For An Informed Ambedkar Age
Neha Thombre When the Union government announced that the National School of Drama (NSD) would stage a play on the life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 150th birth anniversary across major Indian cities, it seemed at first glance more like a political agenda than a national tribute. Of course, Patel was one of the …
Milind Babasaheb Thokal In 2017, after completing my Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), I faced the daunting task of securing admission to prestigious and reputed institutes in Pune. What struck me most during the process was the constant mention of the word “merit”—a term I had heard repeatedly but couldn’t fully grasp in context. I had …
Krish Khatri The Gap Between Promise and Reality Following the pandemic, India’s education technology sector emerged with ambitious claims of transforming how students learn. Companies positioned themselves as bridges to global opportunities, offering courses in high-demand fields such as data science and artificial intelligence. Each program carried two fundamental promises: practical skills development and guaranteed …
Dr B Karthik Navayan The Indian judiciary, often hailed as the guardian of constitutional equality under Articles 14 -equality before law and 15 -prohibition of discrimination on grounds of caste, continues to grapple with allegations of subtle caste biases in its operations. Brahmins, who form just 3-5% of India’s population, dominate the bench, holding approximately …
Nabanita (Noya) “Is he not the same artist who sang Ya Ali?” I thought to myself, staring at the television set in nervous trepidation. It was just another day: performing our daily chores, doing homework, and listening to songs my father played on his DVD player. The daily dose of Rafi, Lata, Manna Dey, Mukesh, …
Cheena Khundrakpam The relationship between Northeast India and the Indian mainland is not merely geographical or political — it is profoundly psychological. Despite being an integral part of the Indian Union since Independence, the Northeast continues to occupy a marginal position in the national psyche. The region, rich in ethnic diversity and cultural complexity, is …
Anshul Kumar “Here are black men standing, looking at us, and I hope that you—like me—will feel the shock of being seen. For three thousand years, the white man has enjoyed the privilege of seeing without being seen”~ Jean Paul Sartre, Black Orpheus “The first Dalit autobiography to be published, Baluta caused a sensation when it appeared, …
Preksha Nina Simone’s question, “How can you be an artist and not reflect the times?” remains powerfully resonant. The 2015 documentary, What Happened, Miss Simone, directed by Liz Garbus, captures the many facets of the singer and activist’s life (born Eunice Waymon). Using rare archival footage, interviews, and recordings, the 1-hour and 42-minute film traces the …
Sanket Shinde This Article explores how Dalit hip-hop in India functions as a counterpublic and counterculture, drawing from Ambedkarite thought and global Black traditions of resistance. On the cold night of April 13th, the night before the birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar, I performed my rap on Anti-Caste culture and the cultivation of the mind. …