This is the second part of the interview with Gowthama Sannah, Propaganda Secretary of the VCK – Chennai, 26th September 2012 (Please read the first part here) [This interview was first published in Vol 2, No 1 (2013) issue of ‘The South Asianist‘] Hugo Gorringe: Just a quick question. Is it right that parties …
Why is dignity so hard to come by?
Bhadrachalam flood affected people are facing apathy and neglect. Karthik Navayan Bhadrachalam is a pilgrim town in the Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh. Last month (July), owing to heavy monsoon showers, the area witnessed terrible flooding that had caused extensive damage in the area. The deluge, triggered by the river Godavari, has so far …
Crossing endogamic boundaries
Anu Ramdas In the aftermath of Ilavarasan’s horrific death, dalit movements and leaders in Tamil Nadu have raised the need for a law against honor killings. Even as Ilavarasan’s family, neighbors, dalit activists and leaders cope with the grief and trauma, they have set their minds to examine the underlying processes which led to …
How food security feeds on hunger
Kuffir The sweat that silently drops From the furrows of my forehead Becomes ears of rice That bow and salaam me with humility But! He, still adjusting his janeu, is edging, Towards the borders of the hill, Away from me… ~ J. Gautam, Telugu writer, in his poem ‘naaku duurangaa..’*. ~ You think they …
In capitalism, you can buy a Merc and hire a Brahmin driver
Arati R Jerath The launch of the first Dalit venture capital fund was a red-letter day for Dalit entrepreneurs. But can the rise of a handful of Dalit billionaires empower a historically oppressed and exploited community? Dalit intellectual and writer Chandra Bhan Prasad believes it can. Defending the market as a liberating force, he …
Blood under Saffron: The myth of Dalit-Muslim confrontation
Raju Solanki Raju Solanki is an activist and poet based in Gujarat. This is the second part of his notes on Gujarat, the state of Dalits, minorities and other marginalized sections under Moditva (please read the first part here). This part of his notes exposes the hollowness of the myth of Dalit-Muslim confrontation …
The Emergence of Right-wing Caste Politics in Tamil Nadu
Harish S. Wankhede Ilavarasan and Divya eloped and got married. Divya’s father killed himself a little while later because his daughter had married a Dalit youth. A few days ago Ilavarasan’s body was found next to the railway tracks near Dharmapuri. It is, as yet, unclear if his death was a murder, accident or …
Dalit Youth Federation calls for discussion
On Sunday, 21st July 2013 at 5.30 pm Venue: Navbharat Mat. School, Solaiyappan St., Periyar road, T.Nagar, Chennai, (Kodambakkam – Valluvar Kottam route). ‘Dalit Youth Federation’ calls for discussion on the following: *Violence on Dalits – Lessons & Mistakes *Revisiting the Need for Dr. Ambedkar *Unity Among Dalits *Future Course of Dalit Politics Special …
An Invitation From Dr. Ambedkar International Center in Washington DC
Sandeep Chavan A Personal Invitation To Attend The First Ever Gathering/Meeting At Dr. Ambedkar International Center, Washington DC, USA on 21-Jul-2013! A Proud Moment! Jai Bhim All! As you all are aware, in May 2013 the first step of completing formalities of taking over and setting up our very own first Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar …