e n

Prof Manoj K. Jha invokes Periyar, the Phules, Ambedkar in Rajya Sabha

‘Periyar, Savitribai Phule, Jotiba Phule, Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar – just look at their shared thoughts and beliefs. Why do our Dalitbahujan thinkers do not think the way you do, the way your resolution does? There is something amiss somewhere. Why is this happening?’

(On 25 March 2022, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rakesh Sinha moved a private member’s resolution in Rajya Sabha. The resolution, among other things, sought establishment of research foundations at the state and district levels along the lines of the National Research Foundation for rejuvenating India’s knowledge tradition. Prof Manoj Kumar Jha, who represents the Rashtriya Janata Dal, opposed the resolution. This is the English translation of a major portion of Jha’s speech, telecast by Sansad TV)

Deputy Speaker, sir, I know that when we people talk about Macaulay, we rain barbs at him. But we should also consider why Dalitbahujan thinkers don’t do that. Why do they believe that Macaulay opened some doors? 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: Prof Manoj K. Jha invokes Periyar, the Phules, Ambedkar in Rajya Sabha

About The Author

Manoj Kumar Jha

Prof Manoj Kumar Jha is a member of Rajya Sabha and a professor of Political Science in Delhi University. He has authored books, contributed to books and journals and writes regularly for newspapers and magazines. Among his books are 'Riots as Rituals' (Manak Publishers, New Delhi, 2009) and 'In Opposition to Silence' (AlterNotes Press, New Delhi, 2009).

Related Articles

Bastar’s aspirational Adivasi schoolchildren have few viable futures
This contradiction lies beneath the language of ‘mainstreaming’. State institutions encourage young people to become disciplined, aspirational, and future-oriented, even while the opportunities available...
CJI’s ‘cockroach’ comment reveals a new version of Supreme Court’s pre-existing attitude
It can be said without an iota of hesitation that in terms of social background, the present CJI belongs to the establishment and, as...
Rajasthan: RSS workers grab temple, Dalit priest seeks Mohan Bhagwat’s intervention
“You say that Hindu community is one, you talk about harmony between castes and you say you are against caste-based discrimination. The RSS has...
Unmissable irony: Celebrate the killing of Adivasis’ ancestors and then hold an Adivasi cultural gathering 
Almost all of their festivals – whether it is Holi, Dusshera or Diwali – celebrate the killing of Adivasis. The gods whom they revere...
Sarhul: Reverence for nature informs this Adivasi farming festival
At a time when the world is obsessed with “Paris Accord” and “carbon footprint”, the philosophy underlying Sarhul offers a simple yet infallible solution...