How the Colonial and Post-colonial Morality Invisibilise Sex Workers in India?
Indian colonial and post-colonial legislation and society together tried to push sex workers in India outside the domain of the ‘normal’. Even after independence, the shadow of moral chastity reflected on the drafting and interpreting laws that continued to create exclusionary spaces for sex workers in India by further invisibilising them. From criminalisation to victimisation, Shivangi Banerjee describes the derogation of sex workers in India.
In the Fight against Corruption in Nigeria: Need for Desire and Change
A lot has been written about corruption in Nigeria since independence. Even though the country tried to inculcate transparency and accountability through reformations, it seems to retreat to its past. With eclipsing free speech and failing legal machinery, corruption has only surged. Damilola Bajo describes the many instances of corruption in Nigeria and how they have affected democracy. In this commentary, she moves ahead with a solution-oriented approach to counter corruption, arguing how collective desire and change can propel effective policy implementation.
Understanding the Modi Cabinet Reshuffle 2021: Purposeful or Appeasement? Academike Explainer
The Modi cabinet reshuffle occupied Indian media’s broadcast space for the whole of last week. While several attributed the new changes to a decisive step, some called it tokenism to undo recent fiascos. The recent reshuffle shows that governments with a significant majority in the Parliament have it easier. The same has been evident throughout PM Modi’s two terms. Jaibatruka Mohanta analysis the pattern of cabinet reshuffles in India in the light of the recent one.
How British Imposed Their Idea of Sodomy? History of Homosexuality in India (Part II/III)
In Part II of a three-part series, the article talks about the infiltration of colonial morals and how the anglicisation of selective religious text polluted the connotation of same-sex love in India. Thus, further inscribing British orthodox morality into the constitution and elsewhere. Deepanshi Mehrotra writes how S. 377 was implemented as a tool of disciplining desire. And even after independence was used for harassment by the police and society alike.
The Pre-Colonial History of Homosexuality in India: Why Love Is Not Western (Part I/III)
This article is part of a three-article series that will discuss the history of homosexuality in India in pre-colonial and colonial times and the decriminalisation of Section 377. Historians often reference back to the pre-colonial times when speaking about same-sex love and its prevalence in mythology, vernacular literature and religious text. But many oppose homosexuality based on the reasoning that it subscribes to a western form of living. Deepanshi Mehrotra, in this article, as part of three-article series, will debunk the ‘western idealogy’ argument, countering literary and graphic evidence smothered across India’s monuments and scriptures.
Integrating Blockchain Technology in Africa: Far-Fetched or Feasible?
Experts throughout the world are optimistic about the boom of blockchain technology in Africa. The high praise is also because emerging blockchain-based solutions are being customised for developing countries and are touted to increase the quality of life in such countries.
While there are concerns regarding its efficacy and cautions to security, the latter is often ruled out for its immunity against data theft, and the former often goes unaddressed. Damilola Bajo explains the importance of blockchain, highlighting the advantages and limitations of integrating blockchain technology in Africa.
Manual Scavenging in India and the Casteist Shadow of the State: Book Review
Bhasha Singh, in her book, writes a telling account of manual scavenging in India, and it stands relevant even today. She details the stories from across India and is writing with deep anguish and pain. Her words are moving, and so are the real-life narratives of manual scavengers. Although her book was published in 2014, a lot from it still stands true. Singh’s book also exposes the government’s unwillingness and the court’s casteist streak. Dhruv Soni reviews the book, highlighting the best aspects and drawing some of its limitations.
The Curious Case of NOTA: Why NOTA Failed Its Own Purpose?
Since its inclusion, first, under rule 49-o of Conduct of Elections Rules 1961, and again as a symbolic implementation in 2013, NOTA was idealised as a powerful tool to exercise the right to reject. Overestimating its potential, the Supreme Court in its NOTA judgment became too short-sighted. While the top Court included NOTA as a working option, it simultaneously made NOTA vote incompetent. Disha Pathak details the inefficacy of NOTA and its limited potential to bring any real transformation.
Detention Centres in India: Do We Reek of Human Rights Violation?
Three staples for constructing detention centres in India include law, state and ‘illegal migrants’. These, along with bricks, cement and mortar, build suffocated cubicles, cramped by many who fail to prove their citizenship. In trying to establish their linkages with the state and in prooving bloodlines on paper, many succumbed to legal and administrative machinery.
Deepanshi Mehrotra tells the story of violations and confinement and an increasing number of detention centres in India despite COVID-19.
Black Marketing Lives: India’s Failure To Battle COVID-19 and Its Effects
During the second wave of COVID-19 in India, we are witnessing more than just the government’s failure. We are witnessing apathy; we are witnessing black marketing and hoarding of essential medical supplies. Despite the urgent demand for oxygen and life-saving drugs, India is choking under the weight of bureaucracy and sluggish governance. Jaibatruka Mohanta details the despair of the desperate and the pitiful state of India.
Moral, Social and Legal Lens: The Rights of LGBTQIA+ Community in India
Even after Section 377 was decriminalised in India, homosexuality continues to be a taboo subject. And the LGBTQIA+ community continues to face social ostracization, one that is offered from within and outside the family. The present commentary by Disha Pathak briefly discusses society’s obsolete lens on homosexuality and the judiciaries’ own flaws in realising the 2018 Judgement.
Explainer: The Second Wave of COVID-19 in India: Why Did We Fail?
The second wave has cost India more than one could fathom. As people wait in line to turn their families to the funeral pyre, bureaucracy
Analysis: No COVID-19 Vaccine for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in India?
Asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, refugees and displaced persons. These are some categories of residents or non-citizens who are unrecognised by the state. Though visible as illegal migrants, their invisibility is jarring in terms of their inclusion in governmental schemes. Despite residing in India for years, most of them don’t have documents to establish their identity. Deepanshi Mehrotra analyses if refugees and asylum seekers will be able to access the COVID-19 vaccine.
What’s Wrong With the NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021: Academike Explainer
It’s only ironic that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) had first sought increased autonomy and Statehood for Delhi in the year 1980, 1998 and 2003. In an unforeseen U-turn, with BJP at the Centre, Delhi’s autonomy is further discarded. Gunjan details the new Amendment passed by the Lok sabha as the NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Act 2021 and its repercussions.
The Forgotten Princess: Life and Work of Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
Among the fifteen women in the Constituent Assembly, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur has a mighty little chance of being recalled. To be fair, she does have more search results on Google. Perhaps because of her title or her association with Gandhi. Both of these aspects were very much her, none less than the other. But she was certainly more than just it. Astha Jain lays down a lucid and detailed account of Rajkumari Amrit Kaur who was much more than her title and her Gandhian philosophy.
Women in Constituent Assembly: Ammu Swaminathan’s Speech
In the third post of our Women in Constituent Assembly series, we talk about a woman born in Pallakad, Kerala, Ammu Swaminathan, who was instrumental in campaigning for women’s rights and caste discrimination.
Women in Constituent Assembly: Reasserting the Agency of Dakshayani Velayudhan
In a special series on the women in the Constituent Assembly, we revisit the making of the first Dalit women, Dakshayani Velayudhan. By revisiting her through the Constituent Assembly Debate Archives, we wish to enunciate her experiences and platform her agency.
The Myanmar Coup 2021 Explainer: History, Protests and Complexities
The last time a military coup happened in Myanmar it lasted over fifty years under three different military heads until the military junta eventually dissolved in the year 2011. A decade after, the coup has once again tossed the country back into a long spell of uncertainty and instability. Himani Baid spells out the important details about the Myanmar Coup 2021, reflecting on its historical context.
Breaking Down New Education Policy 2020: A Hope for Quality Education?
The New Education Policy released last year is touted as forward-looking and changing the face of education and learning in India. While most of the recommendations focus on the holistic development of students, their implementation will only speak of their efficacy. Kriti Mishra sums up the most important aspects of the Policy, breaking down its advantages and shortcomings.
PM CARES Fund: An Ambush on the RTI Act
PM CARES Fund has come under fire as the government chose to steer clear from the RTI Act. The need and existence of the Fund have now come into question. In this piece, Harshvardhan and Anubhav question the lack of accountability and transparency donned by the PM CARES Fund.
