IITs, like many other elite institutes, continue to deny the constitutionally mandated reservations for Dalits and Adivasis in PhD admissions and faculty recruitment under the pretext of merit. Scholar Dipayan Pal, in his article, exposes how merit is just an alibi for upper-castes to maintain their stronghold in these elite educational spaces. He also brings to light how Dalit and Adivasi brethren, despite their dismal representation, fight for their space in these institutes.
Activist Kavitha Kuruganti, in her article, pays homage and explores the various facets of late Debjeet Sarangi – a defender of Adivasi knowledge and heritage.
Scholar Kalyani articulates that the Bahujan movement which was spearheaded by Kanshi Ram Ji was not just political but also cultural. Taking us through the works of BAMCEF, DS4, and BRC – the cultural wings of the BSP – she explains how cultural assertion of the Bahujan Samaj brought a sense of emotional attachment to the followers and gave Kanshi Ram Ji a unique culturo-political standing.
Kasha Tyranski, a High school student, narrates, through this article, the story of how did she end-up doing a project on caste-based Untouchability in India. Besides acknowledging her American privilege, she also tells the importance of leaving one’s comfort zones and learning about modern-day untouchability.
Mansi Bhalerao explains the importance of transcending the ‘savarnite’ imagination of seeing Dalits as only victims of caste and caste based atrocities. She also sheds light on the importance of mainstreaming the Dalit cultural identities such as the Bhima Koregaon, Manusmriti Dahan Diwas, Kabir Jayanti, and Kanshiram Jayanti (to cite a few).
Namit Saxena, an advocate practicing at the Supreme Court, shows in his article the disproportionate representation of upper caste Hindus in Higher Judiciary. The article claims that since independence till 1980 there was no SC and OBC judge at the Supreme court. Out of the total 35 judges appointed since May 2014 there are only 3 women, 1 Muslim, 1 Christian, 1 Parsi and 1 Scheduled Caste, the article shows.
