Annihilate Caste

Book Review: Search for a‘Real Ambedkar’ in the Time of Neoliberal Hindutva

 Co-Written by Badre Alam Khan and Sanjay Kumar The Republic of Caste: Thinking equality in time of Neoliberal Hindutva by Anand Teltumbde, Delhi: Navayana, (2018), pp 432, Rs,600. Anand Teltumbde is a prominent public intellectual and civil rights activist. He is presently general secretary of the committee for protection of democratic rights.  He is also associated with the All India forum for[Read More...]

Adivasi Organisations Demand Equality, Gender & Environmental Justice at Sabarimala

We the following Adivasi organisations hereby express our deep concern on the recent developments and controversies about the Sabarimala temple in Kerala. The social, political and economic interests of the upper caste communities on Sabarimala Temple are well noticed by us.We hereby wish to express our need to retain our following rights that have been denied for generations: Many Adivasi[Read More...]

RSS/BJP And The Shudra Neo-Slaves

What is the status of Shudras who constitute the largest social bloc in India? In the North India, the Yadavs, Kurmis of Bihar, Yadavs and Jats of Uttar Pradesh, Gujjars of Rajsthan, the Shudras of Bengal, who are still outside the bracket of Bhadralok, the Patels of Gujarat, Marathas and Kumbis of Maharashtra, Lingayats, Vakkalingas of Karanataka, Nairs and Menons[Read More...]

The ‘ magnanimity ‘ of Dr. Ambedkar

‘ A great man is different from an eminent one in that he is ready to be the servant of the society’ Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Scholars, journalists and writers analysed and critiqued on the life and works of Dr. Ambedkar in many ways. One of his great character to appreciate others irrespective of caste or religion. Though he despised[Read More...]

Dr. Ambedkar and Politics of Caste

Dr. Ambedkar is said to be the father of Dalit politics because he was the first person to fight for the political rights of Dalits. He was the person who during the Round Table Conferences (1930-32), called in connection with the framing of future constitution of India,  got the Dalits (Depressed Classes) recognised as a minority distinct from the Hindus[Read More...]

Preface To Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd’s Autobiography “From A Shepherd Boy To An Intellectual–My Memoirs”

  This is  the Preface of the just released Autobiography of Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd entitled “From A Shepherd Boy To An Intellectual–My Memoirs”. Published by Samya/Sage (Select) New Delhi. Countercurrents reproduces the introduction.   PREFACE I never intended to write a memoir. My two books Why I Am Not a Hindu and Post-Hindu India, generated debate and controversy among the Brahmin-Baniya[Read More...]

Dr. Ambedkar and Nation

The nation concept is 18th century phenomenon. The ‘state’ and ‘nation’ are not synonimous terms. According to one definition, “ the state is a political and geopolitical entity, while the nation is a cultural and ethnic one.’ Thus, nation has a racial tone. But not all accept this definition. Some say it consists of merger of state and nation. Dr.Ambedkar on[Read More...]

The Way to Understand Kancha Ilaiah’s Works

The meeting of the Delhi University Standing Committee for Academic Affairs was held on October 24, 2018 and it has recommended dropping edification of three books at Post-Graduate level.  And, those books have been in MA Political Science’s syllabi for the past few years.  The three books are ‘Why I am not a Hindu? – A Sudra Critique of Hindutva[Read More...]

Delhi University Proposes To Remove My Books From The Syllabus

The meeting of the Delhi University Standing Committee for Academic Affairs, according to media reports, in its meeting on 24 October, 2018 has recommended to drop teaching of my three books for M.A. Political Science course. The three books are ‘Why I am not a Hindu’, ‘God as Political Philosopher: Buddha’s Challenge to Brahminism’; and ‘Post-Hindu India: A Discourse in[Read More...]