De-notified tribes are born as Humans but labeled as Criminals. India acquired independence in 1947 but still their freedom and rights are not granted to them. They are one of those who enriched Indian history, culture and social life. They are offenders without offences. Even offenders have rights in legal system of a democracy but they are restricted through legal and social institutions.
The rotten heart of Judiciary : No One Killed Dalits
Our memories of the Gujrat genocide in 2002 is still fresh. We cannot forget the bodies of small children which is lined up and arranged next to each other and I think there is a long history of the killing of children. If you look at the massacre in Kilvenmani that happened on christmas day 1968, 23 small children were killed. All of them were burnt to death.
Constitutionalism: Exception as norm
Reaffirming faith on Constitutionalism, this year, law day was re-christened as Constitution Day. Constitution is a document, which dictates the past, defines the present and shapes the future of the country. It’s the religion of the state.
Students on the Road: #OccupyUGC #FeesMustFall #MillionStudentMarch
The issue of tuition fees and university education seems to go on and on, with new concerns or proposals being brought to the public’s attention on a regular basis. This last couple of months saw the latest in a series of student protests regarding higher education, with thousands of students taking to the streets , be it in India or South Africa, or United States of America, or London, to sum up across the globe, to express their opposition not only to higher fees but also to the so-called ‘privatisation’ of universities.
The Political Decay : Transformation of human nature
What is decay and how political decay today is leading towards a catastrophe that is unimaginable for the present and coming generations. India holds the world’s largest electorate.
‘Dear Mandela’ : A documentary for housing rights in South Africa screened at Mumbai Slum
Dear Mandela was screened at […]
La Quimera : Squatted social centres, an open door to a new society
Their status may be illegal, but their intention is legitimate.
A big banner which hangs over the main door of a huge building announces that we have come to Squatted Social Centre La Quimera.
‘Housing for All’ one one hand and Evicting Slum Dwellers on other
सरकार का 2022 तक घर […]
RTI : Another law to tame political energy of citizens
It has been ten years since RTI Act came into existence. No doubt it is one of the progressive legislations that brought out to public some of the most uncomfortable facts of the powerful. Equating RTI with democracy and other forms of claims are all far fetched.
Landfill protests in Beirut
A widely used symbol of protests in the city of Beirut has been the altered flag of Lebanon with a trash bag taking place of the iconic cedar tree. Though, the citizens confess that it is generating negative publicity but they want to do anything and everything to raise awareness among fellow citizens and instil consciousness among the already paralysed polity of the country.
Understanding estrangement amongst cattle rearers in Barul, Maharashtra
“What will you do with the information”, she looked at us intently and asked, “will you help us?” I didn’t have an answer to Lakshmi’s question. Honestly, even I wasn’t sure about what I was going to do with the information, what I was certain about and stumbled to accept was that I was not going to be of any help to them.
Raul Castro, Cuban President at 70th UN General Assembly
It was 70 years ago that on the behalf of their peoples the member states of this organisation signed this charter. We pledged ourselves to preserve the future generation from war and build new type of relationships guided by set of principles and purposes that should bring about an era of peace and justice and development for all of humanity.
Mob Justice among communities in North East India
Mob justice refers to putting a person to death, eviction of a person and destruction of one’s property or undressing and beating suspected criminals without following the law. This denies the accused person a right to a fair hearing before a competent court and in many cases, a right to life.
Skill and Growth in Indian Context
Skill is defined as a set of capabilities and abilities that are developed by a person over a period of time. These are acquired through a process of skill development that involves deliberate effort, disciplined approach and most importantly sustained sincerity.
TISS, Mumbai Student Union: Manipur Tribal Land Rights & State Violence
Tribal students of Manipur, TISS Mumbai with their university Students’ Union organized a candle light vigil to pay tribute to the tribal martyrs and to condemn the inhuman violence of the state towards innocent tribals.
A fisherman, farmer and displaced labour from Narmada Valley
With lapse of ordinance on land acquisition, all the land acquired by the state from farmers, fisherman stands invalid, and the ownership of the land returns to them according to section 24(2) of the land acquisition and rehabilitation and resettlement law.
Sena, Cobrapost and the ‘eerie’ Political Silence in Bihar
In these days of high profile political campaigning and mud slinging in Bihar, it is ironic how no political party, worth its salt, has raised any concern on the blatant and unapologetic confessions made by members of the Ranveer Sena (“Sena”) in the videos released by Cobrapost.
The State Playing God and Magician : Thoughts after Yakub Memon’s Death
With a finality that only history possesses, Yakub Abdul Razak Menon, an accused in the Bombay blast case, has transformed for many over the last few days, including me, into just Yakub. His name pronounced with a deep felt sadness that has come to characterize so many of our days. Days leading to terrible, terrible nights.
30 Years of Narmada Struggle : Jeevan Adhikar Satyagraha, Badwani, Madhya Pradesh
The Narmada Bachao Andolan has begun an indefinite Jeevan Adhikar Satyagraha amidst thousands of oustees at Rajghat, Badwani against the illegal displacement and destruction by the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
है तमाशा ये क्या ! १ अगस्त : अण्णाभाऊ साठे जयंती
जहाँ आज की मीडिया प्रजातान्त्रिक हुकूमत के सामने रेंगती हुई पाई जाती है, जो किसी के शमशान की यात्रा को या तो अनेक रंगों से सबोरती है या अपना कैमरों में ही कफ़न लगा देती है, वो समय जहाँ सरकार कलाकारों से लेकर हर वो स्वतंत्रता के मंजर पर प्रतिबन्ध लगाने पे तुली हैं, अण्णाभाऊ की लोक तमाशा एक मार्गदर्शक के रूप में नजर आती है
Bodoland : A malaise deeper than ‘communal’ issue
Last year, Assam saw two notorious events that killed more than 100 people. There were no statements from any organisation, but it was widely believed that the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit faction) was responsible – this belief might have largely been driven by media reports.
A Poem by a Woman
I poop. I have hair everywhere.
Above my lips and below them.
I have hair in places you always thought had none.
I have hair in places you want to visit, check out.
Sunil Yadav vs BMC: Degrees of Safai Karamchari-A case of Big Boot
You have become too big for your boots now’ said the builder to me. This was probably the first time in my life that I came to face the harsh realities of the caste system.
FTII: The Liberal-Sanghi farce
The FTII imbroglio is following the same imbecilic trajectory that most meritoriously ignorant liberals of this farce called India adopt. I say adopt, because following such a trajectory is an act of conscious willfulness.
English