Dale Luis Menezes Robert Eric Frykenberg’s book Christianity in India: From the Beginnings to the Present, opens by dwelling on the intrinsic nature of the Gospel. He says that evangelization was not optional even in the earliest times and thus, “The Good News…possessed qualities that were also intrinsically disruptive and revolutionary.” Frykenberg asserts that …
Chithralekha arrested for filing complaint under SC/ST (PoA) Act against abusive block panchayat official
Chithralekha, the Dalit woman auto rickshaw driver from Payannur (who has been fighting the CITU/CPM in her locality for a long time now), and her husband Shreeshkanth, have been picked up by the police and arrested on the non-bailable offense of obstructing a government official in the conduct of his duties. The Government Official …
Caste combined with politics is the culprit: Thirumavalavan
Balaji Lakshmipathi@Moses This article is a translation and transcription of a special phone-in program called ‘Love that ended in death’ (‘maranathil mudintha kathal’) featuring the VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan which was hosted by Thanthi TV on 11/7/13. The TV anchor Mr Pandey led the discussion and facilitated questions from viewers. Video 1 {youtube}qaEKOvzhSX0{/youtube} We …
“I just want to blow the lid off this patronage”: Rupesh Kumar
Sruthi Herbert converses with film maker Rupesh Kumar on his new documentary ‘Don’t be our fathers‘. Watch its promo here: {youtube}Bbz9pQqUSTw{/youtube} Sruthi Herbert: ‘Don’t be our fathers’ is your latest documentary set in your village in Kerala, Peringeel. This being your native village, the process of making this documentary must also be an intense …
Police harass noted Dalit activist Sivakami at Ilavarasan’s funeral
Prof Lenin and Ilan Suriyan Under the guise of Section 144, the police have been obstructing dalit leaders from paying their last respects to Ilavarasan. Even the prominent dalit woman activist, writer and politician, P Sivakami has not been spared from this harassment. Sivakami had to enter Natham colony secretly through another route as …
‘The PMK is dangerous to the country, to democracy and the people’
(This Rediff Interview with Thol. Thirumavalavan was first published in Rediff.com in February 2001) It was during the 1999 Lok Sabha election that the Dalit Panthers of India, under R Thirumavalavan, became a force in Tamil Nadu. It was then part of the Third Front led by the Tamil Maanila Congress. That forum fared …
The Ramabai Killings
Fifty years of independence. The salute of fifty bullets. Ten Dalits murdered. This is our independence. ~ Poster in Ramabai colony135 (Excerpt from the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report Broken People: Caste Violence Against India’s ‘Untouchables’) Excessive use of force by members of the police is not limited to the rural areas that are …
The Dalit Panther’s first leap
Sunil Dighe (Participant of the Dalit Panther movement in the 70s, Sunil Dighe reminisces here about its hopes and failure. The movement would have been 40 today.) Each nation has its share of movements but some movements are such that they compel society to give a thought to their calls and demands. They have …
Who killed Ilavarasan?
The Tamil Nadu govt has ordered a judicial panel to enquire into the death of Ilavarasan. Round Table India has been documenting the caste violence in Dharmapuri since the news of the burning of hundreds of Dalit homes there broke out. We are adding video testimonies from Dalit activists, and news reports, as an …