Rajesh Chandra Kumar “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world” ~ Nelson Mandela. “For want of education their intellect deteriorated, for want of intellect their morality decayed, for want of morality their progress stopped, for want of progress their wealth vanished. All their sorrows sprang from illiteracy”. ~ Mahatma Jotiba …
Looking through His Majesty’s Glasses: The Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes in Odisha
Sangram Keshari Mallick September 2015. There is ample discussion these days on the achievements of Sri Naveen Patnaik in the first year of his fourth innings in power. While different writers have highlighted many other issues, this write up shall be restricted to discuss the condition of SCs and STs who constitute 39.98% population …
Ambedkarite Movement in Kalahandi, Odisha: Some Reflections
Bansidhar Deep Recently in Kalahandi, Odisha, Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary was celebrated on a big scale. This celebration was deliberated and pre-planned by the Ambedkarite groups at Kalahandi. Ironically, the right wing forces were also celebrating Ambedkar on their platforms for vote bank and other political purposes. Kalahandi is one of the backward districts …
The United Savarnas of Odisha
Students’ Federation for Social Justice The BJP, Congress and the civil society (mainly the bar council of Odisha high court) of the state have displayed unprecedented solidarity and demanded action against Mr. Satish K. Gajbhiye, an upright Dalit police officer. Such deep conviction they share for their state, such is their patriotism that they …
Disastrous Dalit-ness
Pradnya Mangala It is important to approach the study of disaster, not as an exercise in social disorganization or pathology but as the occasion for understanding some of the more important normal structures and processes, such as communication, interactions, organization, decision making. Thus an approach which emphasizes social adaptability, not social pathology and problem …
Lingraj Azad, warrior of Niyamgiri
Shiuli Vanaja 5th April, 2014 One of the chief leaders of the Niyamgiri struggle is Lingraj Azad who is a Dalit from Kalahandi district. Lingraj Azad is 50 years old. He has been active for about 30 years as a full time activist of Samata Sanghatana and Samajvadi Jan Parishad. During the Niyamgiri agitation …
First Day at the ‘National Tribunal – Violence Against Dalit Women in India’
The National Tribunal – Violence against Dalit Women in India (on 30th September and 1st October, 2013, at the Constitution Club in New Delhi) was conceived in the hope that it would be ‘one small step in the long and arduous journey of Dalit women for reclaiming their rights‘. Asha Kowtal very succinctly expressed the …
Dalit Assertions and Violence in Odisha
Nilesh Kumar An article published in The Hindu (dated January 14, 2012) written by Harsh Mander is an eye opener for many of us who enjoy our private comfort zones. We feel safe and protected around our family, friends and acquaintances. There are many who do not have access to these secure environments and live …
Caste atrocity in Lathor: Over 50 Dalit homes burnt by upper castes
Jadumanilion Boudha & Dhammachari Ratnakumar An incident involving a small boy led to horrific caste violence in Lathor, Balangir district of Odisha, leaving 50 Dalit families homeless and destitute. On January 22, 2012, at around 3.00pm, Ganesh Suna, a 9th class dalit boy went to a shop to buy a new shirt, which he …