Abid Faheem Abstract – Though the philosophy of caste hierarchy is quite contradictory to the basic beliefs of Islam which explicitly emphasizes equality and universal brotherhood, caste hierarchy exists among Muslims in India that can be divided into three broad category; the Ashraf (upper class), the Ajlaf (clean occupational caste), and the Arzal (unclean occupational caste …
Peace and inclusive development
Dr. Gail Omvedt Peace in the world has two main terrains. Peace at the level of the nation and at the level of the world. Both affect each other depending upon the nature of the disturbance to the peace which is created on these terrains. Peace had been the constant feature for millions of …
From Brahmanism to Ambedkarism: An Ongoing Ontological Expedition
Yashwant Zagade I was raised in the suburbs of Mumbai in the 90s, at a time when Hindutva politics reached its peak for the first time after independence. I still remember how this political atmosphere influenced my childhood — I grew up sloganeering “Tai, Mai-Aakka vichar kara pakka ani magach dhanushybaanavar mara shikka” (sister, …
Mahatma Phule’s Thoughts on Caste-Patriarchy: A Critical Evaluation
Sachin Garud It is a well-known fact that at the time of India’s national movement, there was another movement known as the movement of social engineering or social revolution, led by Mahatma Phule, who had pioneered the foundation of a social revolution in India. Although contemporary thinkers like Ram Mohan Roy, Justice M.G. Ranade …
Bahujans and Brahmins: Why their realities shall always collide, not converge
Kuffir My grandfather,The starvation deathWhich occurred during the drought when men were sold;My father,The migrant lifeWhich left home in search of work to pay off debt;I, in ragged shirt and shorts,The salute to the flag hoisted in school.* This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. It’s been over 25 years since …
How is the Present-Day Woman Oppressed?
Sweta Yadav I have been a student of journalism; technically speaking, I hold a degree in Journalism and consequently have worked in many media houses, but had to resign every time. Sometimes because of the caste based prejudices, other times for not wanting to undermine my principles. In some of these places I also …
‘Jai Bhim, Lal Salam’: Myth and Reality
Vinod Kumar Of late, uniting Ambedkarism and communism has become a matter of discussion among intellectuals and students across India. As far as the emergence of this discourse is concerned, it is because of the increasing assertion of the Ambedkarite forces to alter the politics of the most prominent institutions, in particular HCU, JNU, …
Anti-fascist movements – how inclusive are they?
K K Baburaj The same day when Manushya Sangamam (human gathering) was held at Ernakulam (19-20 December, 2015) we organised Amaanava Sangamam (Un-human gathering) at Calicut as a protest against the basic ideology of the ‘concept of human’ articulated by them. The concept of ‘human’ envisaged by the upper caste modernists, aristocrats from the …
A Reply To The Mahatma By Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
(This reply was included as Appendix II in the second edition of Babasaheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar‘s ‘Annihilation of Caste’) I appreciate greatly the honour done me by the Mahatma in taking notice in his Harijan of the speech on Caste which I had prepared for the Jat Pat Todak Mandal. From a perusal …