Author: Dilip

I'm a scholar, writer and teacher; and my blog is designed for intellectual exploration. It carries no advertisements and requires no cash subscription

Bernie Sanders: Joe Biden must put an end to business as usual. Here's where to start // GOP nightmare about to come true: Senate Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders

4,000 Americans are now dying each day from Covid-19, while the federal government fumbles vaccine production and distribution, testing and tracing. In the midst of the worst pandemic in 100 years, more than 90 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured and can’t afford to go to a doctor when they get sick. The isolation and… Read More Bernie Sanders: Joe Biden must put an end to business as usual. Here's where to start // GOP nightmare about to come true: Senate Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders

Dilip

Militarized US Capitol is being called a ‘war zone’ / The Fall of the American Empire? / The Earth Does Not Belong to Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk

For some Americans, including the Muslim and Arab Americans who have faced decades of government surveillance and suspicion, the war on terror has always been operating at home. But the reaction to the 6 January attack may represent a new stage of the “imperial boomerang”, in which tactics developed by empires to maintain control abroad… Read More Militarized US Capitol is being called a ‘war zone’ / The Fall of the American Empire? / The Earth Does Not Belong to Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk

Dilip

Covaxin, Covishield not for everyone — manufacturers list who should avoid the Covid vaccines

The indigenous Covaxin cannot be administered on those who are immune-compromised or are on a medication, a factsheet released by manufacturer Bharat Biotech said. According to the factsheet, released Monday, those who should be exempted from the list of beneficiaries include individuals with a history of allergies, who have a fever, bleeding disorder or are… Read More Covaxin, Covishield not for everyone — manufacturers list who should avoid the Covid vaccines

Dilip

MONICA DHANRAJ: What do Arnab Goswami’s WhatsApp Leaks Tell us About the State of our Democracy?

On 15 January, over a thousand pages of the charge-sheet filed by the Mumbai Police in the TRP scam case were leaked to the press. They contain transcripts of alleged private WhatsApp chats between Partho Dasgupta, former CEO, Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the body responsible for measuring and publishing the Television Rating Point (TRP)… Read More MONICA DHANRAJ: What do Arnab Goswami’s WhatsApp Leaks Tell us About the State of our Democracy?

Dilip

Paul Rogers – The far right’s rise within armed forces is a global threat to democracy

Earlier this month, the world was shocked by the Capitol rioters’ assault on US democracy. But more chilling still is that those who swore to protect the institutions of state may have been among the attackers. One US army captain is under investigation for taking part in the 6 January rally that eventually led to the breach… Read More Paul Rogers – The far right’s rise within armed forces is a global threat to democracy

Dilip

Tansy Hoskins – "They left us starving": How the fashion industry abandoned its workers

In 2019 the fashion industry generated $2.5trn in global revenues, making it one of the largest industries in the world. But when COVID-19 struck in 2020, it virtually collapsed. Exports of raw materials from China began to slow in January last year, and subsequent lockdowns around the world meant shoppers stayed at home, retailers shuttered stores, and… Read More Tansy Hoskins – "They left us starving": How the fashion industry abandoned its workers

Dilip

Historical anthropologist challenges conventional wisdom about human nature and violence. By April M. Short

War and all of its brutality is attention-grabbing and memorable. Recollections of war and conquests tend to stick around and take up the spotlight in historical records. However, a war-centered narrative paints an incomplete picture of human history—and human nature. While there is a popular opinion in the anthropological community that war is an evolutionary,… Read More Historical anthropologist challenges conventional wisdom about human nature and violence. By April M. Short

Dilip

Pamela Philipose: If the Media Fails to Read the Farm Struggle Right, Irrelevance Awaits

NB: The Greek word hubris, conveys the sense of overweening pride, arrogance before the gods. The punishment adequate to this sin derives its name from nemesis, the goddess who exacts retribution from those who succumb to hubris. It is not just defeat in an election that Mr Modi’s friend (remember Howdy Modi?) the ruthless sociopath and ignoramus Donald Trump… Read More Pamela Philipose: If the Media Fails to Read the Farm Struggle Right, Irrelevance Awaits

Dilip

Shekhar Pathak: A hundred years ago, a fiery speech in Uttarakhand escalated the protests against forced labour

This month marks the centenary of a remarkable (and successful) peasant protest in Uttarakhand. The British had inherited from native maharajas a system of forced labour known as begar, which they imposed on the peasantry. Under this system, villagers were compelled to carry the loads of British officials and European travellers, and also provide them… Read More Shekhar Pathak: A hundred years ago, a fiery speech in Uttarakhand escalated the protests against forced labour

Dilip

MATTHEW ROZSA: This 45,500-year-old cave painting of a pig may be the oldest known work of art

45,500 years is a long, long time. It is nearly 23 times as long as the distance between the point at which you are reading this article and the birth of Jesus Christ. It is roughly 9 times as long as the distance between the present day and the rise of ancient Egyptian civilization. And, according… Read More MATTHEW ROZSA: This 45,500-year-old cave painting of a pig may be the oldest known work of art

Dilip