Raju Solanki Raju Solanki is an activist and poet based in Gujarat. This is the second part of his notes on Gujarat, the state of Dalits, minorities and other marginalized sections under Moditva (please read the first part here). This part of his notes exposes the hollowness of the myth of Dalit-Muslim confrontation …
Blood under Saffron: In Search of Justice
‘Under your fascist skySlowly pants the terrified dalit ghetto.’* Raju Solanki (Raju Solanki is an activist and poet based in Gujarat. These are a few of his notes on Gujarat, the state of Dalits, minorities and other marginalized sections under the Modi regime. They provide keen insights into how ‘Moditva’ works and its …
Separate Panchayats for Dalits shall ensure security and development: Sivakami
This is the second part of the interview with P. Sivakami, ex-IAS officer, writer and politician who founded the political party, the ‘Samuga Samatuva Padai’, to work ‘on the principles of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, as a forum for social equality’. She is also the founder of the Dalit Land Rights Movement in Tamil …
Students burn Manusmriti on Manusmriti Dahan Diwas in University of Hyderabad
[Via Anji Vikarabad] On December 25th, 2012, students in University of Hyderabad, led by the Ambedkar Students’ Association (ASA), burnt a copy of the Manusmriti in the campus, which they called the ‘most notorious’, ‘barbaric’ religious text ever produced. 25th December is an auspicious day in the history of Dalitbahujan struggles because it was on …
“Lack of strong Dalit movement in Gujarat gives RSS-VHP-BJP a free run”
Anoop Kumar Gujarat assembly elections are here, and Round Table India takes this as an opportunity to post an interview of French Scholar Dr. Christophe Jaffrelot that was first published by the Dalit students’ magazine ‘Insight Young Voices’ (Feb-March, 2008). This interview was taken by Anoop Kumar for the magazine on the eve of …
Demonstration For Reservation in Promotion To OBCs & Separate Ministry For OBCs
Demonstration Before Parliament For Reservation in Promotion To OBCs & Separate Ministry For OBCs [Via Ashok Yadav] On December 05, 2012, Wednesday, 10.00 am to 01.00 pm. Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street, New Delhi.
Prof. Shrawan Deore’s ‘OBC nchya Sangharsh Wata’: Book Release Function
[Via Satyashodhak Chhatrapati Dnyanpith] Prof. Shrawan Deore‘s new book ‘OBC nchya Sangharsh Wata‘ (‘Battle Streets of OBCs‘) shall be released: on 4th December, 2012, 3 p.m., at Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, Azad Maidan, Opp. CST/ VT station, Mumbai. All are cordially invited.
Caste And Hinduism
Gail Omvedt (Written in November 2003) M V Nadkarni’s recent article “Is Caste System Intrinsic to Hinduism?: Demolishing a Myth”, (EPW, November 8, 2003) comes as a follow-up to his earlier article “Ethics and Relevance of Conversions: A Critical Assessment of Religious and Social Dimensions in a Gandhian Perspective” (Januay 18). Both articles show the fundamental stamp of Hindutva ideology, …
Questions of name
Gail Omvedt “Dalit”, “Scheduled Caste”, “Ex-Untouchable” and “Harijan”. These are only some of the many words used to refer to the most oppressed sections of Indian society, “untouchable” in the traditional caste order, performers of the most degrading task, and still today caught in the throes of poverty, discrimination and the remnants of untouchability. “Dalit” …