The Opium of Nationalism
Are the people who stood around, watched, clapped, and cheered when Ramesh Bidhuri dishonoured a fellow citizen of this country and his community, not complicit in brutal hate speech that tars an entire community?
China’s Health and Health Care in the “New Era”
What is the state of health care in China? Wei Zhang analyzes the deep institutional issues that plague China’s health care system. Despite its timely and effective efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis, the system still faces deep-seated challenges, many of which can be traced directly to the marketization of hospitals and medical care.
The Prioritization of Human Health, Development and Self-Activity in Chavez-era Venezuela
The beginnings of two important programs of the Bolivarian Revolution, led by Hugo Chávez, are discussed: one, the missions, a new form of social services created to bypass recalcitrant bureaucrats and enable people’s participation; and two, the commune, to enable people to organize at the grassroots level.
Revolutions Begin With ‘No’. And This Journey Starts with Asking Questions
It has never been easy to ask questions in human history. Those who have questioned have been persecuted, hounded, punished and even killed. Science has progressed because of the courage people had to say no. Philosophical movements and religions, too, began with questioning.
Gandhi’s Approach to Caste and Untouchability: A Reappraisal
Gandhi’s ideas on caste and untouchability have created much misunderstanding in scholarly circles. This paper examines the different positions of attack or defense of Gandhi’s treatment of the question of caste and untouchability, an issue to which Gandhi devoted a large amount of time and energy.
Socialism from Below
The broad perspective of socialism from below holds that capitalism, by its very nature, breeds opposition and resistance on a global scale; and as that happens, our highest aspiration is to be among the people when they do, and collaborating to best advance the struggle for revolutionary change.
What Ashoka University Can Learn from Gandhi, Tagore and Nehru’s Thoughts on Academic Freedom
The all-out assault on the autonomy of Ashoka University and its regrettable capitulation to such menacing interferences reminds one of British rule, when universities of pre-independent India were being controlled by the colonial government directly or indirectly.
What Does a Dupatta Mean for a Young Woman?
Patriarchy starts from homes, not the streets. Families, especially mothers, impose salwar-kameez and dupatta on young girls and women, as soon as they turn 12 or 13. But they never have a conversation with their sons about respecting women or even their own sisters.
CAG Reports Unveil Misuse and Diversion of Public Funds – 2 Articles
CAG reports unveil misuse of public funds in key projects and welfare schemes; Also: CAG’s report shines a light on accounting shenanigans that will leave any auditor aghast at the sheer audacity of the sharp practices in central govt accounts.
Looking Past the Government Narrative Around the G20 Summit
The Indian government has shown clearest intent to milk the G20 Summit for all it is worth for purposes of domestic propaganda in the upcoming election.