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Who Truly Benefits from the Creamy Layer in Reservation Policies

Dr Govind Dhaske  After the Supreme Court’s judgment last year, the creamy layer concept has gradually been extended to the reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Originally, the creamy layer concept was introduced for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) following the recommendations of the Mandal Commission, mainly to respond to the massive upper-caste …

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Who Are the ‘Photocopy Students’? The Unspoken Caste Segregation in a Private School

Akansha Tanwar When I first stepped into an elite private school in Delhi as a part of my work, I was immediately struck by its grandeur. The sprawling campus, modern classrooms, and digitalized learning tools depicted progress and excellence. It seemed like the perfect environment for any child to receive an education free from barriers. …

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Unpacking Dynamics of Reservation Policy: How Caste Shapes Campuses for EWS Students

Sham Lal Caste remains a deeply entrenched social hierarchy in India, significantly influencing access to social goods and services, including education. Historically, the caste system excluded Dalits and marginalized communities from educational opportunities due to cultural traditions, religious restrictions, and societal norms.  While the reservation policy was introduced to address disparities and promote the inclusion …

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The Sweatshop of Romantic Love Under Capitalism: Lovers as Labourers for a Commodified Entity

Ananya M P The confessions made in a romantic relationship are paradoxical as Derrida once remarked, when one says ‘I love you’, does it mean I love ‘who’ you are or is it actually that I love the ‘way’ you are? Here, both the notions are inherently flawed and conditional as the first implies a …

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What’s our politics any way?

Kanaga Varathan “My body is my politics, my actions are my movement, my life is my statement,” everyone was astonished when the firebrand activist stamped their authority. “We need to educate people on how important it is to learn from black women and intersectional movement to strengthen anti-caste struggles,” the casual coffee shop conversation suddenly …

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Savarna Saviour Psychosis: A Reflection on Rahul Gandhi’s Visit to a Dalit Kitchen

Vaibhav Kharat Recently, Rahul Gandhi’s visit to a Dalit kitchen and his interaction with the Dalit family was broadcast on his YouTube channel, which has millions of subscribers. It was framed as an act of inclusion, meant to bring attention to the everyday lives of Dalits, particularly their food culture. The visit showcased his conversations …

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Savarna Saviors and Subaltern Stereotypes: The Caste Problem in ‘Panchayat’  

neeraj bunker 2020

Neeraj Bunkar In a previous article for Round Table India, I analysed the depiction of caste dynamics in Season 2 of the web series ‘Panchayat’. The series portrayed a village dominated by ‘upper caste’(Brahmins), while Dalits are depicted as struggling to secure basic amenities, such as toilets. This is exemplified through the character of Vinod, …

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Victory for the Adivasi Land Struggle in Nilambur

Naveen Prasad Alex The land struggle of the Adivasis of Nilambur, Kerala, has ended after 314 days of hunger strike. The decision is based on the agreement made with the Malappuram collector. The strike was ended on the condition that 50 cents of land would be given to the 60 landless tribal families within six …

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Challenging ‘De-Reservation’ and Reevaluating ‘Merit’: On Brahmanical Vocabulary and Praxis of Exclusion

Iniyavan M & Lalitha M “Those responsible for implementing the policy of Reservation must undoubtedly understand that “Reservation is neither a policy matter, a political gimmick nor a matter of Charity. It is a Constitutional Obligation” – Dr B. R Ambedkar In the line of policies aimed at systematic and sustained remoulding of the reservation policy …