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Beyond silence and erasure: A review of the mizo film Ambush (A war story) and the media in India

Ringngheti Khenglawt . . . in 1947 the British empire handed us over to the Indian government and set sail towards their homeland. At the year 1958 and 1959, mautam – the famine caused by the flowering of bamboos and rapid increase of rat population, made us realize that we were just a guest at …

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A Sociological Analysis of the Idea Behind Sub-Classification of the Schedule Caste List

Anshul Kumar “The fact is that the governing class in India blinded by self-interest is unmindful of the absurdity of the argument of naked efficiency and being conscious that it has the power to convert its opinion into law does not bother what the servile classes have to say on the point. The governing class …

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The Hauntology of Blackness in `The Menon Investigation’

Umar Nizar The Menon Investigation’ by the prize-winning novelist Saharu Nusaiba Kannanari is an absolute cracker of a thriller that, in its socio-political ramifications, is, to use a well-worth cliché, unputdownable. The titular Menon’s interiority and anxieties about his dark skin colour in a racist society form an unlikely backdrop to this work of fiction. …

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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 …

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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 …

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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. …