Vaibhav Kharat India’s recent history has been stained once again by two horrifying incidents of sexual violence—one in Bengal and the other in Bihar. Both crimes were monstrous, but the response to them exposes the rot at the core of Indian society, a society that remains shackled by caste even in its darkest moments. The …
Thangalaan: A Cinematic Exploration of Social Struggle and Empowerment
Ibin Nayakam On August 15, I watched the Tamil movie Thangalaan, directed by Pa Ranjith, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of relief in my ideological struggle against societal injustices. Beyond its social commentary, the film offers extravagant visuals and employs magical realism to communicate its story. This …
The ‘as though’ folks
The ‘as though’ folks In India, we have the oppressor caste folks Whose language is a bit hard to understand Let us configure this language In a way that makes sense. This is the language of the ‘As though’ Oppressor caste folks act as though they care As though they understand vulnerabilities very …
Rape, Reckoning, and Resistance: Confronting Caste Power and Silence in India
Somnath Pati The horrific incident of rape and murder of a resident doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital has sent shockwaves across the nation, intensifying public discourse around the topic of ‘rape.’ As commentators and observers—ranging from public intellectuals to common citizens—engage more deeply with this issue, some have even gone so far …
Thangalaan: A Cinematic Revolution in Dalit History and Identity
Sivaramakrishnan S In the annals of Indian cinema, few films have dared to challenge the dominant narratives of caste and colonialism as boldly as Pa. Ranjith’s upcoming magnum opus, “Thangalaan.” Set against the backdrop of the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), this film promises to be more than just a cinematic experience; it’s a potential watershed …
The Case of Subcategorisation and Creamy-layer Principle in SC/ST Reservation
Apoorva & Apeksha Singegol D The heat of reservation policy has just begun to bring the milk to a boil, yet the Supreme Court is already eager to extract the cream that hasn’t even formed yet. The bubbles on the surface of the boiling milk might hint at cream, but in reality, it’s just skimmed …
Supreme Court of India’s Verdict on SC/ST Classification: An Analytical Overview
Amir Hyder Khan In a pathbreaking judgement from the Supreme Court of India on 1 August 2024, the 7-judge constitutional bench led by Chief Justice of IndiaDr Justice D Y Chandrachud had stated that the sub-classification the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) was permissible. This judgment was welcomed by several political parties and …
‘Before categorisation, policymakers need to understand the constitution and the scavenging communities’: Dr. Ratnesh Katulkar
~ This is the transcript of an interview of Dr. Ratnesh Katulkar by Suresh Ahirwar ~ The recent Supreme Court decision regarding the classification of reservations for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, along with the emphasis on adding a creamy layer to it has sparked both support and opposition. This issue primarily concerns the castes among …
Why Kali is not my Qween?!
John Ramachandran In shallow mainstream and pseudo-progressive narrative, Kali is described as fierce and embodiment of power, femininity and even queerness. But, none of those narratives analyses to whom she was fierce and over whom she was powerful. Before going into the analysis let’s see who Kali is and what was the outcome of her …