V.T. Rajshekar (Dalit Voice) In the past 68 years that India has been independent, we have spent all our time quarreling. Something is seriously going wrong with country’s uppercaste rulers. They are in terrible confusion. They are afraid of their own shadows. This ruling class or caste may be small in numbers (less than …
The Hardik Patel Rath Yatra
Kuffir (Text of his speech at the discussion, Debating Reservation: Rationalities and Social Justice, at the English and Foreign Languages University on 3rd September; a slightly modified talk was delivered on 4th September at the University of Hyderabad) At UoH Let’s consider the title of this debate: Debating Reservation: Rationalities and Social Justice. Whose perspective …
In soldarity with Manipur tribals
On 08 September 2015, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Students’ Union in collaboration with Manipur Tribal students from TISS, Mumbai has organised condolence service for the victims of Churachandpur incident in Manipur whose innocent lives were taken away by the State brutality. The condolence service was held at main campus gate of TISS, …
Condemn arbitrary suspension of 5 Dalits students in University of Hyderabad!
In an ugly, partisan decision reminiscent of the rustication of 12 Dalit students in the year 2002 (all members of Ambedkar Students’ Association), the University of Hyderabad administration suspended five Dalit student members of Ambedkar Students’ Association (again) yesterday – Dontha Prashanth (Ph.D student in Economics), Rohith Vemula (PhD – Sociology), Sunkanna Velpula (PhD …
Manipur tribals demand ‘Separate Administration’
Manipur Tribals Forum (Delhi) 1. On 31 August, 2015, the Manipur Assembly passed three bills following sustained protests in the Manipur valley districts demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system for the State. The three bills, taken together, will directly undermine the existing safeguards for the tribal ‘hill areas’ regarding land-ownership and …
Do ‘The Hindu’ newspaper’s Photo Captions have Caste too?
Anoop Kumar (This article was first published on 27th July, 2009, on Insight blog) Today, while reading one of our national English dailies, The Hindu, I came across a news item regarding the rekindling of the Gujjar agitation in Rajasthan, demanding Scheduled Tribe status. They are holding a three day caste-panchayat to support their …
BAPSA’s Vision and JNUSU Elections
Educate! Agitate!! Organize!!! The BIRSA-AMBEDKAR-PHULE STUDENT ASSOCIATION (BAPSA-JNU) is an independent student organization committed to unitesocially-economically-politically-culturally oppressed students’ to fight uncompromisingly against Brahmanism and Capitalism and to establish a society based on EQUALITY, LIBERTY and FRATERNITY. BAPSA has been consistentlyfighting and taking part in the Ambedkarite movement which is striving to annihilate caste system …
Behind the Hardik Patel episode: Conspiracy to end reservations
Fakru Ahmed Bashu While there is uproar from backward classes and downtrodden strata of the society to strictly implement the constitutionally earmarked reservations, there is, on the other hand, a vicious attempt through some recent events to bring the reservation system to an end. Upper caste people with vested interests, who came out openly …
Maoist presence in Kerala – Beyond revolutionary folklorism
K K Baburaj Are Maoists, as pointed out by many, making it easier for the government to suppress people’s protests in Kerala? Or are they helping the government bury the struggle for existence of the marginalised? Can Maoist attacks sway the opinion of the people against the government? Does Maoist presence help re-establish the …