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The State’s focus on Dalits may have created the rift between the two potential social allies against Brahmanism. But political parties espousing social justice have failed in addressing the question of development among the backward and Dalit castes. This has left most of these castes desperately looking for growth opportunities, and the right wing has smelt opportunity to draw these castes to itself

Omprakash Kashyap dwells on the history, characteristics and weaknesses of Triveni Sangh – the first important organization of backward classes in pre-Independence India

Though I was very young, I found a sadhu promoting consumption of eggs both surprising and amusing. Even today, I cannot stop marvelling at how he tried to transform society. The food of the poor still lacks nutrition and his solution is still valid

I see FP’s seven-year journey akin to writing the preface of a big resolution. With its limited financial resources and sustained by the passion of some writers, FP, even in its new form, is an important achievement for those dreaming of social justice

The credibility enjoyed by Lalu among the forces of social justice and secularism and the positive impact of the development brought about by Nitish combined to produce this victory. The enthusiasm of women of all castes and classes also played a role

‘The stream of the tears of the exploited, the repressed, the ruled, and Dalits, peasants, labourers and businessmen, and the bugle of the sigh of those whose religious, social and political rights have been trampled upon by a minority’

Mandal held the view that the country’s fortunes would not change if only a handful of people continued ruling it; there would be real democracy only when the Backwards, Dalits and women got their due representation in government. He sought 60 per cent representation of these classes, besides Backward Muslims and Christians, in government