Sree Govind Bharatvaraj In the recent past, the popular filmmaker Ranjith has been overtly criticized as an anti-Periyarist and a Hindutva supporter by Dravidian intellectuals and Periyarists. Starting from senior intellectuals like Suba Veerapandian to young Periyarists, this criticism is framed around Ranjith. But how far this argument is true is a serious one that …
Our self-respect was surely also self-determination – Understanding Dravidian politics in the times of Hindutva
Vinith Kumar [This is part 1 of a series of essays on Dravidian politics today and its historical roots.] There are pessimists who say that there is no guarantee that victory will be followed by a New Order. There is perhaps room for this pessimism. The New Order, which is the ideal of labour, has …
Sarpatta Parambarai: A punch in the face of Savarna Parampara
JS Vinay “Be thy own light- Atta Deepa Bhava” ~ Buddha “You must abolish your slavery yourselves. Do not depend for its abolition upon god or a superman. Remember that it is not enough that people are numerically in the majority. They must be always watchful, strong and self-respecting to attain and maintain success. We …
How BJP ran TN without getting elected – the story before 2 May
Radhika Sudhakar The story of Tamil Nadu election 2021, as the election itself drew close, was judged by non-brahmins in the state as one that was not going to be who the winner is – the ruling party or the opposition, but the faceoff between the outgoing Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy vs BJP-backed-dy-CM-O …
After a series of dismal performances, what is the future of Congress?
Keerthi Nathan The Mahagatbandhan alliance comprising of RJD, Congress and the Left parties have given a tough fight to the ruling NDA in the recently held elections in Bihar. Although the RJD has increased its vote share tremendously since last the general election held last year, it is the Congress which has been consistently underperforming …
A few words on the demise of Kalaignar by an Ambedkarite
Dr. Dhammasangini Ramagorakh Major states in India have one or two influential non-brahmin leaders and all of them are in their old age – like Sharad Pawar, Lalu Prasad, Sharad Yadav. (Mulayam Singh Yadav is also in my head, he has troubled Behenji so much. And because of Lalu and Nitish Kumar’s deeds Ram …
The Caste of Right to Religion: The Peculiar Case of Umashankar
Bobby Kunhu Amidst all the #acchedin of ghar wapsi and the demands for anti-conversion laws, a peculiar case has been brewing in Tamil Nadu – a case that would have been amusing – if not for the tragic locations surrounding it. As I write this piece, I am watching an interview on Thanthi TV …
Interview with Gowthama Sannah, Propaganda Secretary of the VCK (Part 2)
This is the second part of the interview with Gowthama Sannah, Propaganda Secretary of the VCK – Chennai, 26th September 2012 (Please read the first part here) [This interview was first published in Vol 2, No 1 (2013) issue of ‘The South Asianist‘] Hugo Gorringe: Just a quick question. Is it right that parties …
‘The PMK is dangerous to the country, to democracy and the people’
(This Rediff Interview with Thol. Thirumavalavan was first published in Rediff.com in February 2001) It was during the 1999 Lok Sabha election that the Dalit Panthers of India, under R Thirumavalavan, became a force in Tamil Nadu. It was then part of the Third Front led by the Tamil Maanila Congress. That forum fared …