Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims – Part 2: Indian Muslim Society in the Shadow of Casteism Continued from here. (Translated from Urdu by Yoginder Sikand, for NewAgeIslam.com) (Part 2 of Masood Alam Falahi‘s Urdu book Hindustan Mai Zat-Pat Aur Musalman (‘Casteism Among Muslims in India’)) [Translator’s Note: This is a translation of …
Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims – Part 1
Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination among Indian Muslims – Part 1: The domination of ‘high’ caste Muslims that parallels the Hindu case Masood Alam Falahi [Translator’s Note: Very little has been written on the existence of caste and caste-based discrimination among the Indian Muslims. ‘Upper’ caste Muslims, who, although a very small minority among the …
Alienation, consciousness and assertion: an interpretation of Oriya Dalit narrative
by Raj Kumar Abstract The objective of this paper is to discuss the historical context of the emergence of a new literary genre called “Oriya Dalit literature” which reflected the growing identity, awareness and consciousness of the Oriya Dalits during the colonial period and post-independence days. Although there was no literary genre distinctively known as …
Police an impediment to security
Asian Human Rights Commission Statement There is no doubt that security to life and property is a fundamental right of every Indian. It is equally the duty of the state to protect it. The safety of a nation is directly proportionate to the collective notion of security of every citizen of that country. The single …
Rich Heritage of Punjabi Dalit Literature and its Exclusion from Histories
Prof. Raj Kumar Hans Exploring histories of Dalit literature in different languages of India is to encounter the deserts of neglects, silences and exclusions. The ‘Progressive Punjab’ is no exception to this sub-continental reality despite claims that Brahmanical ideology and its resultant social structures had considerably weakened in the Punjab due to the impact …
New Delhi Journal; A Call to the Downtrodden: Break Down the Door
Barbara Crossette [From The New York Times archives] A brown washcloth in hand to mop his brow under the fiery Indian sun, Kanshi Ram stepped up to the microphones to start a revolution. Tens of thousands of India’s most disadvantaged people – the poor, the powerless, the untouchables – sat along the capital’s stately …
New Delhi Journal; Prophet for the Humble: Will They Inherit India?
Steven R. Weisman [From The New York Times archives] Anyone who finishes third in a local election in India can usually start thinking about retirement. But the recent third-place showing in a parliamentary race by Kanshi Ram, a fiery champion of the rights of untouchables and other low castes, was strong enough to shake …
Immanuel Segaran: A Living Legacy
Translated from Tamil by Cynthia Stephen and Rajendran Prabhakar The life of Immanuel Segaran (1924-1957) continues to inspire the younger generations of those who struggle for justice and equality in Southern Tamil Nadu, especially those from the still oppressed Dalit community of the region. His memories are kept alive in the stories of …
History, community and identity: an interpretation of Dalibai
by Rajshree Dhali In recent years there has been a qualitative and progressive change in Dalit consciousness. This has resulted in Dalit assertion. Apart from mobilizing masses for political power, Dalits are now trying to reconstruct Dalit culture, literature and history so that they can claim for their identities. The present article intends to trace …