Vinod Kumar Of late, uniting Ambedkarism and communism has become a matter of discussion among intellectuals and students across India. As far as the emergence of this discourse is concerned, it is because of the increasing assertion of the Ambedkarite forces to alter the politics of the most prominent institutions, in particular HCU, JNU, …
Why is Rohith Act Necessary?
Jadumani Mahanand Being born in an untouchable family, my life begins with multiple layers of discrimination – the degree of imposition in terms of discrimination, humiliation, oppression and exploitation make me an outsider within. All the worth of my individuality disappears or is abjected, and I continue to remain ‘undeserving’ to the world – …
The Confession: Experiencing JNU
Kshirod Nag I joined JNU as an M.A. student of Sociology in the year 2008. I didn’t have any idea about ‘caste’, ‘class’, ‘gender’ ‘social change’, ‘revolution’, ‘Ambekarism’, ‘Marxism’, ‘Maoism’ or any other ‘ISM’ for that matter, except Gandhism and Hinduism (as if in India, one has a birthright to know these two isms). …
Who killed Rohith Vemula?
Sujatha Surepally 26 years old Rohith Vemula, who wanted to reach the stars, become a science writer like Carl Sagan, is no more today. Perhaps he wanted to reach the stars, because his life had been oppressed, abused and separated his mind from his body. He may not have thought that he would make …
Caste, corruption and romanticism
Kancha Ilaiah The Dalit-Bahujan theory or Ambedkarism cannot negotiate with funny theories of sociologists like Ashis Nandy. The best way to counter them is to write a better theory. Utsa Patnaik, a noted economist said in a small note that she circulated “Ashis Nandy had earlier made approving remarks on the 1988 Deorala burning …
The Cartoon, the Classroom and the Idea of India
Dr. N. Sukumar The cartoon controversy has exposed the deeply divided faultlines in the sarkari academia which has gone into a damage control mode. A brief glance through all the news (both electronic and print), blogs, facebook chatter etc reveal the deep anguish at the frittering away of “academic freedom”. One appreciates the immense …
It is the woman who is the real doer: Baby Kamble
[Babytai Kamble passed away on April 21, 2012. She will continue to inspire us, keeping us connected to the joys and pain of the community, urging us to step beyond individual concerns, anchoring us firmly to Ambedkarism as we move ahead with the struggle for equality and freedom. In our sorrow today we hold …
The Polyphony of Dalit Criticism in Malayalam
Dr Ajay Sekher The contemporary critical practice that evolves within the Dalit writing in Malayalam is vibrant with a variety of voices and divergent perspectives. There is an increased presence of people from all walks of life cutting across age, gender and community here. The diversity and difference that exist in the socio cultural life …