Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisations An All India Fact Finding team of rights activists belonging to the Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisations (CDRO) visited the area in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh where 17 adivasis died as a result of firing by CRPF forces on the night of June 28, 2012. The team visited the villages …
The Reservation Debate and the Hypocritical Misuse of Article 335
Devi Dayal “Article 335 of our constitution states that the claims of the members of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes shall be taken into consideration, consistently with the maintenance of efficiency of administration, in the making of appointments to services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or of a …
Dalit or Scheduled Caste: A Terminological Choice
Gail Omvedt (Posted yesterday on her blog, ‘seeking begumpura’) The Thorat Committee has recommended that the term “dalit” used in textbooks should be expunged and replaced by the legalistic terminology “scheduled caste.” The reasoning for this is not clear. “Dalit” has become partly a controversial term, and it is true that not all who fall …
Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims – Part 1
Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims – Part 1: The domination of ‘high’ caste Muslims that parallels the Hindu case Masood Alam Falahi [Translator’s Note: Very little has been written on the existence of caste and caste-based discrimination among the Indian Muslims. ‘Upper’ caste Muslims, who, although a very small minority among the …
Ronki Ram
Ronki Ram is ICCR Chair Professor of Contemporary India Studies, Leiden University Institute for Area Studies & IIAS, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
Bhagana’s Dalits Demand Justice in Delhi
Excluded from Society and Victims of State Repression, Dalits Demonstrate in Delhi for Justice Neel Kranti Desk (Translated from Hindi by Gurinder Azad) {youtube}EWHjBCL_m3Q{/youtube} While Delhi and its outskirts are facing 45 degrees temperatures and people are retreating into homes, offices and cars with air-conditioning, Dalits from Bhagana village (Haryana) have reached Delhi covering a …
Lakshmipeta Massacre
Ch. Das Instances of brutal attacks against poor and landless Dalits have been reported more intensely and frequently in North Andhra Pradesh, in areas where the Dalit population is concentrated. On June 12, the socially, economically and politically powerful Kapus launched a cruel and violent attack on the poor landless Malas of Lakshmipeta village, in …
My Man
Anu Ramdas Lakshmi was always comfortable sharing her thoughts about her husband, Shanmugam. He was the shy one and never said much about personal things. Listening to Billie Holiday’s songs often brings back memories of the way Lakshmi used to talk about her married life to me. On some days it would be: My …
Agitation for OBC Reservation at Delhi University
[Statement Forwarded by Anoop Patel, AIBSF] A group of students and teachers of Delhi University staged a protest demonstration in front of Ramjas College. A delegation met the Principal, Ramjas College and put forward their demands. After staging the demonstration the group marched to the office of the Dean of Students’ Welfare (Delhi University) and continued …