Anand Teltumbde Identity, one’s sense of self and its persistence, as shaped through ascriptive and subjective processes, is natural to humans as social beings. Identity politics, however, is not natural. It is articulated through a persistent sense of discrimination and oppression, either innate or induced, along the axis of ‘defining’ one identity from among many. …
The caste-neutral whip and other jokes
Kuffir It is a clear visual representation of ‘secular violence’, which has its roots in the presentation of the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist movement as an unproblematic social organization and process, through which India gained freedom for the betterment and advance of all its ‘citizens.’ – Savari, in ‘Whipping up ‘critical pedagogy’: Uncritical …
Audio book of ‘Annihilation of Caste’ released on Ambedkar Jayanti
N.Sudhakar & T. Muthamil Selvan Naga Ambedkar.In releases ‘Annihilation of caste’ audio book on Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti, 2012 The Jat-Pat-Todak Mandal, a Hindu reformist organization, chooses the problem of caste system in India for its annual conference discussion in the year 1936. Mr. Sant Ram, the Secretary of the Jat-Pat-Todak Mandal, on behalf of the Mandal …
Dalits must embrace a Metanarrative
Comments on Oxford India Anthology of Tamil Dalit Writing (Part II) Continued from here. P. Dayanandan (Paper presented on 10th April, 2012 on the occasion of the release of the Oxford India Anthology of Tamil Dalit Writing) • In this Anthology M. C. Rajah makes reference to the claim that ‘disabilities of ‘untouchables’ spring from deep-rooted …
Dr Ambedkar and Engaged Buddhism
Dr. Bhalchandra Mungekar Introduction It must be mentioned in the beginning that, though Dr Ambedkar took oath in Yeola (in District Nasik of Maharashtra) in 1935 that, though ‘he was born a Hindu, he would not die a Hindu’, and he fulfilled his mission after nearly 21 years, by formally embracing Buddhism on 14th October, …
‘A Rebel and a Revolutionary’
(The following is the text of a speech on Babasaheb Ambedkar delivered by the former President K.R. Narayanan at the Babasaheb Ambedkar Institute of Research and Training, Bombay in 1979) I am happy and honoured to be here on the auspicious occasion of the birthday of Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Babasaheb Ambedkar was one of the …
The Revolt Of The Untouchables
(On 20th March, 1927, Babasaheb Ambedkar launched a Satyagraha at Mahad for the right to draw water from the Chawdar Tank. This excerpt from his ‘Essays on Untouchables and Untouchability’ describes the agitation) The movement of the Untouchables against the injustice of the Hindu Social Order has a long history behind it, especially in Maharashtra. …
What is wrong with Bhagvad Gita? (Part III)
Rahul Bhalerao Continued from here. To the question ‘what do Karma and Guna exactly mean according to Gita?’ a generic and philosophical meaning is proffered as the answer. According to this response, Karma is any act or deed, be it good or bad, which in turn produces good Karma or bad Karma respectively. But, irrespective …
‘I Have a Dream’ for Dalits of India
Pardeep Attri (Pardeep had penned down this inspiring dream for the new year, but it is equally appropriate for the Republic Day– Round Table India) There is no nation of Indians in the real sense of the world; it is yet to be created. In believing we are a nation, we are cherishing a great …