~ Democratic debate on the appropriation of ‘Annihilation of Caste’ by Navayana on 10th April, 5 p.m., at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram, Hyderabad ~ Dear Friends, All of you are aware about the ongoing discussion on the issue of publication of Dr B.R.Ambedkar’s “Annihilation of Caste” by Navayana Publications with an introduction of Arundhati Roy …
Sanskritization or Appropriation: Caste and Gender in “Indian” Music and Dance
Sreebitha P. V. Two recent articles in The Hindu address the question of caste and gender in Indian Music and Dance. The first article titled ‘Sanskritization and Culture’, highlights the fact that many artists from the field of dance and music have rejected and embraced Sanskritization at different points in history. The second article, …
Asha Kowtal Exposes Discrimination
Women in the World Summit panelist Asha Kowtal talks about fighting caste-based discrimination and violence tells us about her inspiration and hopes for the future Asha Kowtal, General Secretary, All India Dalit Women Rights Forum Who are you looking forward to seeing and meeting at the Summit? I thought a lot about why I’m …
A tale of two prefaces
Karthick RM With her new preface to Dr. Ambedkar’s ‘Annihilation of Caste’ Arundhati Roy, and the publishing house Navayana, have received criticism from Dalit activists and writers. Very compelling critiques have been put forth explaining how Navayana’s annotated version of an Ambedkarite classic is an act of appropriation. In the short essay that follows, …
Boycott Brahminical Castiest Student Council’s EFLU ‘UTSAV’
[Via Satish Nainala] (Pamphlet released by various students organizations in EFL University opposing the EFLU Utsav which was held in the last week of March) When the entire student community is suffering from the lack of basic amenities like proper drinking water, lack of minimal medical facilities, no guarantee for their scholarships, the student …
Of Caste Massacres and Judicial Impunity: Bloodstains in Bathani Tola and Laxmanpur Bathe…
Anand Teltumbde (Text of the Third Comrade Naveen Babu Memorial Lecture, delivered by Anand Teltumbde) At the outset let me thank DSU for giving me this opportunity to pay my homage to comrade Yalavarthi Naveen Babu, who was martyred at the young age of 35 in Andhra Pradesh. I personally knew Naveen as a …
Caste atrocities against Chithralekha: A report
Report on Chithralekha’s Press Conference in Payannur against the caste atrocities on her, on March 29th At 10 AM, March 29th, Chithralekha E, the Dalit woman auto driver, who has been fighting caste atrocities of the CITU/CPM in Payannur, Kannur since 2005, conducted a Press Conference in Payannur in order to protest the many …
Arundhati Roy tilts towards Gandhi: Prof. K. Y. Ratnam
A report on the special discussion on ‘Politics of Publication and Introductory Paradoxes’ held on 28th March, 2014, in University of Hyderabad S Swaroop Sirapangi Dr B R Ambedkar Students’ Association (ASA), University of Hyderabad organized a special discussion over Navayana’s latest volume, ‘Annihilation of Caste: The Annotated Critical Edition’, which also includes an …
Tsunduru trial: Judge drops contempt charges against Bojja Tharakam
Tsunduru Massacre Trial: 26 th March, 2014. [Via Dalit Camera] Rakta Kshetram in Tsunduru, memorial to the martyrs Todays’ Court Proceedings: The judge dropped the charges against Bojja Tharakam and Ragunath. Actually in the morning, advocates in the AP high court were worried about ‘contempt of court’ faced by both the advocates. The court …