The AIPAC-funded candidate defeated Jamaal Bowman. But at what cost?

While Aipac and their allies can eliminate nearly any adversary if they throw $20m at a primary election, this is not a sustainable strategy…. the fact that this win, and this amount of spending, was even necessary should give advocates of Israel serious pause. The election represents Aipac’s attempt to rebuild a dam that has… Read More The AIPAC-funded candidate defeated Jamaal Bowman. But at what cost?

The Commodification of Indian Education and Loss of Moral Accountability

Both centralisation and privatisation have dismantled the future of higher education in India and the lack of moral positionality of the state has come out as a catastrophe for millions of students who aspire to follow higher education pathways. Vidyasagar Sharma Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (UGC-NEET) examination, the… Read More The Commodification of Indian Education and Loss of Moral Accountability

God’s Ghostwriters: did enslaved scribes write the New Testament?

The theologian and journalist suggests that slaves in the Roman empire contributed to the core texts of Christianity in this refreshingly readable book God’s Ghostwriters by Candida Moss Peter Stanford Graham Greene, who wrote so much about Catholicism in his novels, was regularly asked whether he was still a believer. It was listening to the… Read More God’s Ghostwriters: did enslaved scribes write the New Testament?

Indira Jaising on implications of the Modi years. Report on a talk at SOAS

NB: A perceptive talk by one of India’s most experienced constitutional lawyers. I will add that there are certain grievous matters that democratic-minded persons the world over should take note of, viz., the regular deployment of mob violence and political assassination in India (as also the rest of South Asia), which has been ongoing for… Read More Indira Jaising on implications of the Modi years. Report on a talk at SOAS

Ayesha Kidwai: The National Testing Agency is a scam – shut it down now! Punya Prasun Bajpai on scams and leaks as business model

With the latest educational scandal of the UGC NET exam being cancelled because the National Testing Agency admitted to gross violations of confidentiality, we see everything come to pass, that teachers all over the country foretold regarding the drastic changes made in the education system over the past ten years. Reasonably robust public universities have… Read More Ayesha Kidwai: The National Testing Agency is a scam – shut it down now! Punya Prasun Bajpai on scams and leaks as business model

Arun Kumar: Articles, talks & discussions on aspects of the economy

1.      Interview on Economic situation and policy changes required. Jan Chowk June 19. It is at: https://www.youtube.com/live/p8_PXswKwlo?si=KrNqNc2yYNeAfXbQ 2.     Article on Policy Change needed post election results to avoid instability. The Wire, June 15. It is at: https://thewire.in/politics/narendra-modi-policy-change-election-results-2024 3.      Article on what is a mandate and what is it in 2024?. The Leaflet June 11. It is at: https://theleaflet.in/general-elections-2024-what-is-the-mandate/ 4.     Federalism article: Centre is… Read More Arun Kumar: Articles, talks & discussions on aspects of the economy

‘Most of Mainstream Media a Disgrace to Democracy’: Ravish Kumar at Peabody Ceremony

‘When a journalist becomes spreader of hate and lies, instigator of mob lynching, a cheerleader for the government, [they] become an instrument to kill democracy.’ Ravish and Vinay speak at award ceremony NB: Congratulations to both of you, and salaams to Ravish for his courage and commitment. DS Most of what is Indian mainstream media… Read More ‘Most of Mainstream Media a Disgrace to Democracy’: Ravish Kumar at Peabody Ceremony

A Holocaust Scholar Called Israel’s Actions in Gaza ‘Genocide.’ It Cost Him a Job Offer

By  Maggie Hicks This month, Raz Segal learned that he’d been offered a job to run the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota’s flagship. It was an exciting career move for Segal, an associate professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Stockton University. Five days later, Minnesota withdrew the offer. The… Read More A Holocaust Scholar Called Israel’s Actions in Gaza ‘Genocide.’ It Cost Him a Job Offer

Dr Strangelove: how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb. Stanley Kubrick, 1963

NB: NATO, Russia, North Korea etc are all flexing nuclear muscles. The film referred to above was made sixty-one years ago, and is even more relevant, given the increase in the number of insane old men dreaming of mushroom clouds. And this is a link to the source of this article, the Cardiff University Philosophy… Read More Dr Strangelove: how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb. Stanley Kubrick, 1963