Steven R. Weisman [From The New York Times archives] Anyone who finishes third in a local election in India can usually start thinking about retirement. But the recent third-place showing in a parliamentary race by Kanshi Ram, a fiery champion of the rights of untouchables and other low castes, was strong enough to shake …
Letter to Mr. Kapil Sibal, MHRD/ Regarding OBC reservation
To, Hon’ble Shri Kapil Sibal Human Resource Development Minister Government of India Subject: Regarding OBC quota implementation in Delhi University. Sir, We wish to draw your attention to the news item that appeared in different newspapers on October 7, 2011. The headline in The Hindustan Times says – HC asks DU to convert 50 vacant …
INDIA: Police force a child to gather severed human parts in Indore
A Joint Statement by Vikas Samvad and the Asian Human Rights Commission Despicable it might be, yet it is a relatively irrelevant incident in India. The latest is the case of Firoz, a 12-year-old boy who is now reportedly suffering from serious psychological trauma after being forced by a Head Constable of the Railway Protection …
Constitution for inclusive policies
by Abusaleh Shariff There is nothing in the Constitution which bars identification of beneficiaries of public programmes based on religion. Of late, there has been a debate on whether public programmes such as school education, scholarships, health-care delivery and access to microcredit can be targeted at beneficiaries based on religion; some consider this ‘unconstitutional’ and …
Perils Of Primary Teachers Messy Recruitment Process Fiasco ?
by L Lalit Singh (Calling for CBI probe or enquiry by a Judicial Commission) The news of rampant mark-tampering by way of destroying the answer scripts of all aspirant candidates of the Primary Teachers written test examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education through bureaucratic bungling and corruption have been haunting and letting loose …
People’s Watch’s interim report from Paramakudi
Paramakudi: a police engineered violence and firing [ An interim report from People’s Watch since police and District Magistrates have not been personally met, circulated in public interest by Henri Tiphagne, Executive Director, People’s Watch] September 11th, the 54th death anniversary of the dalit leader Immanuel Sekaran has not only been a day observed to …
PUDR condemns the arrest of Lingaram Kodopi by the Chhattisgarh police: Statement
PUDR condemns in the strongest terms the arrest of Lingaram Kodopi by the Chhattisgarh police from his village in Dantewada district People’s Union for Democratic Rights, Delhi (PUDR) condemns in the strongest terms the arrest of Lingaram Kodopi on 9 September 2011 by the Chhattisgarh police from his village Sameli in Dantewada district. The police …
Immanuel Segaran: A Living Legacy
Translated from Tamil by Cynthia Stephen and Rajendran Prabhakar The life of Immanuel Segaran (1924-1957) continues to inspire the younger generations of those who struggle for justice and equality in Southern Tamil Nadu, especially those from the still oppressed Dalit community of the region. His memories are kept alive in the stories of …
Untouchability Declassified
by Pallavi Polanki, Discrimination is a dynamic industry in India. A survey recorded an astonishing 80-odd practices of untouchability—new, bizarre, vintage. Two thousand years and counting. We must hold the record for perpetuating one of the worst crimes on humanity for the longest time running. The practice of untouchability has an unbroken history. A record the …