For An Informed Ambedkar Age
Dhamma Darshan Nigam Parminder came in contact with me when I organised a writing workshop in 2019, which she wanted to attend but could not. I had then created a WhatsApp group to share information about the workshop. Over the next year, almost everyone had left the group, but she remained there in the group. …
Vaibhav Kharat The conversion of the Mahar community to Buddhism under the leadership of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a significant socio-religious movement aimed at escaping the oppressive caste system entrenched in Hinduism. However, as a student of Sociology, my recent observations suggest that certain practices within the converted Mahar Buddhist community reflect a form of …
Ajitha M.K (Translated from Malayalam by Sreekala Sivasankaran) Hunger is an enemy, always Hate it to the core, it will thicken like forest Stand like a rocky mountain brazenly Bite like leeches and scorpions stealthily Hunger is rain Falling like needle points The blazing sun and the pain Even if you bend …
Anshul Kumar “A deputation of Harijans waited on Gandhiji at Sevagram with the request that members of the castes grouped under the head of ‘Scheduled Castes’ should be allowed representation on the governing body of the Harijan Sevak Sangh. Gandhiji is reported to have replied that the Sangh is meant to help Harijans and was …
Jatin Mathur In a 6:1 landmark verdict, the Supreme Court yesterday allowed the sub-categorisation of scheduled castes in reservations, allowing wider protection for underrepresented groups. A seven-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has thus ruled on whether sub-classification of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is permissible for the purpose of …
Ritika Srivastava This article is based on my everyday observations and interactions in various social spaces. It focuses on three specific contexts that show how caste-based practices remain prevalent in society. This write-up does not claim any generalisations. Instead, the episodes highlight how caste discrimination and segregation are perpetuated through the use of utensils, food, …
Shubham S. Kamble The Union Budget 2024, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is an ambitious blueprint for India’s economic future. As the third NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces domestic and global challenges, the budget attempts to balance growth with social welfare. While the allocations across various sectors indicate a commitment to …
Leichan Ayekpam Growing up in Manipur, my childhood was steeped in the rich traditions and vibrant rituals of Manipuri Hinduism. Our festivals were a blend of joy, spirituality, and community, with each celebration deeply rooted in our unique cultural heritage. The serene temples, the rhythmic chants (Sankirtana), and the age-old customs made me proud of …
Scott R. Stroud The relationship between Bhimrao Ambedkar, anti-caste thinker and activist, and John Dewey, his teacher at Columbia University, is significant and unique. Ambedkar sat in three of Dewey’s courses while he was studying at Columbia University and kept up with the American thinker’s philosophical evolution over the following four decades largely through collecting …