13 June, 2009
Caste And Democracy In India
By Vidya Bhushan RawatOnly a modern democratic theory with republican ideas as envisioned by Dr Ambedkar can be their true emancipator otherwise, caste based identities are threatening basic Dalit unity in the country and it is fast becoming a self defeating exercise
28 May, 2009
Fire At Vienna Exposes Ugly Realities Of
Caste Discrimination In Punjab
By Vidya Bhushan RawatPunjab is burning. The Dalits are at the street. The government is seeking peace and every one is amused why the Dalits have taken to the street. Some are amused as why attack on Sant Niranjan Dass, head of Dera Guru Ravidas Sachkhand Balan and death of Sant Ramanand could spark such violent protest in Punjab. Unfortunately, they forget to understand the first question itself as why such Deras face attack by the fundamentalist Sikh groups. Is it because these Deras have provided a glimpse of hope and identity to a massive Dalit population in Punjab? Is it also not true that these Deras are also giving the upper caste Sikhs a run for their money and power?
Identity And Religious Conversion
By Tomichan MatheikalPut an end to the discriminatory caste system. This would engender a sense of respectability among the adivasis and the lower castes. Then there would be no need for religious conversion as a means of attaining respectability. Give economic independence to the adivasis and the lower castes. This would put an end to the Maoist violence as well as the charm held out by poverty to Christian missionaries
02 April, 2009
Hypocrisy Of Brahminical And Mainstream
Feminist Movements
By Surendra Gopinath RoteMainstream feminist movement could focus on the livelihood issues of women. However, the point is not to feed the stomach only but it is question of self respect, dignity and of equal status which all denied by caste system. My question still stands there those feminist who worships Rama, Krishna, Shiva and Ganesh how could they become the emancipatory force for Dalit women or even for mainstream women?
04 March, 2009
Dalits In 'Hindu Rashtra'
By Subhash GatadeAll over Gujarat one finds thousands and thousands of boards put at prominent places by one of the affiliates of the Sangh Parivar that 'you are entering this or that locality of Hindu Rashtra' which is completely illegal and an open proclamation of 'secession' from the rest of the society
18 February, 2009
Rethinking Pasmanda Movement
By Khalid Anis AnsariPasmanda, a word of Persian origin, literally means 'those who have fallen behind', 'broken' or 'oppressed'. For our purposes here it refers to the 'dalit' and 'backward' caste Indian Muslims which constitute, according to most estimates, 85% of Muslim population and about 10% of India's population
07 February, 2009
Reservation In Faculty Recruitment,
Viva 'Academic Untouchability'?
By Subhash GatadeThe return of 'academic untouchability' with due sanction of the parliament and the further legitimisation it would provide to the 'merit' versus 'quota' debate need to be questioned and challenged uncompromisingly
18 December, 2008
Buddhism: Beyond The Dalit Shadow
By Rahul GadeBuddhism is spirit that has overcome the dalit shadow. Buddhism is the hope for the broken dalit. If the past has been dalit the future has to be Buddhist, anything lower would be less than honoring full human potential
12 November, 2008
Obama And Mayawati: A Comparison In Contrast
By S.R.DarapuriFrom a brief comparison between Obama and Mayawati it becomes evident that it is not very appropriate because there is a world of difference between their personalities and deeds. Rather it can be said to be a comparison in contrast. Obama is to be judged in the near future but Mayawati has already been judged
03 November, 2008
Ayyankali: Legacy Of Organic Protest
By Muhammed NafihBook review- Ayyankali:A Dalit Leader of Organic Protest by Nisar.M.and Meena Kandasamy
26 October, 2008
Peace, Non-Violence And Secularism
In Dalit Perspective
By Ratnesh KatulkarIgnorance and negligence of Dalit ideology by the mainstream secularists and the upper-class Muslims are harming Muslims to fall prey before Hindu fascist and it is dangerous in building the real foundation of secularism in India
24 October, 2008
The Struggle Of Dalitbahujan For Their Identity
And In Quest Of Their Spiritual And Political Destiny
By Dr. Kancha IlaiahSpeech delivered on the occasion of presentation of 'LISA Book Award – 2008 for 'Why I am Not a Hindu'
18 September, 2008
Why Go For Conversion?
By Dr. B.R. AmbedkarIn 1935 at Nasik district, Maharashtra, Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar had declared his firm resolve to change his religion. He had declared that he was born as a Hindu but will not die as Hindu. About a year later, a massive Mahar conference was held on May 30 and 31, 1936, in Mumbai, to access the impact of that declaration on Mahar masses. In his address to the conference, Dr.Ambedkar expressed his views on conversion in an elaborate, well- prepared and written speech in Marathi. Here is an English translation of that speech by Mr.Vasant Moon, OSD to the committee of Govt. of Maharashtra for publication of Writings & speeches of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar
02 September, 2008
Even In Flood, India's `Untouchables' Last Rescued
By Gavin RabinowitzIn the two weeks since a monsoon-swollen river burst its banks, ancient prejudices have run just as deep as the floodwaters. India's "untouchables" are the last to be rescued — if at all — from a deluge that has killed dozens and made 1.2 million homeless
What Mayawati Has Done To The Dalits Of U.P.?
By S.R.DarapuriWithout a vision and definite Dalit liberation agenda the attaining of political power is not going to solve the problems of the Dalits as well as that of the State. Structural changes and improvement in the delivery system only can remove the poverty syndrome prevailing amongst the Dalits. Grass-root level movements are the key to keep the political leaders under control and make them answerable to the people
31 August, 2008
"Let The Hindus Also Do Missionary Work"
By Kancha Ilaiah & Yoginder SikandInterview:Kancha Ilaiah on Dalit-Bahujans, Hinduism and Spiritual Fascism
Dr. Ambedkar On Women Liberation
By Ratnesh KatulkarDr. Ambedkar's first academic paper "Caste in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development" also begins with his concern towards women, where he located the linkages between caste and gender by observing that "Superimposition of endogamy on exogamy means creation of caste" and concluded that there is no divine or natural cause of origin of caste but Brahmins of ancient India craftily designed it by enclosing their class through means of controlling and subjugating their woman
15 August, 2008
Dalit Digital Media:- Shuddering
The Hinduized News Media!! Part I
By SaintAnyone who goes through these alternate digital news blogs and sites would appreciate the sear knowledge, straightforward analysis of events by these individual writers can stand distinctively than that of Times of India, Hindu or New York Times. Is this is the beginning of demolishing the bigotry in the established trational media in the world which is simply owned by few people and they make billions through selling news that are made up stories, to the most part, but nothing to do with helping people and uplifting the needy society?
18 June, 2008
“Only Ash Knows The Experience Of Burning”
By Dr. Nilanshu Kumar Agarwal & Dr. Jai Prakash KardamAn Interview with Dalit Writer Jai Prakash Kardam
06 June, 2008
Gujjars Of Rajasthan And S.T. Status
By Dr Javaid RahiThis article examines whether the ST demands of Gujjars of Rajasthan is a genuine one and is it falling within the criteria of ST status as provided by Schedule Tribes Act
19 April, 2008
Dalits In U.P. Face Hunger Deaths And Suicides
By S.R.DarapuriWhen George Bush is admonishing India for eating too much, Dalits in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh face hunger deaths and suicides
18 April, 2008
The Tikait Treatment
By Ravikiran ShindeJat leader Mahendra Singh Tikait finally surrendered meekly before the court after resisting arrest by UP Police. The dust has finally settled two weeks after his castiest remarks but it has raised a serious question. How 'normal' is the casteist abuse in day to day life of Dalits? If a chief minister can be abused publicly, what does it speak of common Dalits?
04 April, 2008
Mayawati's Burgeoning Wealth: Who Gains?
By S.R.DarapuriIn April, 2007 while filing her nomination papers for Assembly elections Mayawati had declared her assets to be worth Rs. 52 crores. While filing her income tax return for the assessment year 2008-09 she estimated her income to be Rs. 60 crores and had deposited Rs. 15 crores as advance tax. The actual income is likely to exceed this estimate at the end of this financial year. Now the question arises as to what are the sources of her income and what are the consequences of this amassing of wealth by her. It is also pertinent to discuss as to apart from Mayawati who else are the beneficiaries of this money game. What is the loss and gain of Dalits in this game of exchange of money?
26 Februay, 2008
What Reservation Implies?
By Amit Chamaria"Caste reveals work or work reveals Caste"-these seem to be different in writings but are still carrying a similar message for the prevailing complex realities in a country like India. This fact is clearly reflected when the Central government and the Haryana state government associate the caste identity closely with work or vice- versa. It means - if some one belongs to a lower caste, he/she is bound to work as Safai Karamchari or very similar to this avocation
11 Februay, 2008
Stuck In A Hole
By Ashok BhartiDespite committees, schemes and five-year plans, manual scavenging thrives in India. Ashok Bharti tells the story of failed reforms
21 Januay, 2008
Norwegian Medicine For Vedanta
By Kavaljit SinghAt the face of protest from the Dongria Kondh tribals of the Niyamgiri hilly region of Orissa Norwegian sovereign fund sells off its stake in Vedanta Resources which was preparing to build the upcoming $850 million aluminium refinery and bauxite mining project at Lanjigarh
18 December, 2007
Manual Scavenging: Nations Shame
By Sunil KuksalDespite laws abolishing the inhuman practice of manual scavenging, over a million dalits in ‘superpower India’ are caught in a vortex of severe social and economic exploitation. Cleaning and carrying headloads of human excreta, these ‘night soil’
17 December, 2007
The Adivasi Question In Assam
By Moirangthem PrakashRecent violence involving Assam's adivasis highlights the region's uniquely complex realities
05 December, 2007
Ambedkar As A Human Rights Defender
By Vidya Bhushan RawatAmbedkar championed the cause of the down trodden. But to confine him to mere as a leader of Dalits will do him great injustice. He was the most accompalished political leader and philosopher among his contemporaries.No human rights discourse in India could be complete with out detailed discussion on the outstanding work of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar
05 November, 2007
Equal Rights And Opportunities
By Nishikant WaghmareWhy the upper castes are not interested in giving up caste? Because caste (jati) helps him to exploit his fellowmen better — as it has a theological sanction under the Hindu religion. In the jungle of Hinduism this law has the blessings of its sacred scriptures. That is why in India wealth is getting accumulated in the bands of top 10% to 15% of the upper castes and the rest are getting pauperised. And yet there is no public debate on the merits of caste anywhere, not even among our university eggheads
25 October, 2007
Is It Emancipation Or Elimination Of
The Scavengers In Laar Town (Deoria)
By Vidya Bhushan RawatIn the eastern Uttar-Pradesh, they do not use the term Balmikis/Valmiks for the sweeper. Instead there are people from the communities of Rawats, Bansfors, Helas, Mehtars who are engaged in scavenging work. Many of the women narrated their plight and how they wish to get out of the scavenging hell
12 October, 2007
Hated, Humiliated, Butchered
By Mahasweta DeviThe mob murder of Nats in Bihar was no accidental atrocity, writes an outraged Mahasweta Devi. It was the consequence of preserved brutalities
07 October, 2007
Dalit Theology
By Sathianathan Clarke & Yoginder SikandSathianathan Clarke talks about what Dalit Theology means to him in an interview with Yoginder Sikand
02 October, 2007
In Conversation With Mr Bhagwan Das
By Vidya Bhushan Rawat'It is good to break and bad to continue with a tradition that has subjugated the Dalits'
27 September, 2007
Land After Thirty Years Of 'Entitlement'
By Vidya Bhushan RawatStory of Land Reclamation of Dalits in village Rupchandrapur
13 August, 2007
Tsundur : A New Milestone In
The Movement For Dalit Emancipation
By Subhash GatadeAs rightly noted by an analyst the victory ( albeit a partial one) at Tsundur has come as breath of fresh air in the already smouldering world of dalit oppression. And it is high time that its fragrance is spread far and wide, so that people are told that oppressed people united would always be victorious
25 July, 2007
Hungry World Of Dalits In Poorvanchal
By Vidya Bhushan RawatFour districts of Poorvanchal (Eastern Uttar-Pradesh) namely Maharajganj, Kushingar, Deoria and Gorakhpur witness the dance of death every year. Two of these district Kushinagar and Gorakhpur were selected for the NREGA programme while Maharajganj has also been selected for the same from this year. All these districts saw a large number of deaths due to hunger and malnutrition despite all these programmes
16 July, 2007
Will Dalit Christians Get Justice?
By M. Madhu ChandraAfter constitutional denial of Scheduled Caste origins converted to Christianity and Muslims after the Presidential Order 1950, a million dollar question remains in the minds of Indian Dalit Christians "Will the Judicial system of India give justice to Indian Dalit Christians now after 57 years of injustice done to them?"
03 June, 2007
India's Lower Castes
By Nishikant WaghmareAn empowered India bereft of the respect for women, values of civilised existence and morality will collapse in the face of the disaffection and discontent of those who have suffered for centuries. Day in and day out we take pride in claiming that India has a 5000-year-old civilization. But the way the Dalits and those suppressed are being treated by the people who wield power and authority speaks volumes for the degradation of our moral structure and civilized standards
01 June, 2007
The Only Solution To Reservation Imbroglio
By Satinath Choudhary100% reservation for all segments of the society (as far as practicable) is the best way for amicable and peaceful coexistence. Otherwise a segment that has bigger control over power will succeed in appointing larger and larger percentage of its members to positions of power leading to what we currently see in the judiciary, armed forces and the media
20 May, 2007
India's Political Quake- Mayawati
By Ravikiran ShindeBahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati is the winner. After handsomely winning the assembly elections in the biggest state in India, she has declared that she is on her way to capture "Delhi" and that plans to give UP the best government and Sarvasamaj (all sections of the society) the power to share with her
12 May, 2007
Defining Moment Of Dalit Empowerment
In Uttar-Pradesh
By Vidya Bhushan RawatDalits defeats Hindutva with the help of Brahmins: Will it work?
09 May, 2007
Dalits, Panchayat Raj And Power Equations
By Goldy M. GeorgeIt is evident that the upper castes controlled the affairs of the village cannot tolerate the changes being brought about by the decentralized democratic institutions. In the backdrop of such incidences an array of question raises with reference to Panchayat Raj vis-à-vis Dalits. The initial prediction of decentralization envisioned through Panchayat Raj hasn’t become a reality. It also tells us how Panchayat Raj is utilised as a tool of disempowerment of Dalits and consolidation of caste system
02 May, 2007
Mandal II: The Struggle For
An Egalitarian Society
By Feroze H. MithiborwalaIndia is again in the midst of an OBC upsurge and this "MANDAL II" has been instigated and provoked by the Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and Lokeshwar Singh Panta. This two bench judgement has issued an interim order staying the Reservations of OBC's in higher educational institutions and this has sent convulsions across the political and social landscape
24 April, 2007
Get Under Society’s Skin
By Gail OmvedtThe Supreme Court’s recent decision and reiteration to stay the order regarding OBC admissions until accurate data is available has brought forth the expected reactions. Defenders of ‘equality’ won by ignoring caste are hailing it; proponents of reservations are trying to put on a brave face. But in one way, the decision is helpful: the Supreme Court has given cogent arguments for the need for information to underlay policy. However, what many of the opponents of reservations may not appreciate is that this brings up squarely, once again, the argument for a caste-based census
19 April, 2007
Status Of Manual Scavengers In Laar, Deoria
By Vidya Bhushan RawatTime has come for all of us to scrutinize government's programmes and action to eliminate manual scavenging and take the officials of the department to task. India's 9% growth rate or shining India is absolutely farcical if this large community remains outside the ambit of global change
13 April, 2007
Valmiki's Illustrious Son Challenges The Hegemony Of
Knowledge And Merit In India
By Vidya Bhushan RawatProfile: Dr Bachchu Lal Valmiki
31 March, 2007
Mandal Will Have The Last Laugh
By Vidya Bhushan RawatShockingly, the judgments in the past few years reflect of the growing trend to keep the middle classes happy. We have judges who speak for Hindutva terming it as a way of life. We have a former Supreme Court Judge who did not implicate a single politician in the anti Sikh riots in Delhi in 1984 and later became a Member of Parliament against all the ethics of impartiality of an institution. Right to Strike was also banned by the Kerala Highcourt, which was appreciated by the media and industries
27 March, 2007
Touch Me Not
By Chandi SinnathuraiNazism was based on racial purity and superiority. The system of Casteism determines a human’s destiny purely on the basis of caste. If Nazism and slavery were abolished, why then Casteism cannot be demolished and its evils uprooted?
24 March, 2007
The Case Of Academic Complicity In The Violence
Against Dalit And Dalit Women In India
By Abhinaya RameshI wish to suggest to the UN related researches that unless sufficient scrutiny is not done by the respective authorities such reports should not be published because they are intentionally crammed with deceived information to create the confusion and further delay in the justice to the relevant communities
25 February, 2007
Status Of Manual Scavengers
In Gorakhpur, Uttar-Pradesh
By Vidya Bhushan Rawat, Ram Bhuvan & Kirti SinghScavenger community has all along been living in the urban areas serving the middle classes, upper elites, feudal lords, Hindus and Muslims every one alike, yet none of them ever bothered whether they have cared and bothered about those who clean their shit, enter deep into the sewage pit to continue the sewage line. In the coming days, we are going to cover a large part of Uttar-Pradesh and bring reports on this aspect
16 February, 2007
Dr. B.R.Ambedkar’s Contribution
To Buddhist Education In India
By Nishikant WaghmareBuddhism makes enlightenment the sole aim of life. This was the philosophy that Ambedkar accepted and tried to revive. Besides this there was another reason. Buddha, whose life and movement Ambedkar had studied, was a believer of the educatability and the creativity of the people. Under the influence of those teachings, the most rejected peoples of India has once risen and uplifted their life as well as that of the whole society. If that was once possible in India, it must be possible again. He had a solid historical basis to trust India’s ordinary folk as India’s future democrats
07 February, 2007
Debating Discrimination, Differences
And Dissent In Our Part Of The World
By Vidya Bhushan RawatThe issue of racial discrimination has been in the news for quite some time. Some Indian pretended that they have been discriminated against in Britain while rarely speaking that India does not have its own house in order. Despite 60 years of independence India has not been able to transform itself into a modern state
03 February, 2007
A Tribute To M A Khan
By Vidya Bhushan RawatRemembering a man who committed his life for the tribals of Sonbhadra
30 December, 2006
P.K. Mahanandia: Salute To A Living Legend
By Vidya Bhushan RawatA Dalit as India's cultural Ambassador in Europe
Democracy And Reinforced Building
By Amit ChamariaAlmost 90% of decision- makers in the English language print media and 79% in television are of the upper caste, although the upper castes are about 16% of the country population; Brahmin alone constitute 49% of this segment, and 71% of the total are upper caste men
23 December, 2006
Shame, Not In Doha But In India
By Vidya Bhushan RawatI hope that India will grow simultaneously with diversity and dissent in the coming years. How can a nation and a society grow with such scandalous officials and reporters who criminalise the sexual deformity of a person and whose fight for people's right confine to the cases of certain high profile cases of page three parties, and who continue to ignore the bigger issues of dissent and disgust in India and whose ignorant reporters can simply call these dissenters as terrorists or Naxalites, both clearly meant for Muslims and Dalits respectively in the unofficial code of the officials too
20 December, 2006
Is Death Better Than Life For
Mushahars Of Kushingar
By Vidya Bhushan RawatWhile politicians in Uttar-Pradesh are preparing for polls, the Mushahars, Bansfors and other such marginalized communities think of meal next day
06 December, 2006
Khairlanji: Conspiracy Of Silence
Government agency report agency report indicts officials in Khairlanji massacre
04 December, 2006
Hindutva Strategies And Dalit Movement
By Ram PuniyaniBook review of Vidya Bhushan Rawat's book "Ambedkar, Ayodhya aur Dalit Andolan"
02 December, 2006
A New Dalit Movement Emerging From Maharastra ?
By Vidya Bhushan RawatThe uprising in Maharastra has a signal for the self styled mainstream Dalit political leaders and parties. Mend your ways or get lost as the young Dynamic Dalit leadership would emerge out of a crisis from Maharastra. It is certain that incidents like Khairlanji and Gohana would fuel the Dalit anger and turn them to streets. Out of this anger and frustration would emerge a leadership which would not compromise like their leaders
Why Are Maharashtra's Dalits So Angry?
By Kalpana SharmaInstead of looking at whether the protests by Dalits against the Khairlanji incident and against the desecration of Ambedkar's statue were "spontaneous" or part of an organised plan, we need to understand the basis of this fury
01 December, 2006
Khairlanji’s Strange And Bitter Crop
By Satya SagarThe latest incidence of this ‘strange and bitter crop’ was in Khairlanji, a small village in Bhandara distict near Nagpur in the western Indian province of Maharashtra and a horrific ‘harvest’ it was too
18 November, 2006
Khairlanji : All Nero's Brethren
By Subhash GatadeLooking at the fact that a militant mass movement has arisen to protest the killings, one can surmise that the legal wranglings in the Kherlanji massacre would not lead us to a blind alley and the perpetrators of the massacre would receive exemplary punishment. But there is no guarantee that it would be the case
14 November, 2006
Khairlanji's Dalit Victims Want
Justice With Dignity
By Vidya Bhushan RawatThe fire of Khairlanji in Bhandara district of Maharastra refuse to recede and has now entered in Delhi also
10 November, 2006
N.G.Uke: Remembering A True Humanist
By V.B. Rawat & N.G.UkeN.G.Uke, a great Ambedkarite, a friend and guide died on November 4th, 2006 at his Vasant Kunj residence at the age of 82. Uke Saheb, as I would fondly call him was among the rare breed of Ambedkarite who saw Baba Saheb and was selected by him as a scholar though he had already got the same
31 October, 2006
An Open Letter To Rajdeep Sardesai
By Ravikiran ShindeIf you feel you have been at fault, then better be late than never. Cover the Kherlanji case and its legal proceedings. Awake the people on the gruesome caste realities in India. Telecast a half and hour program dedicated specially to Dalit atrocities every week
19 October, 2006
Buddha As Untouchable
By Raja Sekhar VundruBuddhism in India has a predominantly Dalit following, as a result of the revival by Ambedkar. For this reason, it appears that our society prefers to treat Buddha as an untouchable. In 2005, this event, which attracted an estimated 10 lakh people to Nagpur, escaped the national media attention
10 October, 2006
A Tribute To Kanshiramji
By Vidya Bhushan RawatIf India's politics has grown through a radical change with Dalit becoming the mainstream political force, the one man who made is possible was Kanshi Ram. He worked diligently and religiously to develop a cadre who could bring the party to National mainstream and ultimately to the power in Uttar-Pradesh
30 September, 2006
Building Up A New Movement Against Scavenging:
Tirunalveli's Dalits Show The Way
By Vidya Bhushan RawatGram Udhayam is a great reflection of the power and vision of Dalits all over India. Their achievement would definitely help the communities living in other parts of the country to think about their self and work for a socio cultural revolution that would free from the bondage of the caste based discrimination
28 September, 2006
India’s Shame: Some Unanswered Questions
From The Frontline Reports
By Vidya Bhushan RawatThose who create a fascinating world of ‘great’ social cohesion outside West Bengal should try to sneak into the den and report independently on the conditions of Dalit in West Bengal. Hiding the pathetic condition of Dalits in West Bengal and particularly that of the scavengers is the bigger shame for India
27 Sepember, 2006
Mayawati: "No Promises,
No Manifesto, Only Performance"
By Vidya Subrahmaniam & MayawatiMayawati: "The BSP is more a social revolution, a political movement than a political party." - An Interview
24 September, 2006
Past As Living Present: Calamity And Discrimination
By Subhash GatadeWater is said to be a great leveler. But even the ravaging flood waters which have created a havoc like situation in the districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan just failed to crack an age old structure - the walls between caste
21 July, 2006
Indian Dalits: Law As Paper Tiger!
By Subhash GatadeThus India, a country of billion plus people, which is itching to get a superpower status, which takes pride in its ancient tradition and culture and whose elite goes gaga over the booming sensex, rather presents a strange spectacle of a nation. But a close look at the goings on within the society makes it clear that there is a disjunction between the world of economics and the lifeworlds of its people. The core of the society bears its encounter with barbarism in abundance
11 July, 2006
Ghettos Of A New Kind-Autonomy And Discrimination
By Subhash Gatade
The heated debate revolving around ‘autonomy’ of AIIMS ( All India Institute of Medical Sciences) and its alleged ‘intrusion’ has papered over the quantum jump in the discrimination faced by the reserved category students there. ‘Parts of AIIMS hostels are turning into SC/ST ghettos. Reserved category students said they were being “hunted out of the remaining rooms” by upper-caste students and driven to two floors of the hostels.’10 July, 2006
Racism And Castiesm
By Jai Birdi & Indira Prahst
“Racism and Castiesm discussed at the World Peace Forum” By Jai Birdi Chair, Ending Racism Casteism Working Group for World Peace Forum and Indira Prahst, Race and Ethnic Relations Instructor, Department of Sociology, Langara College08 May, 2006
Reservation Debate: A Great Opportunity
To Restrengthen Dalit Bahujan Alliance
By V.B.RawatIt is time the Dalits, backwards, Adivasis come together and give a fitting reply. Organise debates and debunk the upper caste merit
22 April, 2006
War Against Naxals In Chhatishgarh:
Will Brahmanical Alternative Work
By V.B.RawatIf the government wants to tackle the Naxal threat it has to introspect on its own position. It cannot deny tribals and Dalit their legitimate right over their resources. If the state apparatus continue to become more brahmanical by giving huge, palatial land to the corrupt Babas while the marginalized languish of hunger and malnutrition, nothing will move
18 April, 2006
Why Reservation For OBC Is A Must
By V.B.RawatLet Reform mean breaking age old Brahmanical hegemony
31 March, 2006
Fake Dalits, Bogus Tribals?
Whither Affirmative Action
By Subhash GatadeWhile one is aware of the non filling of seats meant for scheduled castes and scheduled tirbes in various institutions of education and other employement opportunities, the filling of such seats with fake dalits or bogus tribals is a phenomenon which has rarely received the attention it deserves
20 March, 2006
Why Do India's Dalits Hate Gandhi?
By Thomas C. MountainAs Dalits organize themselves and begin to challenge caste based rule in India, it behooves all people of good conscience to start to find out what the Dalits and their leadership are fighting for. A good place to start is with M.K. Gandhi and why he is so hated by Dalits in India
02 March, 2006
Re-reading Periyar
By RavikumarThere are many appelations attached to Periyar, the main one being the saviour of the Untouchables. But instead of debating whether we should accept ‘their god’ as ‘our god’, the question is whether Periyar deserves to be regarded as the saviour of the untouchables?
15 February, 2006
Exposing An Abhorrent Practice
By S ViswanathanReview of "India Stinking: Manual Scavengers in Andhra Pradesh and their work" By Gita Ramaswamy published by Navayana
30 January, 2006
Dawn Of Dalit?
By Ashok K SinghA three-day seminar held recently to debate and deliberate on introducing Dalit Studies in universities provided fascinating insights into the space this emerging but exciting area of research could occupy in higher education
08 December, 2005
Salam Bhimrao!
By Goldy M. GeorgeThe only way to salute Bhimrao is by truly standing against oppressive structure, for equality and justice
31 October, 2005
Stranger In Their Own Land
By V.B.Rawat150 kilometer away from Vishakapattanam towards Orissa in the Akru Valley and Anantgiri Mandal areas, Malaria has emerged as a major epidemic killing about 2000 people in two months
25 October, 2005
Untouchability In A Flat World
By Kancha IlaiahMy visit to the famous Wheaton College in Chicago to deliver two lectures on caste and untouchability was an eye-opening experience. It struck me how students remained ignorant of the world around them even in a globalised world. It is an alarming thought that these are the future citizens of the world
05 October, 2005
Ali Anwar's Struggle
By Ali Anwar &Yoginder SikandAli Anwar is the founder of the Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz ('Marginalised Muslim Front'), Patna, Bihar, a union of several Dalit Muslim and Backward Caste Muslim organisations. In this interview with Yoginder Sikand, he talks about his involvement in the struggle for the rights of the Backward Caste/Dalit Muslims
30 September, 2005
Ilayaperumal: A Dalit In The Congress
By RavikumarAn important Dalit leader L Elayaperumal died at the age of 82 on September 9 in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. What BP Mandal did for the OBC-shudras, Elayaperumal did for the Dalits way back in 1969. However, given that Elayaperumal was a Dalit in the Congress, his report was never implemented
28 September, 2005
Iyothee Thass & The Politics Of Naming
By RavikumarToday, even uttering the name of Iyothee Thass in the Tamil public sphere has become an act of a rebellion. The Dravidian parties, communists and Tamil nationalists - nobody has any regard for Thass. No wonder his name has been dropped from the National Center for Siddha Research. This is an insult not just to Dalits but Tamils as such
27 September, 2005
A New Order For Today
By Chandrabhan PrasadStrange as this might sound, several constituents of Indian society are turning abnormal. Unnoticed by sociologists, this exceptional phenomenon is taking place on a mass scale
23 September, 2005
Dalits In Pakistan
Book Review By Yoginder SikandCaste, the scourge of Hinduism, is so deeply entrenched in Indian society that it has not left the adherents of Islam, Sikhism, Christianity and Buddhism-theoretically egalitarian religions-unaffected. So firmly rooted is the cancer of caste in the region that it survives and thrives in neighbouring Pakistan, where over 95% of the population are Muslims
10 September, 2005
Guilty Of Gohana- In Search Of The Real Perpetrators
By Subhash GatadeOn 31 st August the town of Gohana witnessed burning of 50-60 houses belonging to Valmiki community in broad daylight. As it has been reported in the media a 1,500-2,000 strong of mob of upper caste people mainly belonging to the Jat community attacked their houses in a systematic manner
04 September, 2005
The Brahmanic Conspiracy
By Revd. Barnabas Alexander & Dr. Kristoffson SomanaderCultural/spiritual corruption came via the Brahmins as they conspired to enslave the Tamils, inter alios, politically, intellectually, and spiritually
Buddha, The Feminist
By Chandrabhan PrasadAccording to a UNICEF study conducted in 1984 in Mumbai, out of 8,000 sex determination cases, where fetuses were terminated, 7,999 were of females. According to another study, in Jaipur alone, about 3,500 female fetuses are terminated annually
23 August, 2005
Dalit Situation In Tamil Nadu
By K. NagarajPainstaking chronicle of the deprivations, discriminations and atrocities faced by the Dalits in Tamil Nadu
17 August, 2005
Let's Talk Representation
If Reservation Is Against Merit
By V.B.RawatThe supreme court verdict on the issue of unaided minority institution gives a freehand to the people who have always wanted the education to be the domain a few people and communities. Unfortunately, these institutions serving in the name of minorities will end up creating more brahmins for our country. The very purpose of educating poor andminorities gets defeated
11 August, 2005
Reservations In Private Sector:Not A Charity,
But A Social Necessity
By Dr. K. Vidyasagar ReddyThis concept of private reservation cannot be considered as charity, but a right from a government that exposed its hollowness. Further, it is a necessity as the government failed to create jobs to its qualified aspirants
09 August, 2005
Dalit movement At The Cross Road
By V.B.RawatIt is time for us to provide our own democratic secular progressive vision and rather then just work on an agitation mode forever. We need to introspect and bring the last man into our mainstream, otherwise these contradiction are powerful enough to destroy the legacy of a powerful man, named as Ambedkar
23 July, 2005
Reservations- By Merit or birth?
By Vimlaksh GautamThe caste Hindus have to realise that reservation is a direct result of our unkind past and it will take some adjustment and understanding on their behalf when the SC/ST's feel confident enough to pursue their progress without any state help
03 June, 2005
Cultural History And Emergent Dalit Alternatives
By Goldy M. GeorgeDalit’s search for alternative media is in fact the search for a counter-culture, that will stand as a paradigm to protect human existence; re-write history and evolve a new culture of love and caring
02 June, 2005
Education For Wealth Creation
By Chandrabhan PrasadAround 30 million Dalit and Adivasi children are enrolled in thousands of primary schools. Out of them, 49.35 per cent drop out before joining junior high school
22 May, 2005
Muslim-Dalit Relations
By Gail OmvedtA solid Dalit-Muslim alliance for the future should be directed to building a prosperous, equalitarian, caste- and patriarchy-freeIndia
27 April, 2005
The Question Of Dalit Human Rights
By Goldy M. GeorgeThe question of Dalit Human Right is not just a matter of addressing the atrocities, but at large it corroborates to the affirmation of land rights of Dalits, resisting the forces of globalisation, communalism, casteism, patriarchy and so on. This paves the way for collective action
23 April, 2005
A President To Be Proud Of
By Mari Marcel ThekaekaraInterviewing the former President of India, K.R. Narayanan, was an experience. One wanted his personal story to be incorporated into the school syllabus, for Dalit children to have a role model. So that they would be able to dream dreams beyond buckets and brooms...
19 April, 2005
Display Dalit Power
By Chandrabhan PrasadCompared to the American Blacks, the Dalits have nothing but small grocery shops or manufacturing units here and there which don't find any mention even in the community's media
12 April, 2005
Growing Discontent Of Adivasis In Assam
By Kirti MishraAcross Assam, the Adivasis face multiple deprivations which have their root in the historic exclusion and denial of tribal status to the community
22 March, 2005
No Land Even For Burial
By C.K Janu ,Jaison Chacko & Subhash Gatade"Adivasis are the real owners of land. Our lands were snatched away from us. None of the governments came into power in the state took any serious initiative to provide this land back to these real owners." An interview with C.K. Janu, leader of the indigenous people of Kerala
10 March, 2005
Sustaining The Mutuality Of Life
By Goldy M GeorgeAn enquiry into the sustainable life style practices of the dalit and tribal population in the Indian state of Chattisgarh
06 March, 2005
From Manu To Manav
By Chandrabhan PrasadThere is a conflict brewing between the OBCs and the Dalit in North India. But will it lead it to a historic alliance between Brahmins and Dalits, asks Chandrabhan Prasad