Identity Politics

The Juvenile Immigrant: A new book captures the diaspora experience and identity politics that accompanies it

Namrata Verghese, the author of The Juvenile Immigrant, discusses why all writing is inherently political, and what constitutes the American Dream for people of Indian origin in 2019

Nitin Gadkari says some people play ‘caste card’ to get party ticket for polls, lauds BJP leaders for ‘rising above’ identity politics

Union minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari on Monday said many a time when people fail to get election tickets on the basis of their work, they play "caste card" to secure nomination.

Collapse of SP-BSP alliance signals end of Mandal politics; Opposition must reimagine its approach to counter BJP

In numerous interviews before the Lok Sabha elections, Amit Shah had pointed out that BJP’s fortunes in Uttar Pradesh won’t take a dip despite the ‘caste-and-community-based’ SP-BSP alliance because voters have become more empowered and have developed an agency on their own. And he wasn't wrong.

Kathua and Unnao cases: Linking sexual crimes with identity politics obstructs reforms in rape laws

It is only when there is outrage primarily about the rape, and not about how brutal it was or how it would pit one community against another — for example, the Kathua rape case — that real radical reform will follow

'Islamophobia' Phobia: Politics of offence and the death sentence for debate culture in JNU

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), which is known to be a contestatory space, such that even the subdued walls of the SSS canteen soaked in the sticking glue of the parcha-poster culture, seem to be shouting up at the smug building windows, engaged in endless debate.

SC bars parties from seeking votes on religion: Can politics stay separate from identity issues?

The problem with the politics of religion is that it serves no higher purpose. Status quoist to a large extent, it has no goal to uplift individuals or sub-groups within it.

Vegetarianism is anti-nationalism: Kancha Ilaiah on Ambedkar's food democracy

Kancha Ilaiah speaks to Firstpost about the status of oppressed classes post Independence, identity/caste politics, rise of Dalit student activism, ‘Ambedkarism’ and the relevance of BR Ambedkar in the current political scenario.

Individual vs community: Why the 2 ideas of India must and will coexist

The primary tension in the idea of India is to whether to see the country as a federation of communities or one that gives individuals a zone of freedom, says Pratap Bhanu Mehta. But is it useful to see the two ideas as being in conflict?

Do Pakistanis vote like Indians?

India's democracy functions because of caste. The basis of voting is not issues or ideology - is Pakistan the same?

Lanka vote: Revival of Tamil chauvinism is ruinous

The hotheadedness of Tamil chauvinists has done the utmost damage to the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils over the decades. The worms that are even now crawling out of the woodworks of linguistic chauvinism should be swept aside.