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, …
Reject ABVP’s diabolical fascist agenda on the institutional murder of Rajini Krish
BAPSA, JNU The appalling pamphlet put out by ABVP calling for a protest outside CHS against Rajini Krish’s death is absolutely uncalled for. We unequivocally reject the politically manipulative and conniving concern extended by the Killers of Rohith Vemula and Assaulters of Najeeb Ahmed. It is a dangerous sign of the future to come. …
Vidrohi: A Rebel Reciter
Dharmaraj Kumar Remembering Vidrohiji on his first death anniversary, I write this piece as a memoir. There are layers of memories, but it unfolds on the horizon of reminiscence through several repetitions of certain events. Vidrohiji may not have been remembered by many, but for many his absence is sorely missed. Just being one …
Why Oppressed Unity Inside and Outside the Campuses
Purnachandra Naik & Vinod Kumar In this country, all the oppressed communities have been victims of the oppressive Brahmanical fascist religio-cultural hegemony. The inequality and oppression of the marginalised communities is sanctioned by the Brahminical religious scriptures. And the Sangh Parivar (RSS, BJP, ABVP) make a concealed yet concerted attempt to perpetuate and reinforce …
Caste and Maududian antagonism: Thinking Muslim theo-politics
Muhammed Shah (Shan) If one reads Usthad Abul A’ala Maududi as an early new historicist of Islam, we can’t find enough reasons to dismiss his arguments. Perhaps the new historicist elements which to some extent are inherent to the Maududian understanding of Islamic historical moments, have created an aura of mysterious controversy around the …
On the Orientalist Savarna Perception of equating SIO with ABVP
Waseem RS On the Orientalist Savarna Perception of equating SIO with ABVP, of twining SIO with the ghost of Global Islam and the Politics of Social Justice in JNU There is no novelty in the charge of equating SIO and ABVP as the two sides of the same religious ideology. As a Muslim student …
If it’s the Oppressed, it’s Identity Politics, but if it’s you, it’s a Talent Show!
Rajesh Chandra Kumar It is not whether we win or lose. The main thing is that we had to show our presence in the so- called progressive institution of JNU with the slogan of our forefathers –Jai Birsa, Jai Phule and Jai Bhim. This time, the opposition feared BAPSA, and salute to BAPSA for …
Building the Idea of India: Conserving Brahmanism and the Brahmanical State? Part III
Continued from here. Pinak Banik Gandhi’s attempt to abolish untouchability in the 1930s without ever questioning the varanshrama dharma is like todays fight against Hindutva without recognizing Brahmanism. Gandhi only created a token group of SC representatives, who were never given any chance to voice their issues, which later Saheb Kanshiram defined as the …
Kabali has roared: Why BAPSA was the real winner of the JNU student polls
Dhrubo Jyoti I have never been a big fan of presidential-style debates or Jawaharlal Nehru University. The former almost always reduces social justice to grandstanding and the number of hunger strikes while the latter takes itself too seriously as the citadel of equality, never mind the festering casteism, sexism and homophobia. Therefore, when I …