THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS TALKS AGAINST CASTEIST HEGEMONY IN SOUTH ASIA

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS TALKS AGAINST CASTEIST HEGEMONY IN SOUTH ASIA INDIA AGAINST ITS OWN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

PalahBiswas On Unique Identity No1.mpg

Monday, November 25, 2013

Why the stripped Tribal girl from Assam remains denied justice?And those raped women form Uttarakhand? What about Marichjhanpi?Soni Sori?Friends,we have a fractured discriminating opinion about victims! Sorry! Despite law amended police and security forces have every right to indulge in gangrape in entire northeast, central india, Gondwana and Kashmir! What about that?

Why the stripped Tribal girl from Assam remains denied justice?And those raped women form Uttarakhand? What about Marichjhanpi?Soni Sori?Friends,we have a fractured discriminating opinion about victims! Sorry!

Despite law amended police and security forces have every right to indulge in gangrape in entire northeast, central india, Gondwana and Kashmir! What about that?



Palash Biswas

We all are enveloped in tea cup cyclones!


We have a fractured opinion about woman. We do mobilise ourselves beyond borders while we find any woman from the enlightened geography is made victim. In Uttarakhand,the women gangraped during Uttarakhand movement are hitherto deprived of justice.The tribal mother from the warzone Dandakaranya is under constant persecution.She is being tried for her alleged link to Maoist insurrection.But no trial is underway against those inhuman officials who tortured her.At the same time the nation forgot the tribal girl striped in daylight Guahati. It is rather a political movement as the women victims are further misused for political mileage.Justice, equality and rule of law are quite irrelevant for all those women who are stranded in Indian untouchabe war zones.So are those who belong to the deprived excluded sections of the society irrespective of geographical locations.No investigation is launched as yet in Marichjhanpi genocide case despite Paribartan.Uttarakhand has been transformed into an energy pradesh.What empoerment has been gifted to Uttarakhandi women who led the movement and created Uttarakhand. Despite law amended police and security forces have every right to indulge in gangrape in entire northeast, central india, Gondwana and Kashmir! What about that?

Why the stripped Tribal girl from Assam remains denied justice?


Laxmi Orangwas stripped in full public view in Guwahati during a protest rally, but the culprits are yet to be brought to book.


A lot has changed over the last six years, but the pain of humiliation of a girl refuses to heal. On this day six years ago, Laxmi Orangwas stripped in full public view in Guwahati during a protest rally, but the culprits are yet to be brought to book.Reports Times of India.


"Every year this day I feel like being humiliated all over again. But, unfortunately I never got the justice. Though I try to be strong and stand against all odds to ensure nobody else faces such a situation, the apathy of the law-enforcing agencies do not let me go ahead. This may be because I belong to the Adivasi community," said a dejected Orang.


Citing the example of the GS Road molestation incident and the Damini rape and murder case, which evoked country-wide protests, Orang rued that nobody felt that providing justice to her was important.


After the incident, the state government had declared of a compensation of Rs 1 lakh and a government job, but she felt that cannot re-claim the lost dignity.


All Adivasi Students Association, Assam (AASAA), a students' body of the community, alleged the government of neglecting the interests of their people. "That was a conspiracy of the government to weaken our agitation through which we were demanding ST status for our community. But we are not going to step back. We want a solution before the Lok Sabha elections or we will go ahead with a certain series of agitations," said AASAA president Raphael Kujur.


On the occasion, a documentary 'Laxmi Orang: Rising from the grave' was also screened.


Meanwhile,the All Assam Tribal Sangha, an umbrella organization of tribal groups in Assam, have opposed the proposed setting up of camps of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in the southern part of Kamrup district which is a tribal belt.

The tribal body said on Thursday the proposed security establishments would not only affect the greenery in the area but would render tribal people living in the areas homeless.

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  1. Marichjhapi incident - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marichjhapi_incident

  3. Marichjhapi incident (Bengali: মরিচঝাঁপি হত্যাকান্ড) refers to the forcible eviction of ...During and after the 1964 East Pakistan genocide, thousands of ...

  4. Background - ‎Events - ‎Investigation - ‎See also

  5. Round Table India - Marichjhapi and the Revenge of Bengali ...

  6. roundtableindia.co.in/index.php?option=com...view...

  7. Jul 20, 2012 - Anoop Kumar, Ajay Hela and Nilesh Kumar, Marichjhapi and the ... in one of the biggest genocide carried out by any state in independent India.

  8. The Tale of Marichjhapi :Review of the book "Marichjhapi chhinna ...

  9. www.radicalsocialist.inArticlesSocialist and Peoples' History

  10. Feb 19, 2012 - The Marichjhapi massacre was almost forgotten. It resurfaced ....Genocide and arson continued relentlessly from 13th to 15th May. The refugee ...

  11. Re: [PMARC] Marichjhapi and the Revenge of Bengali Bhadralok ...

  12. https://groups.google.com/d/msg/greenyouth/.../v4E0v1Iw71YJ

  13. Dec 1, 2009 - Re: [PMARC] Marichjhapi and the Revenge of Bengali Bhadralok : The story of a Dalit Genocide that remains untold ...

  14. Development Policy of a Communist Government: West Bengal Since 1977

  15. books.google.co.in/books?isbn=0521047854

  16. Ross Mallick - 2007 - ‎Business & Economics

  17. ... had been forcefully driven out of the state so the Marich- jhapi refugees were ..."Genocide committed on the Scheduled Caste Refugees of Marichjhapi Island.

  18. Marichjhanpi Genocide - YouTube► 2:55► 2:55

  19. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oztK1LIOVz0

  20. Feb 8, 2008 - Uploaded by Indegeneous

  21. An Open Petition in Video: Exclusive Exposure of Evidences. This is a research based Documentary film in ...

  22. Just Visit nandigram United to have the Documents on Marichjhapi ...

  23. indiainteracts.in/.../Just-Visit-nandigram-United-to-have-the-Documents-...

  24. Jan 21, 2008 - Know the details of MARICHJHANPI Genocide, gross violation of Human and Civil Rights and demand Justice Immediately. Pl react, write and ...

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  26. marichjhanpi.blogspot.com/2008/08/marichjanpi-genocide.html

  27. Aug 27, 2008 - MARICHJHAPI Marichjhapir udbastu? Ora chotolok. Asprishya Jale dubeye merechi. Jale sab muche jaye. Rakta! Rakta jal haye jai. Sabash!

  28. Marichjhapi massacre part i - Free MP3 Music Download - MusicBiatch

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  37. 6 days ago - Home » Remembering Marichjhapi Massacre, 1979 ... to fixing the responsibilities for the genocide and bringing the culprits to book, and so on.

  38. Rampur Tiraha firing case - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  39. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rampur_Tiraha_firing_case

  40. The Rampur Tiraha firing case refers to police firing on unarmed Uttarakhand activists at Rampur Tiraha (crossing) in Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh in ...

  41. Case history - ‎Legacy - ‎Further reading - ‎See also

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  44. On the night of October 1, 1994, activists of the Uttaranchal movement, on their way to a rally in Delhi, were stopped at Rampur Tiraha in Muzaffarnagar.

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  47. Oct 3: U.P. – Evil Stalks the Land: Fact-finding Report on the Muzaffarnagar Riots from Anhad ... Aug 31: Joint Press Release on 'Gorkhaland' Movement ... Aug 1 :Uttarakhand – Flooding of Alaknanda river : letter from Vishnuprayag Dam ...

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  59. www.euttaranchal.com/uttaranchal/uttaranchal_formation_milestones.php

  60. The movement produced a political party, namely Uttarakhand Kranti Dal in ... in support of Uttaranchal on second October 1994 in Muzaffarnagar in western.

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  85. www.tehelka.com/tag/soni-sori/

  86. Soni Sori and Lingaram Kodopi granted interim bail · Soni Sori and Lingaram ... SC issues notice to Chhattisgarh govt on Soni Sori bail plea · SC issues notice to ...

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  88. www.tehelka.com/story_main50.asp?filename=Ne151011coverstory.asp

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  91. www.tehelka.com/soni-sori-acquitted-in-yet-another-case/

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  100. www.indianexpress.com/news/soni-s-story/983928/

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Free, fair, fearless. That is Tehelka's definition of itself. Where is courage now?

ARUNDHATI ROYTarun Tejpal was one of the partners in India Ink, the publishing house that initially published my novel The God of Small Things. I have been asked by a number of journalists for my reaction to the recent events. I have been hesitant to say anything because of the howling media circus. It seemed vile to kick a man when he was down, especially when it seemed pretty clear that he would not get off lightly and that punishment for what he had done was coming his way. But now I am not so sure. The lawyers have moved in, and the big political wheels have begun to spin. My silence is liable to be vested with all sorts of absurd meaning.

Tarun was a friend for many years. With me he was always generous and always supportive. I have been an admirer of Tehelka too, albeit on an issue to issue basis. To me Tehelka's great moments were when it published Ashish Khaitan's sting operation on some of the perpertrators of the 2002 Gujarat pogrom and Ajit Sahi's work on the SIMI trials. However, Tarun and I inhabited very different worlds and our views (on politics as well as literature) far from bringing us together, caused us to drift apart. What has happened now has not shocked me, but it has broken my heart.

The evidence against Tarun suggests that he has grievously sexually assaulted a young colleague of his during the 'ThinkFest', an 'intellectual' carnival run by him in Goa. The ThinkFest was  sponsored by a consortium of Mining Corporations, some who are themselves accused of misdeeds on a gargantuan scale. Ironically, in other parts of the country the sponsors of ThinkFest have contributed to creating a climate in which scores of adivasi women have been raped and murdered, and thousands of people have been imprisoned as well as killed. Several lawyers have said that according to the new law, the nature of Tarun's sexual assault amounts to rape. Tarun himself has admitted to his crime in his own emails and text messages to the woman he assaulted. From his position of uncontested power as her boss, he then loftily apologized to her, and then in an act that can only be described as delusionary, announced his own punishment—six months of leave in order to "lacerate" himself. Now that it has become a police matter, on the advice of fat cat lawyers whose services only the very rich can afford, Tarun begun to do what many men accused of rape do—vilify the woman he preyed on and call her a liar. Outrageously, it is being suggested that Tarun is being 'framed' for political reasons—presumably by the Right-wing Hindutva brigade. So now a young woman who he very recently saw fit to employ, is not just a loose woman, but an agent of the fascists? This is Rape Number Two: the rape of the values and the politics that Tehelka claims it stands for, and an affront to those who work there and who have supported it in the past.

It is the hollowing out of the last vestiges of integrity, political as well as personal.

Free, fair, fearless. That is Tehelka's definition of itself. Where is courage now?

http://www.hastakshep.com/english/opinion/2013/11/25/free-fair-fearless-tehelkas-definition-itself-courage-now#.UpOIutKBkQM


झारखंडी भाषा संस्कृति अखड़ा shared आदिवासी साहित्य - Adivasi Literature'sphoto.

November 23

भारत की पहली महिला आदिवासी कथाकार को क्या हिंदी समाज-साहित्य जानता है? जो हिंदी में ही लिखती थी.


वह 50-60 के दशक में कहानियां लिखती थी. हिंदी में. रांची से प्रकाशित प्रमुख पत्र-पत्रिकाओं में उसकी कहानियां छपती थी. तब झारखंड क्षेत्र में रह ...See More

भारत की पहली महिला आदिवासी कथाकार को क्या हिंदी समाज-साहित्य जानता है? जो हिंदी में ही लिखती थी.


वह 50-60 के दशक में कहानियां लिखती थी. हिंदी में. रांची से प्रकाशित प्रमुख पत्र-पत्रिकाओं में उसकी कहानियां छपती थी. तब झारखंड क्षेत्र में रह रहे एक-दो हिंदी साहित्यकार ही शायद आदिवासी जीवन को अपने लेखन में उतार रहे थे. लेकिन उस आदिवासी महिला कथाकार को हिंदी साहित्य ने न तब सुना न ही आज दर्ज कर रहा है. हिंदी साहित्य के गिरोह और मठों ने अपने-अपने चहेतों को जो गैर-आदिवासी थे स्थापित किया. वह कथाकार जो संभवतः भारत की पहली महिला आदिवासी कथाकार है एक शिक्षिका थी और रांची के स्कूल में पढ़ाती थी. अब वे नहीं हैं. 10 साल के अथक परिश्रम के बाद आखिरकार हमने उनका परिचय ढूंढ निकाला है. फिलहाल उनकी तस्वीर ढूंढ रहे हैं. तस्वीर मिलते ही हम उनसे आप सबकी मुलाकात करवाएंगे.

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झारखंडी भाषा संस्कृति अखड़ा shared Giridhari Goswami's status.

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खोरठा कवि संतोष कुमार महतो जी आइज सिराय गेला.


83 बर्षीय महतो जी डी.वि.सी. इंटर कॉलेज चन्द्रपुरा से सेवानिवृत भेल बाद खेती किसानी करइत खोरठा साहित्यकार डा.ए.के.झा जिक सम्पर्क में आय खोरठा कविता लिखे लागला आर 1988 में पहिल खोरठा संकलन 'एक मउ...See More

खोरठा कवि संतोष कुमार महतो सिराय गेला!


खोरठा कवि संतोष कुमार महतो जी आइज सिराय गेला.


83 बर्षीय महतो जी डी.वि.सी. इंटर कॉलेज चन्द्रपुरा से सेवानिवृत भेल बाद खेती किसानी करइत खोरठा साहित्यकार डा.ए.के.झा जिक सम्पर्क में आय खोरठा कविता लिखे ...See More

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झारखंडी भाषा संस्कृति अखड़ा shared Ak Pankaj's photo.

November 23

मंदिर, मस्जिद और चर्च से पहले आदिवासियों का अस्तित्व यदि दुनिया के किसी भी भू-भाग में आज की सत्ता और समाज नकारता है तो वह निश्चय ही इंसानी समाज का सबसे बड़ा अपराधी है.

इस देश में सांस्कृतिक विरासत और धरोहरों की जब भी बात होगी आदिवासी संस्कृति की बात सबसे पहले करना ही न्यायसंगत होगा. मंदिर, मस्जिद और चर्च से पहले आदिवासियों का अस्तित्व यदि दुनिया के किसी भी भू-भाग में आज की सत्ता और समाज नकारता है तो वह निश्चय ही इंसानी समाज का सबसे बड़ा अपराधी है. इस आदिवासी स्थापत्य को देखिए. यह दुनिया के सबसे प्राचीनतम धरोहरों में से है. लगभग 2500 साल पुराना. 7 एकड़ में फैला एक विशाल मेगालिथ क्षेत्र. यहां 7600 से ज्यादा आदिवासी पुरखा स्मारक हैं. रांची से लगभग 80 किमी दूरी स्थित यह ससनदिरि कम से कम 2500 साल पुराना है और आज भी मुण्डा आदिवासी परंपरा का जीवित अंग है. अगर प्राचीनतम स्थापत्य की ही बात थी तो यह रुपए पर क्यों नहीं है?


https://www.change.org/petitions/declare-the-chokahatu-megalithic-site-sasandiri-as-a-world-heritage-site

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झारखंडी भाषा संस्कृति अखड़ा shared आदिवासी साहित्य - Adivasi Literature'sphoto.

November 21

संताली-आदिवासी अस्मिता और पहचान को दृढ़ स्वर देती इस कविता को युवा आदिवासी कवि धनेश्वर ने स्वयं संताली से हिंदी में अनूदित किया है. डॉ. धनेश्वर मांझी संताली के युवा कवि हैं और पेशे से विश्वभारती विश्वविद्यालय, शांति निकेतन (प. बंगाल) में संत...See More

हिंदी, अंग्रेजी हो या कोई और गैर-आदिवासी भाषा. सभी अपनी अभिव्यक्ति परंपरा में ही आदिवासी कविताओं को देखना चाहती हैं. जबकि आदिवासी कविताएं अपने मूल स्वभाव और संस्कृति के अनुरूप सामने आती हैं. उनका अपना शिल्प है, अपने बिंब हैं, और कहने का लय भी बिल्कुल अनूठा है. उदाहरण के लिए डॉ. धनेश्वर मांझी की यह कविता देखिए. संताली-आदिवासी अस्मिता और पहचान को दृढ़ स्वर देती इस कविता को युवा आदिवासी कवि धनेश्वर ने स्वयं संताली से हिंदी में अनूदित किया है. डॉ. धनेश्वर मांझी संताली के युवा कवि हैं और पेशे से विश्वभारती विश्वविद्यालय, शांति निकेतन (प. बंगाल) में संताली भाषा-साहित्य के प्राध्यापक हैं. अब तक इनकी चार पुस्तकें प्रकाशित हैं जिनमें दो कविताओं की हैं. 'बिंदी गनाक्' और 'तोड़े सुताम'. यहां प्रस्तुत कविता 'बिंदी गनाक्' संग्रह से ली गई है. धनेश्वर की संताली कविताएं आदिवासी जीवन और संस्कृति के उदात्त स्वभाव को पूरी मजबूती से रखती है. वे आदिवासी दर्शन के कवि हैं और उनकी कविताएं आदिवासी साहित्य में उस पत्थलगड़ी की तरह है जो काल के लंबे थपेड़ों के बावजूद झुकने-मिटने को तैयार नहीं है.


वह धरती जहां गड़ी जन्म नाभी

--------------------------------------------

स्वतंत्र देश में फहरायेंगे पुरखा झंडा

बना रहे घर समाज सपनों की झोपड़ी

चाहे बरसे ओले, उमड़े उफने झरना नदी

न झुकेगी देश के बीच हमारी आन-आरी।


स्वतंत्र देश में फहरायेंगे आदिवासी झंडा

सजा रहे तीर-धनुष फरसा

वह पूरी धरती जहां गड़ी जन्म नाभी

संताल लोगों की पहचान पत्थलगड़ी।


स्वतंत्र देश में फहरायेंगे दिसुम झंडा

सजी रहे सखुए की डाली

हरा-भरा रहे संताल साहित्य

न रूके कभी संताल समाज गति।


स्वतंत्र देश में फहरायेंगे जाहेर झंडा

सजा रहे नगाड़े का शृंगार

गूंजती रहे संताली मातृभाषा

देश शिकार समाज हूल के साथ।


स्वतंत्र देश में फहरायेंगे सरना झंडा

सजी रहे संतालों की लिपि

सिंङ चांदो माराङ बुरू जाहेर एरा मोड़ेकोतुरूयको

शीश दे रहे उस धरा के लिए।

--------------------------------------- Dhaneshwar Manjhi

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झारखंडी भाषा संस्कृति अखड़ा

November 18

संताली सभ्यता-संस्कृति व धर्म सबसे प्राचीन


ललपनिया : संताली संस्कृति-सभ्यता व धर्म सबसे प्राचीन है। राज्य-देश में मंदिर, मस्जिद, चर्च व गुरुद्वारा का विकास हुआ, लेकिन संताली धर्मस्थलों का अपेक्षित विकास नहीं हो पाया। लुगुबुरू घांटाबाड़ी धोरोमगढ़ को पर्यटन क्षेत्र के रूप में विकसित करने के लिए योजना तैयार है। फिलहाल पांच करोड़ से विकास कार्य शुरू किया गया है। यह बातें रविवार को ललपनिया स्थित लुगुबुरू घांटाबाड़ी धोरोमगढ़ में आयोजित संतालियों के 13 वें धर्म महासम्मेलन में मुख्यमंत्री हेमंत सोरेन ने कहीं। उन्होंने कहा कि लुगू पर्वत पर चढ़ने के लिए पथ व मंदिर परिसर में बिजली, पानी की व्यवस्था की जाएगी। उन्होंने संतालियों से कहा कि संस्कृति व सभ्यता को अक्षुण्ण रखने के लिए संगठित होकर धर्मस्थल व समाज के विकास के लिए काम करें। यहां उन्होंने लुगुबुरू घांटाबाड़ी धोरोमगढ़ की वेबसाइट का उदघाटन किया। इसके पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री सोरेन, झामुमो सुप्रीमो शिबू सोरेन, आदिवासी कल्याण मंत्री चंपई सोरेन ने दीप जलाकर सम्मेलन का शुभारंभ किया। 1 दिशोम गुरु शिबू सोरेन ने कहा कि संतालियों की संस्कृति व ईमानदारी ही उनकी पूंजी है। इसे सहेज कर रखने की जरूरत है। मंत्री चंपई सोरेन ने कहा कि घांटाबाड़ी धोरोमगढ़ संतालियों का सबसे बड़ा धर्मस्थल है। इसके विकास के लिए व्यापक पैमाने पर पहल की जाएगी। वह केंद्र सरकार से धोरोमगढ़ को विश्वस्तरीय आदिवासी धर्मस्थल बनाने की मांग करेंगे। कहा कि संतालियों को दारू-हड़िया छोड़कर पूर्वजों की रीति-रिवाज का मजबूती से पालन करना होगा, तभी समाज का विकास हो पाएगा। इसकी जिम्मेवारी गांव के मांझी हड़ाम निभाएं। इससे पहले सीएम व दिशोम गुरु ने घांटाबाड़ी मंदिर में पूजा-अर्चना की। सम्मेलन का संचालन सुरेंद्र टूडू ने किया। मौके पर डुमरी विधायक जगरनाथ महतो, राज्य पर्यटन सचिव सजल चक्रवर्ती, जिप अध्यक्ष मिहिर सिंह चौधरी, उपायुक्त उमाशंकर सिंह, एसपी कुलदीप द्विवेदी, बेरमो एसडीएम राहुल कुमार सिन्हा, टीटीपीएस के जीएम रामावतार साहू, एचआर राजीव रंजन, कार्मिक प्रबंधक सुखदेव महतो, झामुमो के जिला सचिव बेनी लाल महतो, धोरोमगाढ़ समिति के अध्यक्ष बबुली सोरेन, सचिव लोबिन मुमरू, सतीशचंद्र मुमरू, मिथिलेश किस्कू, जयराम हांसदा, दशरथ मरांडी, अनिल हांसदा, गुलाबचंद हांसदा आदि थे।

CONFLICT

More tribal rights could squelch Maoist revolt in India

For decades, India's government has been locked in a struggle with rebels seeking to impose Maoism on the world's largest democracy. The solution may not lie in the use of force, but rather in protecting tribal rights.

On 11 November 2013, people showed up to vote for assembly polls in the Indian State of Chattisgarh. But despite tight security, some of the polling booths were attacked by rebels seeking to boycott the vote. The recent incident is just the latest example of the cycle of violence in a region, which has become one of the world's most heavily policed.

The district of Bastar, a predominantly tribal area, located at the very heart of India has turned into the epicenter of the Maoist insurgency. It is a rebel movement which draws its roots from the teachings of late Chinese political leader Mao Zedong, the founding father of the People's Republic of China.

The birth of an insurgencyMaoists engage in guerrilla-style warfare to fight for the rights of landless works and tribals

These Maoists are known in India as Naxalites. The name originates from Naxalbari, a village in West Bengal, where the uprising began in 1967. Dilip Simeon, an Indian writer and expert on Maoism, explains that the Naxalites' main goal has been to establish a communist state by implementing Mao's military-political strategy called "People's War," based on the assumption that India is today in a situation similar to that of China in the 1930s.

"India is a semi-feudal and semi-colonial society," Simeon told DW. The Maoists, whose numbers are estimated at more than 50,000, believe that the country is ruled by a servile bourgeois elite and that the whole system needs to be overthrown by an armed force, the New Delhi-based expert explains. Today, the Naxalites operate mainly in mineral-rich, isolated regions and their control area stretches from the south to the northeast of the country, including the states of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Bihar among others.

The rebels have engaged in guerrilla-style warfare against Indian security forces, claiming to fight for the rights of what they consider to be exploited people, such as landless workers who lack access to minimum wages and basic amenities, such as health care and education.

Industry vs. tribals

Simeon believes the movement has managed to survive for more than four decades because of the brutal nature of economic and social relations prevailing in the Indian countryside. The nation's wave of industrialization and the development model pushed by the central government has led to displacement of millions of tribal people.Dayamani Barla believes that the tribals rights are violated by the government

Experts argue that these forceful removals have provided Maoists with the necessary breeding ground to keep the insurgency going. "New Delhi's failure to protect the interests of the tribals has led them to lend their support to the Maoists whom they believe are fighting for their basic rights," said Dayamani Barla, a tribal activist based in the eastern state of Jharkhand.

Armed Maoist groups have frequently attacked government rallies and political leaders they accuse of protecting the interests of corporations. On May 25 this year, Naxals launched a strike in the Darbha Valley of Chhattisgarh, killing 27 people, including prominent politicians of the Congress Party who were travelling through the region.

Some critics say the Naxals have lost track of their ideology and have become a menace as they not only control parts of India's so-called tribal belt, but also resort to extortion from rich landowners and businessmen.

"They threaten us with union strike and destroy our equipment if we refuse to pay them," Manoj Kumar Gupta, owner of three power plants in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand told DW. Gupta and his peers pay protection money to the insurgents in order to ensure a smooth running of their business.

'Single biggest security challenge'

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh once referred to Naxalism as "the single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country." The government continues to use police forces to raid Maoist bases and catch top rebels in the hope of uprooting the rebellion. According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, almost 15,000 Naxalites were killed, arrested or forced to surrender between 2007 and 2012 alone.

Professor Haragopal, a political analyst at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Hyderabad says the spiral of violence and counter-violence has been on the rise because both parties to the conflict deeply mistrust one another, leading to the failure of all efforts to find a political solution.

What lies ahead?

Haragopal insists, however, that there are solutions. "A vibrant and active civil society needs to apply moral pressure on the Maoists, thus making them adhere to constitutional norms and the rule of law." Both parties, he adds, have overstepped the rule of law and in the process of confrontation, the violence continues to escalate.

Experts argue that India's current development model, which gives priority to industry, resulting in the displacement of millions of people, needs to be re-examined, if a solution to this decades-long unrest is ever to be found, Haragopal said.

DW.DE

India's democracy threatened from within

With 1.2 billion people, India takes pride in being the world's largest democracy. But 66 years after independence from Britain, various elements threaten the unity of the nation. (20.08.2013)

'Maoist rebels' kill launch deadly ambush on Indian politicians

Suspected Maoist rebels, perhaps numbering as many as 200, have attacked a convoy carrying local leaders and supporters of the Congress party. At least 23 people were killed and 32 wounded in a landmine and gun attack. (26.05.2013)

India pressed to address child soldier issue

The recruitment of child soldiers in India appears to be rampant, with hundreds of children involved in armed conflicts. A report notes that children are used extensively by insurgents and, at times, the state. (09.05.2013)

http://www.dw.de/more-tribal-rights-could-squelch-maoist-revolt-in-india/a-17212079

20th November 2013

India's Dongria Kondh tribe have rejected plans by mining giant Vedanta Resources for an open-pit bauxite mine in their sacred Niyamgiri Hills. Although the decision is not yet final, the case has been hailed as an unprecedented triumph for tribal rights ...

If the Indian government does not kill this project once and for all it will be a transparent denial of justice and human rights.'

The Niyamgiri hill range in Odisha state, eastern India, is home to the 8,000 strong Dongria Kondh tribe. Niyamgiri is an area of densely forested hills, deep gorges and cascading streams.

To be a Dongria Kondh is to farm the hills' fertile slopes, harvest their produce and worship the mountain god Niyam Dongar and the hills he presides over, including the 4,000 metre Mountain of Law. They call themselves the Jharnia, which means 'protector of streams', because they protect their sacred mountains and the streams and rivers that rise within its forests.

Picture © Lewis Davids / Survival

The Dongria Kondh have expert knowledge of the forests, plant species and wildlife of the hills. They believe they are the royal descendants of Niyam Raja Penu, who has conferred to them the right to cultivate Niyamgiri's slopes; they grow over 100 crops and cultivate diverse orchards which produce crops such as oranges, sweet papaya, and the aromatic resin Jhunu. The Dongria also gather foods from the forests, such as wild mango, pineapple, jackfruit and honey.

Picture © Jason Taylor / Survival

The Dongria use rare medicinal herbs found in the forests to treat a range of ailments, from arthritis to malaria. Dongria men gather juice from the forest's sago palm trees, which provides energy for their long hikes and sustains them during times of drought.

Picture © Jason Taylor/Survival

For a decade, however, the Dongria have lived under the threat of mining by Vedanta Resoures, which wants to extract the estimated $2billion worth of bauxite (aluminium ore) that lies under the surface of the hills. Creating an open-cast mine would destroy the hill slopes, disrupt the rivers and spell the end of the Dongria Kondh as a distinct people.

The bauxite-capped Niyamgiri hills soak up the monsoon's rain, giving rise to more than a hundred perennial streams and rivers, including the Vamshadhara river. They are the only water sources for communities who live in the hills, and major sources for others who live lower down the hills, where drought and starvation deaths have made national news.

They want to take the rocks from these mountains, says Lodu Sidaka. These rocks are the reason our children can live here. If they take away these rocks, we'll all die.

Picture © Jason Taylor / Survival

In 2003, before receiving legal clearance to mine, Vedanta built a refinery at the foot of the hills in Lanjigarh, and began work on the conveyor belt that would bring the bauxite out of the hills. The construction of the refinery forced over a hundred families of Majhi Kondh, a neighbouring tribe of the Dongria, to move to a settlement known as 'the rehab colony', where most survive on handouts.

The Kondh villagers report skin problems, livestock diseases and crop damage which they say are due to pollution from the refinery, and which government inspectors have described as 'alarming'. The inspectors found that 'red mud' - the refinery's main waste product - was seeping, causing contamination of the ground water.

Without Niyamgiri's bauxite, the company has had difficulties feeding the refinery, leading to a temporary shutdown in 2012. Vedanta admitted that this had led to losses of $82 million by 2010 at the refinery.

Picture © Lewis Davies / Survival

The Dongria have resiliently resisted the attempts of Vedanta to mine in the Niyamgiri Hills. They have held roadblocks, formed a human chain around their hill and even set a Vedanta-owned jeep alight when it was driven onto the mountain's sacred plateau.

Dongria leaders have also been imprisoned and tortured, but they remained strong in their resistance. "Vedanta have come here to destroy the Dongria", said Rajendra Vadaka. "We will drive them away. They don't have any right to touch our mountains. Even if you behead us, we are not going to allow this."

Picture © Survival International

In 2010, the findings of a committee sent to the Niyamgiri Hills persuaded the Indian government to block the development of the mine. The government stated that Vedanta had shown "blatant disregard" for the rights of the Dongria Kondh and 'total contempt' for the law.

"It's crazy when these outsiders come and teach us development. In our land we don't have to buy water like you, and we can eat anywhere for free", said Lodu Sikaka, Dongria leader.

Picture © Lewis Davids/Survival

In April 2013, and in a judgement with important implications for all of India's tribal peoples, the Supreme Court ruled that communities affected by the mining project must be consulted. However, the Odisha state government singled out only twelve of more than a hundred Dongria villages in which to conduct the consultations.

By August 2013, all 12 Dongria villages had unanimously voted against Vedanta's mine. The results of the consultations are now being considered by India's Ministry of Environment and Forests, who will have the final say on the mine - but few still believe that the mine will be given the green light.

Lodu Sikaka said: "Our God lives in open space, you keep your God locked up with a key. We won't leave Niyamgiri. If the government and politicians ask for it we will fight."

Picture © Jason Taylor / Survival International

Survival International and its supporters have backed the Dongria's fight by staging protests, sending thousands of letters to the Indian government, recruiting the support of celebrities such as Joanna Lumley and Michael Palin, and bringing the tribe's struggle to worldwide attention.

Several important shareholders have publicly disinvested from the company over its treatment of the Dongria Kondh. The Church of England decided to disinvest from the company on ethical grounds, and the British government has criticised the company for failing to respect human rights.

Stephen Corry, Director of Survival, said: "Vedanta's experience should serve as an important lesson for companies intent on extracting resources from tribal peoples' lands: they must seek the communities' free, prior and informed consent and not proceed without it."

Picture © Survival

The decision of India's Ministry of Environment and Forests is yet to be announced. However, despite harassment, intimidation, and a powerful opponent, the Dongria Kondh remain united in their determination to save the Niyamgiri Hills, and their way of life.

"This Niyamgiri Hill is our God, our Lord, our Goddess, our father, our mother, our life, our death, our flesh, our blood, our bones", said Putri, a Dongria woman. "We get our food, drink and air from Niyamgiri, and it sustains our life. It is therefore our right to stand together to protect and safeguard Niyamgiri."

Picture © Jason Taylor / Survival

"We are very happy we don't have to leave our land, our soil, our trees and plants. If the jungle is beautiful, the water will fall, then we'll all live well."

Picture © Survival International

Joanna Eede is a writer andthe author of We are One. She is also editorial, features and photography consultant for Survival International.

Survival International ("Survival" for short) is the global movement for tribal peoples.  It helps defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures.

READ MORE...

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COMMENT

'We are ready to die for our land', say pastoralists in Ethiopia's Lower Omo Valley

A hydroelectric dam Gibe III in south-west Ethiopia threatens the livelihood of the ancient tribes of the Lower Omo River, say the campaign group Survival

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SPECIAL CONTENT

Protecting forests AND the rights of forest peoples

The plans currently under consideration for saving forests might help the trees, but they could ride roughshod over indigenous communities. Here are some ways to change that

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NEWS ANALYSIS

Last stand of the Yukpa?

The economic plan of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela for 2013-2019 promotes the exploitation of mineral deposits in the Sierra de Perijá, an area that is extremely high in biodiversity, and home to the indigenous Yukpa people....

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NEWS ANALYSIS

Peru's Mysterious 'Lot Fitzcarrald' Threatens Uncontacted Tribes

Peru is set to embark on a major expansion of gas operations in the Camisea region in the Amazon - a move which could decimate Indigenous peoples, both those in 'voluntary isolation' and others in the early stages of contact. David Hill reports

http://www.theecologist.org/campaigning/2164975/dongria_kondh_tribe_of_india_resist_powerful_mining_company.html

Tribal Women Of India: The Potential Contributors To Growth

By Swaleha Sindhi

24 November, 2013

Countercurrents.org


Introduction

India is a country of villages as the majority of its population lives in villages and far-flung remote areas. The interesting aspect is that every region of the country though connected with the cities now; however, still possesses its own peculiar traditional ethos. Also most of the rural communities/Tribal's are still devoid of modern facilities like education, electricity, proper drinking water, health care, ample transportation, etc. Tribal development in India has been a success as the primitive societies living in remote rural areas are now educating their children and living in desirable standards. It is interesting to note that apart from several governmental efforts, the contributions of non-governmental organizations in providing training and development in different sectors of economy especially the tribal population. Women are often concentrated in handicrafts, basic food processing and sale which are traditionally considered to be women's domain. Women also show a propensity to pursue micro-enterprises and homestead farming activities (The World Bank, FAO, IFAD, 2008).Skills training, increased growth, productivity and innovation, in particular for the informal sector are linked with poverty reeducation.(Fluitman:2002). Skills development improves output, quality, diversity and occupational safety and improves health, thereby increasing incomes and livelihoods of the poor. It also helps to develop social CapitaLand strengthens knowledge about informal sector associations, rural organizations and governance. According to human capital theory, the better educated the agricultural labor, the higher their productivity (Atchoarena, et. al. 2003). The fact is despite being unskilled, poor, suppressed or discriminated; women still try to contribute to family income either directly or indirectly. Poor and vulnerable women are usually more interested in skills training that meets their immediate 'practical gender needs' as opposed to longer term, "strategic gender needs" that directly tackle the basic underlying causes of female subordination (Moser:1989).

Challenges and Winds of Change

The first and foremost challenge to the tribal is that they are still not much exposed to the outside world and are confined to their community only. Therefore living in their cocoon only and thus has witnessed hardly any socio cultural encounters. Their entire universe hence is their own community, and by virtue of this scenario, social mobility, occupational diversity, poverty alleviation, change and development, change in mindset, education and economic prosperity are still new concepts for them amidst their own traditional setup that has not altered sufficiently till the recent past. The changes taking place in the field of science and technology, development,etc, are laying their impact on the Indian society and the feeble winds of change have started laying their influences on the tribal's as well. The educated community leaders of tribal's are seriously concerned about the educational and economic development of their community. If we closely analyze functioning of educated tribal's, we notice two traits of transformation. One group of educated tribal argues that tribal's should reform themselves with the mainstream society. The other group of tribal's wants to maintain its tribal identity.

Suggestive rectification

It is important for the government to consider tribal not only as employee but as potential contributors to the growth of the region, community and economy and engage them in income generating activities in home based or village based industries. The trade promoted for tribals must be innovative and strategic in promoting activities where larger share is received by tribal women and emphasis should be given to Women Friendly Special Projects. This would facilitate participation in productive work that ultimately leads to increase in social empowerment of woman. Thus, there is no doubt that the rural women can acquire any developmental milestones (skills) only through education and thus can change their own destiny. Their self perception can be elevated by the knowledge that they are contributing financially and visibly to the household and that they are in a better negotiating position. They can avoid dependence on others and escape exploitation in everyday life, avoid humiliation, gain confidence to work more productively. Thus, education has played a major role in empowering rural women. They contribute towards national development by making 36% of the GNP exclusive of their services as mothers and household managers. By empowering rural woman through education can thus enable them to live with dignity and self reliance cutting across the barriers of customary biases and prejudices, social barrier of caste, class, gender, occupation and institutional barriers that prevent them from taking actions to improve their state both at the individual and collective level. Therefore, free education and necessary and employable skill development programmes must be launched for tribal students and women so as to make them self reliant and economically independent. Furthermore, right to vote is meaningless unless rural women are made aware, educated and imparted skills to understand the order of the day and this can bring change in their lives, in the family and lastly transform the holistic tribal landscape of India, through education, legal awareness, and socio economic independence.

Conclusion

Any developmental process is the expansion of assets and capabilities of rural women to participate in, negotiate with, influence, control, and hold the institution accountable that affect their lives. Skill development among rural women is the need of the hour so as to make them confident, self reliant and to develop in them the ability to be a part of decision making at home and outside. Indeed it may not be wrong to say that still tribal's and rural women are the most disadvantaged and neglected section of the society for they are economically backward. Therefore there is a need on the part of the government and civil society to enable improvement in the quality of life of such vulnerable sections of the Indian population. More importantly the developmental process in India should give priority to welfare schemes and programmes meant for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes' including women.

(Swaleha Sindhi is Assistant Professor at The M.S.University of Baroda, she can be mailed at ms.swalehasindhi@rediffmail.com)

http://www.countercurrents.org/sindhi241113.htm

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Himanshu Kumar shared Indrajeet Kashyap's photo.

2 hours ago

"मीणा नहीं , मीना हैं अनुसूचित जनजाति "

राजस्थान के समाचार पत्र पत्रिका के जयपुर संस्करण के प्रथम पृष्ट में दिनाँक 15.11.2013 को ये खबर प्रकाशित हुई थी।

ज्ञात हो कि राजस्थान की करीब 50 लाख कि जनसँख्या वाली मीणा जाती 1950 में फ़र्ज़ी तरीके से अनुसूचित जनजाति में शामिल हो गयी थी।

इस गलती के कारण आज़ादी के बाद से बाकी देश के असली आदिवासियों का राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर अधिकतर केंद्रीय शासकीय संस्थानो और शैक्षणिक संस्थानो में आरक्षण मीणा जाती अकेले ही हड़प लेती हैं।

यह खबर राजस्थान हाई कोर्ट में इसी मुद्दे पर चल रहे एक कोर्ट केस से सम्बंधित हैं।


केंद्र सरकार का राजस्थान हाई कोर्ट में दिया गया ये जवाब भी सिर्फ लालफीताशाही और तिकड़म हैं।

असल में केंद्र और राज्य सरकार इस मुद्दे को सुलझाने कि राजनेतिक इक्षाशक्ति ही नहीं हैं क्योंकि उन्हें राजस्थान और केंद्र में अपने राजनैतिक नफानुकसान की ज्यादा चिंता हैं। मीणा जाती की आबादी करीब सिर्फ देश की पूरी आदिवासी जनसँख्या का 5 % हैं लेकिन शायद उनकी राजनेतिक हैसियत देश के बाकी सारे आदिवासियों से ज्यादा हैं।

— with Himanshu Kumar.

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18 July , 2013

Pabnava To Natham :Whatever Happened

To The Struggle For Annihilation Of Caste !

By Subhash Gatade

One feels that while fighting for justice for Ilavarsan and for justice in Pabnava case, it is high time that we deliberate on all these and related issues which are of key importance for the further evolution of the dalit movement

30 April , 2013

Paradesi : A Distortion Of The Political History Of Dalits

By Gouthama Siddarthan

A recent film which hit the screens in Tamilnadu " Paradesi, " a destitute wanderer literally in Tamil, for which the director Bala has been applauded by mainstream media, while some have gone to the extent of touting it as a world class film. We shall look upon critically whether the film deserves such kudos

03 April , 2013

To the Self-Obsessed Marxists And The Pseudo Ambedkarites

By Anand Teltumbde

I am the one who has never shown any iota of bhakti to Babasaheb Ambedkar unlike your tribe but sincerely followed his role model in excelling in whatever I did, in standing firm on the side of the oppressed masses, securing capability of analyzing the world around on behalf of them, and striving to the best of my capacity to fulfill Babasaheb Ambedkar's dream of 'liberty, equality, fraternity.' You have insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar, you have insulted me, and you have insulted the sacred legacy of all those who struggled for human emancipation

10 February , 2013

Manual Scavenging, Caste And Policy

By Forum Against Manual Scavenging

Maila Mukti Yatra, a two month long national campaign against manual scavenging, came to an end on 31 January, 2013 . The campaign went around the whole nation, appealing to women and men engaged in manual scavenging to leave the inhuman practice. We, the Forum Against Manual Scavenging (FAMS), have followed their campaign closely and believe that the persistence of manual scavenging and the State's attempts to eradicate it must be looked at closely

06 December , 2012

Attack On Dalits Of Dharmapuri: A Fact Finding Report

By Dr Anand Teltumbde

The root cause for this incident needs to be located in the statements of Kudavatti J Guru and subsequent endorsements of PMK Supremo Ramdoss against the inter-caste marriages. These statements being unconstitutional, these persons should be charged for whipping inter-caste hatred and disharmony; instigating violence and criminal conspiracy under appropriate articles

29 November , 2012

Arguing History, Deciphering Untouchability

Book Review Dr.Narendra K. Arya

Review of Ramnarayan S. Rawa's book "Reconsidering Untouchability: Chamars and Dalit History in North India"

11 November , 2012

Dharmapuri 2012: Worse Than Kilvenmani

By Dr Anand Teltumbde

My friend Prof C Lakshmanan called me today from the ground zero in Dharmapuri narrating in his choked voice the horrific state of things in three villages - Natham, Anna Nagar and Kondampatti, where nearly 500 houses of Dalits were looted and burnt by the Vanniyar (an OBC caste) mob on 7 November

06 November , 2012

Eliminating Manual Scavenging Needs Honest Introspection

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Manual scavenging is a crime against humanity and yet the nation has failed to resolve it so far. It look that it does not attract us anymore and except for lip services we have left it to be resolved by the victims themselves. It is time for India to stand up together and resolve to eliminate this practice. Mere laws will not work as it needs greater social awakening and a movement against untouchability and caste system

19 October , 2012

The Imperative Need Of Caste Based Reservation For Ensuring Social Equity

By Dr. Iniyan Elango

This essay analyses why caste based representation (reservation) for backward castes and scheduled castes in education and employment is imperative for establishing social equity in a society ridden with the vertically graded bigotry of the caste system and why affluence cannot be a criterion to deny caste based reservation

09 October , 2012

Would Ekalavya Have Benefited From Reservation?

By Dr. Sylvia Karpagam

Ekalavya came up to the level of Arjun (and more) not because a system supported him. He came up entirely on merit (NO RESERVATION) but the system still broke him. It broke him by taking away the only thing he had (AND LOVED). This has happened for generations and it has broken people's will and people's self esteem

07 October , 2012

The Mad Flower-Man

By Dhiresh Moyong

If you visit his village you can still see him—'Mad Flower-Man' he is now called—sitting all day outside his house, waiting for Licha with the remains of the flower she had asked him for in his hands, hoping that one day she might come back so that her last wish can be fulfilled

14 September , 2012

Defying Manu, Bowing To Mammon: On The Silent Emergence of Dalit Capitalism

By Subhash Gatade

The debate being peddled around Dalit Capitalism by renowned Dalit intellectuals with due support from their friends in the media/establishment needs to be challenged and questioned not only because of it is devoid of any merit, shows ignorance of social dynamics in India, looks at capitalism with gratitude for enhancing freedom' and is an apologist for globalization – the latest modus operandi of capitalism'- but also because it is attempting to present a vulgarized image of Ambedkar

03 September , 2012

Cast Away Caste: Breaking New Grounds …

By Subhash Gatade

The left movement has often been criticized – and rightly so – for ignoring the social dimension of Indian reality and for its mechanical approach that attempts to reduce all social phenomena to the economic or the class dimension. It is high time that it sets its social agenda for the 21 st century

24 June , 2012

Punishment For Leading Struggle Against Land Grab:

Dalit Youth Tied To Railway Tracks, Legs Amputated In Dadri, UP

By Aslam Khan

On July 15, Tika Ram was among the youths from Ramgarh village in Dadri who attended the Convention on Bathani Tola in Delhi, and spoke of their struggle against the grab of land allocated to dalits by the gram pradhan Kuldeep Bhati. On July 20, Tika Ram was found on the railway tracks, his body mutilated and both legs severed. Doctors at the AIIMS Trauma Centre have had to further amputate his legs to save his life, which is still in danger. Meanwhile, four other youth leaders of the struggle against land grab have been jailed – on fabricated charges of shooting a girl

22 June , 2012

Yet Another Massacre of Dalit People In Andhra Pradesh

By Revolutionary Democratic Front

Four dalit people were hacked to death, and about 30 dalit men and women were critically injured in a well-orchestrated attack by Turpu Kapu backward caste brahmanical forces in Lakshimpeta village of Vangara block in Srikakulam District on 12 June 2012

21 June , 2012

Pakaha's Wait For Independent India's Constitution

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Story of how a dalit community in India ostracised

04 June , 2012

Amartya Sen's Imagined India

By Braj Ranjan Mani

Intellectual compromise of the best gives rise to the worst. Amartya Sen's sanitised, caste-blind perspective on social unfairness, Hinduism and Indian culture, despite the show of reason, eclecticism and inclusive sensibility, is a gross distortion of historical reality, and a classic example of the limitation—and danger—of elitist liberalism

02 June , 2012

Bathani Tola And The Cartoon Controversy

By Anand Teltumbde

Why has there been such a silence from dalit leaders over the Bathani Tola judgment acquitting all those accused of killing 21 dalits? At the same time, what explains their loud protests over the Ambedkar cartoons in the textbooks? Has the elevation of Ambedkar as an icon relegated the dalit leadership to a politics of empty symbolism? Is the issue of a lack of accountability in the judicial system towards dalits not more important than the hollow iconisation of Ambedkar?

06 May , 2012

Jai Bhim Comrade, A Soulful Song Of The Nowhere People

By Dr Anand Teltumbde

A Review of Jai Bhim Comrade, a documentary by Anand Patwardhan

04 May , 2012

Higher Education And Social Mobility Among MuslimsAnd Dalits In India ,

A Comparative Perspective In The Globalised Times  

By Mr. Ajmal khan

This paper is an attempt to see how globalisation has impacted the higher education of Muslims and Dalits in India in a comparative and historic perspective. Based on the different secondary data sets, it tries to show how Dalit community across India has utilised the process of globalisation and achieved educational and social mobility mobility higher than Muslim

03 May , 2012

Ambedkar And Media

By Ratna Mala

This article explores the newspaper initiatives of Ambedkar, study the representation of Ambedkar in media and recognize his views on media. The paper will discuss the data observed using desk research

18 April , 2012

BSP's Maya and Dalits in UP

By Anand Teltumbde

While Mayawati is all the way winner, the Dalits in this game have been the certain losers. The illusion of political power as the master key for their emancipation has proved a chimera. They better realize that their real emancipation lies in the radical change of the system and not in being playthings of someone within it

24 March , 2012

Urgent Redress Required in The Wake of

Another AIIMS Suicide

By Gurinder Singh Azad

On 3 March, Anil Kumar Meena, a tribal student Baran, Rajasthan, hung himself in hostel No. 6. The eldest amongst his siblings, Anil Kumar, was the son of a poor farmer. He scored 75% in Class XII and got second rank in the AIIMS entrance examination. However, his dream of becoming a doctor could not succeed in the unsupportive ambience of AIIMS

Pakistan: Dalits In Peril

By Chander Kumar

A brief overview of the condition of dalits in Pakistan

20 March , 2012

Andre Beteille's Dream World: Caste Today

By Gail Omvedt

A recent article by Andre Beteille, "India's destiny not caste in stone" argues that caste in fact is dying down, that it lives on mostly in consciousness, and that this is a result of the manipulations of the media during elections. The piece shows that elite social scientists are living in a dream world of their own making

The Politics of Knowledge And Caste

By Braj Ranjan Mani

Brahmanism cannot be sent to jail; it can only be banished from our minds and hearts, replacing it with a better ideology. We cannot ban or banish a bad idea, it can only be buried by a better idea. The way to defeat bad books is to write good books

14 March , 2012

The Death Of Anil Meena

By Anoop Kumar

Suicides by Dalit and tribal students is a story of discrimination

17 February , 2012

Fact-finding Report On Caste-Violence

In Balangir, Odisha

By Fact Finding Team

A nine member team of students from JNU, Jamia Milia Islamia and Delhi University rvisited Balangir, Odisha where the entire Gandapara of Lathore village was gutted down to ashes on the 22nd January by a mob of more than 500 people

06 February , 2012

SC/STs And The State

In The Indian Constitution (PDF)

By Anand Teltumbde

62nd Republic Day Special Lecture at Dr BR Ambedkar Research and Extension Center, University of Mysore, Manasgangotri, Mysore

05 January , 2012

Rethinking Social Justice

By Yogendra Yadav

The first part of the article defends the assertion that the policies and politics of social justice have reached a dead end. It identifies five signs or characteristics of the current impasse of social justice. It then looks at how and why we have reached this impasse. This leads, finally, to some concrete proposals for a second wind of policies and politics of social justice. The essay proposes five directions for rethinking social justice

The Riddle Of Representation:

Issues in The Caste Census Debate

By Cynthia Stephen

The question is, will those who suppressed the fact of Dalits and OBCs backwardness succeed in keeping the veil over the numbers and let the riddle of representation continue into the 21 st century? Or will the veil be drawn aside, the numbers gathered and crunched and the long-neglected OBCs, and specially the OBC women of India finally get their rightful share and voice in the affairs of the nation?

31 December , 2011

Caste And Politics In Regard To Anna Hazare

By Gail Omvedt

Hazare is perhaps the major figure on the Indian political scene to have as his base such a traditionally run village. It is the internal secret of its politics – and it rests on the maintenance of the caste hierarchy. It is thus not accidental that Dalits (and many OBCs) are firmly opposed to the Lokpal

23 November , 2011

Total Muslim Reservation: A Lesson To learn

For SP, BSP & Congress

By Ashok Yadav

Equipped with Bihar experience the Pasmanda may spring surprise in the coming UP elections. Beware, SP, BSP and Congress!

01 November , 2011

Ever Suffering Dalits

By Rahul Kumar Balley

No doubt ,India is making progress by leaps and bounds in every sector but the condition of the Dalits in India is deteriorating day by day in the society

30 October , 2011

Killing Pallars To Propitiate Thevars

By Anand Teltumbde

A fact Finding Report on Police Firing at Paramakudi

23 October , 2011

A Rebuttal To S.Anad's Critque Of Periyar

By Dr. Iniyan Elango

A rebuttal to S.Anand's 2004 article on Periyar, "Iconoclast, Or Lost Idol?"

12 October , 2011

Butchery Of Dalits In Paramakudi

By Dr Anand Teltumbde

Summary of fact finding report by Centre for Protection of Civil Liberties on the killing of dalits in Paramakudi

24 September , 2011

Reservation In Private Sector:

A Legitimate Demand

By Rahul Kumar Balley

Liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation have eroded opportunities for SC/ST and marginalised people to retain the gains already achieved, what to talk about pacing with time and space. In this context the demand for reservation in private sector is a legitimate demand

31 August , 2011

Caste Discrimination And Dalit Rights

Over Natural Resources

By Goldy M. George

Caste discrimination and Dalit Rights over natural resources is one of the most complicated issues that the country is today faced with. Raising this issue would unfold the conspiracy of the upper caste rulers of this country to which they may be obliged to answer

24 August , 2011

Why Are Dalits Not Enthusiastic About

Anna's Movement?

By Bhanwar Megwanshi

Babasaheb Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution, and so Dalits have an emotional attachment to the Constitution. If a movement sets itself above the Constitution and challenges democracy, a key pillar of the Constitution, Dalits will refuse to support it. That is why Dalits and other oppressed caste groups remain indifferent to Anna Hazare's movement

In The Name Of The Cow: Banjaras

Targetted By Hindutva Forces

By Bhanwar Megwanshi

For several years now, across large parts of Rajasthan Hindutva activists have been targeting members of the Banjara community in the name of 'cow-protection'. Scores of such incidents have been reported—more than 200 in the last decade

Bollywood In Transition For Marginalized

By Surendra Rote

The movie Arakshan extends platform of Hindi Cinema for marginalized to share their issues

19 August , 2011

Hindutva And The Dalit Question

By Bhanwar Meghvanshi

Of late, the RSS has been making a tremendous hue-and-cry about what it calls the 'social assimilation' (samarasta) of the various castes. The curious fact, however, is that it has no intention whatsoever of promoting the genuine 'assimilation' of, leave alone equality between, the various castes. A clear indication of its attitude to the caste question is that from the very beginning it has been strongly opposed to reservations or any other form of protective discrimination for Dalits, Adviasis, OBCs and religious minorities

Dignity Defiled: Law And Policies

For Manual Scavengers

By Sanjay Kumar Chaudhary

Dry latrines, which are cleaned by manual scavengers, still exist in public establishments and private houses in many parts of India, defying the mandatory provisions of law and morality. While the schemes and policies of the state have had some impact, they have failed to liberate and rehabilitate all the manual scavengers. For this, the approach and behavior of all concerned stake-holders, especially agencies of the state and the dominant castes/classes, have to change in order to serve Constitutional and human rights values

16 August , 2011

Public Hearing On Atrocities On Adivasis

And Dalits In Western Rajasthan

By Bhanwar Megwanshi

Oka Ram's is not a voice in the wilderness. He speaks for thousands of Dalits and Adivasis in this far-flung corner of Rajasthan, who insist that they must fight for their dignity and rights. The public hearing marked a major turning point in that struggle

Sub-Classification Of Dalits: Law And Politics

By Sanjay Kumar Chaudhary

This article seeks to explore some aspects of ongoing debates among Dalits about the need for sub-classification of Scheduled Castes in the light of complaints of particular Dalit castes who feel that other castes have benefitted disproportionately from the reservation policy. It also critically looks at the Supreme Court judgment, delivered in 2004, with regard to the legality and constitutionality of the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes

08 August , 2011

Playing Foul With The Oppressed

By Dr Anand Teltumbde

The current instance of disowning its responsibility towards 13 lakh school students from these marginalised social groups goes beyond callousness; it reveals how the Maharashtra state government plays foul and un-scrupulous games with the oppressed

07 August , 2011

Dalits Denounce Anti-Secular Order Geared To Promoting Caste Hindu Hegemony

By Yoginder Sikand

The continued denial of SC status to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims makes a complete mockery of the Indian state's much-vaunted claims of being democratic and secular

06 July, 2011

The Farce Of Bhimshakti And Shivshakti

By Dr Anand Teltumbde

The alliance between Ambedkarite Dalits and Shivsena is simply a big farce

13 June , 2011

Some Fundamental Issues in Anti-Caste Struggle

By Anand Teltumbde

The transcription of the Inaugural Speech delivered at the biannual conference of the Kula Nirmulan Porata Samiti in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh on 11 June 2011

02 May, 2011

The Colonised And The Damned

By Cynthia Stephen

It has long been the contention of the subalterns in Indian society – the Dalits, Adivasis and religious minorities, especially the Christians and Muslims who are also Dalits and Adivasis – that the Indian state, while theoretically set in a liberal secular frame, is actually functioning as a colonial power over the subaltern castes and classes

01 May, 2011

Celebrating Babasaheb Ambedkar In Lahore

By Dr Anand Teltumbde

Speech in the Ambedkar Day Seminar organized by Sir Ganga Ram Heritage Foundation in Pearl Continental, Lahore on 26. April, 2011

30 April, 2011

On Suicides of Dalit Students In

India's Premier Educational Institutions

By Insight Foundation

The disproportionate numbers of Dalit and Adivasi students committing suicides, especially, in premier institutions also points towards the kind of caste discrimination prevalent in these campuses

22 April, 2011

Crisis Of Ambedkarites And Future Challenges

By Anand Teltumbde

Ambedkar Memorial Lecture at Ambedkar Habba, Spoorthi Dham, in Bangalore on 14 April 2011

12 April, 2011

Justice Denied For The Dalit Girl

Thrown Into Fire By Upper Caste Men

By Madhu Chandra

A six year old little girl from dalit community in UP was tossed into the burning fire by the members from upper caste community in her village three years ago. Her pregnant mother who tried to rescue her was severly burnt and lost her mental balance due to the shock. But the court had closed the case as there were no witnesses to testify against the culprits

07 April, 2011

From The Underbelly Of Swarnim Gujarat

By Anand Teltumbde

Landmark collective take over of their own land by Dalits in Gujarat. In the Vav taluka itself 35 Dalit families would be benefitted by the ownership of over 150 acres

22 March, 2011

Muslim And Christian Dalits Victims Of

Religious Apartheid Sanctioned By The State

By Yoginder Sikand


In 1950 a Presidential order specified that no person professing any religion other than Hinduism would be deemed to be a member of a Scheduled Caste. This patently anti-secular and grossly anti-democratic order was stiffly resisted by non-Hindu Dalits. In the face of strong protests, over the years the Indian state was compelled to extend Scheduled Caste status to Sikh and Buddhist Dalits. Yet, it continues to deny the same to Christian and Muslim and Dalits

21 March, 2011

Fatehpur's Balmikis Fight For Life

With Dignity And Honor

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Today nearly 6 villages voluntarily left the work of manual scavenging in Fatehpur and the campaign is growing

07 March, 2011

Dalit Capitalism And Pseudo Dalitism

By Anand Teltumbde

Let Dalit individuals become big bureaucrats, big bourgeoisie or any big gun, he or she cannot count much in the emancipation project of Dalit community, which lies only in thoroughgoing social transformation

10 February , 2011

U.P. Tops In Atrocities Against Dalits

By S.R.Darapuri

Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) has earned the dubious distinction of being a state where the highest numbers of atrocities have been committed against the Dalits (Scheduled Castes) for the last many years. It is in spite of the fact that this state is being ruled by a Dalit Chief Minister for the fourth time who is going to complete her fourth year in office. U.P. has the largest Dalit population in India numbering about 35.1 million and nearly 21.5% of total state population

Judiciary And Its Brahmanical Prejudices In India

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Two Judges of Supreme court recently, for the first time in our judicial history, had the courage to challenge the religious text of the Brahmanical order. In an order favoring tribal women's land right violating which the powerful in the village termed her as witch and paraded her in the village

02 February , 2011

The Comet Of Social Revolution:

Bihar Lenin - Martyr Jagdeo Prasad

By Ashok Yadav

With every passing year the martyrdom of Jagdeo Prasad is becoming more and more solidified on the stone of time. His legacy of blending culture with politics and of uncompromising struggle against caste-based exploitation and oppression will continue to shine like lode star for the millions and millions of marginalized people of this country

25 December, 2010

Burning Of Two Dalit Girls Is The Lingering

Funeral Pyre Of The Rule Of Law

By Avinash Pandey Samar

The ghoulish killings of two Dalit girls in Moradabad, an industrial town not far away from the national capital Delhi, is yet another reminder of almost everyday recurrence of attacks on Dalit communities in India. They encompass, also the grim truth of the complete failure of the Indian state in containing, leave aside eradicating, violence committed against the Dalit communities

11November, 2010

Caste'ing Live Chitradurga's Madigas And Nayakas

By Anand Teltumbde

Caste in India is a terrible thing. It can surface anywhere in a weirdest manner and forms. In the Chitradurga district of Karnataka, famed for the rule of Nayakas, the chieftain whose descendents have strangely found a place in the schedule for Tribes, prepared by the independent India to do them social justice, it still survives in its pristine glory

05 November, 2010

CasteAnd Caste-Based Discrimination Among

Indian Muslims - Part 4 -

Early Anti-Aryan Movements in India

By Masood Alam Falahi

Part 4 of Masood Alam Falahi's Urdu book Hindustan Mai Zat-Pat Aur Musalman ('Casteism Among Muslims in India')

04November, 2010

Caste and Caste-Based Discrimination

Among Indian Muslims - Part 3

The Impact of the Aryan Invasion of India

By Masood Alam Falahi

Part 3 of Masood Alam Falahi's Urdu book Hindustan Mai Zat-Pat Aur Musalman ('Casteism Among Muslims in India')

03 November, 2010

Caste And Caste-Based Discrimination

Among Indian Muslims - Part 2

Translated from Urdu by Yoginder Sikand

This is a translation of Dr. Fazlur Rahman Faridi's Introduction to Masood Alam Falahi's Urdu book Hindustan Mai Zat-Pat Aur Musalman -'Casteism Among Muslims in India'

02 November, 2010

Caste And Caste-Based Discrimination

Among Indian Muslims - Part 1

By Masood Alam Falahi

A translation of the first part of Masood Alam Falahi's pioneering Urdu book titled Hindustan Mai Zat-Pat Aur Musalman ('Casteism Among Muslims in India')

27 October, 2010

An Open Letter To President Obama

By Ravikiran Shinde

Your mentor Martin Luther King Jr. visited India when Dr. Ambedkar was alive but met only the then prime minister Nehru and seems to have been kept in the dark about his civil rights counterpart in India and perhaps never came to know about him. Please do what MLK couldn't. Get introduced to Dr. Ambedkar and his thoughts and contribution to India's democratic system. This will definitely make your trip a worthwhile in the long run

28 September, 2010

The Stink Of Savanur

By Anand Teltumbde

On 20 July 2010, some manual scavengers of Savanur, a small town in Haveri district of north Karnataka performed a novel act in protest against their helplessness. They smeared themselves with human excreta in public before the municipal council office. The stink of it strangely attracted many, including Pramod Muthalik of the notorious Sriram Sene, the militant Hindutva outfit to the Bhangi Colony and thrown up numerous issues of consequence

10 September, 2010

Casteism Is Racism And India Should

Stop Interfering In 'Internal Affairs' Of Britain!

By Avinash Pandey Samar

Britain, in a major victory for the movement against caste based discrimination and atrocities, can soon declare caste prejudice unlawful under laws against racial discrimination becoming the first country of the world to do so

Nagpur Declaration On Untouchability

And Manual Scavenging

By People's Alliance Against Untouchability

" People's Alliance Against Untouchability " plea for and work towards "National alliance" of all civil societies organisations, academicians, institutes, unions, professionals, students and activists to end all forms of discrimination based on caste and dissent such as untouchability particularly with reference to manual scavenging and other unclean (allied) occupation

Reservations For Indian Muslims:

Conflicting Claims About Caste

By Yoginder Sikand

One of the reasons for the overall 'backwardness' of the Indian Muslims is undoubtedly the fact that the vast majority of the community are of 'low' caste origin. Further, in contrast to 'Hindu' Dalits, who have won crucial gains by mobilizing on the basis of caste, the Muslim 'low' castes have witnessed no such substantial caste-based mobilization for their rights

03 September, 2010

'We Merely Want To Raise The Curtain'

By Mohd. Noor Hasan Azad & Khalid Anis Ansari

Mohammad Noor Hasan Azad , one of the founding members of the All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz, discusses the contemporary lower caste movement among Indian Muslims

02 September, 2010

Caste, Untouchability And Discrimination

Led To The Balaudi incident

Report of the fact finding team

A joint fact finding report by Dalit Mukti Morcha and PUCL Chhattisgarh

28 August, 2010

Caste Census And Indian Muslims

By Khalid Anis Ansar

A rejoinder to Abusaleh Shariff

14 August, 2010

Bhagwan Das As I Know Him

By S.R.Darapuri

An article on Bhagwan Das, an outstanding Ambedkarite, human rights activist, writer and a living legend

09 August, 2010

HC Verdict On Khairlanji:

Diluting The Design Justice

By Anand Teltumbde

While commuting the death sentence of the six convicts in the Khairlanji dalit killings case to imprisonment for 25 years, the high court did not think there was a caste angle or any planning or outraging modesty of women was involved in the crime. The whole episode reveals, in a microcosm, the character of the state vis-à-vis dalits

06 August, 2010

60 Years Of Constitutional Rights Denied To

20 Millions Indian Dalit Christians

By Madhu Chandra

A million dollar worth question in the minds of Indian Dalit Christians is "Will the Government of India take up Dalit Christian issue this time?" The Supreme Court of India has informed on February 16, 2010 in hearing of Dalit Christian reservation case that Government of India is considering implementing the recommendation of Misra Commission. The commission report has suggested to De-link Religion from Scheduled Caste and Dalits who, irrespective of their religion, suffer caste stigma and Scheduled Caste status to should be given all Dalits irrespective of their religions

29 July, 2010

Because Khairlanji Is Not

Just Another Murder Story!

By Avinash Pandey Samar

Khairlanji is a negation of the very idea of India and its democracy. It is an assault on the basic principles the country is based upon. It shows what kind of a decayed and deficient democracy we have evolved into

27 July, 2010

Elimination Of Manual Scavenging Should Be Made

The National Priority

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

India has failed to protect its own people. It has failed to implement the rule of law as far as manual scavenging is concerned. It is a national shame that the country is unable to eliminate it and that its children are still into this shameful practice. It is time it become our national priority and political parties and social movement takes the issue more seriously and not in symbolic way

24 July, 2010

Empowerment Strategies:

Private Reservations For Dalits

By Dr. K. Vidyasagar Reddy

The Dalits have been discriminated by those upper castes who were at the helm of affairs. It is only after a couple of decades of independence, that they were encouraged to use their constitutional rights. But then, they were denied any job opportunities in the private sector that was gaining strength over a period of time. Meanwhile, the demand for private reservation attracted the attention of policymakers in several states and the Central government

21 July, 2010

Khairlanji Verdict Expose Our National Concern

On Violence Against Dalits

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Khairlanji's incident has proved that our courts have not yet sensitized to the Dalit cause

16 July, 2010

Kherlanji Verdict –What Next?

By Ravikiran Shinde

The Nagpur High Court bench's verdict on Kherlanji of diluting the 6 culprits' of death sentences given by Bhandara session court and refusal to accept it as caste based killings by removing the SC/ST Atrocity (PoA) act provisions proves one thing - There is no support for Dalits in any form. They incur Social Apathy, Police Apathy, Government Apathy, Media Apathy and now the Judicial Apathy

14 July, 2010

Counting Castes: Advantage Ruling Class

By Anand Teltumbde

Anand Teltumbde argues that counting caste can never benefit people; it benefits only the ruling classes

09 July, 2010

Dalit Woman Humiliated And Victimized

In Allahabad

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Her one eye is completely turned red at the moment as the upper caste goons threw slippers at her. The entire body bears the brunt of the brahmanical violence on July 3rd, 2010 at the Sheetalpur Tikari village under Tharwai police station in Allahabad. Her cloths were torn and the goons tried to pee on her mouth but the police kept her in the police station for 24 hours and try to deny anything like that happened

13 June, 2010

Who's Afraid Of Caste Census?

By Kancha Ilaiah

Let all castes — not just OBCs — be counted for strengthening our democratic system. I know that even mine is a blind-spot theory but it may have the effect of an antidote

11 June, 2010

Whither Dalit Politics?

By Neerja Dasani

Reflections on Dalit identity and politics in the context of a documentary film festival held in Chennai called 'Imaging Dalit Reality: Politics of Visual Representation'

24 May, 2010

Mr. Bachchan, Caste And Being An Indian First

By Joseph D'souza

According to Bollywood star Mr. Amitabh Bachchan being an Indian first means not to believe in caste. That could be one great definition of being an Indian first and putting India first. Yet when Mr. Bachchan told the census enumerators that he does not believe in caste and is an Indian first, did he unwittingly reveal the discomfiture the privileged castes feel in coming to terms with the caste issue in modern India?

10 May, 2010

Who Is Afraid Of Caste Census And Why?

By S.R.Darapuri I.P.S. (Retd)

Actually higher Castes are allergic to the Caste Census because it will expose their low numbers and the share of development and national wealth they have usurped at the cost of lower Castes. Their fear is further accentuated by the probable high number of OBCs who are bound to demand a greater share in services and benefits of development and national wealth. That is why higher Castes are afraid of Caste Census

10 May, 2010

Modi Vomits Caste Venom

By Dr. Anand Teltumbde

On 25 April 2010 Narendra Modi is reported to have observed while releasing his book Samajik Samrasata that Dalits were like mentally retarded children. Earlier, Modi had said that Valmiki community was involved in manual scavenging for a "spiritual experience"

07 May, 2010

Where Is Brahmeshwar Singh 'The Great'?

By Subhash Gatade

Myth of the Misuse of Laws meant for the protection of dalits and tribals

03 May, 2010

Manual Scavenging: Must Be Eradicated

Right Away

By Ram Puniyani

Manual Scavenging was officially supposed to have been banned in 1993 by the Government of India. Official lapses and apathy apart, the surveys by the activists working against this practice show that even now over 14 lakhs of scavengers are still suffering ignominy and nearly 95% of these workers are women

29 April, 2010

Interview: Iqbal Ahmad On Dalit-Muslim Unity

By Yoginder Sikand

Bangalore-based advocate Iqbal Ahmed Shariff is an activist associated with the Bahujan and Dalit-Muslim unity movements. Author of numerous books in Urdu, he was also the editor of the Urdu and Hindi Dalit Voice. In this interview he talks with Yoginder Sikand on a wide range of issues, including Dalit-Muslim unity and the problems of the Muslim leadership in India

25 April, 2010

Why No Dalit Personal Law?

By Prabhat Sharan

Recently in a seminar "Modernity, Tradition and Resistance in South Asia," organized by Mumbai University, during an informal talk, a radical sociologist, Dr. Neshat Quaiser from Jamia Millia Islamia Central University, raised a startling proposition and a query. Dr. Quaiser's proposition was that since Dalit community has always been outside the realm of Hindu fold and the Brahmanical structure, Dalits should have their own Personal Law since they have an independent identity

20 April, 2010

Pakistan's Dalits Demand Their Rights

By Zia Ur Rehman

Long accustomed to discrimination, Pakistan's Hindu Dalits are fighting a new form of harassment that is driving them from their ancestral villages in the Tharparkar District of Sindh. About 70 Dalit families have left to protest the growing incidence of kidnapping of their young women. The kidnapping typically leads to rape or forced conversion to Islam and marriage

15 April, 2010

Ambedkar's Idea Of A Humanist India

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Ambedkarism is an idea for all democratic struggle who are fighting for social justice and support equality, liberty and fraternity. Let the tribes of Ambedkarites grow and work for social change and human rights. Let it reach on every nook and corner of the country to develop it as 'Prabuddha Bharat', as Baba Saheb had visualized so that people do not pick up guns to counter any hegemony but arguments to demolish historical myths of the ruling elite. It is the right moment in our history and we have to accept the challenge and use Ambedkar's thought to develop counter culture of democracy, freedom and humanism

13 April, 2010

Mayawati's Mega Service To The Nation

By Anand Teltumbde

Every other move of Mayawati has shattered the sanitized sensibility of middle India and left it gasping for the expression. It invariably ended, "Oh, it is too much!" Whether it is her mega memorials or her rallies, her style evokes stunning responses of this kind. The point to ponder is whether, beyond her deliberately designed-for-Dalit demeanour, there is anything essentially novel or unique. The answer would be in definite negative. Mayawati is essentially the product of the system and she represents it in full measure albeit in her inimitable way. Insofar as it appears excessive, it only helps us to see the system in its naked form

11 April, 2010

Dimensions Of The Revolution Against Casteism

A Preliminary PROUT Synthesis

The UN Human Rights Commission in October 2009 declared casteism as a form of human rights abuse and has begun the process of criminalizing casteism. However, this will not end casteism in South Asia. The UN can only create a little pressure internationally. To annihilate casteism (jati pranasha), an internal revolution is required

18 March, 2010

Sree Narayana Guru, The Left, And Chitralekha

By Joe.M.S.

In spite of the cultural specificities of northern Kerala where these atrocities were perpetrated on Chitralekha, I think a general study of the impact of Srinaraynism on the whole of Kerala may be of some help to analyse the increasing backward caste arrogance on Dalits. This is particularly so as the discourse on the assumed efficacy of SriNarayana Guru's metier is invoked constantly by the civil society of Kerala, eternalising his importance in all spheres. So I think, a glance at the impact of his life and efforts can shed light on the of the constitution/ construction of modern Ezhava identity and the problems associated with it

17 February, 2010

Jayaram And Tamil: Some Scattered Thoughts

On The Anti-Black Mass Culture In Kerala

By Joe MS

The recent 'jest 'of film star Jayaram against the Tamil as black skinned , buffalo like and therefore less human has been taken as just a joke by the cultural scene of Kerala. Not only that sympathy was expressed for the poor victim that he is, inadvertently cracking an innocent joke and thereby exposing himself to the ire of 'violent' Tamil,even solidarity was expressed with the right to crack such jokes by the 'ordinary folks'. The latent ideological and cultural premises hidden behind this whole controversy needs to be enquired into to understand the reality

07 February, 2010

Three Idiots: A Film With A Message

By Dr. Shura Darapuri

The film "Three Idiots" is a great satire on the education system and the attitude of society. It tells us rote learning can be very harmful and why and how a casteistic eduactional system promotes it

19 January, 2010

Trade, Corporate Market And Indigenous People

By Goldy M. George

The Copenhagen drama is over. Nothing came out of it. It was predicted the same by many expert and many intellectuals, activists, professional experts kept a distance from this proscenium. But what is that concerns the ordinary people of this nation? How does market and market values related with people at large and particularly the Dalits, Adivasis and the exploited sections of Indian society? What is the correlation between trade, corporates, market and indigenous communities of this land who still have the noble quality of surviving on a minimum basis?

Dalit: Towards The Search For

Alternative Strategies

By Rajkumar

This paper argues for the need for some strategies that suits the emerging scenario in the given context of democratic space available in the Indian and the mass psychology. I try to portrait a frame of analysis for this argument which needs further debate and refinement at various circles and level

11 January, 2010

"Honouring Dalits With Blood"

By Pardeep Singh Attri

A look into the increase in the number of Khap Panchayat's illegal decrees, 'fatwas' against Dalits

04 January, 2010

Salute To Women Liberator - Savitribai Phule-

On Birthday, 3rd January

By Pardeep Singh Attri

It is indeed a measure of the ruthlessness of elite-controlled knowledge-production that a figure as important as Savitribai Phule fails to find any mention in the history of modernIndia. Her life and struggle deserves to be appreciated by a wider spectrum, and made known to non-Marathi people as well

01 January, 2010

1st January, 1818: 'The Battle Of Bhima Koregaon'

By Pardeep Singh Attri

January 1st 1818, when everyone around the world was busy in celebrating the 'new year', when everyone was in cheerful mood, but not for a small force of 500 untouchable soldiers were preparing them to for battleground. Who knows this battle is going to write future of 'Brahmin Peshwa Baji Rao-II'? It wasn't just another battle; it was a battle for self respect, esteem and against the supremacy of Manusmriti. This battle is important in history, as everyone know that after this battle rule of 'Peshwa Rao' ended

Tribal Rights

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

I can only wish if the tribal had their own Kanshi Ram who could have made them emerge as an independent entity and not look for messiahs. Dalits in India salute Kanshiram for this political contribution that he has made them an entity where they can stand at their own in this democratic polity. Tribal need political leaders who can stand at their own and fight their battle at their own and not look for imported messiahs. Once they have this, they will win the democratic battle and their own survival as their political class will not remain unaccountable as it seems today

28 December, 2009

Salute To The Indefatigable Spirit Of Struggle Of

Subedar Jasram

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Struggle of Subedar Jasram to get justice for over 150 landless Dalit families in Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar

22 December, 2009

Bhagat Singh On Dalit Question

By Ashok Yadav

Bhagat Singh's article 'Achoot Samasya' (The Untouchability Problem) is very important because we get glimpses of his revolutionary thoughts on this basic problem of Indian society. Now when in the post-mandal phase caste and dalit questions have acquired paramount importance in socio-political discourse it has become relevant to understand his thoughts on this question

17 December, 2009

Kerala's So Called Dalit Terror: How A Dalit Minister

Turns Against His Own Community

By B.R.P Bhaskar

Inquiries have revealed that Balan, who is himself a Dalit, turned down the proposal for a visit to Thoduve by a team headed by the chief minister, saying it was impractical. He termed the proposal for rehabilitation of the colony residents also as impractical. He effectively killed the proposal for an impartial inquiry into the police conduct by referred it to the DGP

16 December, 2009

Udit Raj's Fast For Reservation In Private Sector

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Udit Raj on fast unto death against non implementation of reservation in private sector

14 December, 2009

Savarna Terror Erupts In Kerala

By J Devika

Dalits are on the receiving end in Kerala, be it from the police, sangh parivar or the so called saviours of the downtrodden, Communist Party of India (Marxists)

10 December, 2009

How Long Casteism?

By Garda Ghista

The Times of India on December 7 reported that Dalits in Gujarat are banned from Hindu temples. Yet, they are Hindu, isn't it? If they are banned from their own Hindu temples, then why on earth should they remain Hindus? Better they become Buddhist, Christian or Muslim. Tragically, even by converting to one of these other religions, they remain Dalits. We have here in India such a thing as Dalit Christians and upper caste Christians. Is it not mad? If I tell this to friends back in America, their jaws will drop in disbelief

08 December, 2009

The Legacy Of Criminal Tribes Act

In The Present Context

By Goldy M. George

How long the criminal tribes or denotified tribes are supposed to face the brute inhuman demeanour of the state and society? Do they have any rights of claiming to be citizens of this free nation? It is time to find answers to these persisting questions; or one has to turn to be a fatalist and keep dreaming of the day when everything would be fine automatically

05 December, 2009

Concepts Of Reservation

By Ashok Yadav

The creamy layer concept is nothing but a ploy to protect upper caste hegemony in job and education. It is not without reason that the BJP and the Congress like forces support the creamy layer concept. The democratic forces of India have yet to realise the importance of reservation in job and education to the SC/ST/OBC in their struggle for democratising the Indian polity

29 November, 2009

The Hindu: The Insensitivity Of A Sensitive Paper

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

In a November 27th write up by Praveen Swamy on Mumbai's horrific incidents under headline ' where style has trumped substance' has unnecessarily compared the issue of scavengers with police men

28 November, 2009

Uncivil Society, Apathetic Administration

Fact Finding Report issued by Nagrik Adhikar Manch and Yuva Samvad

The situation in the Gadarwara Sub Division of District.Narsinghpur (Madhya Pradesh) has been in a state of constant flux for the last 3-4 months. The Dalits living in the villages adjoining Gadarwara have been condemned to a life of fear and intimidation.Their human rights and dignity are being at stake

22 November, 2009

Encountering Ambedkar In Hungary

By Pardeep Attri

The Romas, a discriminated minority in Hungary, turn to Ambedkar and Buddhism in their quest for dignity and equality. Pardeep Attri journeys to Sajókaza and Budapest to find out how the Dalits and Romas connect

20 November, 2009

Ambedkar's Lost Boys?

By Ajit Sahi

A dalit organisation in Kerala is accused of terrorist links

16 November, 2009

Feminism And Dalit Women In India

By Cynthia Stephen

Thus, Dalit women are slowly attempting to come to grips with their invisibility in the discourse, and are beginning not just to speak out, but also to theorise and build wider solidarities so as to earn the place, hitherto denied, under the sun

14 November, 2009

Understanding Existential Castes

Through Atrocity Metrics

By Anand Teltumbde

Brief of the paper "Understanding Existential Castes through Atrocity Metrics" presented at the seminar Caste in Contemporary India, Columbia University on 16 October 2009

19 October, 2009

UN Anti-Caste Charter: Annihilation Of Caste

By Ram Puniyani

Today sixty years after Independence and coming into being of Indian Constitution, the prevalence of untouchability and caste practices are a matter of shame for us. It is time we intensify our own efforts to eradicate it and join the global efforts to end this carry over from our past

14 October, 2009

Is It Not Time For The Minorities

To Become The Majority?

By Dr.K.Vidyasagar Reddy

Since the majority-Lower castes are found oppressed socially and otherwise at the hands of Upper castes, they wish to break the chains of Hinduism only to join the religious minorities of Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism as a larger entity. Since the idea is based on apprehensions of the marginalised communities, its implementation would certainly alter the social composition of the majority and minority notions. Ultimately, this larger entity would make them majority for political purpose that would ensure political power over a period of time

12 October, 2009

The Pointing Finger Of Babasaheb Ambedkar

By Dr. Shah Alam Khan

I am sure if he was alive today Ambedkar would have been pained to see the contemptible misuse of money in building parks and statues. Mayawati too needs to learn from this message of salvation and social elevation. Political power is temporary, social elevation permanent. Statues can be a way to display social arrival and arrogance but surely it would be better if the same money is used for genuine emancipation of the most depressed sections of the Indian society

08 October, 2009

Caste And Land : Message From

Chengara And Khagaria

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Both the Bihar and Kerala experience shows how the governments which are in power have used particular ideological formulations to build their own political empire and how they manipulate people's sentiments. Such stories are emerging from everywhere and they will always happen as long as the movements are not democratic and their leaders embedded with a particular formulation dictate their fancies to the people. The condition of both the Dalits and Adivasis remain a matter of concern in all these states whether they come to power in the name of social justice or Marxism

19 August, 2009

Dalits And The Arts As An Intrument Of Repression

By Gauthama Siddharthan

If only we become aware of these evil designs in Art and Literary forms, identify them and understand their layers of covert interpretations and connotations and raise against these, taking all necessary initiatives to expose and destroy them we would be able to save ourselves and our suffering brethren from the cruel and bitter cultural onslaught that has been going on from time immemorial. Only then we can emerge as an emancipated and liberated wholesome human race

18 August, 2009

(De)Meritized Reservation

By Goldy M. George

Howsoever, unsatisfactory the results of the implementation may be, the importance of reservations from the Dalit viewpoint cannot be overemphasized. As could be evidenced by the organized private sector, where it would be difficult to find a Dalit employee

17 August, 2009

Rethinking The Dalit Muslim Movement

By Khalid Anis Ansari

All in all, the crux of the argument submitted here is that Pasmanda Movement (PM) needs to grow beyond quota politics and rethink its abnegation of the social/cultural/economic aspects of the movement. Along with its present accent on democratisation of the state it would do well to also consider the more far-reaching issue of the democratisation of society at large. PM needs to engage in a balancing act between the political and social. This will create the much desired synergy necessary for launching the libratory promise of PM on track

22 July, 2009

Rape As An Instrument Of Politics

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

What Rita Bahuguna said was not an outburst but a continuous assumption of our patriarchical political thought that does not want to address the root cause but use the incident for political purposes

17 July, 2009

Mayawati's Idolization And The Questing Of

Dalit Emancipation

By S.R.Darapuri

The emancipation of dalits can be achieved not by installation of statues but by working out a Dalit development agenda and implementing it honestly. Instead of spending crores on the statues, establishing educational institutions, hospital, libraries and useful institutions in the name of Dalit icons will be a true honour and memorial to them

13 June, 2009

Caste And Democracy In India

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Only 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 Rawat

Punjab 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 Matheikal

Put 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 Rote

Mainstream 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 Gatade

All 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 Ansari

Pasmanda, 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 Gatade

The 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

http://www.countercurrents.org/dalit.htm


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