N Sukumar and Shailaja Menon One of Kerala’s enlightened souls, Sree Narayana Guru, had proclaimed, “One Caste, One Religion and One God” for mankind, thus ushering in a radical transformation of society. The state also witnessed momentous struggles to liberate society from the shackles of caste and untouchability. The Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924-25, a historic …
Reinventing the Feudal Village in Delhi University
Dr. N. Sukumar “A University stands for humanism, for tolerance, for reason, for the adventure of ideas and for the search of truth. It stands for the onward march of the human race towards ever higher objectives. If the Universities discharge their duties adequately, then it is well with the Nation and the People.” …
The Killing Fields of Academia
N. Sukumar & Shailaja To those children whoIn coal mines, soot, and ash,Furnaces and masonry…….Bathe in the dust of sand, lime and cement,And carry the stinking leather from the bone mill;AndIn the modern social order—-In hotels, schools, hostelsAnd in the abode of the pseudo-religiousBecome a victim of abuse,And under the shadow ofPain, misery, vulnerability, …
Legal Encounters by the Coward State
N. Sukumar and Shailaja Menon A sad day indeed when the news flashed that Afzal Guru who was convicted in the 2001 Parliament attack was executed. After a lot of dilly dallying when the powers that be accused each other of being soft on terror, Guru was legally encountered to silence the critics. However, the …
The Cartoon, the Classroom and the Idea of India
Dr. N. Sukumar The cartoon controversy has exposed the deeply divided faultlines in the sarkari academia which has gone into a damage control mode. A brief glance through all the news (both electronic and print), blogs, facebook chatter etc reveal the deep anguish at the frittering away of “academic freedom”. One appreciates the immense …