My association with Kamala Bhasin, to whom Dalit women’s lives were more precious

By Martin Macwan* It was sometimes may be 10 years ago or more that I received a mail from Kamala Bhasin, asking me if I could be a guest speaker for a day to a workshop organized by her organization Sangat for women from different walks of life from south Asian countries to speak on …

Why do I oppose renovation of Gandhi Ashram? Martin Macwan’s open letter to PM, Gujarat CM, and Ashram trustees

Open letter* to Prime Minister of India Narendrabhai Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijaybhai Rupani  (who resigned recently), and Trustees of the six Trusts associated with Gandhi and Gandhi Ashram: One would not expect an activist working on Dalit rights to join such a protest. Dalits carry unhealed trauma that Gandhi caused to Dr Ambedkar …

Why we must annihilate caste to save Indian democracy

The brass for the coin donated by people across the country for the 1 Country 1 Nation Campaign By Martin Macwan* The truth is always simple. Caste has decayed Indian democracy and nationalism. It continues to shame India in the eyes of the world. Barring a miniscule section, most Indians carry the dual schizophrenic identity, …

Prevention of Atrocity Act: When will legal proceedings be transparent?

By Martin Macwan* The Judicial trial in the case of unnatural death of George Floyd is aired live on the American TV channel. It is also shown on other international channels. The most noticeable testimonies are of the Police officers. They have clearly testified that the accused police officer in the case has broken the …

Is social justice as enshrined in the Constitution a concern, any more?

An anti-untcouchabiliity meet at Dalit Shakti Kendra (DSK) By Martin Macwan* The news were disturbing. There was unruly confrontation between the District Magistrate and an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly of Gujarat. Amrabhai Boricha, a head of the lone Dalit family in the village was brutally murdered in the presence of his family members …

Martin Macwan on societal and structural flaws, as reflected in Hathras incident

The recent unfortunate, highly deplorable, brutal and heinous incident of rape, body mutilation, murder and burning of a young Dalit girl in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh reveals the sickening neglect of the political community as well as of the society to reinforce caste, gender and power dynamics in the country. In light of this, the Gender Impact …

Dealing with communal violence: Only hope is to educate, off the school curriculum

By Martin Macwan* I landed in Delhi, the night the violence began on February 23, 2020. I could not sleep until early morning, glued to the TV watching the burning and the brickbats. The memories of 1992 communal violence were alive. That year, I had visited Surat with my friends Indukumar Jani, Madhusudan Mistry and …