Rahul Sonpimple In my Ph.D. fieldwork in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, I encountered two contrasting assertions regarding the role of Buddhism in the everyday lives of Dalits. The first assertion, claiming “Buddha is our god; Babasaheb gave us, we are not Hindus,” was prevalent among poor and illiterate Dalits in slums and villages. The …
Ambedkar’s Call for Individual Agency
Dr. Aniruddha Babar From Blind Idolization to Active Engagement: Ambedkar’s Call for Individual Agency In Democracy’s realm, Ambedkar’s voice resounds, Hero-worship challenged, new paths it bounds. Critical eyes unveil leaders’ true intent, Empowering minds, societal dissent. Injustice crumbles, equality takes flight, Individual agency, shining bright. Ambedkar’s teachings guide the way we tread, A Hero within, …
Social Democracy is a very distant goal in India
Prashant Randive India is one of the world’s largest democracies, with a constitution that enshrines democratic ideals and a political system that is meant to reflect them. However, despite the country’s many democratic achievements, there remain significant challenges and contradictions that continue to affect Indian society and politics. One of the most important figures in …
Why bring “Rhetoric” into our Stories about Ambedkar?
Scott R. Stroud Bhimrao Ambedkar is a complex figure who has many stories orbiting about him, many still waiting to be told and explored. I have become enraptured by the story we all know is there—that of the intellectual relationship between Bhimrao Ambedkar and John Dewey. Dewey was a giant in American philosophical stories; Ambedkar …
End Political Reservation
Dr Jas Simran Kehal It is said that if we can learn from our mistakes and not let them rob us of our boldness or hope, then we can grow. It was perhaps this boldness which emboldened Dr B R Ambedkar to vigorously pursue the cause of real political representation of the depressed classes after …
The making of the Indian Constitution- Excerpts from the Constituent Assembly debates
Dr Jas Simran Kehal The constitution is apparently revered but it is not celebrated- Stephen M. Griffin. Constitution is not a mere lawyer’s document, it is a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of age. ― Dr B R Ambedkar. The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of …
My journey from a Brahmanic kid to a truth seeking adult
Amol Shingade As settled nomadic people, we have a house in the middle of the village. We are largely dependent on agricultural activities happening at the village level. However, before coming to Pune for graduation, the image of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was as a leader of only the Dalits. This image was created in …
Independence from Caste!
Milind Thokal Anniversaries are occasions for remembrance and renewal: these are the stock taking moments, we must introspect our achievements and failures. On this day we must ask ourselves whether we are truly Independent? Does this Independence belong to all of us equally? Has this Independence unfolded its wings to the lower strata of our …
Our self-respect was surely also self-determination – Understanding Dravidian politics in the times of Hindutva
Vinith Kumar [This is part 1 of a series of essays on Dravidian politics today and its historical roots.] There are pessimists who say that there is no guarantee that victory will be followed by a New Order. There is perhaps room for this pessimism. The New Order, which is the ideal of labour, has …