Christina Thomas Dhanaraj The practice of caste in India and the rest of South Asia is indisputable. The 3000-year old oppressive structure has its footprint in pretty much everything that is remotely Indian or South Asian. And no, 60 years of being a Republic, or the Mandal commission couldn’t do much to erase it. …
Afterlife of a Dalit film star
K K Baburaj When a great personality dies, people feel helpless and the country ceases to function. But, after one week, if this great personality returns, he won’t find the job of a city porter. The famous German poet Bertolt Brecht wrote such a poem. Kalabhavan Mani, a Dalit film star and popular singer …
‘Rohith can die but no Dalit will be a hero’
Rough translation of Rahul Sonpimple‘s (BAPSA, JNU) powerful speech outside SSS1, JNU on 10th May, on the hypocrisy of JNU left during the Academic Council Meeting, undermining the issues of social justice – like OBC relaxation and reduction of Viva voce – for the HLEC (high Level Enquiry Committee set up to probe the events of …
An Inquest into the Death of Rohith Vemula
Panchendra Kumar Naik “Pankaj” Abstract: The article is an attempt to conduct an inquest into the tragic suicide of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit scholar at the University of Hyderabad. It argues why the death must not be analysed in isolation and hence calls for a framework by considering a broader socio-political context that guides …
রিটার্ন টু আম্বেদকর (Return to Ambedkar)
Essay 4. ‘What Babasaheb Ambedkar Means to Me’ মহীতোষ মণ্ডল (Mahitosh Mandal) অসুস্থতার কারনে ২০১৫ সালে রুবি হসপিটালে ভর্তি হই । জীবনের প্রথম অপারেশন ।জীবনে প্রথম হসপিটালে রাত কাটানো । স্বাভাবিকভাবেই তীব্র একাকীত্ব ও ভীতি ঘিরে ধরেছিল । সঙ্গে ছিল একটা ট্যাব আর তাতে আম্বেকরের কয়েকটা টেক্সটের পিডিএফ । ট্যাব ঘাঁটতে ঘাঁটতে খুলে …
Ambedkarite Scholars Group’s Open Letter to California State Board of Education
Ambedkarite Scholars Group 3/16/2016 To:Instructional Quality CommissionCurriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division (CFIRD)California Department of Education1430 N Street, Room 3207Sacramento, CA 95814Tel: 916-319-0881;Fax: 916-319-0161Email: hssframework@cde.ca.gov Re: History–Social Science Framework for California Public Schools Dear Members of the Instructional Quality Commission, We write as a group of scholars whose work is focused on the issues …
Academic Hindutva and the Futility of Dalit-Left Unity Calls
C Ahamed Fayiz Since the beginning of this year, Indian campuses have been witnessing a grave turmoil. It is nothing but an expression of accumulated frustration born out of the inequitable system of governance in every domain, which has a long history of centuries. Campuses and educational spaces are the most vulnerable places for discrimination …
Art for Social Justice
Dr. Sunil Abhiman Awachar [Recently, the painting exhibition of Dalit artist/painter Dr. Sunil Abhiman Awachar was held in February 2016 at the ‘International Conference on Voices of the Oppressed and the Marginalised’ in Mehsana, Gujarat. It was organised by the Social Justice Department, Government of Gujarat, and ICSSR, New Delhi. The title of his …
The ‘Nation’ at War with the Students
N. Sukumar and Shailaja Menon “The backward classes have come to realize that after all education is the greatest material benefit for which they can fight. We may forego material benefits, we may forego material benefits of civilization, but we cannot forego our right and opportunities to reap the benefit of the highest education to …