Policy

Electoral Bonds: A Saga of Political Corruption in India

Ankur Kumar Damon Keith postulated that “Democracy dies in darkness”; this saying later became very well known and also the tagline of US based Washington Post newspaper. It’s an irony that two institutions i.e. mass media and political parties, that are supposed to be the pillars of democracy are proving to be its  finest adversaries. …

Assertion

Did Babasaheb prescribe inter-caste marriages as a solution?

Anshul Kumar Why is it that  popular anti-caste circles and their savarna allies keep on pandering to the idea that inter-caste marriage is a solid step in the direction of breaking (read annihilating) caste structures? This argument is often traced back to Ambedkar and he is cited as a radical who espoused inter-caste marriage as …

Features

Urban development policy in India and exclusion of Dalit-Bahujans

Manoj Madame The social and economic landscape of India has been profoundly altered by urbanization. Indian cities have experienced unprecedented urbanization over the past few decades, as millions of people have left rural areas in search of better opportunities. In cities and towns, new industries have developed, services have expanded, and employment opportunities have been …

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Dalit Policing and Policing Dalits: A Shift in Hindi cinema

Snehashish Das There has been a new shift in Hindi cinema recently. It is not just to acknowledge caste in their films, but in featuring Dalit characters, as cops. Back-to-back, two films and a web series, Bheed, Kathal and Dahaad – released in cinemas (Bheed), on Netflix (Kathal), and on Amazon Prime (Dahaad)- have Dalit …

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Caste and Indian Villages

Ankush Uttam Helode Despite 76 years of independence, India is still facing caste-based problems and discrimination, In rural areas especially small villages, untouchability is still in practice. The mode of caste based discrimination in the urban spaces  is changing, however villages are the cesspools in which caste grows in many dimensions. Public places like drinking …

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Two Translated Poems Of Wamandada Kardak

Dr. Abhijit Shahaji Khandkar Poem 1: (Original poem in Marathi) English Translation – Poem 2: Original Poem in Marathi English Translation – ~~~ Dr. Abhijit Shahaji Khandkar is a pathologist and writer with a keen interest in translation. He observes the microcosm world under the lens of his microscope and macrocosm of society with his …

Features

The Dravidian Movement: Challenging Brahminical Authority and the Battle for Spiritual Independence

Maxwin Rayen The recent Sengol controversy has captured significant attention and triggered extensive discussions, particularly regarding the authenticity of the sceptre. However, there is more to this story than what initially meets the eye. The Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu gained popularity not only for advocating rationalist ideas and self-respect philosophy but also due to …

Assertion

What is stopping ‘Dalit scholars’ from submitting their PhDs?

donna Competing ‘merit’ is cultural violence- ‘Merit as pus’[1] On March 29, 2023, the Union Minister of State for Education shared with the Rajya Sabha the number of dropouts among SC, ST, and OBC students in the educational institutions of India. The debate still revolves around the kind of schemes offered and the funds/fee waivers …