Guest post by BAIDIK BHATTACHARYA We live in strange times. A judge in the country’s Supreme Court believes anyone challenging the government’s decision to impose Aadhar-based surveillance regime is following an “NGO line.” Another judge wonders in the court whether “one nation one identity” is not the necessary path forward.
T T Sreekumar, an important commentator on contemporary politics in Kerala — a public intellectual who now qualifies to be an irritant in the eyes of the Kerala police, now that he has openly declared his allegiance to the dalit people fighting injustice and Vadayambady and inaugurated a protest-event there — writes about the issue … Continue reading The Festering Sore of the Caste-Wall at Vadayambady: T T Sreekumar
The almost insoluble task is to let neither the power of others, not our own powerlessness, stupefy us. Adorno. As frightening spectres of untouchability and unseeability hover around the festering sore of the ‘caste-wall’ at Vadayambady in Kerala, as the so-called mainstream left-led government here continues to pour its energy and resources into aiding and … Continue reading Malayali Feminism 2018: In the Light of Vadayambady and Hadiya’s Struggle
On 30 January 2018, retired civil servants and veterans of the armed forces jointly organised a conclave on ‘Hinduism and Hindutva’ at the Indian Social Institute, New Delhi.
Guest post by VAIBHAV SINGH पूरे हिंदी क्षेत्र में और विशेषकर उत्तरप्रदेश में ऐसे बडे, छोटे और मंझोले किस्म के नेताओं की बड़ी फौज पैदा हो गई है जिसकी नेतागिरी केवल सांप्रदायिक नारे लगाने और समाज में सांप्रदायिकता फैलाने पर टिकी है। सार्वजनिक जीवन पर इन संकीर्ण सोच वाले हिंदुत्व नेताओं की निरंतर मजबूत होती … Continue reading कासगंज हिंसा- तिरंगे को हड़प जाएग
देख ज़िन्दां के परे, रंग-ए-चमन, जोश-ए-बहार रक्स करना है तो पॉंव की ज़ंजीर न देख – मजरूह सुल्तानपुरी Look – beyond the the prison walls, the brilliance of flowers, the vitality of spring If you must dance, ignore the chains that bind your feet – Majrooh Sultanpuri Today, the scared Republic that has imprisoned its … Continue reading A Revolution Called Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’ – the Republic on Trial
I The recent reference to how the distribution of food in Malayali homes is often skewed against women by the actor Rima Kallingal in a recent talk has sparked off yet another round of attacks against feminists in Kerala. It is interesting to see how this seems to have brought together men of all political … Continue reading From Nangeli to Rima Kallingal: Who are fit to claim Nangeli’s Legacy?
Guest Post by Umar Khalid I went to Maharashtra as I along with other activists and intellectuals were invited to come there. I along with others was a guest there. And I would remember fondly the love and support that I received in Pune and Mumbai.
[A shorter version of this article was published in The Wire on 18 December. I thank K. Satyanarayana, P. Sanal Mohan and Jangam Chinnaiah for their very helpful comments on it, which have helped me to clarify and elaborate on certain points.] The rise of Jignesh Mevani constitutes a significant landmark in the political configuration in … Continue reading The Meaning of Jignesh Mevani
[ This post is based on updates posted by me on my Facebook wall ] A great kerfuffle has ensued ever since the recently elected independent MLA from Vadgam, Gujarat and Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch activist Jignesh Mevani gave an interview in which he had some choice things to say about the Prime Minister and … Continue reading Jignesh Mevani, The Meltdown of Modi-Men and Dadhichi’s Bones
