Dr. Aniruddha Babar The 6th Schedule embodies Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s profound vision of empowering tribal communities and promoting social justice. It is a testament to his commitment to ensuring the autonomy and dignity of marginalized regions, fostering inclusive development, and upholding the constitutional rights of all citizens. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the …
Being a Tai-Ahom: The Anti-caste Movement and the Problematics of Self-identification
Arunabh Konwar (This is not a historical observation, just extrapolations on personal experiences and observations.) Over the last couple of years, because of my own limited apparent proximity to some manifestations of the anti-caste movement in university politics in the mainland, I have often felt at loggerheads as to how to identify myself in this …
Understanding Tribal Culture: The Perspective from Within
Balaka Chattaraj The terms Tribe and Adivasi have been historically misinterpreted in academia. The Tribal and Adivasi culture have always been explained and argued from the colonial standpoint and caste epistemology. The two popular epistemologies have always painted Tribes and Adivasis in one particular manner, first as savage and second as under-developed. The caste …
Assam Assembly Elections: The Hills Do Not Speak
Rakhee Naiding “Lama hemhishining jaya, lama slamma bo nangdu”(It is not enough we tread the path, we have to create them too)- A Dimasa saying Recently the Assam Assembly elections concluded, and the results were evidently a shock to many, especially after the anti CAA upheaval. All the same, people seem to have quickly accepted …
Learnings from Assam in the context of NPR/NRC/CAA
Naaz Khair The Council of Europe reports that there are more than 680,000 stateless people in Europe today, a large number of them being ethnic Roma with no basic documents to prove their identity, legal status and citizenship. They are all individual stories of deprivation of rights, with their statelessness caused by, “discrimination in …
Stop December Pogrom!
Rachelle Bharathi Chandran Kristallnacht, all the posts said little did they know that it was not Kristallnacht, It was Kristallmorgen Kristallnachmittang and Kristallabend.
NRC and CAA are as anti-Dalit as anti-Muslim!
Dharmesh Ambedkar Jai Bhim Friends, You are aware of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). The media is continuously saying that both these are anti-Muslims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has even said that those opposing CAA and NRC can be identified from their clothes. If you also think …
The Spectre of Miyah Poetry and fate of Assamese Nationalism
Nirban Ray A spectre is haunting Assamese nationalism – the spectre of Miyah poetry. But this spectre is nothing new to the journey that Assamese nationalism has been through. In truth, Miyah poetry is haunting Assamese nationalist consciousness not because the Assamese nationalist middle class have never seen, heard languages different than Assamese, but …
Bride Buying in Haryana – A Case Study
Krishna Gupta In places like Ferozpur Namak Village in Nuh Tehsil (Haryana) where this case study was conducted, it is impossible to find a local mate for each man with the kind of skewed sex ratios prevalent. Decades of unchecked sex-selective abortions have made the once fertile state of Haryana suffer a drought of brides, …