Jyotsna Siddharth

Renowned sociologist, Ashis Nandy's comment at Jaipur Literature Festival that 'it is a fact, that most of the corrupt come from the OBCs, Scheduled castes and now increasingly certain tribes' once again reiterates the fact that casteism is very much prevalent in India. As India celebrated its 64th Republic Day on 26th January 2013, its saddening to see such remarks coming from the intelligentsia that plays a significant role in shaping society.

These remarks should not have surprised us as our academia also comes majorly from the upper castes, upper classes, and where schools and departments have been set up to study social exclusion but very little introspection has been done on a personal level. And for this very reason, it is rather important that we condemn casteist mindset of this kind, especially rooted in academia, so that the intelligentsia make efforts to provide a holistic progressive view on any issue than creating a colored image of their own stereotypes. As writers, academicians, scholars and students challenge patriarchal mindsets, casteist prejudices and classist nature of society, how do we forget that, coming from the same fabric of society, there is a need to challenge our own biases and stereotypes?

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Sophy Joseph

"There should be maximum punishment to the rapists, death penalty or castration"

This incantation got huge endorsement from political parties, civil society organizations, the middle class and some activists from India and abroad during the aftermath of the insensate Delhi gang rape incident and subsequent death of 'Nirbhaya' who fought to survive till the end. There is reliance on 'utilitarian' considerations in demanding castration; it is justified on the grounds that retributive punishment serves the overall happiness or welfare of society by deterring the accused from committing the crime again.

The debate on 'castration as punishment for rape' got populist attention and even given consideration to be included in criminal justice reforms by the ruling party. The moment the debate on 'castration' gathered attention in India, it was criticized for bringing back medieval notions of justice. This statement that castration is a medieval form of punishment requires more analysis. This article is an attempt to bring a historical perspective to the debate and argue against the historical insensitivity the debate has generated in recent times.

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Dr Ajay Sekher

Theyyam, the ancient ritual and popular art form of Malabar, is a cultural expression of the dalits and other contested sections of the stratified society. The subaltern classes used it as a strategic aesthetic and spiritual act and articulation against caste oppression and barbaric violence unleashed by the caste lords and feudal patriarchy.

But over the ages, feudalism, Brahmanical values and Savarna patriarchy had appropriated it and Hinduized it through its elitist patronage. It is now being used as a site of interpolation and cultural subordination, says Prof M Dasan in his latest critical study Theyyam: Patronage, Apropriation, Interpolation.

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Saurav Arya

[Round Table India caught up with Saurav Arya, a friend and participant in the making of this portal, since the earliest discussions when we brainstormed for ideas to create virtual platforms for communications by and for Dalits, Adivasis and Bahujan.

Saurav Arya is a 'supply chain professional, a photographer and a traveler on a mission to travel the entire world, twice.. grow old and then tell stories of adventures in exchange for a coffee and a brownie.' As he says in this interview, he believes 'that consciously or unconsciously, we all travel in search of fulfillment, creative freedom and spiritual growth. Traveling is something intrinsic in us. We all want to explore and experience new places, people and situations. We all were nomads till we discovered agriculture.'

He has been to around 40 countries until now, and seems to have gathered a rich treasure of memories: anecdotes, pictures, videos and above all, wisdom that belies his age. We are very happy to share a couple of his travel anecdotes.]

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I bought a thawb for myself when I arrived in Mombasa thinking that it will act as an ice breaker and help me get underneath the skin of the city.

Soon after getting into my new avatar, I noticed that I'm getting too much attention from the locals. Much more than I was seeking. They must be thinking – a tired and tanned desi guy wearing a thawb and carrying a backpack, what's wrong with him?

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An Interview with Rajni Tilak

Neel Kranti Media

(First published in the Dalit students' magazine 'Insight Young Voices' in 2005)

Rajni Tilak is Executive Director of Centre for Alternative Dalit Media (CADAM) and Founder Member of NACDOR. She is one of the prominent Dalit rights activists and India's leading voice of Dalit feminism as well. The interview was conducted by Moggallan Bharati.

To begin with, please tell us about your family background.

I was born in old Delhi, on 27th May, 1958 in a family having very limited means. I came from a family that was badly and wholly oppressed by Hinduism. My father was a tailor whose ancestors migrated to Delhi from UP to earn a steady source of livelihood. With all the then-persisting problems my parents gave the best education to all seven of us siblings – four boys and three girls. But because of severe poverty our higher education got shattered, especially mine – being the eldest girl in the family I had to take care of my younger brothers and sisters. Once I aspired to become a nurse but ultimately I had to change track due to the absence of appropriate financial support.

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Interim Report of the Fact Finding Investigation of Rape and Murder of Dalit & Minority Girls

January 10, 2013 in Kandhamal, Odisha

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[Via Asha Kowtal]

The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights with allied organizations like NAWO, Odisha Forum for Social Action, human rights activists and journalists conducted a fact finding visit to investigate into the recent cases of rapes in Kandhamal district.

The members of the team include:

1) Asha Kowtal, General Secretary, All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch, New Delhi.
2) Namrata Daniel, National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, New Delhi.
3) Manjuprava Dhal, National Alliance for Women Organisation (NAWO)
4) Bigneswar Sahu, Journalist
5) Bijayalaxmi Routray, Secretary (SAHAYOG), Bhubaneswar, Odisha
6) Divya Raphael, Odisha Forum for Social Action.
7) Rajesh Kumar Jena, Advocate & Human Rights Activist
8) Mahendra Parida, Child Right Activist
9) Dhirendra Panda, Civil Society for Human Rights

The team has put together the interim report, which includes major observations, recommendations and brief case studies of the cases that were investigated, on Jan. 10, 2013.

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