For An Informed Ambedkar Age
Dr. N. Sukumar The principle of merit is largely undefined. However, the social and economic worth of individuals and institutions are valued on this amorphous principle. Any standard definition of merit will again feed the myth of the “family farm” comprising of parental background, educational alma mater, economic occupations, physicality and geographical location. Needless …
Dr. N. Sukumar The ancient world considered land as the paramount resource and wars were waged to capture more territories. For the industrialized societies, capital was the source of sustenance but in the modern era, privilege and power based on knowledge is the magic mantra, the currency of socio-economic relations. As Churchill once observed, …
Dr. N. Sukumar A nondescript panchayat village and census town under the administrative jurisdiction of Pune in Maharashtra has unexpectedly turned into the Ground Zero for the ballot battle of 2019. On January 1st 1818, in the village of Koregaon, the army of Peshwa Baji Rao was defeated by the British forces which also comprised …
Dr. N. Sukumar The various shades of saffron have long ridiculed every attempt of Ambedkar to usher in a just and equitable society. His scholarly critique of varnashram dharma, the Riddles of Rama and Krishna, the Hindu Code Bill etc proved to be the proverbial thorn in their flesh. For the Sangh Parivar, he …
Dr. N. Sukumar Mr. Venkaiah Naidu in the Indian Express dated 1st May 2017 (Romancing the Maoists) took umbrage at the human rights activists maintaining silence over the killing of security forces in Chhatisgarh. Violence in any form needs to be condemned. But why is the Honourable Minister so selective in condeming violence? It …
Dr. N. Sukumar Here’s the smell of the blood still; All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.1 On April 8, 1929, Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly “to make the deaf hear”2 as their leaflet described the reason for their act. The bomb, …
Dr. N. Sukumar Abstract Historically, the philosophical roots of the RSS can be located in German National Socialism and the former has constantly strived to live up to the ideals of its mentors. This is best illustrated when the RSS indulges in Goebbelsian doublespeak to further its exclusivist nationalism. A lie spoken repeatedly becomes the …
Dr. N. Sukumar [The author mailed this article to The Hindu newspaper in order to continue the dialogue on the Dalit Movement as the argument first appeared in this paper. Unfortunately, even after forty eight hours, there was no response from the paper. Obviously, only ‘certain’ ideas are entertained as ‘meritorious’ by our ‘progressive’ …
Dr. N Sukumar “Laws alone cannot secure freedom of expression; in order that every man presents his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population”. ~ Albert Einstein A few months ago, the academia was intensely debating the Wendy Doniger issue. For the person on the street, it was much …