Kanika S There was a time some 5-6 years ago when feminism tried to undermine Dr Ambedkar by pointing out that he carried a penis.1 Now he is just as fantastically a carrier of feminist ideals because his work helped women achieve voting rights, property rights, divorce rights, etc.2,3,4 And that alone is a sufficient …
Metonymical Representation of Dalit in Ray’s Sadgati
Chandrakant Kamble Famous Hindi writer Munshi Premchand’s (1881-1936) story Sadgati (‘deliverance’ in the religious sense of the term) was picturized by legendary Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray (1921-1992) in a 1981 movie with the same name. India is celebrating Ray’s 100th birth anniversary in 2021. In academia and curriculum, Ray’s many films are considered masterpieces and …
The Pandemic from Bahujan Perspective and Post-pandemic Scenario
Raina Singh, Theresa Joseph & Shafiullah Anis Ambedkar Reading Group met online on 10th May 2020 with the motive to read, understand, discuss and debate from an anti-caste perspective, two ideas a) Corona pandemic from Bahujan Perspective and b) Future Scenarios post-Corona pandemic. The discussion was led by Vinith Kumar (Chair) and Shafiullah Anis (Co-chair). Introduction …
What exists in India is a positively anti-social order: Suresh RV
Suresh RV (SAVARI and Round Table India are doing a series to put together the Bahujan perspective on the Coronavirus pandemic) Anu Ramdas: Welcome Suresh. Thank you for taking the time to do this. Suresh Ravichandran: Thank you for this opportunity. Anu: The question that I have for you is, we find ourselves in …
Bahujans and Brahmins: Why their realities shall always collide, not converge
Kuffir My grandfather,The starvation deathWhich occurred during the drought when men were sold;My father,The migrant lifeWhich left home in search of work to pay off debt;I, in ragged shirt and shorts,The salute to the flag hoisted in school.* This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. It’s been over 25 years since …
Decoding the Spirit of Castes: A review of Pokala Lakshmi Narasu’s ‘A Study of Caste’
Nidhin Shobhana This book review can be divided into three sections. The first part would briefly try to situate the book and the author in the social and political contexts of Colonial South India (esp. Madras Presidency) in early twentieth century. The second part would discuss the major arguments in the book1. The final …
Missing Entitlements in Modern India: Relevance of Ambedkar’s Economic Thoughts and Ideas
Arun P In the context of the modern century, the most vital currency for dignified livelihood and proper well-being is nothing but entitlements and rights. Basically, the term ‘entitlements’ refers to the guaranteeing access to rights which is granted and protected by law in a democratic state, where an individual avails it through the …
The Hardik Patel Rath Yatra
Kuffir (Text of his speech at the discussion, Debating Reservation: Rationalities and Social Justice, at the English and Foreign Languages University on 3rd September; a slightly modified talk was delivered on 4th September at the University of Hyderabad) At UoH Let’s consider the title of this debate: Debating Reservation: Rationalities and Social Justice. Whose perspective …
How food security feeds on hunger
Kuffir The sweat that silently drops From the furrows of my forehead Becomes ears of rice That bow and salaam me with humility But! He, still adjusting his janeu, is edging, Towards the borders of the hill, Away from me… ~ J. Gautam, Telugu writer, in his poem ‘naaku duurangaa..’*. ~ You think they …