Maoist, pro-Mandal, Ambedkarite, Dalit, and Buddhist—Telangana poet Gaddar was the face of many struggles in India. KANCHA ILAIAH SHEPHERD Telangana poet Gaddar | PTI Telangana folk singer Gaddar, born Gummadi Vittal Rao, also popularly known as ‘people’s singer’ and ‘Praja Yuddha Nauka’, died on 6 August in Hyderabad. Leaving aside my decades-long friendship with Gaddar in the … Continue reading Telangana poet Gaddar, who told Maoists class struggle wasn’t enough—caste was important too

The third engine, the most critical one, systematically divides people into majority and minority at the ground level in every state, like in Manipur, writes Kancha Ilaiah. Written by  Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd On July 23, 2023, Vardhelli Murali, the Editor of popular Telugu daily Sakshi, wrote a poignant editorial with the title ‘Is my country a … Continue reading Manipur: A ‘Triple Engine’ government at work

American SC judgment quashing affirmative action in universities may inspire anti-reservationists in India, too Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd In America, white racism got countered by producing black intellectuals from universities, who could construct a counter narrative to racism and influenced policies. Along with America, the whole world benefitted. Image: iStock The American Supreme Court judgment quashing affirmative action … Continue reading US SC ruling on affirmative action is universities is a setback

The Enemies of Social Change and Unethical Scholarship by Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd On May 17  suddenly I got a video on my watsapp. When I opened it I saw  the title “Kancha Ilaiah shepherd:  Bharat Vikhander”. Two supposedly experts on my work, Sharada Narayanan and Shubhodeep Mukhopadhyay, wrote an essay on me and my work in a … Continue reading The Enemies Of Social Change And Unethical Scholarship| Countercurrents