This has been in the making for several years now - trying to identify the causal chain from ideas to action, especially since the first reading of Foucault. The ongoing trouble in colleges and universities of Delhi presents a case to reflect upon this causal chain. There comes a phase in student life when encounters … Continue reading Reading Foucault & thinking college activism
Tag: Politics
When bad guys get elected
Here is a quick take on the electoral process prompted by a twitter conversation with a friend. This first appeared on Lokniti blog. This polemical piece is a consequence of a twitter conversation with another MPP grad (@suhasd1988) on an article in NYT by Maskin and Sen that he shared. The authors explain how a … Continue reading When bad guys get elected
Engaging Modern Indian Political Thought – A discussion
'The problem with Indian scholarship is that it lacks a robust, critical biographical tradition' - This remark was made by historian Ramachandra Guha who spoke at the university this week on modern Indian political thought. It is striking because I have often felt the absence of scholarship on several forgotten heroes of Indian independence as well … Continue reading Engaging Modern Indian Political Thought – A discussion
On a lesser hero of Indian Politics – Lohia and Caste in Indian Politics
The following is a review of political thoughts and writings of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia who happens to be a lesser known figure of Indian independence movement and of the political transformation that unfolded in the 1950-70 period. Lohia’s vision of egalitarian politics appears to be a case of lost opportunity for Indian politics and … Continue reading On a lesser hero of Indian Politics – Lohia and Caste in Indian Politics
It is not his job! On politicians, development and development agencies
From a recent report that we prepared for an NGO, a reader asked "What is that MLA's incentive to push for proper/improved drinking water system" referring to a small case study on a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) in a constituency who was trying to help the drinking water crisis in his town. So here … Continue reading It is not his job! On politicians, development and development agencies
Micro-managing the odds
"Micro-managing the odds" an Op-Ed piece in The Hindu by Srikrishna Ayyangar a Professor in Politics at APU. It looks at the this year's Magsaysay Award winner IVDP's work and relates it to the larger political process in Tamil Nadu. It is simple and clear in argument. However, I do not quite agree with the idea … Continue reading Micro-managing the odds
On Post-Colonial Politics in India & Development’s Refugees
One of the most satisfying moment for me lately has been about doing a field study and then returning to the desk to rigorously engage with the subject, in a way that the field observations actually test the theory. In this case, I return from an exploration of hawkers' livelihoods to the political framework that … Continue reading On Post-Colonial Politics in India & Development’s Refugees
Contested Realities 