Left watch

സംശയത്തിൽ നിന്ന് സ്വീകാര്യതയിലേക്ക് കേരളത്തിൽ ഫെമിനിസത്തിൻറെ രാഷ്ട്രീയപരിണാമത്തെ മാറുന്ന ഭരണകൂടത്തിൻറെ പശ്ചാത്തലത്തിൽ മനസ്സിലാക്കാനൊരു ശ്രമമാണ് ഈ എഴുത്ത്. ഫെമിനിസം എന്ന പേര് സ്വയം അവകാശപ്പെടുന്ന രാഷ്ട്രീയം ഇവിടെ 1980കളിലാണ് പൂർണമായ അർത്ഥത്തിൽ പ്രത്യക്ഷമാകുന്നത്. നെഹ്രുവിയൻ വികസനവാദത്തിൻറെ ഇടതു വകഭേദം എന്നു വിശേഷിപ്പിക്കാവുന്ന പ്രത്യയശാസ്ത്രം — അതു കാര്യമായി വിമർശിക്കപ്പെട്ടു തുടങ്ങിയിരുന്നെങ്കിലും — അന്ന് കേരളീയ രാഷ്ട്രീയമണ്ഡലത്തിൽ നിർണായകസാന്നിദ്ധ്യമായിരുന്നു. അപ്പോഴേക്കും അത് കേരളമാതൃകാ വ്യവഹാരത്തിലൂടെ അന്താരാഷ്ട്രപ്രശസ്തി നേടിയെടുക്കുകയും ചെയ്തിരുന്നു.

The internet frenzy over the Civic Chandran case has reached a new zenith over the two highly problematic — deeply elitist, sexist, logically and empirically flawed — anticipatory bail orders issued to the accused by the Sessions Court. There was a strange silence about the first one which was stuffed with elitist statements, and an … Continue reading When ‘With the Survivor ‘ Rings Hollow: Observations on the Rage over the Civic Chandran Case →

Guest post by MAYA JOHN [This article is based on the discussions with activists of the Janatha Aragalaya and concerned Sri Lankan citizens. It is a humble contribution towards ongoing debates within the movement. As the French proverb goes: “De choc des opinions jaillit la vérité” – Truth arises from a conflict of opinions. – … Continue reading Debating Strategy for the New Phase of Janatha Aragalaya: MAYA JOHN →

   In the light of the above history it seems no surprise at all that mainstream feminists in Kerala do not seem to need a critique of the punitive state at all. Nor are they really troubled by the withdrawal of the welfare state or its perversion, even in matters that crucially affect women and … Continue reading Carceral Feminism and the Punitive State: Why I am not with the Mob — 3 →

II In the 1980s, when the first feminist articulations began to be heard in Kerala, left-leaning feminists often sought to maintain a critical distance from the state, emphasizing its inherently patriarchal nature. This was not surprising as feminists of that generation had radical-Marxist roots or strong connections with it. Radical Marxism in that generation was … Continue reading Carceral Feminism and the Punitive State: Why I am Not With the Mob — 2 →

I have never been a carceral feminist anytime in my life. Right now, there is a massive tide of abuse and misrepresentation of non-carceral feminism in Kerala, so much so that any suggestion of solutions to the problem of sexual harassment outside the framework of the state is immediately dubbed anti-woman and anti-feminist. Carceral feminists … Continue reading Carceral Feminism and the Punitive State: Why I am not with the Mob — 1 →

Guest Post by Dr Ravi Sinha (Opening remarks in an ongoing discussion within New Socialist Initiative (NSI) on Left’s approach to Electoral Politics in Contemporary India) The Speaker : Ravi Sinha is an activist-scholar who has been associated with progressive movements for nearly four decades. Trained as a theoretical physicist, Dr. Ravi has a doctoral degree … Continue reading Electoral Politics and the Left →

The second lecture in the ‘Sandhan Vyakhyanmala’ series  – initiated by New Socialist Initiative ( Hindi Pradesh) will be delivered by Sanjeev Kumar, Well known Critic and Deputy General Secretary of Janwadi Lekhak Sangh  on Saturday 15 th January 2022 at 6 PM (IST).

A New Left Resurgence ‘Leftists are Ascendant in Latin America as Key Elections Loom‘ announces a recent report in New York Times. And this report isn’t talking only of Leftist victories of the last two years but also of possible forthcoming ones in Brazil and Colombia, later this year. ‘Economic suffering, widening inequality, fervent anti-incumbent … Continue reading Peru, Honduras, Chile and Challenges before the Latin American New Left →

The infamous infant-snatching case in Kerala has opened up too many harsh truths about this society. It is not easy to express the pain in acknowledging it. After all, for many of us who have stuck back here with the intention of participating in what was once a fairly vibrant political life, this monstrosity that … Continue reading Help Us Fight ‘Progressive ‘ Cyberlynching: An Appeal from Kerala →