Saurav Das: "We are launching a website where we request all protesters to identify the police personnel who attacked and injured them on 20 July. We will identify every officer who used brute force and push for an FIR to be filed against each of them. If the Delhi Police refuses to file FIRs, we will approach the court. We have the support of lawyers from across the country."
- @suruchiarchives reports
https://t.co/G39fgNnAaS

[Cockroach Janta Party - CJP @Cockroachisback]

🚨 JANTAR MANTAR IS A PROTEST SITE, NOT A DIGITAL OPEN-AIR PRISON! 🛑

Delhi Police has stationed Facial Recognition Vans to live-scan peaceful protesters. They are harvesting biometrics and extracting personal data on the spot—and we have three direct questions for the administration:

❌ UNDER WHAT LAW IS THIS LEGAL?
Supreme Court ruled that Privacy is a Fundamental Right (Puttaswamy case). Mass-scanning citizens exercising their legal right to protest is unconstitutional.

📂 WHERE IS THIS DATA COMING FROM?
How are these AI systems identifying youth live on site? Are national databases, Aadhaar records, and public registries being illegally cross-matched to turn citizens into targets?

⚠️ HOW WILL THIS DATA BE WEAPONISED?
Who stores these facial scans? How long will they be kept? Are secret registries being built to shadow-ban, intimidate, and target students for demanding accountability?

[Maheshwer Peri @maheshperi]

The PM made another promise. Another political speech with no intent. It is just buying time and postponing a serious solution. Listen in to what he said on paper leaks since 2023.