Kancha Ilaiah When a religion treats the labouring castes as impure, naturally the indignity of labour becomes the essence of the nation. Does not this situation need to change? The Modi government seems to believe that a change should be brought in school curriculum by re-working the text books that NCERT brings out. To …
A helping hand for the needy
By N Siddoji Rao (Founder, Help-Desk for Underprivileged) I am from a homeless background and belong to a Scheduled Caste. I lost my parents at the age of seven. I had nine siblings. I lost three sisters and two brothers to hunger. I studied in government schools and stayed at government hostels. In the …
The Image of the Enemy
Nidhin Shobhana This essay is an outcome of a conversation I had with myself. The slaughter of Mohsin Shaikh, a Muslim technology professional was my point of departure. It was a reminder of a potent threat and a safe illusion – the threat of being a minority in an Organized Brahmanic Majoritarian Order and …
Writing against hijacking, speaking against muting
Sinthujan Varatharajah The role of the LTTE in challenging the caste hierarchy in Eelam has been much talked about and documented. Much (valid) praise has been given to the organisation for its anti-casteist stance and attempts (not success) to overthrow casteism amongst Eelam Tamils. The LTTE has indeed played a significant role in caste …
The Manufactured Mandate and the Collective Shame of 2014
N. Sukumar and Shailaja Menon While driving past the Delhi police headquarters we happened to see a huge mural of Gandhi on the building walls when it suddenly struck us that the ideology which assassinated Gandhi is now controlling the national imagination. One may have differences with Gandhi’s beliefs but when political murder is …
Atrocities go along with cultural violence in Maharashtra
Yogesh Maitreya Progressive, radical and democratic movements in Maharashtra, have been people’s movements essentially led by Shudra and ex-untouchable leaders. Mahatma Phule and Dr. Ambedkar were the major proponents who contributed profoundly to building up the consciousness of revolt among Dalits against the injustice of caste hierarchy, and especially the brutal practice of untouchability. …
LTTE and the Annihilation of Caste
Athithan Jayapalan As far as Eelam Tamil politics are concerned, caste is a contentious issue. Broadly speaking, two trends can be observed in discussions of caste and casteism in Eelam Tamil society. One tends to overlook any debate on the pernicious ramifications that caste had and continues to have on Eelam Tamil society. The …
Bhagana outrage: On the dire need for a collective struggle
Jyotsna Siddharth Delhi witnessed a protest to condemn the rape of four dalit girls which took place in Bhagana village in Haryana. A huge outcry was demonstrated outside Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s house on 11th May 2014 to demand justice for the minor dalit girls who were kidnapped, violated and raped on …
Bhagana-Haryana Rape Victims warn Hooda against inaction
Ravi Nitesh Victims and activists unite in demanding One Crore compensation and rehabilitation for Bhagana’s Dalit minor rape victim girls and forcing the Haryana CM to act against the upper caste perpetrators who have brazenly been grabbing the Dalit villagers’ land New Delhi, 11 May 2014: Hundreds of women, children and men from Bhagana …