A Fine Balance

I have just about finished reading “A Fine Balance”, an excellent novel by Rohinton Mistry. Mr. Mistry writes the story of four individuals who come together for a brief period during the Emergency in India. Two of these individuals are unrelated Parsis while the other two are related individuals, members of the so called ‘Untouchable’ [...]

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Better Language

Pratap Bhanu Mehta says what i have been saying in a few previous posts, but does it more succinctly and powerfully:
The imperative of identifying citizens through communal categories has distinct sources. The first is the understandable proposition that the axis of identity might also define the lines of disempowerment and subordination. These forms of injustice [...]

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How does self interest cloud a debate?

With my daily exchange of emails, i have good meat for the blog. I received this  ”when i say yr self interest i mean that by your background, caste and upbringing you have been schooled to think in a certain way. that interest is not about your personal interest. but your mind becomes brain washed [...]

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The debate continues

Following this previous post, i received this “But one point.  Mayawati is the best thing to have happened in post independence India. Of course, the entire process of gradual elimination of discrimination put in place by the politicians (whom the elites  love to hate, I think because these politicians are different, not enlgish speaking and all [...]

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On the culture of divisive politics

I guess i am on a roll with my political commentary. Here is a comment I posted in response to this commentary on the Sachar committee report:
I find the argument on this post as well as the comment by Nilanjan very enlightening. I am a big supporter for improving the education conditions of the different communities [...]

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Rant on societal faults in India

Last week i posted a rant on reservations, that was originally in response to an impromptu discussion on reservations among a couple of friends. A good friend responded with a defense for reservations, read it : It is all about balance of power.
I agree with you. Reservation might not be best the way for [...]

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Rant on reservations

I posted my view points on the reservation question in India to a group of friends. Here they are reproduced for public dissemination…
You know I am a big opponent to the reservations idea in the first place. It is a lop-sided way to build political constituencies. Some people benefit, while others are either left behind [...]

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