Jadumani Mahanand The first ‘fundamental duty’ of the Indian Constitution states: To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem. Even though the fundamental duties are non-justiciable, the burning of the Indian constitution could be called as ‘anti-national’*, because it’s the Constitution which formally legitimises …
Dalit is a Political Currency
Jadumani Mahanand The present presidential candidate nominations shows how “Dalit as a subject” has become an instrument of power for the upper caste political parties. About a decade ago, Gail Omvedt observed that Dalit assertion is a democratic upsurge in Indian society. This emphasis on electoral democracy only sidelined the Dalit movement. And evidently, …
Shrinking Space in JNU: A Study of Dalits
Jadumani Mahanand A University is supposed to be a centre of learning, which would allow critical thinking with experiments, innovations, discoveries, and an open space for debate, discussion, dialogue and criticism. University is not only a place to develop knowledge or to have intellectual persuasion but to revolutionize the conservative socio, economic and politics …
Violence of Brahminism Against Dalits
Jadumani Mahanand The current scenario of Indian society is deeply volatile and violent, instigating gruesome and brutal attacks on Dalits and Muslims. Any concerned citizen will feel anger and frustration, reading everyday about the violence, rape and killings of minorities such as Dalits and Muslims. No method has been left unused, to theorize or …
Police firing on Adivasis & Dalits in Kandhamal: State Repression as Normalcy
Jadumani Mahanand I was born in a hill area of Kandhamal. In a small hamlet in a remote region surrounded by mountains, where there are no basic facilities which a modern state promises to ensure its citizens. There is no electricity, no proper road communication, no school to get education, no adequate work for wages …
Renaming as Humiliation
Jadumani Mahanand In JNU, many a times, an Ambedkarite cannot make out any difference between the Left, Right and Centre, which means one observes striking similarities among them. Because of the so-called Modi “wave”, the ABVP in JNU is trying to play politics by renaming the library, convention centre and stadium grounds after B. …
Why is Rohith Act Necessary?
Jadumani Mahanand Being born in an untouchable family, my life begins with multiple layers of discrimination – the degree of imposition in terms of discrimination, humiliation, oppression and exploitation make me an outsider within. All the worth of my individuality disappears or is abjected, and I continue to remain ‘undeserving’ to the world – …
Drama of Elections in UoH: Reflections on Student Politics
Jadumani Mahanand The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it ~ Karl Marx. Aristotle says ‘man is by nature a social and political animal’, which means one cannot live without these two kinds of institutions. That is to say, if an individual wants to live apart …