Ravi Chandran, of the video news journal ‘Dalit Camera: Through Un-Touchable Eyes‘, interviewed Dr K. Satyanarayana, Associate Professor, Department of Cultural Studies, English and Foreign Languages University (EFL-U) on the recent Ambedkar cartoon controversy. Here’s the first part of the transcript of the interview: Ravi Chandran: Sir, how do you see the division …
Thol.Thirumaavalavan writes to Kapil Sibal and Sukhadeo Thorat
Memoranda submitted by Thol. Thirumaavalavan of the Viduthalai Ciruthaikal Katchi (VCK) to Prof S.K.Thorat, Chairman, NCERT Review Committee and Mr Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Govt.of India, on 29.05.2012 and 30.05.2012 respectively, in New Delhi. ~~~ To Mr Kapil Sibal Honourable Minister of Human Resources Development Government of India New …
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 …
Whipping up ‘critical pedagogy’: Uncritical defense of NCERT’s violence
Savari (Round Table India thanks Savari for sharing this article) Universally, the imagery of a whip evokes the reality of violence throughout human history. The whip is inseparable from violence against slaves, dalits, women, animals and children. Almost all histories of protest against injustice, be it feminism, anti-slavery, anti-caste or anti-apartheid movements have protested and …
Response to ‘Notion Of Freedom And Reality Of Unfreedom’ by Anand Teltumbde
Vaibhav Wasnik [The article ‘Notion of Freedom And Reality Of Unfreedom’ by Anand Teltumbde can be found here. Vaibhav’s response expresses a belief in electoral democracy and the transformative potential of the Indian constitution. Round Table India shall continue to welcome all shades of Dalit and Bahujan opinion] The article by Mr Teltumbde starts off with …
Education as equaliser
(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 …
Constitution for inclusive policies
by Abusaleh Shariff There is nothing in the Constitution which bars identification of beneficiaries of public programmes based on religion. Of late, there has been a debate on whether public programmes such as school education, scholarships, health-care delivery and access to microcredit can be targeted at beneficiaries based on religion; some consider this ‘unconstitutional’ and …
Upper caste uprising
By Chandra Bhan Prasad Hazare’s movement used symbols that were non-Dalit Recently, a foreign correspondent from a well-known publication wanted to know what I thought about Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement. He was accompanied by his Indian colleague. He had done his home work, and asked me to the point question. One of his question’s was …
Draft of Bahujan Lokpal Bill
TO BE INTRODUCED BEFORE THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENT. By Dr.Udit Raj, (Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations). Other leaders included in the delegation are P. S Krishnan- Former IAS, Shabnam Hashmi- Anhed, Vinod Diwakar-Advocate, Joseph Dsouza, John Dayal-All India Christian Council, Prof. Ravi Varma Kumar- Former, Chairman, Karnataka, Backward Commission, Yusuf Ansari- Gen. Secy, Peace Party, Chandrapal Singh …