Subal Meher Babasaheb said, “They cannot make history who forget history”. The term ‘Shudra’ is very difficult to understand. Who are/were they; how did they come to be known by this name? How did they become the fourth varna in the Indo-Aryan society? Many questions like this come up when one tries to understand the …
Oppose the modalities of reservation adopted by Delhi University
Balancing Interests: Two reasons to oppose the current modalities of reservation adopted by Delhi University Hany Babu M.T. Delhi University teachers are witnessing a peculiar phase. On the one hand, a large number of teachers who have been relegated to the status of “adhoc teachers” for years on end see some glimmer of hope …
A Life Lived Well, and Lessons Thereof
Braj Ranjan Mani Jotirao Phule, and his wife Savitribai, declared war on brahmanic-casteist culture and religion. This Maharashtrian couple presented the first major anti-caste ideology and led a mass activism against the ascriptive norms and values. Their distinct brand of socio-cultural radicalism was based on uniting all the oppressed, whom they would call stree-shudra-atishudra. (Literally, …
Mockery of Reservation at the University of Delhi
Academic Forum for Social Justice The University of Delhi is a fully funded Central University established under an Act of Parliament. As per the provisions of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admissions) Act of 2006 (CEI Act), the University should reserve its seats as follows: 15% for Scheduled Castes, 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes, and …
Twin blows to OBCs
Kancha Ilaiah The backward class politicians failed in forcing the government to undertake a caste-wise census of all sections. The Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the country have had two setbacks in the recent political manoeuvring of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. The pushing of the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Rajya Sabha and also …
Power of touch
Gopal Guru (First published in December 2006) The concept of untouchability travels from rural locations to the cities. CAN categories of understanding be divided on the basis of spatiality? The answer to this question could be given in the affirmative. By and large, it is true that the scholars working on Indian society and …
4.5 Percent OBC Religious Minority Sub-quota: A Disservice To Secular Nationalism
Ashok Yadav 01. Overwhelming majority of population who have been discriminated against and oppressed on the basis of their caste identity since time immemorial and the history of bloody religious conflicts before, during and after independence in 1947 make social justice and secularism the two pillars on which the entire democratic structure of our …
Draft of Bahujan Lokpal Bill
TO BE INTRODUCED BEFORE THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENT. By Dr.Udit Raj, (Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations). Other leaders included in the delegation are P. S Krishnan- Former IAS, Shabnam Hashmi- Anhed, Vinod Diwakar-Advocate, Joseph Dsouza, John Dayal-All India Christian Council, Prof. Ravi Varma Kumar- Former, Chairman, Karnataka, Backward Commission, Yusuf Ansari- Gen. Secy, Peace Party, Chandrapal Singh …
Hindu, savarna, urban, elite media: an X-ray, CT Scan, ECG, MRI report
By Dilip Mandal As expected, large sections of the media, especially the Hindu (sorry, Hindi) newspapers have adopted the policy of turning a blind eye towards the ‘Save the Constitution’ rally led by Dr.Udit Raj held on 24th, August in Delhi. A few newspapers seemed to be merely going through the ritual of reporting it. …