Bad ideas, Government, Identities

Reading Phule – Now No More Silences!

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“Lack of education lead to lack of wisdom,

Which leads to lack of morals,

Which leads to lack  of progress,

Which leads to lack of money,

Which leads to the oppression of the lower classes,

See what state of the society one lack of education can cause!”

  • Jyotiba Phule

..Most people do not realize that society can practise tyranny and oppression against an individual in a far greater degree than a Government can. The means and scope that are open to society for oppression are more extensive than those that are open to Government; also they are far more effective. What punishment in the penal code is comparable in its magnitude and its severity to excommunication? Who has greater courage—the Social Reformer who challenges society and invites upon himself excommunication or the political prisoner who challenges Government and incurs sentence of a few months or a few years imprisonment?..

(Ranade, Gandhi and Jinnah, Address delivered by Dr Ambedkar on the 101 st birthday celebration of M G Ranade, 18 th January, 1943)

 Introduction

Understanding or rereading a historical figure – whose life and times have impacted generations of scholars and activists – who has been subjected to praise as well scrutiny by best brains of our times becomes a challenging task.  One gets a feeling that whatever has to be said has already been said and perhaps there is not much novelty left. An added challenge becomes when you are face to face with scholars/activists who could be considered experts on the issue having done more detailed and through work on the subject. Continue reading Reading Phule – Now No More Silences! →

Identities, Politics

31st August in Manipur – The day and after: Roluahpuia

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Guest Post by ROLUAHPUIA

In Manipur, most days are not merely a day as they appear in the calendar. Many days in fact are commemorated and remembered and therefore political. For instance, the 18th of June is commemorated as the Great June Uprising by the Meitei mostly led by the United Committee Manipur (UCM) as a mark of remembrance to the loss of 18 lives as a result of the protest over the extension of ceasefire beyond territorial limits between the Government of India (GoI) and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim- Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM). On the contrary, 27th August is commemorated by the Mao Naga as ‘Martyrs Day’ to commemorate the loss of seven lives in 27th August of 1948 for the cause of Naga integration movement. For the last, 13th September of every year is commemorated by the Kuki as Kuki Black Day against the mass killing of Kuki by the Naga militants. What this three different commemoration displays is the noticeable cleavages and ethnic divides among the three ethnic groups of the state. Continue reading 31st August in Manipur – The day and after: Roluahpuia →

Bad ideas, Culture, Feminism, Images, Language, Violence/Conflict

Honour in the Court Room: Arya Raje

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This is a guest post by ARYA RAJE

The Indian Judiciary is often perceived as a progressive institution, perhaps one of the few in which Indians still retain some measure of faith. A recent case in the Supreme Court[1] was lauded for asserting that there cannot be any compromise in a rape case, after the Madras High Court had suggested mediation between the victim and the accused. The decision may be sound, but what passed under the radar was that the judgement was couched in deeply problematic language:

 “These are crimes against the body of a woman which is her own temple. These are offences which suffocate the breath of life and sully the reputation. And reputation, needless to emphasise, is the richest jewel one can conceive of in life. No one would allow it to be extinguished. When a human frame is defiled, the “purest treasure”, is lost. Dignity of a woman is a part of her non-perishable and immortal self and no one should ever think of painting it in clay.”

This is not particularly unusual. Continue reading Honour in the Court Room: Arya Raje →

Bad ideas

अर्धेंदु भूषण बर्धन

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अर्धेंदु भूषण बर्धन,या सिर्फ कामरेड बर्धन को आखिर कैसे याद किया जाए? पिछले साल उन्होंने नब्बे पार किया था.यह एक भरा-पूरा जीवन था और आख़िरी मिनट में शायद उन्हें इसका पछतावा न रहा हो कि ज़िंदगी का कोई रंग उनके देखे से रह गया.क्या उन्हें इसका अफ़सोस रह गया होगा  कि वे भारत में साम्यवाद कायम होते न देख पाए! उन जैसा प्रखर व्यावहारिक बुद्धि का मालिक ऐसे किसी भ्रम में अब हो, मानना मुश्किल है. वे सतत क्रांतिकारी स्वप्नवाले कम्युनिस्ट आन्दोलन के दौर से आगे बढ़ते हुए चिर जनतांत्रिकता के पैरोकार बन गए थे.अगर उन्हें एक संसदीय जनतांत्रिक राजनीति का आदर्श राजनेता कहा जाए तो गलत न होगा. Continue reading अर्धेंदु भूषण बर्धन →

Bad ideas

लाल सलाम कामरेड बर्धन

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bardhan

(Photo : Courtesy – Outlook Magazine)

इत्तेफाक ऐसा था कि 2 दिसम्बर को ही उन्हें सुनने का मौका मिला था।
जोशी अधिकारी इन्स्टिटयूट द्वारा ‘साम्प्रदायिकता की मुखालिफत और जनतंत्र की हिफाजत’ नामक मसले पर आयोजित एक सेमिनार की वह सदारत कर रहे थे। पहले सत्र में प्रोफेसर इरफान हबीब, सईद नकवी, जस्टिस राजिन्दर सच्चर आदि को बात रखनी थी। जब वह मंचासीन थे और बात कर रहे थे तब कुछ पता नहीं चलता था, मगर जब किसी वजह से उन्हें उठना होता था, तब संकेत पाकर पार्टी का कोई कामरेड दौड़ पड़ता था और उनके साथ चलता था।
पहली बार मैंने महसूस किया था कि जिन्दगी के 91 बसन्त पूरे कर चुके उन पर उम्र की छाया अब दिख रही है।

Continue reading लाल सलाम कामरेड बर्धन →

Culture, Feminism

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Bajirao-Mastani” – A Feminist Analysis of Mastani’s Religion and Caste: Deepra Dandekar

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Guest post by DEEPRA DANDEKAR

“Bajirao-Mastani”, a film made by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, released in 2015, has been controversial for all the wrong and Brahminical reasons – the Peshwa’s descendants raising their hackles about the veracity of events surrounding Kashibai’s life and conservative concerns over vulgarity and the attack on the the dignity of a pure Brahmin family. My concerns in this essay are however different. This essay is a feminist analysis about Mastani and about how persons of mixed Muslim parentage are culturally constructed.

What Bhansali perhaps never questioned for a minute, while making “Bajirao-Mastani” was the conundrum of Mastani’s caste and religion, when he conveniently made her Muslim, while erasing her Rajput identity in Hindu India. But he did more. While making her Muslim, Bhansali moreover produces a paradigm of “good” Muslim-ness that can be deemed morally “tolerable” by Brahmin Hindus, when it protects Hindu women from “bad” Muslims, who can then be legitimately killed. Bhansali produces this as a historical saga that integrates “good” Muslims as secondary adjuncts (second wives) in status to primary, formal, upper caste and Hindu family relationships in exchange for protection.   Continue reading Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Bajirao-Mastani” – A Feminist Analysis of Mastani’s Religion and Caste: Deepra Dandekar →

Culture, Genders, Images, Sex

Male Dominance, Exploitation and Hypocrisy in Malayalam Film Industry: Interview with Shakeela by Dalit Camera

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Guest post. SHAKEELA interviewed by DALIT CAMERA

[With English translation of transcript also by Dalit Camera]

DC: In the early 2000’s, your movies were very popular while those of mainstream heroes were flops. At that time, the government places several restrictions on your movies. What is your response to that?

Shakeela: Even I have watched the movies of these big stars. They have the just as much “glamour” scenes. However, they have termed only my movies as soft porn, A-film, Shakeela movies, bit movies, etc. That is because Kerala, in particular, is a male dominated society. Therefore, their domination is very evident. Men are given preference. Even if girls study well, they are never encouraged. In such a place, can they accept a woman from another state achieving such high status? Yes, it true. There were several problems.

Continue reading Male Dominance, Exploitation and Hypocrisy in Malayalam Film Industry: Interview with Shakeela by Dalit Camera →

Education, Sex, Violence/Conflict

An Open Letter to the President of India – Please take sexual harassment seriously

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STATEMENT BY CONCERNED CITIZENS

It is shocking that the Hon’ble Visitor appointed Prof Bidyut Chakrabarty to the Executive Council of JNU on 8 October 2015 and his name now features as a candidate for the prestigious position of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi, if this is accurately reported in the media. [1] Both these positions—either as a Vice Chancellor or as a nominated member in an Executive Council of a University—demand impeccable record of academic excellence and integrity. However, it would appear that a record of sexual harassment does not impact the process of appointments in Universities.

It is well known that a sexual harassment case was made by an employee of Gandhi Bhawan on 4.4.07 against the Director, Prof Bidyut Chakrabarty. The Delhi University Apex Committee on Sexual Harassment vide its report that was tabled and accepted by the Executive Council Resolution No 114 dated 8.10.07 resolved that:

  1. A letter of warning be issued to Prof Bidyut Chakrabarty.
  2. He should be asked to step down from the Directorship of Gandhi Bhawan.
  3. He should be debarred from holding any administrative post in the University for a period of three years.

Prof Chakrabarty was removed from the position of Director, Gandhi Bhawan, Head of the Department of Political Science and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences. Continue reading An Open Letter to the President of India – Please take sexual harassment seriously →

Capitalism, Debates, Government, Metropolis, Politics

Evening out the Odds, Learning from the BRT Fiasco

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The Chief Minister of Delhi has come out with a very practical idea, an Idea, whose time has come as the American would say. Anyone who says that Delhi’s air is a killer is only putting it mildly. The number of those dying of respiratory ailments on a daily basis stands today at 23, this translates to 161 per week, 644 per month and 7728 per year. The figures were half this 4 years ago.

Even if pollution levels do not worsen in future the cumulative effects of exposure to these high levels of pollution will keep pushing up the death rate and increasingly it will be the kids born today who will grow into wheezing asthmatics, inhaling this deadly cocktail of pollutants increasingly becoming unfit, as they grow, for doing anything that calls for even mild exertions. The resultant costs on medical expenses incurred by their families, in the face of the rapid withdrawal of government spend on public health will assume the shape of a horror movie gone real and it can only get worse unless something is done and done fast. Read the full article, published in Catch News, here

Bad ideas, Culture, Debates, Empire/ Imperialism, Identities

Beyond Trumpism and Rumpism- Thoughts on People Against Fascism in Kerala

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The so-called People Against Fascism (PAF), a meeting at Kochi last weekend, will be remembered perhaps as the first open enunciation of neocon anti-Muslim rhetoric in Kerala. This is important considering the fact that even the Hindutva rightwing here is yet to draw on this virulent discourse. The terrible – and sadly laughable- irony is that it is the self-styled social and political radicals who claim that it is a move against Hindutva politics. Continue reading Beyond Trumpism and Rumpism- Thoughts on People Against Fascism in Kerala →

Bad ideas, Government, Law, Politics, Right watch

गाय के नाम पर जनतंत्र वध

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हिंगोनिया गोशाला, जयपुर के प्रभारी मोहिउद्दीन चिंतित हैं। जयपुर म्युनिसिपल कॉरपोरेशन द्वारा संचालित इस गोशाला में नौ हजार से अधिक गायें रखी गई हैं। इनमें 30 से 40 गायें लगभग हर रोज मर रही हैं, मगर कोई देखने वाला नहीं है। वहां न इनके खाने-पीने का सही साधन है, न ही बीमार गायों के इलाज का कोई उपाय। लिहाजा, 200 से अधिक कर्मचारियों वाली इस गोशाला में गायों की मौत पर काबू नहीं हो पा रहा है। वैसे, एक अखबार के मुताबिक अप्रैल में अकेले जयपुर शहर में हर रोज 90 गायों की मृत्यु हुई, जिनकी लाशें हिंगोनिया भेज दी गईं।

याद रहे, राजस्थान देश का पहला राज्य है जहां स्वतंत्र गोपालन मंत्रालय की स्थापना की गई है। लेकिन जयपुर में प्रति माह 2,700 गायों की मौत के बावजूद इस मसले पर मंत्री महोदय कुछ भी कर नहीं पाए। दरअसल असली मामला बजट का है। मोदी सरकार ने सामाजिक क्षेत्रों की सब्सिडी में जबर्दस्त कटौती की है, जिसका असर पशुपालन, डेयरी तथा मत्स्यपालन विभाग पर भी पड़ा है। पिछले साल की तुलना में इस साल 30 फीसदी की कटौती की गई है। Continue reading गाय के नाम पर जनतंत्र वध →

Bad ideas, Centre watch, Government, Violence/Conflict

Release Santosh-Somaru! Enact protection law for journalists, Repeal CSPSA: Statement of Solidarity

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Statement of Solidarity for journalists’ movement in Chhattisgarh

We extend our unconditional support to the journalists’ movement proposed on December 21, 2015 in Jagdalpur district of Chhattisgarh demanding the enactment of a protection law for scribes and immediate release of two reporters Santosh Yadav and Somaru Naag, who were arrested in September and July this year in fabricated cases and charged under Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA). We have seen a surge in the attack on right to freedom of expression in recent times where journalists have been intimidated, bullied and even killed in different parts of the country. This has raised questions over legitimacy of democratically elected governments and is threatening the basic principles of democracy. Continue reading Release Santosh-Somaru! Enact protection law for journalists, Repeal CSPSA: Statement of Solidarity →

Bad ideas, Capitalism, Centre watch, Ecology/Environment, Everyday Life, Government, Law, Left watch, Media politics, Metropolis, Politics, Right watch, Scams, Violence/Conflict

More than 500 jhuggis demolished in Shakur Basti, slum dwellers left on their own to grapple with bone chilling winter.

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Report by BIGUL MAZDOOR DASTA

IMG_20151214_095246

More than 500 jhuggis have been demolished by the Railways in Shakur Basti, Delhi. The demolition took place on last Saturday leading to the death of a six month old child, leaving many injured and an odd 10,000 people homeless in the chilling Delhi winters. The Railway minters Suresh Prabhu is allegedly shocked and unaware. Mr Kejriwal took to twitter to condemn the demolition. Ajay Maken of congress too condemned the demolition. On Monday Rahul Gandhi briefly visited the razed down site where once the shanties stood and thats that! All these electoral political parties have even made what is a tragedy and a very difficult time for the slum dwellers an opportunity of mud slinging onto each other which also doesn’t come as a surprise.

Continue reading More than 500 jhuggis demolished in Shakur Basti, slum dwellers left on their own to grapple with bone chilling winter. →

Bad ideas, Debates, Government

Why media is creating such a panic about juvenile : Kishore

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Guest Post by Kishore

Date of a release of the juvenile involved in “Nirbhaya” rape case is coming close and media is once again has started its vicious campaign against juveniles. It is the same media that declared the juvenile most brutal without any basis. Later they were exposed by statement by chief investigation officer that final charge sheet filed by police did not say that juvenile was most brutal. Some of them did a small story in inside pages to rectifying their mistake of calling him most brutal in headlines for months.

Media and certain section of society are very concerned about the prospective threat posed by Juvenile involved in so called “Nirbhaya” rape case. He will be released on 15th December and many sections of the media are “worried” that what if again he commits crime and poses threat to the society. Same papers are not bothered as what happened in last three years to rehabilitate reform and reintegrate him in the society. Same papers did not raised questions if government has made any individual care plan for him with a long term plan to rehabilitate him. May be they were sure that nothing had been done. In fact they believe that nothing can be done and best option is to keep him in jail for life. They are just waiting that he will come out and commit another crime again so they can say that “we told you earlier” Continue reading Why media is creating such a panic about juvenile : Kishore →

Feminism, Genders, Violence/Conflict

Three Years Later – Women Struggle for Justice and Freedom from Fear: Statement on the eve of December 16th

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Statement by women’s groups, students’ groups, progressive groups and individuals

As 2015 comes to a close, we remember the tumultuous times in December 2012 when thousands of people – young and old – poured into the streets of Delhi in pain, rage and outrage. This was, of course, in the aftermath of the brutal gang rape and assault on a young woman that eventually led to her tragic death. That it occurred in the heart of Delhi, the capital of the country, is a shocking truth that people demanded and the government pledged to change.

Yet, in the three years since December 2012, women continue to face violence in every space they occupy, including their own homes, in public places, on public transport and at workplaces. There have been many attacks on women and girls, some accompanied by huge media coverage, but most taking place away from the public glare. Violence is the weapon used to keep them “in their place” on the basis of their identities, including caste, class race, religion and dis/ability.

These range from sexual assaults and rapes and even murder of adivasi women and girls in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, by CRPF men; on Muslim women in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh; on Dalit women in Haryana, on women from Northeast India, either in their own states or in the places they move to in search of brighter opportunities.

Women occupying workplaces in the informal and formal sectors are facing increasing levels of backlash. From women working in fields, mines or inside homes, on construction sites or tending roadside stalls, to women working in corporate offices, non-governmental organisations, educational institutions, law offices or in the media, countless cases bear testament to the systematic sexual harassment they face at workplaces. While some have taken courage to file cases against their perpetrators, the severe consequences that have had to face from the media and the courts for speaking out are a matter of deep concern. Continue reading Three Years Later – Women Struggle for Justice and Freedom from Fear: Statement on the eve of December 16th →

Bad ideas, Centre watch, Government, Identities, Right watch

डा अम्बेडकर के नये मुरीद

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selfie with ambedkar

(Image : Courtesy – http://www.tehelka.com)

शोषित-उत्पीड़ित अवाम के महान सपूत बाबासाहब डा भीमराव अम्बेडकर की 125 जयन्ति के बहाने देश के पैमाने पर जगह जगह आयोजन चल रहे हैं। इसमें कोई दोराय नहीं कि वक्त़ बीतने के साथ उनका नाम और शोहरत बढ़ती जा रही है और ऐसे तमाम लोग एवं संगठन भी जिन्होंने उनके जीते जी उनके कामों का माखौल उड़ाया, उनसे दूरी बनाए रखी और उनके गुजरने के बाद भी उनके विचारों के प्रतिकूल काम करते रहे, अब उनकी बढ़ती लोकप्रियता को भुनाने के लिए तथा दलित-शोषित अवाम के बीच नयी पैठ जमाने के लिए उनके मुरीद बनते दिख रहे हैं।

ऐसी ताकतों में सबसे आगे है हिन्दुत्व ब्रिगेड के संगठन, जो पूरी योजना के साथ अपने अनुशासित कहे जानेवाली कार्यकर्ताओं की टीम के साथ उतरे हैं और डा अम्बेडकर – जिन्होंने हिन्दु धर्म की आन्तरिक बर्बरताओं के खिलाफ वैचारिक संघर्ष एवं व्यापक जनान्दोलनों में पहल ली, जिन्होंने 1935 में येवला के सम्मेलन में ऐलान किया कि मैं भले ही हिन्दु पैदा हुआ, मगर हिन्दू के तौर पर मरूंगा नहीं और अपनी मौत के कुछ समय पहले बौद्ध धर्म का स्वीकार किया /1956/ और जो ‘हिन्दु राज’ के खतरे के प्रति अपने अनुयायियों को एवं अन्य जनता को बार बार आगाह करते रहे, उन्हें हिन्दू समाज सुधारक के रूप में गढ़ने में लगे हैं। राष्टीय स्वयंसेवक संघ (RSS) के मुखिया जनाब मोहन भागवत ने कानपुर की एक सभा में यहां तक दावा किया कि वह ‘संघ की विचारधारा में यकीन रखते थे’ और हिन्दु धर्म को चाहते थे।

इन संगठनों की कोशिश यह भी है कि तमाम दलित जातियां – जिन्हें मनुवाद की व्यवस्था में तमाम मानवीय हकों से भी वंचित रखा गया – उन्हें यह कह कर अपने में मिला लिया जाए कि उनकी मौजूदा स्थितियों के लिए ‘बाहरी आक्रमण’ अर्थात इस्लाम जिम्मेदार है। गौरतलब है कि मई 2014 के चुनावों में भाजपा को मिली ‘ऐतिहासिक जीत’ के बाद जितनी तेजी के साथ इस मोर्चे पर काम चल रहा है, उसे समझने की जरूरत है।

प्रस्तुत है दो पुस्तिकाओं का एक सेट: पहली पुस्तिका का शीर्षक है ‘ंहेडगेवार-गोलवलकर बनाम अम्बेडकर’ ( http://www.isd.net.in/Publication/Booklet/2015/Booklet-66.pdf) और दूसरी पुस्तिका का शीर्षक है ‘ हमारे लिए अम्बेडकर’। (http://www.isd.net.in/Publication/Booklet/2015/Booklet-67.pdf)

पहली पुस्तिका में जहां संघ परिवार तथा अन्य हिन्दुत्ववादी संगठनों द्वारा डा अम्बेडकर को समाहित करने, दलित जातियों को मुसलमानों के खिलाफ खड़ा करने, भक्ति आन्दोलन के महान संत रविदास के हिन्दूकरण तथा छुआछूत की जड़े आदि मसलों पर चर्चा की गयी है। वहीं दूसरी पुस्तिका में दलित आन्दोलन के अवसरवाद, साम्प्रदायिकता की समस्या की भौतिक जड़ें आदि मसलों पर बात की गयी है। इस पुस्तिका के अन्तिम अध्याय ‘डा अम्बेडकर से नयी मुलाक़ात का वक्त़’ में परिवर्तनकामी ताकतों के लिए डा अम्बेडकर की विरासत के मायनों पर चर्चा की गयी है।

Bad ideas, Centre watch, Identities, Law, Politics, Violence/Conflict

Simply for Making Speeches Some Go to Jail in Kerala: Nasarudheen Mannarkkad

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This is a Guest post by NASARUDHEEN MANNARKKAD

In a democracy, it is beyond argument that court procedures should  be accountable and transparent. If the courts start to give its verdicts relying upon the false made up stories of police and the media influenced by its own make-believe ‘public opinion’, that spells disaster for democracy. There is nothing more dangerous than a manipulated and biased court verdict and that can be fatal to the public trust in the judiciary, which is the only claim for an unelected body to be credible before the nation. Continue reading Simply for Making Speeches Some Go to Jail in Kerala: Nasarudheen Mannarkkad →

Identities, Politics, Right watch

Observing Human Rights by Defending Food Rights of Dalit-Bahujans and Muslims: Sudarshan, Osmania University

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Guest post courtesy DALIT CAMERA

[On 10th December 2015 Osmania University students celebrated Beef festival to mark Human Rights Day in a novel fashion. BJP MLA Raja Singh few days before stated he would kill or get killed to protect the cow. It is strange because the Osmania Uuniversity students had only said they would eat beef which is already available in the market, they never said they would kill cow, but the BJP/VHP was spreading rumours that OU students are killing cow. Print and Electronic media gave a full coverage for the BJP/VHP activists). With threats pouring in from different corners (Police, Judiciary, Administration) OU students organized the Beef festival, and in their support EFLU, TU, UoH organized beef festival. Most importantly TVV organization ate beef in Delhi Red Fort.

Why did OU students hold the Beef festival? Here we present an interview of Sudarshan, key organizer of the Beef Festival in OU for the larger public. The interview was conducted and transcribed by Dharma Teja.]

Continue reading Observing Human Rights by Defending Food Rights of Dalit-Bahujans and Muslims: Sudarshan, Osmania University →

Culture

The ‘Pinga’ Controversy, Caste and Subversion: Sneha Gole

10 Comments

Guest Post by SNEHA GOLE

Recently the song ‘Pinga’, from Sanjay Bhansali’s ‘Bajirao Mastani’ went online on YouTube and the song has given rise to a tide of criticism,  mostly from self-professed ‘Puneris’ and ‘Maharashtrians’. Much of the criticism is aimed at what is perceived as the lack of authenticity of the song – that it is unlikely that Kashibai and Mastani would dance together, that the costumes worn by the actresses in the song are historically inappropriate, that a queen would not wear such revealing clothes and dance like an ‘item girl’ along with a ‘courtesan’ etc. While I am in no ways arguing that the song is historically accurate and I can understand the discomfort of those arguing against the song, the tone of much of that writing is troubling to say the least.

While accusing the director of stereotyping, much of this writing is working from an assumption that equates Maharashtrian to Bramhin. One of the posts even talks about how “no Maharashtrian lady would be caught bobbing her head like that” (emphasis mine). Which Maharashtrian women are we talking about? There is also a distinct racist tinge to the criticisms, with a few posts commenting on Priyanka Chopra’s ‘dusky’ skin as unsuitable for Kashibai (with her fair, delicate, ‘Chitpavan’ looks)! Continue reading The ‘Pinga’ Controversy, Caste and Subversion: Sneha Gole →

Debates, Feminism, Genders

Reflections On The Limitations Of The Call For Full Criminalisation Of Marital Rape: Madhu Mehra

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Guest Post by MADHU MEHRA

I will critically discuss the campaign for (full) criminalisation of marital rape to call attention to ways by which this campaign reduces a potentially tranformatory agenda on gender, sexuality and marriage, to one of law, crime and punishment. There is no denying that there is widespread sexual and other forms of intimate partner violence against women within marriage (including marital rape), and the absolute necessity of criminalizing such violence. Yet, the campaign for criminalsing marital rape is troubling – in terms of the aspects it selectively probelematises as harmful to women and aspects relating to sexuality and marriage that it is completely silent on. It is also problematic for privileging the criminal law remedies, over non-punitive interventions which require a broader engagement with concerns related to marriage and sexuality that are equally hurtful to women.

Let us first summarise the legal position on marital rape. Continue reading Reflections On The Limitations Of The Call For Full Criminalisation Of Marital Rape: Madhu Mehra →

Bad ideas, Culture, Debates, Education, Everyday Life, Language

Farewell to Vidrohi: Pallavi Paul

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Guest Post by Pallavi Paul

[ Rama Shankar Yadav ‘Vidrohi’, was a familiar figure for students, especially in Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. He was a friend, a companion, a comrade, a mentor. Though rusticated many years ago from JNU, where he had been a student, for his participation in a  protest, he had never left the campus of JNU, and had become, over the years, a beloved feature of campus life. His visceral poetry, often heard at protest gatherings, was passed from person to person by word of mouth. A few days ago, he died while marching with his beloved student friends in a protest against cuts in education in Delhi.  Pallavi Paul, a filmmaker and artists, who made short films featuring Vidrohi, remembers him in this tribute..]

Unknown Citizen Vidrohi
Vidrohi as the ‘Unknown Citizen’ at a Protest to ‘Reclaim the Republic’ on 26 January 2013

Yesterday, as I was looking out a window of an old house in Ballygunge, Kolkata- my phone buzzed. I ignored it.  I was in the middle of telling a friend how happy I was to be away from Delhi for sometime. How the sights and smells of a different city were rejuvenating. The feeling of not having a ‘special connection’ with anyone or anything here felt liberating.

Much later, I opened the message from my friend Uday. ‘Vidrohiji passed away’, he wrote. Just three words.  In our conversations with him, Vidrohiji had often spoken about his death. We had revisited the scenario over and over again. Like a dream or a film – it had a grand setting. He had told us “Now that you are recording me, i know that i will say goodbye in the most glorious way possible. Very few people can say that about their death, while they are still alive.” On another day he had said to us, “As my fame has increased, so have the dangers. Now what i need is guarantee. Your records are guarantee against that largest threat of being killed. I say to my enemies, that if you want to kill me – then shoot me in the eyes. Because i will keep staring back at you till my last breath. Your records will help me stare back at them even after I am gone. “

Continue reading Farewell to Vidrohi: Pallavi Paul →

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