Thought

And thus spoke Gama Ram

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by Chandrabhan Prasad The other day, I was pleasantly surprised to have Gama Ram at my home. He is thought of as a “living legend” among senior Dalits. He became a Sub-Inspector with the UP Police in February 1948.  “At the time, becoming a Sub-Inspector was a lot bigger than becoming an IPS officer today,” …

Thought

All the myths about Kerala

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  Chandrabhan Prasad Brahma Satyam, Jagat Mithya: This is one of the three slogans the Adi Guru Shankaracharya had offered while according “religious” cover to the Chaturvarna order in the early ninth century in India.  Shankaracharya was born in Malayali land and was an accomplished myth maker. According to him, “The world is not real, …

Thought

Woman power in Dalit movements

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  Chandra Bhan Prasad (First published in The Pioneer in October 2001) I do not wish to refer to Ms Mayawati, the pride of the Dalit movement today, who has single-handedly redefined the grammar of cowbelt politics. Yes, Kanshi Ram did “introduce” her but don’t male politicians require mentors, too? I am talking about other …

Thought

Journalistic ethics at Durban

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by Chandrabhan Prasad A t the Durban conference, I was greatly perturbed by the intellectual taste of the Indian media and the excessive dependence on secondary sources for news.Not one of them seemed to have confirmed with the WCAR Secretariat facts relating to Para-73, before pronouncing judgments on the “exclusion” of “Work & Descent” in …

Thought

North Beach turns into ideas

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by Chandrabhan Prasad   The decision was deliberate. I wore a starched kurta churidar pajama because it had given me a distinct identity. Plus, with the “end caste” discrimination badge in place at the second button, anxious mediapersons could easily approach me to learn about India’s caste system. The party had just begun.