Latest news with #Untouchable
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why Ambedkarite politics is losing its autonomy in India
Written by Jadumani Mahanand The marginalisation of Ambedkarite electoral politics necessitates serious attention. Ambedkarite electoral politics uses elections as a means to challenge the power and domination of mainstream upper-caste parties, but lacks resources. Such politics, despite having an autonomous vision for the nation, is often reduced to caste-sectarian politics through a casteist gaze. Ironically, B R Ambedkar was unable to win an election in his time. His political significance was advanced in the 1990s by Kanshi Ram. For him, a single transferable vote was an important weapon in electoral democracy to achieve power. However, he was critical of the reserved constituency. Reiterating Ambedkar's views in What Congress and Gandhi have done to the Untouchable, Kanshi Ram argued that a reserved constituency creates 'stooges' in electoral democracy. As the political discourse now again centres on Ambedkar — both the ruling party and the Opposition invoking him on many occasions — it is high time to look at what has gone wrong with Ambedkarite politics in the country. In the 18th general elections, the presence of Ambedkarite forces declined drastically compared to that of upper-caste parties. In Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, where they used to be a formidable force, Dalit parties drew a blank. The BSP's presence has become negligible at the all-India level. Similarly, the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi is insignificant in Maharashtra. Before 2014, the BSP used to get third position in a few states as a pan-Indian party. However, its vote share has declined to 2.07 per cent, leading to its possible loss of national party status. There is a rupture in Dalit leadership. Chandrashekhar Azad seems to be gradually becoming an alternative voice in UP and a few other states. Both these parties together might offer a better future for Ambedkarite politics, but they have been standing against each other, splitting the votes. Since Independence, Ambedkarite politics was not able to find much space as the representatives in the state assemblies and Parliament are often co-opted by the upper caste political parties. Now, there are only two autonomous Dalit voices in Parliament: Chandrashekhar Azad and Thol. Thirumavalavan. Mallikarjun Kharge's presidency of Congress has pushed the party to embrace Ambedkarite language. On the other side, the Lok Janshakti Party's leader, Chirag Paswan, is mostly found silent when it comes to independently raising Dalit issues. The problem of caste in Indian politics is reduced to the Dalit question. Parties are happy with giving seats to the reserved constituency, sometimes with a few more portfolios — the President's position and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The upper castes' supremacy in Parliament has never been termed 'casteist politics'. Hence, the annihilation of caste has never been a question. These upper castes are the best allies of the upper class; Ambedkar rightly pointed out that the Brahman-Bania nexus is the core of electoral democracy. At least 93 per cent of the victorious candidates in the last Lok Sabha elections were crorepatis. However, since 2014, protecting democracy and the Constitution has been the core political vocabulary of Opposition parties. The narrative is created to challenge the BJP's undermining of the values of the Constitution. As a result, Dalit votes shifted to Congress. Why is it only Dalits' burden to protect the Constitution? In 2018, when the BJP tried to dilute the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989, Dalits protested across states. Around 12 Dalits were killed, several were injured, and many cases were filed against them. Still, Dalits are always to protect the Indian Constitution through elections and the civil rights movement. But no election is fought to ban caste violence against Dalits. Often, Dalit autonomous parties, or a candidate, are called the B-team of the BJP or the A-team of Congress. Moreover, as long as Dalit votes are used to protect the Indian Constitution, it satisfies the liberal conscience. Due to this appropriation and misrepresentation, there is a continuous decline in autonomous Ambedkarite politics. Their political autonomy creates a threat to upper-caste parties. If Dalits are to protect the Constitution, they have to find and invoke an autonomous voice beyond the upper-caste — either secular or priestly — domain of politics. The writer is assistant professor, political science, O P Jindal University. Views are personal
Euronews
25-03-2025
- Science
- Euronews
The Bashiri mystery: A 2,300-year-old Egyptian mummy that no archaeologist dares to open
ADVERTISEMENT A mummy, known as the 'Untouchable,' was discovered nearly a century ago in the Valley of the Kings region of the ancient city of Luxor. Renowned Egyptologist Howard Carter made the discovery in 1919, three years before he found the magnificent tomb of Tutankhamun . The method used to tie the embalming cloths of this ancient corpse has not been used on any other mummy. The wrapping of the fabrics has created an intricate pattern on the mummy's face which resembles the architectural design of Egypt's famous pyramids. The amount of precision and finesse in the mummy's packaging suggests that this individual was a very important figure in ancient Egyptian society. But the identity of the body remains unknown, as opening the mummified cloths to study it may irreparably damage this unique mummification technique. Related 4,000-year-old tablets found in Iraq reveal ancient red tape Scientists have used other methods to look inside of it and have found clues about its identity. CT scans and X-rays, performed without ever touching the mummy , have revealed to researchers that the mummy of 'Bashiri' was a man about 167 centimetres tall. Scholars argue that the mummy dates back to the Ptolemaic period, between the 2nd and early 3rd centuries BCE. Bashiri dates back to the 3rd century BC. Vania Teofilo/Wikipedia The art of mummification was at its peak during this era. The mummy offers a unique view of burial rites during the Ptolemaic period and is currently kept in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The cloth roles and drawings on the mummy's face resemble the architectural design of Egyptian pyramids, which may indicate the degree of respect and high status of this individual in society. Related British-Egyptian archaeologists reveal pharaoh's tomb after nearly a century in 'significant find' Archaeologists unearth 4500-year-old Ancient Egyptian tomb with astonishing treasures But why can't scientists unravel this mummy? Opening the mummy's cloth is the most direct way to obtain information about the remains within it. But these fabrics are very delicate and fragile, and damaging them would destroy the only known example of this mummification technique. For this reason, specialists have used non-invasive methods such as CT scans and X-rays. The researchers say observing the mummy's decorative appearance offers information about this person's place in life. For example, the lateral lock on his chest is made of several rows of beads and has barbs in the shape of a hawk's head, which is considered a sign of wealth and influence. The bodice covering the mummy's body contains scenes of the deceased lying on a bed surrounded by the deities Isis and Nephthys. Also present at his side are the four sons of the god Horus, child of Isis. Join Euronews Farsi Telegram Channel The veneer of the mummified feet also features two depictions of Anubis, the god of burial. These details suggest that this individual was a very wealthy and important man, but none of these clues have led to the discovery of his name. ADVERTISEMENT The mysterious mummy from 2,300 years ago Josse Leemage/ Egypt Musuem The only extant indication of this individual's identity is an inscription hastily written inside his tomb, which may be the name 'Bashiri' or 'Neno'. However, experts have so far been unable to determine with certainty which name is the correct one. Specialists continue to use non-invasive methods to study these amazing remains and may uncover more clues about the mummy's identity. Until then, Bashiri's mummy will remain shrouded in a halo of mystery.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Bashiri mystery: A 2,300-year-old Egyptian mummy that no archaeologist dares to open
A mummy, known as the 'Untouchable,' was discovered nearly a century ago in the Valley of the Kings region of the ancient city of Luxor. Renowned Egyptologist Howard Carter made the discovery in 1919, three years before he found the magnificent tomb of Tutankhamun. The method used to tie the embalming cloths of this ancient corpse has not been used on any other mummy. The wrapping of the fabrics has created an intricate pattern on the mummy's face which resembles the architectural design of Egypt's famous pyramids. The amount of precision and finesse in the mummy's packaging suggests that this individual was a very important figure in ancient Egyptian society. But the identity of the body remains unknown, as opening the mummified cloths to study it may irreparably damage this unique mummification technique. Related 4,000-year-old tablets found in Iraq reveal ancient red tape Scientists have used other methods to look inside of it and have found clues about its identity. CT scans and X-rays, performed without ever touching the mummy, have revealed to researchers that the mummy of 'Bashiri' was a man about 167 centimetres tall. Scholars argue that the mummy dates back to the Ptolemaic period, between the 2nd and early 3rd centuries BCE. The art of mummification was at its peak during this era. The mummy offers a unique view of burial rites during the Ptolemaic period and is currently kept in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The cloth roles and drawings on the mummy's face resemble the architectural design of Egyptian pyramids, which may indicate the degree of respect and high status of this individual in society. Related British-Egyptian archaeologists reveal pharaoh's tomb after nearly a century in 'significant find' Archaeologists unearth 4500-year-old Ancient Egyptian tomb with astonishing treasures But why can't scientists unravel this mummy? Opening the mummy's cloth is the most direct way to obtain information about the remains within it. But these fabrics are very delicate and fragile, and damaging them would destroy the only known example of this mummification technique. For this reason, specialists have used non-invasive methods such as CT scans and X-rays. The researchers say observing the mummy's decorative appearance offers information about this person's place in life. For example, the lateral lock on his chest is made of several rows of beads and has barbs in the shape of a hawk's head, which is considered a sign of wealth and influence. The bodice covering the mummy's body contains scenes of the deceased lying on a bed surrounded by the deities Isis and Nephthys. Also present at his side are the four sons of the god Horus, child of Isis. Join Euronews Farsi Telegram Channel The veneer of the mummified feet also features two depictions of Anubis, the god of burial. These details suggest that this individual was a very wealthy and important man, but none of these clues have led to the discovery of his name. The only extant indication of this individual's identity is an inscription hastily written inside his tomb, which may be the name 'Bashiri' or 'Neno'. However, experts have so far been unable to determine with certainty which name is the correct one. Specialists continue to use non-invasive methods to study these amazing remains and may uncover more clues about the mummy's identity. Until then, Bashiri's mummy will remain shrouded in a halo of mystery.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Fall of Diddy' Episode Release Schedule
Investigation Discovery has returned with another deep dive, investigative documentary series, this time centered on the allegations surrounding music and business mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Over the course of two days, in four installments, viewers will see archived footage from Combs' personal and professional life, and hear from several people, including former friends, colleagues and employees, who say they have either experienced or witnessed Combs' alleged abuse. It all starts on Monday, Jan. 27. Check out the details below. 'The Fall of Diddy,' a four-part series, will air over two days on Investigation Discovery starting Monday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. PST/9 p.m. EST. The first two episodes of the four-part documentary series will drop on Monday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. PST/9 p.m. EST, and the series will end with its second installment on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. PST/9 p.m. EST. The first two episodes of 'The Fall of Diddy' will drop on Monday, Jan. 27, and the series will end with its second installment on Investigation Discovery on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Episode 1: 'The Making of a Mogul' — Monday, Jan. 27 Episode 2: 'Empire Under Fire' — Monday, Jan. 27 Episode 3: 'Untouchable' — Tuesday, Jan. 28 Episode 4: 'The Fall' — Tuesday, Jan. 28 The post 'The Fall of Diddy' Episode Release Schedule appeared first on TheWrap.
