Bobby Kunhu “If everyone fought for their own convictions, then there would be no war” Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace “One struggle for the freedom, but to the power comes to the others. And then the cunning, insidious form of bondage comes, dressed in national symbols, shushed by national pathos, decorated with the attributes …
Literature of Black Panthers & Dalit Panther: A comparative study
Kundan Kamble Introduction This paper undertakes a comparative study between the Black Power Movement in America and the Dalit Movement in India. The study between these two movements will show the similarities and differences between race in the American context and caste in the Indian context. To bring forward these features I have analyzed …
The Indian state and illusory healthcare for the Bahujans
Kuffir A few notes on the recent budget, and other events, to examine how they promote/subvert Babasaheb’s ideals of ‘liberty, equality and fraternity’. ~ One of Gaddar’s popular songs goes something like: India is a land of good fortune, There is no dearth of any (natural) wealth here, There are fields that yield golden …
Extremely Backward Castes: Key to the Chair in Uttar Pradesh
Omprakash Mahato Right wing reliance on conventional politics in Uttar Pradesh Political gimmicks of political actors have certainly moulded the preferences of the voters in the past and continue to do so. With ongoing state assembly elections in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, parties across the spectrum have come up with their manifestoes …
How a minor incident in Tumakuru shows a pervasive caste mentality
Asim Siddiqui Recently an incident in Tumakuru created a stir on social media where a farmer was humiliated by a car salesman by judging his appearance. The farmer, Kempegowda, wanted to buy a pickup truck but the salesmen apparently ridiculed him by saying that you don’t look like you are having even 10 rupees …
Savarna Subversion of Reservation
Bobby Kunhu I was approached on behalf of a Dalit woman friend who is planning to contest the upcoming local body elections in Tamil Nadu from a general constituency and was being misled that a) a reserved category person cannot contest from a general constituency and b) that if she does contest from a general …
On caste and Kannada activism
Redant I want to examine the discourses that have emerged in the wake of Karnataka state government’s decision to establish a Sanskrit university on a 100-acre plot in Magadi close to Bengaluru at a cost of Rs. 320 crores.[i] While the decision to set up this campus was taken by BJP government headed by …
Vulgarization of Subaltern Culture
Dr. Y. Srinivasa Rao In India, while classical arts are for the rich and international audiences, and are practiced by the upper castes for fame, name and prestige, subaltern arts are for the rural population and practiced by the subalterns for livelihood and survival. Upper castes ascribed the ability to reserving everything that had …
Political hues of Freedom of Speech!
Bobby Kunhu “State propaganda, when supported by the educated classes and when no deviation is permitted from it, can have a big effect. It was a lesson learned by Hitler and many others, and it has been pursued to this day.” ― Noam Chomsky, Media Control:The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda I have always been a vocal advocate …