Features

The non-brahmanical world-building of Lokah: reimagining the subaltern myths

Srutheesh Kannadi The recently released Malayalam movie Lokah Chapter 1 Chandra, which claims to be the first female-led superhero movie in India, has sparked a discussion among a larger audience due to its content, visual experience, and innovative treatment. However, this is not a review of the movie Lokah, but an attempt to interpret the …

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Invisible Citizens: How Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision Marginalises Migrants

Anand Raj Article 19 (Clause 1) of the Indian Constitution grants the freedom of movement of its citizens throughout the territory of India, including for work. Due to unequal development, people migrate to other states for work. People from eastern Indian states such as Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha migrate to comparatively economically developed western …

Assertion

Academic Untouchability

Kaushik Tadvi (Kohak) One prevalent theme I have noticed in the classrooms when it comes to  Tribal, Adivasi, and oppressed caste studies is that marginalized students engage with these topics differently than students from upper-caste and upper-class backgrounds. Most of the former engage with these topics intimately, with lived experiences, and the latter, with academic …

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An Indictment of Mayasabha – Telugu Web Series directed by Deva Katta

Amar K Babu What Mayasabha presents as drama is in fact propaganda. It is not a fearless portrayal of caste politics, but a calculated narrative that silences the oppressed and sanctifies upper-caste power. Mayasabha, marketed as a bold political web series on caste and power in Andhra Pradesh, arrives with grand claims: an exposé on …

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A masala khichdi called Dhadak 2

Snehashish Das, Ananya Das We have cracked it. Dharma Productions is set to release many more Dhadaks—films unrelated in their plots, but united in their focus on caste, love, and violence. By the time Dhadak 10 arrives, perhaps Karan Johar will rechristen his company to Dhamma Productions, after saturating Bollywood screens with Buddha and Babasaheb …

Assertion

Inter-Caste Marriage in Dhadak-2: A Dalit Woman’s Viewpoint

Sangeeta Kumari Nag Inter-caste love in Indian society has always been a source of discomfort and resistance. It is never merely personal, but it is social, political, and deeply unequal. Such love challenges the very foundation of the caste system and asserts the demand for equality. Dhadak-2 portrays this inter-caste love story with great intensity. …

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Tracking the Trajectory of Muslim Political Engagement after Pahalgam

Zahid Kamal Abstract: This article analyses the trajectory of Muslim political engagement in India after the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. The argument flows as the traditional paradigm of Muslim politics—predominantly reactionary and identity-centred—is set to enter a new phase marked by selective alignment with the ruling majoritarian regime. To validate the argument, the …

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Mahishasura: The Demonized Hero of the Dalits

Shilpa Dasra and Navratri are widely celebrated across India as a festival of devotion, divine femininity, and the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasura. However, beneath this widely accepted narrative lies a complex history that reveals layers of caste, culture, and identity politics. A growing movement among Dalit, Bahujan, and Adivasi communities …

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Not Your Wound to Wear: On Appropriation and Allyship

Grasim Soni I was in the admin office when I first saw it. There it was in all its glory, a letter of recommendation. Printed on crisp university letterhead, carefully worded and full of praise for her commitment to social justice issues and her work around caste and religion in South Asia. The candidate that …