Braj Ranjan Mani (First published in 2009) The image of India is that of a democratic, multicultural, inclusive society. But more often than not, appearances are not reality. India is a republic—a secular, socialist, democratic republic—where millions of children, women and men remain demoralised, enslaved to the powerful, crying out for fundamentals of life. Fragmented …
What actually happened in Paramakudi and how it happened
Karthik Navayan [Karthik Navayan was a member of a fact-finding team that visited Paramakudi town on 19th and 20th September, 2011, and interacted with the victims and also with the district officials in Ramanathapuram. This article contains his observations and analysis- Round Table India] On September 11th the police killed six among the several Dalits who …
People’s Watch’s interim report from Paramakudi
Paramakudi: a police engineered violence and firing [ An interim report from People’s Watch since police and District Magistrates have not been personally met, circulated in public interest by Henri Tiphagne, Executive Director, People’s Watch] September 11th, the 54th death anniversary of the dalit leader Immanuel Sekaran has not only been a day observed to …
Untouchability Declassified
by Pallavi Polanki, Discrimination is a dynamic industry in India. A survey recorded an astonishing 80-odd practices of untouchability—new, bizarre, vintage. Two thousand years and counting. We must hold the record for perpetuating one of the worst crimes on humanity for the longest time running. The practice of untouchability has an unbroken history. A record the …
Jan Lokpal or Janvirodhi Lokpal?
By People for Constitution, Democracy and Human Rights (PCDHR, Nagpur) Recent stir by Anna Hazare (Original name unknown/ Education unknown) & Co. for an Ombudsman for corruption in the name of Jan Lokpal is an ‘extra-constitutional method’, bypassing the Parliamentary process which is at the heart of Constitutional Democracy which ‘We the People’ of India …
The ‘Death of Merit’ and a debate on caste discrimination in educational institutions
[ A Round Table India report ] Hyderabad, Aug, 07, 2011: The National Dalit Forum organized a screening of the ‘Death of Merit’ documentaries by the Insight Foundation, followed by a discussion on the suicides of Dalit students in institutions of higher education and on caste discrimination in campuses, today in the morning at Dr. …
The disappearance of two Dalit students in Mahabubnagar
Raise your voice against the disappearance of two Dalit students in Mahabubnagar! Report filed by Karthik Navayan The details of the case are that on 15th August, 2005, the CPI (Maoist) party killed one sitting MLA, Chittem Narsi Reddy of Makthal constituency, in Mahabubnagar district. In this case, the police of Mahabubnagar started harassing the …
Protest against the burning alive of two Dalits in Khaithapur village of Nalgonda district
Several Dalit and Human Rights organisations and individuals (led by Andhra Pradesh Ambedkar Yuvajana Sangham, Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes’ Wefare Association and others) held a protest demonstation against the burning alive of two men suspected of practising witchcraft in Khaithapur village, Nalgonda district, at the Babasaheb Ambedkar statue junction, near Tank Bund, in Hyderabad on …