History

Understanding power through caste: Dr. Ambedkar’s contribution to the sociology of law

Dr Babasaheb’s understanding of Indian society was pivotal: he was prescient in the dangers that loomed ahead, even after drafting the Indian Constitution; because caste-based inequality remains deeply entrenched in society and the post-Independence state did not go much beyond providing formal equality to the lower castes and other marginalised communities, Dr. Ambedkar was acutely aware of the continuing presence of upper-caste hegemony from society to politics and from culture to the economy

Tamas and the Shadow Over Empuraan: A Nation Still Disturbed With Itself

Tamas encountered legal and political challenges in the late 1980s. The government attempted to prevent the series from airing. There was fear it would provoke unrest. Now, if Empuraan disturbed us, it should, for who we are: a culture that justifies and forgets.

Jyotiba Phule’s Trenchant Critique of Caste: Gulamgiri

First Published on: 11 Apr 2016On his 189th Birth...

Unique 98th Anniversary Mahad Satyagraha Observances: Samata Din with a Roja Iftar Party

In mirror memory to the Roja Iftar jointly celebrated by Hasrat Mohani and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in Delhi on October 13, 1949, for the second year running, the Muslim community has taken the lead along with Ambedkarite leaders to have collective observances at Mahad

“It’s not Aurangzeb’s grave, but a plot to uproot Shivaji Maharaj’s valour!”

Muslims in Maharashtra, even during Shivaji Maharaj’s time, have stayed loyal to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and even today they still have faith in this land; the current controversy is only to re-establish Brahmical hegemony and take away from Shivaji’s unique valour

A socialist world is possible: 2025 Marx Oration

On the occasion of the 142nd death anniversary of Karl Marx, as has happened each year since March 17,1883 when Frederick Engels had delivered his historic speech at the graveside of his closest comrade and friend at the Highgate Cemetery in London, Ashok Dhawale, CPI (M) Polit Bureau and AIKS National President, along with others delivered a Marx Oration. We reproduce the text below

Hindutva, Caste, and Nationhood: A Critical Review of Madhok’s book Indianisation

February 25, seven days ago, marks the birth anniversary...

Bodh Gaya: Why the Mahabodhi Temple must be handed over to Buddhists

When all progressive political thought have acknowledged Bodh Gaya’s identity as a Buddhist shrine, what stops political parties from ensuring that this demand becomes a reality?

The Story of Shivaji’s Coronation

First published on December 15, 2015The Coronation …“By the...

Savarkar and the Making of Hindutva: Book Review

The substantial work is a studied reference from a multitude of sources in the Marathi language as well as a study on the surveillance by colonial powers

Gandhi, the Flame Eternal

“Unfortunately, we, who learn in colleges, forget that India...

Trending

Related VIDEOS

ALL STORIES

ALL STORIES

From Cow Slaughter to “Public Order”: Allahabad High Court’s expanding use of preventive detention

Through detailed reliance on fear, timing, intelligence inputs, and administrative response, the Court stretches “public order” to justify preventive detention—raising difficult questions about liberty, evidence, and constitutional limits

From FIRs to “Corporate Jihad”: How the TCS Nashik case was transformed from an investigation into a communal narrative

As police probe serious claims of harassment, a parallel story of conspiracy and conversion dominates public discourse

Telangana: Stop forcible ‘re-location of Chenchu Adivasis from Amrabad Tiger Reserve

Adivasis and supporting activists have petitioned the authorities against what they term as the ‘forcible re-location” of Chenchu (PVTG) Adivasis in the Amravad Tiger Reserve and urged a ‘co-existence’ model of conservation

Victory for Forest Rights: Allahabad HC recognises land claims of Tharu Tribes, strikes down decision of DLC

The Allahabad High Court recently struck down a 2021 decision of the District Level Committee (DLC), Lakhimpur upholding the land rights of the Tharu tribe while observing that the authorities cannot short-circuit the existing statutory rights of the forest dwellers by blindly relying on court orders issued before the enactment of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA, 2006). This law recognises the individual and community rights of Adivasis.

Amendment to Women’s Reservation Bill: BJP’s hyperbole on women

The past conduct and ideological moorings of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as that of its parent body, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) reflect not just extreme and exclusivist views on women’s participation but are arguably distinctly misogynistic