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Instead of admitting its mistake, the UGC is trying to muddy the waters further by talking of peer review. A report published in The Hindu has contributed to its efforts. Kamal Chandravanshi investigates

True academic freedom is key to economic development and a truly egalitarian society and is possible only under an independent, publicly funded higher education system. The HECI Bill is deliberately oblivious to this truth and seems to be driven by a brahmanical, corporate agenda of excluding and profiteering, writes Lokesh Kumar

By Prabhu Guptara, Forward Press, 148 pages, Rs 350 (hardback), Rs 150 (paperback)

The Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA) is posing a strong challenge to Brahmanism, the casteism and nepotism of the so-called flag-bearers of social justice and the dwijvad of the leftists in JNU. This student organization, which draws its strength from the ideals of Birsa Munda, the Phule couple and Ambedkar, has field students from the poor, deprived and marginalized castes as candidates for the JNUSU elections. Kanak Keshari wrote all this and more in a letter to Forward Press

Though Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal regard Sangh and its ideology as a serious threat to the country and society, these parties do not have an ideology to counter the Sangh. Kanwal Bharti explains

Despite the support of the savarna leaders and the media, the savarna bandh was a damp squib. The savarnas could not break the Dalit-OBC unity. The claim that the OBCs were with the savarnas in opposing the SC-ST Act proved hollow. But the savarnas did express their hatred for the Bahujans by launching attacks on them. Arun Kumar reports

The annihilation of the Brahmanism and establishment of an egalitarian society were the basic ideals of the ‘Arjak’ movement, led by Ramswaroop Verma. He criticized the brahmanical hegemony over Indian politics, including in the communist parties, but fell short of Ambedkar’s comprehensive vision for equality in Indian society, writes Kanwal Bharti:

Degree Prasad Chouhan has played a crucial role in advancing the cause of the Mahishasur movement. He is a grass-roots activist and lawyer who fights for the cultural and social rights of Dalits and Adivasis. Now the Maharashtra Police have branded him as ‘urban terrorist’. Forward Press reports from Chhattisgarh 

This circular from the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting follows another circular from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to the state governments asking them to use the term ‘Scheduled Caste’ instead

Degree Prasad Chouhan has played a crucial role in advancing the cause of the Mahishasur movement. He is a grass-roots activist and lawyer who fights for the cultural and social rights of Dalits and Adivasis. Now the Maharashtra Police have branded him as ‘urban terrorist’. Forward Press reports from Chhattisgarh