by L Lalit Singh (Calling for CBI probe or enquiry by a Judicial Commission) The news of rampant mark-tampering by way of destroying the answer scripts of all aspirant candidates of the Primary Teachers written test examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education through bureaucratic bungling and corruption have been haunting and letting loose …
Casteism: alive and well in Pakistan
Raza Rumi Obedience to hierarchies, conformity and identification with groups are central tenets of existing in Pakistan. [The relief operations after the recent floods in Sindh have revealed the extent to which man-made structures of stratification remain entrenched in Pakistani Society. We thank Raza Rumi for sharing this article outlining his views on …
Entering the information age
By Gail Omvedt WILL THE computer age bring an era of renewed Brahman dominance? This is not simply a fear of a few pro-Dalit fanatics. It is a possibility that has been expressed, if not hailed, by no less an authority than Mr. Swaminathan S. Ankleswaria Aiyar, who characterises the information age in terms of …
Caste in Urdu Prose Literature (Part I)
by Ajmal Kamal [With excerpts in Urdu and Hindi scripts] [I] The historical division of society in South Asia on caste lines is now an acknowledged sociological, political and economic fact. However, caste as a literary or social discourse does not, for several reasons, form a part of the predominantly Muslim culture of Urdu. …
Accrued Social Capital over Individual Merit
R. Ravi Kumar The debate on merit has once again come to the forefront with the movie ‘Aarakshan’. From various press clippings and debates on the movie one can come to the conclusion that the ‘Aarakshan’ team is much worried about the victimization of merit due to reservations for the disadvantaged groups. Though there …
People’s Watch’s interim report from Paramakudi
Paramakudi: a police engineered violence and firing [ An interim report from People’s Watch since police and District Magistrates have not been personally met, circulated in public interest by Henri Tiphagne, Executive Director, People’s Watch] September 11th, the 54th death anniversary of the dalit leader Immanuel Sekaran has not only been a day observed to …
PUDR condemns the arrest of Lingaram Kodopi by the Chhattisgarh police: Statement
PUDR condemns in the strongest terms the arrest of Lingaram Kodopi by the Chhattisgarh police from his village in Dantewada district People’s Union for Democratic Rights, Delhi (PUDR) condemns in the strongest terms the arrest of Lingaram Kodopi on 9 September 2011 by the Chhattisgarh police from his village Sameli in Dantewada district. The police …
Manufacturing complicity: Paramakudi killings
Kuffir It was clear they wished to play down the enormity of the bloodbath from the beginning. First, they said two were killed. Then the figure became three, and five. And then six. Now they say: seven. Have you seen any pictures of any of the seven? Or were their names mentioned anywhere in …
Immanuel Segaran: A Living Legacy
Translated from Tamil by Cynthia Stephen and Rajendran Prabhakar The life of Immanuel Segaran (1924-1957) continues to inspire the younger generations of those who struggle for justice and equality in Southern Tamil Nadu, especially those from the still oppressed Dalit community of the region. His memories are kept alive in the stories of …