theory

Is the ‘Politics’ of Compassion Transcendental? Sasheej Hegde

Guest post by SASHEEJ HEGDE Don’t ask for the meaning, ask what’s the point. (Ian Hacking). Nizar Ahmed, Metaphysics and the Politics of Compassion: An Indian Perspective (Kozhikode, Kerala: InsightinPublica Printers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 2023, pp.93, Rs.300/-).  [ISBN – 978-93-5517-340-9] 1. Introduction It is no easy task to resist such a forceful and persuasive … Continue reading Is the ‘Politics’ of Compassion Transcendental? Sasheej Hegde →

Science as a Cultural Ideal – Ravi Sinha

Theme : Science as a Cultural Ideal Despite frequent misgivings about universal claims of modern science and despite it being taken often as an accomplice of western imperialism, it is impossible for any culture or civilization to avoid science or to create a culturally distinct version of it. And yet, how does science seep into … Continue reading Science as a Cultural Ideal – Ravi Sinha →

A Few Remarks On The Absence of Scientific Temper in the Land of Bose, Raman, and Salam

Guest Post by Ravi Sinha [I must begin with a “thank you” to the Indian Diaspora of Washington DC* and to Razi Saheb for letting me say a few words here. It is an honour for me to share the dais, even if virtually, with Gauhar Raza and Pervez Hoodbhoy. I was stressed about Razi … Continue reading A Few Remarks On The Absence of Scientific Temper in the Land of Bose, Raman, and Salam →

हिंदी साहित्य और स्त्रीवादी चिंतन का नया आलोक : प्रोफेसर  सविता सिंह

The third lecture in the ‘Sandhan Vyakhyanmala’ series  – initiated by New Socialist Initiative ( Hindi Pradesh) will be delivered by Prof Savita Singh, leading poetess, feminist scholar and writer on Saturday 19 th February 2022, at 6 PM (IST).

Electoral Politics and the Left

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 →

हिंदी की मार्क्सवादी बहसें – ‘विचारधारा’ से विचारधारा तक :संजीव कुमार

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).

Decolonizing Thought – Beyond Indian/ Hindu Exceptionalism

This post is prompted by a discussion that followed some remarks I had made on social media regarding the way in which a certain common sense that we may call ‘Hindu Nationalist’, had come to dominate the sensibilities of even those intellectuals in the Hindi world who otherwise might stand opposed to the Hindu Right. … Continue reading Decolonizing Thought – Beyond Indian/ Hindu Exceptionalism →

Some Remarks about Movements

Guest Post by Ravi Sinha Accountability is foundational to democracy and, ultimately, people are supposed to take those in power to account through democratic processes and mechanisms. But, then, we also know what often happens in democracy. Electoral competition gives rise to ‘technologies’ (often religious, cultural and identity-based) which turn citizens into “Bhakts” (devotees) and … Continue reading Some Remarks about Movements →