Caste – Itisaras

The Fault in our Roots

September 15, 2020September 15, 2020 Shriya Tandon 1 Comment administration, Akbar, archaic, barbaric, Belief, Bigotry, Caste, caste-orthodoxy, clan, communal harmony, community, consent, conspiracy, Constitution, customs, democracy, dogma, education, election, era, feudal, gotra, Gram Panchayat, group, History, honor killing, Indian history, institution, integrity, Jats, judicial, khap panchayat, liberty, modernization, mughal, Mughal empire, Mughal era, orthodox, Panchayat, Polity, quasi-judicial, Rights, social, socio-political, sub-caste, Supreme Court, Tradition, Women

A genuinely liberal culture or one that is advancing towards the thought is a consistent and solid arrangement of equity. In reality, when the government assistance of the populace is entangled in a political tussle of the predominant gatherings of society, it is the equity framework which anchors the fair soul. In contemporary India, the commonness of Khap Panchayats make for risky threats to this equity framework.

History

Remembering Shankaracharya: Lessons from the Jagadguru’s life and work

September 5, 2020September 5, 2020 Editor 0 Comments acharya, adharma, Adi Shankaracharya, ascetic, asura, avatara, Bhakti, bhoga, brahmin, Buddhist, Caste, charvakas, debate, didactic, disciple, Discrimination, education, evil, guru, hermit, heterodox, Hindu mythology, Hinduism, History, hostility, householder, humanity, interpretation, Jagadguru, kamashastara, kapilakas, knowledge, learning, legend, legitimacy, madhyamika, materialist, memory, Mythology, Namboori, opponent, philosophy, proliferation, proponents, Rama, Ravana, Religion, Sanskrit, sanyasi, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, scholar, scholarship, school, scripts, scriptures, shaktas, Shastrath, spirit, story, tantric, teachers’ day, thinking, Tradition, tribute, Vedas, vedic texts

In Shankara’s age, the threat to Vedic dharma was from the evil within and he had to tackle it through intellectual debate or shastrarth. Evil therefore had to be fought with the weapon of jnana or true knowledge.

Culture Society

Socially Conscious Veganism

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 Srijal Srivastava 0 Comments adulteration, agriculture, alternatives, artificial insemination, autism, battle, brahmin, calcium, carnivorous, Caste, cruelty, Culture, Dairy, debate, diabetics, differentiation, Discrimination, disease, economy, egg-based, environment, environment friendly, gene, Health, health benefits, horticulture, indigenous, inorganic, insemination, lactose lactose intolerant, Lifestyle, livestock, meat-eaters, morals, mutation, non- vegetarian, non-vegan, nutrition, nutritionist, omnivorous, oppressive, organic, pathology, personal choice, Plant-based, products, public health, Society, Vegan, veganism, vegetarian

A lot of people today are following or trying to follow the Vegan lifestyle due to its multiple benefits. It is environment friendly, animal cruelty free, and has shown to have positive health advantages. However, as a separate movement, it continues to face its own battles and challenges to find acceptance.

History Society

Dalit Feminism in India

August 26, 2020August 28, 2020 Supriya Kaushik 5 Comments analogy, Bhanwari Devi, Bigotry, black feminism, boundary, Caste, class, dalit, Dalit feminism, Dalit women, Devadasis, Discrimination, endogamous, Feminism, gender, honour killing, identity, Impure, Indian feminism, inter-group, intersectional feminism, intersectionality, intra-group, Male power, Masculinity, Nivedita Menon, oppression, Paradox, patriarchy, sexual orientation, Simone de Beauvoir, social, social constructs, socialization, Toxic masculinity, Untouchable, upper caste, upper class, Women, Women’s movement

As human beings, do we have enough outrage to stand up for the right things even at the cost of our own lives? Because we, as responsible citizens of our nation, owe it to our people. To take a stand for the rights of the marginalized and our justice system that is meant to protect them.

History

Arakkal dynasty: A story of the moors of Malabar

August 13, 2020August 13, 2020 Editor 0 Comments Ali Rajah, Ali rajah beebi, Arabia, Arakkal, caliph, Cannanore, Caste, Chirakkal, coastal state, cultures, currency, customs, diversity, Dutch, economic prosperity, ethnicities, Europeans, islands, Jacob Visscher, K.M Panikkar, kannar, keralolpathi, king, Kolathiri of Kolathnadu, Lakshadweep, letters, Malabar, Malabar and the Dutch, Malayalam tex, matrilineal, moors, Ottoman rulers, Persia, political influence, political power, prince, royal family, ruling house, Sir Evan Cotton, St. Angelo fort, trade, Vasco da Gama

India has a sumptuous royal history of its rulers. From Rajputs to Nawabs to Marathas and Mughals, we have had it all. But the moors of Malabar have another story to tell, another royalty, another ruler.

Culture Society

AMAR CHITRA KATHA- PROBLEMATIC REPRESENTATION OR MERE ILLUSTRATIONS?

July 14, 2020July 14, 2020 Debopriya Bhattacharya 0 Comments 1967, ACK, Amar Chitra Katha, Ananda Math, Anant Pai, British rule, Caste, caste-based colourism, chastity, colourism, comics, community, Culture, dark colours, Devi Chaudhrani, Devotion, female, Feminist Perspective, Folk Tales, gender, goddess, History, india, Indian freedom fighters, Kannagi, Kovalan, light colours, literature, lower caste, Madhavi, Marvel, Melanin, Mythology, Padmini, Parameswaran, Parveen, Politics, protagonists, Rajesh, Ranak Devi, Reena Puri, sati, Silappatikaram, suicide, Tamil Nadu, The Atlantic, Tradition, upper caste, westernisation, Zamindar

Owing to its colourful depiction of history by means of illustrations, Amar Chitra Katha became widely read, gained the interest of the children and, in fact, became a household name. But the depiction of women and the portrayal of caste-based colourism is problematic. It is time we address some of these issues and the impact they may create on the young minds.

Society

Casteism in the Kinnar Community

June 14, 2020June 16, 2020 Shriya Tandon 2 Comments Caste, casteism, casteless, communities, conditioning, deprived, Discrimination, dogmas, family, freedom, gender binary, hatred, Hijras, Hinduism, Humsafar Trust, indoctrination, Kinnar, opportunity, oppression, ostracized class, perpetrator, relatives, Rudrani, self, sense of safety, socialization, Society, stigma, superiority, The Diplomat, transgender, victim

We are more than familiar with the caste-based discrimination prevalent in society. Unfortunately, the stigmatised transgender community is not immune to it either. This article probes deep into the challenges they face, along with many others.

Culture

Theyyam: When Humans Become Gods

January 30, 2020January 30, 2020 Editor 9 Comments Caste, Caste Division, Caste Oppression, Caste Violence, Culture, Dance, Devotion, Discrimination, Folk Tales, God, Indian culture, Injustice, Kerala, Myths, Nature, Revolution, Rituals, Society, South India, Untouchables, Vedas

Today, Theyyam is the remnant of a bygone era when hierarchies were completely
alien; where people, animals and birds equally coexisted. What makes it central to Kerala’s
socio-cultural fabric is its treatment of caste. This art form is where ‘untouchables’ become
Gods.