Ankush Uttam Helode Maharashtra is a state where the dominant Maratha caste has wielded significant political and economic control. David Mandelbaum termed this dominant caste as having a “self-image as rulers.” However, this perception did not shifted after independence when Marathas became a majority and gained dominance in various areas. Despite constitutional and legal safeguards, …
Missing or Excluded?
Dr Santhosh J & Benish Ali Dalits, tribals, and people from other backward classes form the majority of the Indian population. However, their presence in government educational institutions and top government posts is extremely scarce. This has become rather a longtime trend in India. However, the successive governments claim otherwise, their own data proves the …
All India Independent Scheduled Castes Association (AIISCA)]: Funding Request
Funding Request Dear All, Jai Bhim! We represent the All India Independent Scheduled Castes Association (AIISCA), dedicated to advancing social justice and empowerment for Dalits. Guided by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s legacy, we strive to create a more inclusive society. Despite political reservation, Dalit conditions remain challenging. To address this, we aim to establish a national …
Caste-based Discrimination and Suicides in Navodaya Vidyalayas: A Grave Concern
Neeraj Bunkar Navodaya Vidyalayas, established under the vision of the former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi, were conceived to ensure holistic development of underprivileged children from rural areas and promote social justice. Presently, there are around 700 such residential schools across India, aiming to provide quality education to marginalized students. However, instances of caste-based discrimination …
Everything is in a Name: RSSisation of Criminal Justice
Bobby Kunhu “Every empire, however, tells itself and the world that it is unlike all other empires, that its mission is not to plunder and control but to educate and liberate.” – Edward Said Colonization is one amongst the convenient pet peeves of Savarnas across ideological spectrum – from communists to Shashi Tharoor to the RSS, …
Who has the right to be Beautiful: Reflections on Caste, Class & Colorism
Durga Hole One day I went street shopping in Chembur in Mumbai. After buying the thing I asked the shopkeeper for a concession. He was not ready for it then my friend from Bihar just added that ‘Bhaiya de dona wo Maharashtra se hi hai’ (give it to her, she is from Maharashtra). He was …
From Bhaijaan to Bhai, the Slogans that Divide Cultures in Contemporary India
Vinod Kumar On August 8, 2023, front page news in the Times of India reported the violence that recently broke out during communal riots in Haryana. On a usual day, I prefer not to take sides based on what I read because the representation of facts is often minced in the news. However, the article …
Human Feces and Caste in Tamil Nadu
Raja M In the socio-political structures of Tamil Nadu, caste is a pertinent issue in which all the problems are tied together. The following questions raise more skepticism about Dravidian Politics: Do Dalits access public places? Can Dalits have everyday lives/practices without caste discrimination? Can they easily avail of state-assigned civil rights without any discrimination? …
The Darker Side of AI
Pranav Jeevan P AI (Artificial Intelligence) models have become part of everyday use. Generative AI models, especially those using latest diffusion models capable of producing realistic images and videos are becoming increasingly popular. Since the advent of ChatGPT from OpenAI, the use of LLMs (Large Language Models) are becoming the standard practice in industry and …