Archive for the “Religion” category
Are all forms of ‘questioning’ of the same importance?
by Ritwik on November 2, 2014
It is my submission that a ‘Rational’ critique is more substantive, powerful and effective, than other modes of critique. A rational critique offers up features that may be missing in other critiques, namely, a framework of analysis, articulation of alternatives and a replicable, universalizable, systematic approach.
Continue ReadingA discussion on trial by media and its ethical limits
by Ritwik on December 27, 2013
A discussion on TV reporting and its ethical limits in the background of Khurshid Anwar’s media trial and his subsequent suicide.It will be an open forum.Prominent journalists will be participating in the discussion.
Continue Readingthis is the kind of lazy, blinkered reportage
by Ritwik on July 9, 2013
As if both ‘Hinduism’ and ‘Buddhism’ [both isms are by the way recent constructs made by westerners] are monolithic entities with all of Buddhism being ‘rational’ [um, Tibetan Buddhism?] and all of Hinduism being ‘mystic’ [um, nyaya or sankhya or for that matter the philosophical part of Advaita Vedanta?]
Continue ReadingPetition against removal of Ramanujan’s Essay
by Ritwik on October 22, 2011
Please sign and circulate this petition against the removal of AK Ramanuja’s beautiful essay “300 Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts” from the history syllabus of the University of Delhi due to pressure mounted by right wing zealots:
Continue ReadingA meditation on the plight of MF Husain
by Ritwik on June 10, 2011
Dilip Simeon writes on the death of MF Husain – Our great secularists have always found it possible to keel over when it comes to confronting fascism. Sadly that’s equally true of Very Revolutionary people. The fact remains that the Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal etc hounded MF Husain out of his country in his old age.
Continue ReadingMuzzled by Kafila.org?
by Ritwik on October 5, 2010
I posted the above comment at Kafila.org this afternoon. It appears to have been rejected/deleted without assigning any reason. Comments made after mine have made their way on the website, which would indicate that my comment has been rejected/deleted/held till “higher authorities” take a call.As for the high and mighty writing on Kafila, I would advise that they amend their comment policy to add sarcasm to the list of undesirable traits.
Continue Reading(UN)VEILED
by Ritwik on August 13, 2010
The debate surrounding “The Veil Affair” can be surmised as such. Those who are for the ban, support it on chiefly two grounds- The Laicite argument and the Feminist argument. According to the Laicite argument, the wearing of the veil in the public sphere, distinguishes Muslim women from the rest and thus hampers the spirit of unity and secularism that the French Nation upholds. The feminist arguments points out the loss of identity of a woman who dons the veil as well as symbolizing the submission of women to men. Those against the ban point out that it yet another instance of rising Islamophobia in the west, that the woman has a right to choose whether she wears the burqa or not, and that this enforced secularism is a prime example of western patriarchy.
Continue ReadingBarbaric Attack on Kerala Professor: A Few Questions
by Ritwik on July 9, 2010
I don’t understand why the police needed to assure church leaders that the perpetrators of this attack will be brought to justice? Surely these “chruch leaders” should have been incensed regardless of the religious affiliation of the victim? this episode would not have even become a news story had the attackers not committed the tactical error of chopping off Joseph’s hand. As it is, they had him on the run.
Continue ReadingNow, Darwin censored in America
by Ritwik on September 15, 2009
Jon Amiel’s film Creation about Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution has not found a distributor in America, even though it has distributors all over the world.America touches new low in the acrimonious creationism vs evolution debate.
Continue ReadingShould Kasab be hanged?
by Ritwik on July 28, 2009
Should Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone captured perpetrator of the mumbai terrorist attacks, be hanged for his crimes? Legally he deserves the death sentence, but ideologically it might be better for india to imprison him for life. His death would give his handlers the opportunity to construct a cult of martyrdom around him.
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