All posts by subhash gatade

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Hidden in Plain Sight – Problems of Democracy Under Capitalism: Ravi Sinha

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Talk delivered by RAVI SINHA at the International Seminar on “Democracy, Socialism, and the Visions for the 21st Century”, 7th to 10th March, 2014 Hyderabad, India

If one has to say something brief and short about a large and complex subject, which is also a much discussed topic, one always runs the risk of stating the obvious. But one may also chance upon the unexpected and the counter-intuitive. Problems of democracy under capitalism and under socialism have by now a ring of tiring familiarity around them, but they also contain surprises that are hidden in plain sight. While fixing my coordinates by recounting the obvious, my hope is to point towards aspects that may be counter-intuitive to the political common sense prevalent in much of the left and the social movements.

 Let me begin with the status of democracy under capitalism. Popular mind considers them complementary to each other. Ancients – whether in Greece or in India – were familiar with the concept of democracy and, at least in some famous examples, they are also supposed to have practiced it. But the large-scale acceptance and practice of democracy overlaps with the history of capitalism. In addition, the history of socialism of the twentieth century has been such that this association got further entrenched in the popular mind. I will come to the socialism question a little later. For now, let me stay with the relationship between democracy and capitalism.
If I were to say, then, that at the core of this relationship lies a tension that is fundamentally irresolvable, it would appear counter-intuitive to the popular common sense. On the other hand, it would appear obvious to a leftist. On both counts there are reasons to dig a little deeper. Truth is often counter-intuitive for the wrong reasons, but at times it is also obvious for the wrong reasons.
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1933 of 2014 ? : Time to break New Grounds in Confronting Communal Fascism

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( To be published in the coming issue of ‘Critique’ a magazine published by  ‘New Socialist Initiative’s Delhi University team )

The Jew as well as the Christian, the Hindu no less than the Muslim ‘fundamentalist’ plies an ideology of superior difference. Each confronts an inferior and threatening Other . Each engages in the politics of exclusion. Hence each poses a menace to the minority communities within its boundary…For the Muslim militants the Other are the Jews, occasionally Christians and, in South Asia, the Hindus, Christians, and Ahmedis. I know of no religio-political formation today which does not have a demonized, therefore threatened, Other.

The Other is always an active negation. All such movements mobilize hatred, and often harness unusual organizational effort to do so. ..

The cult of violence and proliferation of enemies are inherent in ideologies of difference. All express their hate for the Other by organized violence. All legitimize their violence with references to religion and history. In nearly all instances the enemy multiplies. At first, the Indian Parivar had the Muslim Other for target. It has now turned on Christians.

Profile of the Religious Right – Eqbal Ahmad (1999)

I.

Masks and the Man

Child’s fantasies are endless and unimaginable.

It will wear a mask of a tiger and start ‘scaring’ it’s near and dear ones with a growl and the very next moment would imagine itself to be flying in the air with the mask of a Spiderman. Have you ever noticed any adult -may be completely stranger to the kid – getting annoyed with such tantrums of a child. Definitely not.

What will happen if you tomorrow discover the same group of adults or similar physically grown-up people moving on the streets or herding together wearing similar masks or identical masks? You will have sincere doubts about their mental faculties and if possible, would love to advise them that they consult the nearest psychiatrist. Continue reading 1933 of 2014 ? : Time to break New Grounds in Confronting Communal Fascism →

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Whose “Hurt Sentiment”? On Pulping of Wendy Doniger’s Book: Association of Students for Equitable Access to Knowledge (ASEAK)

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Issued by Association of Students for Equitable Access to Knowledge (ASEAK)

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From Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses to Wendy Doniger’s The Hindus: An Alternative History, we are witness to an increasingly regressive trend of banning books, films and art in the name of ‘hurt sentiments’. However, while in a plural and diverse society as ours where sentiments are routinely hurt, when do certain instances of ‘hurt sentiments’ translate into the clamping down of such ‘hurtful’ narratives, leading to their censorship and banning? The aggressive intolerance towards any effort that challenges the dominant discourse on religion, caste, gender, sexuality, nation, etc. points us in a direction where knowledge produced takes the shape of propaganda. In the face of this attack, let us reclaim our right to think, question, challenge and criticize – the pillars of knowledge production. Continue reading Whose “Hurt Sentiment”? On Pulping of Wendy Doniger’s Book: Association of Students for Equitable Access to Knowledge (ASEAK) →

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Modi and The Art of ‘Disappearing’ of Untouchability

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It is a story attributed to a famous Saint from Middle Ages – a votary of the idea of Brahma Satya, Jagat Mithya (Brahma is the Only Truth, Rest is All Illusion). Once this gentleman was walking with his Shishya (disciple) on a road and suddenly a elephant appeared from nowhere and rushed towards this duo. Abruptly ending his discussion on Maya (illusion) the Guru instructed his Shishya to just run away to save himself. When both of them were at a safe place, the exasperated Shishya asked the Guru, why did he ask him to run knowing well that everything else is an ‘illusion’. Without winkling his eyelid the Guru said ‘Gajopi Mithya, Palayanopi Mithya‘ (The elephant was also an illusion and our running away was also an illusion).

One does not know whether the famous sage had visited Gujarat or not but his influence seems palpable there at least among the ruling elite. If the Guru could ‘invisibilise’ the elephant calling it an illusion, here in Gujarat an age old problem like untouchability could be similarly ‘disappeared’ by terming it a matter of ‘perception’. Continue reading Modi and The Art of ‘Disappearing’ of Untouchability →

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Mirror, Mirror on the Wall ! Who Were Those ‘Bad Elements’ Mr Bhagwat?

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‘Cat drinks milk with closed eyes and thinks the world is not watching it’

(Marathi Proverb)

 I.

Rare have been occasions in recent times that the RSS, with all its anushangik (affiliated) organisations on their toes, is engaged in dousing the fire in which it has caught itself unawares. Reason being the ‘interview’ of one of its own Pracharaks (wholetimer) turned terrorist named Swami Aseemanand which was published in a leading magazine named ‘Caravan’.(http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/believer).  According to the RSS, it is a ‘concocted’ one and has even issued a handwritten letter supposedly written by the interviewee ‘denying’ that any such interview occurred whereas the magazine has stood the ground and has even made transcripts of the said interview and its audio recordings public.

Perhaps with the ‘denial’ by the interviewee the matter should have ended there for the RSS, but this does not seem to be the case. And for reasons which is known to itself, it is trying to ‘clarify’ its stand on various aspects which came up during the interview and is trying to distance itself – once again – from Swami Aseemanand alias Naba Kumar Sarkar, a disciplined activist of the ‘Parivar’ for last more than three decades, who hails from a village in West Bengal. Continue reading Mirror, Mirror on the Wall ! Who Were Those ‘Bad Elements’ Mr Bhagwat? →

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The Unending Amnesia Over Hindutva Terror

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image : Courtesy – http://www.abplive.in

 

 

..[A]seemanand’s description of the plot in which he was involved became increasingly detailed. In our third and fourth interviews, he told me that his terrorist acts were sanctioned by the highest levels of the RSS—all the way up to Mohan Bhagwat, the current RSS chief, who was the organisation’s general secretary at the time. Aseemanand told me that Bhagwat said of the violence, “It’s very important that it be done. But you should not link it to the Sangh.”

Aseemanand told me about a meeting that allegedly took place, in July 2005. ..In a tent pitched by a river several kilometres away from the temple, Bhagwat and Kumar met with Aseemanand and his accomplice Sunil Joshi. Joshi informed Bhagwat of a plan to bomb several Muslim targets around India. According to Aseemanand, both RSS leaders approved, and Bhagwat told him, “You can work on this with Sunil. We will not be involved, but if you are doing this, you can consider us to be with you.”

 

(Reportage : The Believer: Swami Aseemanand’s radical service to the Sangh, by LEENA GITA REGHUNATH | 1 February 2014, Caravan Magazine, http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/believer)

 

‘Law is an ass’ a phrase which was used by Charles Dickens in  ‘Oliver Twist’ in a completely different context today finds a deep resonance in this part of South Asia. And nothing illustrates this better than the predicament of what is popularly known as Hindutva terror. Continue reading The Unending Amnesia Over Hindutva Terror →

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सामाजिक मुक्ति की ज्ञानमीमांसा : स्वामी दयानन्द, विवेकानन्द एवं महात्मा ज्योतिबा फुले के बहाने चन्द बातें

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कल्पना की उड़ान भरना हर व्यक्ति को अच्छा लगता है।

कभी कभी मैं सोचता हूं कि आज से 100 साल बाद जबकि हम सभी – यहां तक कि इस सभागार में मौजूद अधिकतर लोग – बिदा हो चुके होंगे तो आने वाले समय के इतिहासलेखक हमारे इस कालखण्ड के बारेमें, जिससे हम गुजर रहे हैं, जिसकी एक एक घटना-परिघटना को लेकर बेहद उद्वेलित दिखते हैं, ‘हम’ और ‘वे’ की बेहद संकीर्ण परिभाषा को लेकर अपने पारिवारिक, सामाजिक एवं राजनीतिक फैसले लेते हैं, क्या कहेंगे ? आज हमारे लिए जो जीवन मरण के मसले बने हैं और जिनकी पूर्ति के नाम पर हम किसी भी हद तक जाने को तैयार हैं, उनके बारे में उनकी क्या राय होगी ? क्या वे इस सदी में सामने आए जनसंहारों के अंजामकर्ताओं को लेकर उतनीही अस्पष्टता रखेंगे और कहेंगे कि मारे गए लोग दरअसल खुद ही अपनी मौत के जिम्मेदार थे, जिन्होंने खुद मृत्यु को न्यौता दिया था ? क्या वह किसी वैश्विक मानवता के तब लगभग सर्वस्वीकृत फलसफे के तहत इस दौर की घटनाओं को देखेंगे और अपने अपने ‘चिरवैरियों’ के साथ हमारे रक्तरंजित संग्रामों पर एक अफसोस भरी हंसी हंस देंगे ?

स्पष्ट है कि स्थान एवं समय की दूरियां किसी विशाल कालखण्ड की वस्तुनिष्ठ आलोचना करने का मौका प्रदान करती हैं। दरअसल जब हम खुद किसी प्रवाह/धारा का हिस्सा होते हैं तब चाह कर भी बहुत वस्तुनिष्ठ नहीं हो पाते हैं, समुद्र की खतरनाक लगनेवाली लहरों पर सवार तैराक की तुलना में किनारे पर बैठा वह शख्स कई बार अधिक समझदार दिख सकता है, जिसे भले तैरना न आता हों, मगर जिसके पास लहरों का लम्बा अध्ययन हो।

Continue reading सामाजिक मुक्ति की ज्ञानमीमांसा : स्वामी दयानन्द, विवेकानन्द एवं महात्मा ज्योतिबा फुले के बहाने चन्द बातें →

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‘Orthodox of All Religions Unite’ – Who is Celebrating the Judgment on Section 377 !

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Our India is a religious country whose overwhelming majority believes in religion and upholds traditions of the east. All religions emphasize on construction of a family through marital relation between men and women, on which depend not only the existence of human race and lasting peace and tranquillity in the society but it also establishes the respected and central position of woman in the society.

The Constitution of the country has rightly described homosexuality as a punishable offence. It is because homosexuality not only prevents evolution and progress of human race but also destroys family system and social relations. Moreover, it is a great danger to public health. Medical research has also found it as a basic reason for the spread of AIDS…

( Signatories : Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari – (Ameer (National President), Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maulana Mufti Mukarram Ahmed  – Shahi Imam, Fatehpuri Masjid, Jagat Guru Swami Omkar Anand- Sanatan Dharm, Gyani Ranjit Singh-Chief Priest, Bangla Saheb, Fr. Dominic Emmanuel, Lokesh Muni- Jain Dharm,  http://jamaateislamihind.org/eng/joint-statement-of-religious-leaders-on-supreme-court-order-on-article-377/

The recent judgment by the Supreme Court which has recriminalised homosexuality might have baffled a broad section of peace and justice loving people but it has definitely emboldened many a self proclaimed leaders of religion and purveyors of morality who today feel vindicated. For them it is a moment of celebration. Continue reading ‘Orthodox of All Religions Unite’ – Who is Celebrating the Judgment on Section 377 ! →

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पाकिस्तान के प्रबोधन शहीद

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14-year old Aitazaz Hassan Bangash is being hailed as a hero for ...

उस किशोर का नाम एतज़ाज हस्सन बंगश था, जिसे आज की तारीख में एक नए नायक का दर्जा दिया गया है, जिसने अपनी शहादत से हजारों सहपाठी छात्रों की जान बचायी। तालिबानी ताकतों के प्रभुत्ववाले पाकिस्तान के खैबर पख्तुनवा सूबे के शिया बहुल इलाके के एक इब्राहिमजई स्कूल का विद्यार्थी एतज़ाज उस दिन सुबह अपने चचेरे भाई मुसादिक अली बंगश के साथ स्कूल जा रहा था जब रास्ते में मिले एक शख्स को देख कर उनके मन में सन्देह प्रगट हुआ। उन्हीं के स्कूल यूनिफार्म पहना वह युवक उनके ही स्कूल का रास्ता पूछ रहा था। बाकी बच्चे तो वहां से भाग निकले, मगर कुछ अनहोनी देख कर एतज़ाज ने उसे ललकारा, इस हड़बड़ी में उस आत्मघाती बाम्बर ने बम विस्फोट किया। दोनों की वही ठौर मौत हुई और दो लोग घायल हुए। मालूम हो कि उस दिन सुबह की स्कूल असेम्ब्ली के लिए लगभग दो हजार छात्र एकत्रित थे। इस आतंकी हमले के लिए लश्कर ए झंगवी नामक आतंकी संगठन ने जिम्मेदारी ली है।
अपने बेटे की मृत्यु पर उसके पिताजी मुजाहिद अली का कहना था कि यह सही है कि मेरे बेटे ने उसकी मां को रूला दिया, मगर उसने सैकड़ों उन माताओं को अपनी सन्तानों के लिए रोने से बचाया और उसके लिए उसकी मृत्यु का शोक नहीं बल्कि उसकी जिन्दगी को हमें मनाना (celebrate) चाहिए। Continue reading पाकिस्तान के प्रबोधन शहीद →

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आरोन श्वार्त्झ: मुक्त सूचना आन्दोलन का पहला शहीद (1986 –2013)

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बीते शनिवार 11 जनवरी को इण्टरनेट की आज़ादी के कार्यकर्ता आरोन श्वार्त्झ की पहली बरसी थी। बीती 11 जनवरी को आरोन ने अपनी जीवनलीला खुद समाप्त की थी। मेसेच्युएटस इन्स्टिटयूट आफ टेक्नोलोजी के नेटवर्क का इस्तेमाल कर लाखों अकादमिक लेख डाउनलोड करने के लिए – जिन्हें वह मुफ्त उपलब्ध करना चाहता था – उस पर मुकदमा शुरू होनेवाला था। उसे 30 साल की कैद की सज़ा होती और काफी जुर्माना देना पड़ता। रविवार को हैकर ग्रुप ‘अनानिमस’ ने एमआईटी की कई वेबसाइटस् पर हमला कर उस पर आरोन पर मुकदमा चलाने के उसके निर्णय के खिलाफ मेसेज लिखे और इण्टरनेट नियमन में सुधार की मांग की। मेसेज में लिखा गया था ‘‘इस शोक की घड़ी में हम आवाहन करते हैं कि एक मुक्त एवं निर्बंधमुक्त इण्टरनेट के प्रति अपनी समझौताविहीन प्रतिबद्धता के लिए, जिसे किसी सेन्सरशिप का सामना न करना पड़े और जिस तक सभी की सुगम एवं आसान पहुंच हो, हम नए सिरेसे संकल्पबद्ध हों।’ सप्ताह के अन्त में श्वार्त्झ से जुड़े कार्यकर्ताओं के एक समूह ने ‘न्यू हैम्पशायर रिबेलियन’ की शुरूआत की जिसके तहत वह सरकारी भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाफ जनजागृति हेतु दो सप्ताह की यात्रा करेंगे। इस मार्च का अन्त डोरिस ‘ग्रेनी डी’ हेडोक के जनमदिन पर समाप्त होगा जिन्होंने वित्तीय सुधार की मुहिम के तहत 90 साल के उम्र में संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका की पैदल यात्रा की थी।

यहां प्रस्तुत है वह आलेख जिसे मैंने ‘सूचना आन्दोलन के इस पहले शहीद’ के सम्मान में पिछले साल लिखा था : Continue reading आरोन श्वार्त्झ: मुक्त सूचना आन्दोलन का पहला शहीद (1986 –2013) →

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‘आप’ से मुलाक़ात

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दुनिया के सबसे बड़े लोकतंत्र कहे जानेवाला हिन्दोस्तां और दुनिया के सबसे ताकतवर लोकतंत्र में शुमार संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका – जो पिछले दिनों बिल्कुल अलग कारणों से आपस में एक नूराकुश्ती में लगे हुए रहे हैं – के दो अहम शहर न्यूयॉर्क और दिल्ली, पिछले दिनों लगभग एक ही किस्म के कारणों से सूर्खियों में रहे। अगर न्यूयॉर्क में मेयर पद पर डी ब्लासिओ का चुनाव और उनका शपथग्रहण, जिन्होंने 12 साल से कायम रिपब्लिकन नेता को बेदखल किया, और सबसे बढ़ कर उनका प्रोग्रेसिव एजेण्डा सूर्खियों में रहा तो सूबा दिल्ली में एक साल पुरानी पार्टी ‘आप’ (आम आदमी पार्टी) के नेता अरविन्द केजरीवाल और उनकी टीम ने सूर्खियां बटोरी।

दोनों को एक तरह से आन्दोलन की ‘पैदाइश’ के तौर पर देखा गया।

दो साल पहले अमेरिका में ‘आक्युपाई वॉल स्ट्रीट’ के नाम से खड़े आन्दोलन ने आर्थिक विषमता पर बहस को एक नयी उंचाई दी थी, जब उसने 1 फीसदी बनाम 99 फीसदी का नारा दिया था, हजारों लोगों की सहभागिता ने और उनके अभिनव तौरतरीकों ने पूरी अमेरिका के मेहनतकशों में नयी ऊर्जा का संचार किया था। डेमोक्रेट पार्टी से जुड़े शहर के वकील डी ब्लासिओ ने आन्दोलन की हिमायत की थी, एक अस्पताल की बन्दी को लेकर चले विरोध प्रदर्शन में उनकी गिरफ्तारी भी हुई थी। मेयर पद के लिए चले चुनाव प्रचार के दिनों में ही उन्होंने रईसों पर अधिक कर लगाने की बात की थी और ‘रोको और तलाशी लो’ जैसे न्यूयॉर्क पुलिस के विवादास्पद कार्यक्रम को चुनौती दी थी। वहीं अरविंद केजरीवाल , जनलोकपाल के लिए चले आन्दोलन जिसे लोकप्रिय जुबां में ‘अण्णा आन्दोलन’ कहा गया, उसके शिल्पकार कहे गये Continue reading ‘आप’ से मुलाक़ात →

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Condemn Attack on AAP Headquarters, Defend Freedom of Expression, Oppose Politics of Hurt Sentiments : New Socialist Initiative

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New Socialist Initiative Condemns Attack on AAP Headquarters

New Socialist Initiative condemns the attack on the headquarters of AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) office at Kaushambi, Ghaziabad by vigilantes of the Hindutva Brigade and demands stern action against the culprits. Given the inordinate delay by the police in reaching the place and nabbing the hooligans in the case of an emergent political party and high-profile politicians, one can only imagine the safety and security of common citizen under such dispensation.

It is distressing that each time any individual or group has expressed views on the violation of human rights by Armed Forces protected by the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act, frenzied jingoism by the rightwing forces as well as by the print and electronic media turn to the rhetoric of hurt sentiments. It is equally distressing that the Aam Aadmi Party too succumbed to such jingoism, found it necessary to distance itself from Prashant Bhushan and turned the question of human rights violation by the armed forces into a question of national integrity. Continue reading Condemn Attack on AAP Headquarters, Defend Freedom of Expression, Oppose Politics of Hurt Sentiments : New Socialist Initiative →

Culture, Debates, Government, Right watch

Statue of Unity – How the Varna Media is Loving It !

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..The man who belonged to the whole country has now been abducted by Narendra Modi, a pracharak of RSS, the communal organization who the Sardar fought against throughout his life. ..The only purpose of the construction of the Sardar Patel statue which was declared by Narendra Modi after he was anointed as the BJP’s Prime Ministerial Candidate is to collect votes for the 2014 elections in the name of this leader of India’s freedom struggle. It is therefore a downright irony that the RSS pracharak is trying to build the facade of unity by erecting the statue of one of the staunchest opponents of RSS. (Facade of Unity – RSS Abducts Sardar Patel, Pratik Sinha October 31, 2013 |

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History bears witness the fact that the attitude to appear ‘big’ or ‘tall’ so that even posterity remembers you is very evident in every megalomaniac. It is a different matter that due to a poor sense of history, such megalomaniacs cannot even comprehend that thanks to the way they subdued a population, or cleanse it of ‘others’, actually overwhelms the giant monuments they build or the memorials they erect to commemorate their bloody victories. The Halakus, the Chengiz Khans, the Menanders or the Mussolinis of the world are remembered today not as noble representatives of humanity but as its other. Continue reading Statue of Unity – How the Varna Media is Loving It ! →

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When is a Collective ? An Address to High School Students : Ravi Sinha

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Guest Post by Ravi Sinha

It is unusual for school students to be worrying about the “collective”. But, then, yours seems to be an unusual school. When I was here the last time, you were pondering the “continuum”. I find it truly remarkable. To grapple with issues and concepts that are deeply philosophical and at the same time of immense practical value – and doing so at a young age – is an ingredient that goes into the making of great civilizations. In a world that seems to revel in everything that is crass and commercial, and in a country that appears like a continent of cacophony and shallowness, this is not expected of you. You and your teachers must be congratulated for swimming against the tide.

Collective is something that falls between a collection and the composite. There is ample space between these two categories, and where exactly does a collective fall in this space depends on what kind of collective we are talking about. But let us first talk a bit about the endpoints of this space. Continue reading When is a Collective ? An Address to High School Students : Ravi Sinha →

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THE Tejpal WHO IS FAR MORE TEZ! :Kishore

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Guest Post by Kishore

So Tejpal allegedly sexually assaulted his lady colleague in an elevator. Criminal charges have been pressed against Tejpal and it seems sooner or later the woman journalist who may not get another job any time soon will at least get justice.

About time we discuss another TEZpal. This one had also harassed a lady colleague in an elevator. That was in 2007. TEZpal after having asked the woman journalist very personal details about her boyfriend repeatedly had not understood she was “not interested”. One night while TEZpal was the shift in charge of the night shift he tried  kissing and hugging this lady colleague in the office lift.

The woman journalist had reported  the incident to her bosses. An internal investigation was done. Many other journalists were called. They asserted that  TEZpal was indeed sexist and out of line a little much too often. Some old HR exit interviews were brought out. TEZpal was asked to leave.

But, all this was done quietly. This was also an “Internal matter” you see.

Continue reading THE Tejpal WHO IS FAR MORE TEZ! :Kishore →

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नाथद्वारा से मार्कण्डेय तक : भेदभाव के प्रार्थनास्थल

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(image courtesy : jaibheem.net)

21 वीं सदी की दूसरी दहाई में जबकि संविधान लागू हुए साठ साल बीत गया हो और अस्पृश्यता को उसके तमाम रूपों में समाप्त करने को लेकर आधिकारिक ऐलान किया गया हो, तब क्या इस बात की उम्मीद की जा सकती है कि किसी प्रार्थनास्थल पर बाकायदा बोर्ड लगा कर अनुसूचित तबके के लोगों के प्रवेश पर पाबन्दी की बात लिखी गयी हो। अपने विपुल रचनासंसार से एक अलग छाप छोड़ने वाले साहित्यकार एस आर हरनोट पिछले दिनों इसी मसले को लेकर चर्चा में आए, जब उन्होंने हिमाचल के एक चर्चित मन्दिर में ऐसे ही बोर्ड देखे।

देश के अग्रणी दैनिक (द हिन्दू) में प्रकाशित रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक श्री हरनोट ने बिलासपुर जिले के प्रख्यात मार्कण्डेय मंदिर के प्रबन्धन के खिलाफ प्रथम सूचना रिपोर्ट दर्ज करानी चाही क्योंकि वह अनुसूचित जातियों के सदस्यों के साथ खुल्लमखुल्ला भेदभाव कर रहे थे । एक बयान में उन्होंने बताया कि मंदिर प्रबन्धन कमेटी ने दलितों के मंदिर प्रवेश पर पाबन्दी को लेकर बाकायदा बोर्ड लगाए हैं।

Continue reading नाथद्वारा से मार्कण्डेय तक : भेदभाव के प्रार्थनास्थल →

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Rose Petals for Terrorists, Saropas for Hatemongers

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The Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP will honour its legislators accused of inciting communal violence in Muzaffarnagar at a rally to be addressed by Narendra Modi in Agra on Thursday.

The BJP’s legislators in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana, were jailed in September after the stringent National Security Act was imposed on them for their alleged role in the Muzaffarnagar riots…Mr Som, accused of uploading a video on his Facebook wall which reportedly sparked communal tension in the area, was arrested in Meerut on September 21. He is also facing allegations of having made inflammatory speeches.Mr Rana was arrested from Lucknow on September 20 for his alleged role in stoking the violence which left over 60 people dead and rendered more than 40,000 homeless.

 

(http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/bjp-to-honour-legislators-accused-of-inciting-muzaffarnagar-violence-at-narendra-modi-rally-447651)

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It was a gathering not much reported outside the Hindutva laboratory. After their humiliating defeat at the hustings at the centre (Year 2004) it was the first meeting of its kind which witnessed coming together of many stalwarts of the Sangh Parivar to felicitate one among them. One could see all the big names of the Parivar hierarchy— the ex deputy PM L.K.Advani, Narendra Modi and the likes of Togadias and Singhals, and a galaxy of saffron robed sadhus. The programme held in Ahmedabad to felicitate Prof Keka Shastry, VHP leader and a well-known writers’ entering the centenary year seemed an ideal occasion for them to air their views in Gujarat.

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श्रद्वांजलि: ओमप्रकाश वाल्मीकि (1950-2013)

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1997 में आयी वह आत्मकथा ‘‘जूठन’’ आते ही चर्चित हुई थी। उस वक्त एक सीमित दायरे में ही उसके लेखक ओमप्रकाश वाल्मिकी का नाम जाना जाता था। मगर हिन्दी जगत में किताब का जो रिस्पान्स था, जिस तरह अन्य भाषाओं में उसके अनुवाद होने लगे, उससे यह नाम दूर तक पहुंचने में अधिक वक्त नहीं लगा। यह अकारण नहीं था कि इक्कीसवीं सदी की पहली दहाई के मध्य में वह किताब अंग्रेजी में अनूदित होकर कनाडा तथा अन्य देशों के विश्वविद्यालयों के पाठयक्रम में शामिल की गयी थी।

उपरोक्त आत्मकथा ‘‘जूठन’ का वह प्रसंग शायद ही कोई भूला होगा, जब सुखदेव त्यागी के घर हो रही अपनी बेटी की शादी के वक्त अपमानित की गयी उस नन्हे बालक (स्वयं ओमप्रकाशजी) एवं उसकी छोटी बहन माया की मां ‘उस रात गोया दुर्गा’ बनी थी और उसने त्यागी को ललकारा था और एक ‘शेरनी’ की तरह वहां से अपनी सन्तानों के साथ निकल गयी थी। कल्पना ही की जा सकती है कि जिला मुजफ्फरनगर के एक गांव में – जो 21 वीं सदी की दूसरी दहाई में भी वर्चस्वशाली जातियों की दबंगई और खाप पंचायतों की मनमानी के लिए कुख्यात है – आज से लगभग साठ साल पहले इस बग़ावत क्या निहितार्थ रहे होंगे। उनकी मां कभी त्यागी के दरवाजे नहीं गयी।

इस नन्हे बालक के मन पर अपनी अनपढ़ मां की यह बग़ावत – जो वर्णसमाज के मानवद्रोही निज़ाम के तहत सफाई के पेशे में मुब्तिला थी और उस पेशे की वजह से ही लांछन का जीवन जीने के लिए अभिशप्त थी – गोया अंकित हो गयी, जिसने उसे एक तरह से तमाम बाधाओं को दूर करने का हौसला दिया।

Continue reading श्रद्वांजलि: ओमप्रकाश वाल्मीकि (1950-2013) →

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First Terrorist of Independent India

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…Government have, however, noticed with regret that in practice members of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh have not adhered to their professed ideals.

“Undesirable and even dangerous activities have been carried on by the members of the Sangh. It has been found that in several parts of the country individual members of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh have indulged in acts of violence involving arson, robbery, dacoity and murder and have collected illicit arms and ammunitions. They have been found circulating leaflets, exhorting people to resort to terrorist methods, to collect firearms, to create disaffection against the government and suborn the police and military.”

(The government communique of February 4, 1948, announcing the ban on RSS after Gandhi’s assassination)

 

On Nathuram Godse, (19 th May 1910 – 15 th Nov 1949) Advani asserts that Godse had “severed links with RSS in 1933… had begun to bitterly criticise the RSS”. This was flatly contradicted by none other than Godse’s brother Gopal, who was also an accused at the trial for conspiracy to murder. He published his book Why I Assassinated Mahatma Gandhi in December 1993. Speaking in New Delhi on the occasion of the release of his book, Gopal Godse revealed what many had suspected—they had both been active members of the RSS (The Statesman; December 24, 1993).

(Ref : Whitewashing Godse is part of the Sangh Parivar’s sordid game, From: Frontline, January 26, 2013)

 

What could be said to be the first act of terrorism in independent India?

Everybody would agree that killing of Mahatma Gandhi by a Hindu fanatic Nathuram Godse constitutes the first terrorist act in independent India. Godse, a Maharashtrian Brahmin, hailing from Pune was associated with Hindu Mahasabha at the time of Mahatma’s assassination and had his initial forays in the world of politics with the RSS. During his tour of the area Hedgewar, the first supremo of RSS, use to be accompanied by Nathuram , the future assassin of Gandhi. Godse had in fact joined the RSS in 1930, winning prominence as a speaker and organiser.

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An Idiot for PM ? : (Non)Sense of History in NaMo

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‘Though this be madness yet there is method in it’ 

– ‘Hamlett’, Shakespeare

 

The 2014 elections aren’t merely about changing the government. The rhetoric ahead of the polls makes one believe that it’s an attempt at once to change historical narratives handed down to successive generation of Indians. And the man in the forefront of it all is the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

 –  11/11/2013 Blogs-Hindustan Times

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Wordsmiths of the world need to put in their heads or pull in their socks (you may say) to coin a new word which can rather resonate with what goes on in this part of South Asia in the name of political speeches. Should one call it ‘polifiction’ or ‘politainment’ or some similar word.

Perhaps a word exists and this poor pen pusher is ignorant about it.

Anyway, the matter has become bit urgent with the feverish preparations which are going on here for the battle royale which would take place in the year 2014 and the not so silent emergence of NaMo on the national scene and the daily dose of half truths, fiction and complete distortion which goes under the name of oratory. Continue reading An Idiot for PM ? : (Non)Sense of History in NaMo →

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On Transformative Politics: Ravi Sinha

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Guest post by RAVI SINHA

Note: The text below was presented on 27th October, 2013, at the “Echoes of Ghadar” Convergence, Organized by South Asia Solidarity Initiative (SASI) in New York, USA.

Transformative Politics is a large subject and one always runs the risk of stating the obvious while dealing with such things. One can also go entirely wrong. But there is an even greater danger. One may end up offering banalities that are – to borrow a phrase from a famous physicist – not even wrong. In these brief comments, I will try to state what may be obvious but useful to keep in mind nevertheless. And I will also stick my neck out enough to be proven wrong if that serves a purpose.

Transformative politics, in my opinion, is necessarily the politics of the Left. In the era of capitalism, Left is necessarily Marxist, although the term is interpreted variously. In today’s world, Left, despite its historic achievements of the past and despite its global spread now, is not doing very well. Capitalism, on the other hand, despite its recurrent crises and despite our daily declarations about it being moribund, is doing quite well. This describes the basic challenge confronting the Left today. Continue reading On Transformative Politics: Ravi Sinha →