Atrocities

Government promotes the gutter of caste

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A Joint Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission and the Vigil India movement The ‘Made Snana’ practiced at the Kukke Subramanya temple, near Mangalore attracts severe criticism and equal amount of support in India. The practice involves devotees allowed to roll over plantain leaves; reportedly after dominant caste Brahmins have eaten from the leaves. …

Features

Caste through Democracy part-II

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Prabin Dhangada Majhi Even the staunchest supporters of reservation flinch at the question of rich SC/ST students hogging the quota.The following discussion, on a request from fellow blogger Yayavar, assumes we have a similar understanding of the reservation policy which I have outlined previously. So I’ll build up on that, and in case we differ, …

Thought

Education as equaliser

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(This interview was published in OneWorld South Asia in February 2010) For inclusive growth, there is need for dual policy with share of benefit reaching to the poor and minorities, says Prof. Sukhadeo Thorat, Chairman, University Grants Commission, New Delhi. Breaking hierarchy and establishing a common public educational system with effective policy against discrimination will …

Policy

Joint declaration and global call for action to eliminate caste-based discrimination

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A Statement from the International Dalit Solidarity Network forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission We, over hundred Dalit activists and social movement leaders from the caste affected countries of Bangladesh, India, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Senegal and Yemen, solidarity networks from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden and the UK, members of International Organizations, …

Thought

Scripting change

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‘As a writer I can’t help being objective about myself or the workings of caste’ P.Sivakami.  ( This interview was published in The Hindu in August 2009) Subash Jeyan She stands at the confluence of many personal interests and currents in contemporary public life. One of the pioneers of Dalit writing in Tamil, she published …

Thought

Politics of representation

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Gopal Guru (Published in Seminar magazine in December 2001) THE UN conference on Race, Xenophobia and Other Related Forms of Discrimination was recently held at Durban in South Africa. A central issue that assumed ‘flaming’ importance both before and during the conference was whether caste should be included in the formal agenda of the conference. …