Dr. Manisha Bangar and Dr. Anuradha Bele Babasaheb has pointed out that religion has gone through four stages where originally it was for salvation of one’s soul, then it became a moral compass for maintaining brotherhood, but in its third and fourth stage, it became a practice of worshipping those who performed miracles. India, …
Thoughts of Periyar
4th World Atheist Conference Number – Periyar on God There is no god!; There is no god at all; He who created god is a fool; He who propagates god is a rogue; He who worships god is a barbarian. I will explain further why we say so. He who created the soul, heaven, hell, …
Indian Jews, Israeli Jews, and Hindu Nationalism
Mangesh Dahiwale Modi is set to address an event managed by India Foundation in Israel, just like he did in Madison Avenue. Around 45,000 Jews of Indian origin who migrated to Israel in 1950s and 1960s are likely to attend this show to showcase the manufactured popularity of Modi. India’s Hindu Nationalists are trying …
Say a Big No to Diwali
[Received this article (slightly edited) via Karthik Navayan. Its original author is unknown. If any of our readers know about her/him, please let us know so that we can give due credit to her/him] Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. ~ …
‘Slavery’ by Mahatma Phule: Preface
‘Slavery’ by Mahatma Phule ~ Preface by The Author Himself ~ “The day that reduces a man to slavery takes from him the half of his virtue,” – Homer. “Our system of Government in India is not calculated to raise the character of those subject to it, nor is the present system of education one …
Caste And Hinduism
Gail Omvedt (Written in November 2003) M V Nadkarni’s recent article “Is Caste System Intrinsic to Hinduism?: Demolishing a Myth”, (EPW, November 8, 2003) comes as a follow-up to his earlier article “Ethics and Relevance of Conversions: A Critical Assessment of Religious and Social Dimensions in a Gandhian Perspective” (Januay 18). Both articles show the fundamental stamp of Hindutva ideology, …
Memorial Addressed To The Education Commission
[Jotiba Phule‘s deposition before the Education Commission in 1881 (also known as the Hunter Commission) is reproduced here from the book, Selected Writings of Jotirao Phule; this extract is recorded between pages 140-145 in Education Commission, Bombay, Vol II, Calcutta, 1884 – Round Table India] ~~~ My experience in educational matters is principally confined to Poona and the surrounding …
The Self-creation of the Brahmans
Gail Omvedt [An excerpt from the chapter ‘The Background to Buddhism’ in her book, ‘Buddhism in India: Challenging Brahmanism and Caste’] Indian Brahmans as they have evolved over the centuries represent one of the most unique elites that any society has produced. They trace their origins back to Vedic times, where they were priests …
Jotirao Phule: Shetkaryaca Asud (Part 7)
Translated by Gail Omvedt and Bharat Patankar After that the Arya Brahmans began to treat with disdain all the Kshudra peasant slaves who had come under their control. They completely stopped giving them education and brought their condition below the level of animals. And since they became illiterate and completely without access to knowledge, the Arya Brahmans plunder …