My article "Redefining Justice: Legal Scholarship in Critical Caste Studies" was recently published in J- Caste(
@BrandeisU
). Dedicating this piece to the resistance against all forms of colonization — external and internal (caste & race). Link here-
My sister, a topper from MNLU was recently told by a tier 2 law firm in Bombay that her face(dark skin) isn’t well-suited for the firm. Under the facade of modernity, law firms can be the most casteist racist sexist spaces with zero accountability. They need to be exposed.
Not many know this- 51 years after Babasaheb’s revolutionary embrace of Buddhism,on May 2007 close to 25 thousand Nomadic and Denotified Tribals embraced Buddhism by reciting the 22 vows at Mumbai’s Mahalakshmi Racecourse. My family was amongst the many Pardhi,Kaikadi, Dombari…
I’ve been assigned the “activist” tag even by fellow lawyers. This despite a litigation career of 7 years in the district courts and the Supreme Court. Activist tag in the legal fraternity has a designated low position in the hierarchy reserved mostly for vocal Bahujan lawyers~1
The movie Jai Bhim is about denotified communities. It is not just a "tribal" issue. Even as we observe the 150th year of the Criminal Tribes Act, what is truly disappointing is that the discussion continues to focus on everything but the plight of DNTs. ~1
Still deluded that the
#EWS
decision does not directly impact the SC,ST,OBC reservation? The justification for EWS has been provided by Pardiwala J. at para 185 of the judgement - It is to do away with caste-based reservation.
The irresponsible usage of the term 'criminal tribes' deserves some myth-busting.
A. 'criminal tribes' are not criminal! They were criminalised by the 1871 Act.
B.They are not all tribes! Many Dalit, Adivasi, nomadic communities were notified as 'criminal tribes' by the British
Don't even start with the free speech defence. Casteist jokes are anti-freedom and a crafty tool to exact violence on Bahujan bodies. Your 'unintentional jokes' have material consequences - they take lives, shrink spaces, mute expression and deny humanity to Bahujans.
To all the Brahmin-Savarna media platforms flooding our inboxes with invitations this month, a question- Would the issues and work of Dalit-Bahujans be as relevant to you in the month of June, maybe?
Your views on Lalu Prasad Yadav and Behen Mayawati are the loudest pronouncement of who you really are. Your liberal charades can't hide your internalised casteism.
#Jhund
trailer is the most powerful thing I've seen in years. Thanks
@Nagrajmanjule
for speaking to us through your films. I was deeply moved with this subtle reference to Kaikadi community(a nomadic community classified as SC & Vimukta Jati-VJ). Nobody cares to bring this nuance
This is finally happening. I will be teaching the course 'Caste, Courts & Constitution' at
@JindalLaw
. Thanks
@CJLS_JGU
and
@DipikaJain2019
for giving this opportunity.
We take immense pleasure in welcoming
@WadekarDisha
as the first Law and Justice Scholar at the Centre for Justice, Law and Society (CJLS) and Jindal Global Law School
@JindalLaw
!
A gentle reminder to those going gaga over the
#Diversity
at
#PadmaAwards
- Diversity sans
#SocialJustice
lends credibility to otherwise oppressive acts.Awards to Adivasis doesn't take away from the fact that Govt. was silent as 23 lac Adivasis were evicted from their forest lands
Do you even know who separates plastic waste from other waste? How would you? We live in an era of environmentalism sans caste. FYI- most rag-pickers are Dalit, NT-DNT women. Your so-called environmentalism is at the cost of exploited Bahujan labour.
On world environment day, our intent was to spread awareness about the potential of plastic waste and benefits of recycling in a humorous way.
Unintentionally, we may have hurt the sentiments of certain communities and individuals. We have taken down the video.
I’ve noticed how Savarna lawyers vocal about similar issues will be referred to as constitutional and discrimination law scholars, practitioners and what not. Bahujan lawyers have to constantly prove that they are worthy of these higher in the hierarchy tags. It is exhausting!
The hijab-sindoor debate invisibilises the Bahujan woman experience. Historically, sanctions were imposed on Bahujan women(across religions) trying to adopt such symbols of virtuousness.I grew up in a Bahujan basti and have never seen women(Muslim/Hindu) wear hijab or sindoor. ~1
Can't fathom what is more absurd- the fact that Karnataka has a Brahmin Development Board OR that this board funds Brahmin women to marry Brahmin priests OR they are now taking coercive steps against those quoting Babasaheb.
In this editorial piece for
@epw_in
,I discuss the recent Tarun Tejpal verdict- unpacking the 'ideal victim' framewrk of courts.The construct of an ideal victim by the modern criminal justice system,denies personhood to the survivor just like Manu's law did
People demanding I reveal the name, please clarify your stand on affirmative action in the private sector. This is systemic issue and not an isolated instance of colourism. My sister was the only ST- DNT woman to walk into a that mainly UC firm. ~1
My sister, a topper from MNLU was recently told by a tier 2 law firm in Bombay that her face(dark skin) isn’t well-suited for the firm. Under the facade of modernity, law firms can be the most casteist racist sexist spaces with zero accountability. They need to be exposed.
In caste atrocities, the media shamelessly puts the victim on trial.Reverse applies when the victim is UC. Mathura, Bhanwari Devi were liars, so was Bhaiyyalal Bhotmange n the family in Hathras case. When has the Dalit victim, witness ever been credible for this casteist society?
On Rohith's 5th Shahdat day ,let's remember him by asking ourselves;
1. Has our demand for Rohith Act faded?
2.Has every college/university set up an SC, ST cell as mandated? What is the composition of these cells?
3. Are the UGC Equity Regulations, 2012 being implemented? ~1
I am esp. wary of UCs' using the rhetoric "first generation lawyer",without uttering a word about their caste location. Implied here is the demand that the world feel sorry for them and/or celebrate their achievements, for making through the regressive nepotistic profession. ~1
Had the privilege of organising a 2-day symposium on 75 years of Indian Constitution at
@ColumbiaLaw
School. Justice BR Gavai and Justice BV Nagarathna, judges of the Indian Supreme Court addressed the audience. The lectures are available on
@LiveLawIndia
’s YouTube channel.
The 'act' of making casteist jokes is not 'unintentional'! Are you telling me
#Savarna_Merit
doesn't know casteism is unconstitutional and against the law?
I tried hard not to engage with this NLU vs Jindal discourse. But I can't resist saying what it truly is - A Brahmin vs Bania discourse. One is a Brahmin bastion, the other a Bania bastion. And such debates only entrench the existing Brahmin-Bania hegemony in legal education.
At the heart of the Indian Constitution is social transformation. As a radical instrument of dismantling structural hierarchies, Constitution recognises that there can be no "idea of India" without equality. A very happy
#ConstitutionDay2020
.
Jai Bhim
Dwij-Savarna lawyers and legal academics writing articles on reservation policy, a suggestion. How about you employ a Bahujan lawyer or provide a paid internship to Bahujan law students, for every article you publish on reservations?
As a member of an 'ex-criminal' tribe,I have a question for the so-called crusaders against custodial torture. How should I sum up the sheer criminality with which the de-notified tribes narrative continues to be ignored? 'Willful ignorance' or hidden casteism?
Every Savarna liberal loves the category of "casteless poor".Prisoners languishing in jails are not just "poor".That poverty has a caste,tribal identity. Liberals borrowing Black discourse on incarceration are making one small change- whitewashing their own history of oppression!
As the nation passionately discusses Arnab's bail, let me remind you of the communities declared as "addicted to the commission of non-bailable offences"-the denotified tribes. Their implication in non-bailable offences and subsequent torture in police custody continues.
~1
For young lawyers coming out of nondescript colleges under state universities, the gestation period in the profession may be longer compared to NLU graduates. But we are also a resilient lot that has borne the brunt of skewed access to resources & disparity in legal education ~1
Mainstream discourse around dissent is casteist, to say the least. Why stop at
#ReleaseAllPoliticalPrisoners
,when generations of criminalised tribes notified by an unjust law continue to suffer incarceration by the police and prison complex? Why not
#ReleaseCriminalisedTribes
?
Anyone who has even the slightest knowledge of DNTs would know that criminalisation of communities by the CTA and other legal regimes is across the SC, ST, OBC spectrum. Group criminality and police atrocities, is not just a "tribal issue" but a caste issue at its very core.
Wrote this essay on
#AmbedkarJayanti
Understanding civil liberties from an Ambedkarite perspective -
"The erasure and de-politicisation of dissenting communities is casteist, but it also does great disservice to the larger civil liberties discourse."
“every untouchable who succeeds is a stumbling block for the privileged castes longing to do away with reservations. For them, I am the problem”~ Rajesh Chavda
The
#SupremeCourt
Women Lawyers Association (SCWLA) has filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking directions to consider meritorious
#women
lawyers practicing in the SC and the High Courts for appointment as judges in the High Courts.
Read more:
In what will prove to be a major setback to the SC, ST atrocities cases in Maharashtra, the state is about to issue a notification transferring the investigation in atrocities cases to PI and API level officers. Rule 7 of the Act mandates that investigation be conducted by DySP
What a tremendous day. In Bikaner for the verdict in Delta Meghwal case, having played my part in the legal team and justice was delivered! As the verdict came out,was looking at the teary-eyed father,then picturing Delta through him and telling myself- Justice is a feeling...
On the declaration of a verdict of the Delta Meghwal case: "We're talking about justice today- I've always wondered what justice is.
#Justice
is a feeling, it's not an idea, it's not abstract, it's a feeling of being restored to your personhood, your human self." -
@WadekarDisha
Acknowledge that for most of us coming from marginalised backgrounds, every step we take is a generational leap. Our goals and achievements represent structural & community resilience and are not merely individual or personal achievements.
Some NLUs have separate NRI,EWS quota but no OBC quota.These Agraharas are a ticket to the upper echelons of legal-judicial fraternity. Bahujans occupying these spaces is a direct threat to brahmanical justice system. It is ensured we are kept out or we remain a harmless minority
Can all the vocal first-generation lawyers also speak about their caste-class privileges? Because “caste-nepotism” works in your favor, and that is structural.
While there isn’t much to celebrate the release of a man beat down by the state for a decade, the fact that GN Saibaba was represented by a lawyer
@Nihalsingrathod
from a criminalised DNT community is a testament to the resilience of the marginalised against the oppressive state.
#Jaibhimmovie
a thread
'Born criminals,thieves, Habitual Offenders,Historysheeters'-DNTs experience the haunting presence & systemic violence of these terms.Our exps. make for a good saviour story like d movie Jai Bhim.But not a single discussion on the movie centres our lives
My
@instagram
account has been hacked. If you are on Instagram, kindly report the account wadekar_disha. I'm trying to restore the account. Please amplify.
Justice would mean "Savarna justice", so long as we continue to rely on "Savarna jurisprudence."
Anti caste engagement cannot be restricted to sociology and anthropology. It needs to be extended to legal theory and the understanding of caste as a barometer for justice.
Mariaaiwale, Gondhali, Kadaklakshmiwale, Vasudev,Dawri Gosavi, Madari, Aswalwale, Waghri families who decided to break free from the shackles of Hinduism. Managed to collect a few pictures. Me slaying it in my white scarf and black sunglasses….
This podcast with
@confusedvichar
was an emotional roller coaster. Some nervous energy, anger, my unabashed love for the city I grew up in and a little too much passion than most would prefer.But that's unapologetically me! Also missed a flight for this one:P. Do give it a listen
Very excited to record podcast
#44
with
@WadekarDisha
. Will discuss the Ambedkarite culture of the Pune city often referred to as 'Brahminical hotbed’, Bhima Koregaon case & criminalization of Dalit protesters, Jai Bhim movie and the erasure of Vimukta identity and so much more.
Jaipalsingh Munda’s powerful reclamation of the word “junglee”shifting the gaze and turning the tables on d oppressor. He said: “I rise to speak on behalf of millions…known as backward tribes, primitive tribes, criminal tribes and everything else.Sir, I am proud to be a Jungli 1
Join us at 11 am today, as we celebrate 31st August- 'Vimukta Day' with Prof. Sukhadeo Thorat. The event will be live streamed on Nomad Liberty Movement's facebook page.
Kabil Sibal will be representing Maharashtra govt. in Maratha reservation case.Similar enthusiasm has been missing in appointing seniors in SC,ST reservation in promotions case pending before Supreme Court, affecting promotions of close to 40k SC,ST employees from Maharashtra.
This is happening. We are now going beyond paid internships and arranging job opportunities for Cede candidates. We hope more law firms and litigation chambers hire Bahujan lawyers and commit to the process of diversifying the legal profession.
We're pleased to announce that two CEDE candidates have been offered associate positions at a leading litigation office in Delhi! Congratulations to them and we're grateful to our empanelled network for their continued support :)
Supreme Court hears journalist
@sukanyashantha
’s petition on caste based division of labour, segregation and discriminatory classification against denotified tribes in
#prisons
During the process of this petition, we also found discrimination against denotified tribes & habitual offenders in prison manuals. Some state prison manuals systematically classify “denotified tribes” as “habitual offenders” by using the two terms interchangeably.
#SupremeCourt
Issues Notice To Centre, 13 States On Journalist's PIL Highlighting Caste-Based Segregation In Prisons |
@TheBeshbaha
PIL was by
@sukanyashantha
based on her award-winning report 'From Segregation to Labour, Manu's Caste Law Governs the Indian Prison System'
Teacher's Day worth celebrating is 28th Nov, Jotiba Phule's remembrance day. He was the first modern educational philosopher who revealed the true power of education as a tool of social transformation. For the first, education meant equality, education meant action!
#TeachersDay
Was honoured to interview my Professor
@OlatiJ
, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Professor of Law
@ColumbiaLaw
at the *Law and Caste conference*
@BrandeisU
. We discussed legal strategies to address race & caste-based discrimination & the limitations of discrimination law
Many women cleaning those overcrowded stinking toilets are being exploited as contractual labourers. Let district judiciary be changed from the bottom.
At Rajasthan High Court . Paying my tributes to India’s greatest law giver Manu who has left lasting influence on our law and not know which other High Court has Manu ‘s statue in its premises.
All this while they conveniently hide behind the 'intergenerational caste nepotison' from which they benefit. Funny how a lawyer from a family of zamindars, academics, civil servants (but not lawyers) suddenly is at par with a lawyer from a family of landless labourers..
In India, the conversation about Dalit, Adivasi women justices in the Supreme Court hasn't even begun. To those lazy beings who say "but we haven't come across any Dalit, Adivasi women candidates"– you might want to interact and hire outside your banal UC-networks.
Appointing the first Black woman to the Supreme Court is about more than representation. It advances the rights of those most marginalized. I joined 13 of my fellow Black women in Congress to commend
@POTUS
Biden’s commitment to appointing the first Black woman
#SCOTUS
justice.
Another Pardhi man- denotified tribal(Vimukta) is murdered in police custody. Kale was illegally detained, produced before the magistrate only a week after his arrest (procedure mandates 24hrs). In the meantime he was tortured, murdered. No rights for arrested 'denotified tribes'
Had a fascinating conversation with
@lebigv
on “How Law facilitates Structural Casteism” at the Caste and Law conference
@BrandeisU
. Legal academics who walk the talk are rare, and Prof. Venkatesh is one of them. She has been mentoring
@CedeYourCapital
students
@WindsorLaw
Does it mean Bahujan women are more liberated? Negative. Unfortunately, Deepika's "ma life, ma choice" doesn't apply to the Bahujan woman experience.Systemic inaccessibility to these symbols was instrumental in branding her 'less virtous' ~2
..and making her vulnerable to the violence of caste-Hindu men and continues to do so. If one is willing to look beyond the Ganga-Jamuna sanskriti one would realise that there is a caste-Hindu(Brahmanical) sanskriti that trumps every aspect of our lives. ~3
Bahujan lawyers in public interest law- It is okay to focus on one thing, to invest in work that would yield over time, and to say no to pro-bono work. Not okay to constantly questn urself, overwhelm urself, & beat yourself up for not being able to undo inter-generational wrongs.
Bindu Amini with Deepa Mohanan in the frame is a telltale sign of the casteist pandemic in this so called progressive state.Amini, a lawyer from Dalit community was attacked for following SC orders to enter the Sabarimala temple, purifying rituals were conducted right after.
Abrogating constitutional rights by way of executive action,esp. when the issue is still pending before the Apex Court. The haste to water down rights of SC, STs, while fighting tooth and nail for non existent forward caste rights. Maharashtra govts. reservation politics is clear
C. These communities are spread across administrative categories- SC, ST, OBCs. Some so vulnerable that they are not recognised by the State.
D. However they continue to suffer criminal stigma. You will be surprised to know that most DBA communities targetted by the police...
Budhan Sabar , was tortured to death on the "6th day" in police custody. Pinya Hari Kale was tortured to death on the "2nd day" in police custody. Everyday a Budhan, a Pinya is being arrested, tortured, denied bail and killed.
~2
Reminder that the healthcare system in this country don't compromise of just doctors and nurses but lakhs of frontline primary healthcare workers ( mostly Bahujans) who are severely underpaid and overworked
Very excited to record podcast
#44
with
@WadekarDisha
. Will discuss the Ambedkarite culture of the Pune city often referred to as 'Brahminical hotbed’, Bhima Koregaon case & criminalization of Dalit protesters, Jai Bhim movie and the erasure of Vimukta identity and so much more.
@glorious_gluten
and I write in light of the congratulatory environment around the Ramani judgement. The erasure of caste from the SH discourse is evident.What started as Vishakha guidelines should be reclaimed by Bahujan women as Bhanvari Devi guidelins
Congratulations
@GowalkPadavi
for this monumental win! Gowaal, a 32 year old lawyer in his maiden election contest has won from Nandurbar district of Maharashtra. Gowaal’s family has been committed to Adivasi rights & social justice for decades.
Johar & Jai Sanvidhan my friend✊🏿
What a solid and timely piece by
@notsomeritorios
. Linking the demand of widening the pool of govt's SC,ST overseas scholarship to the under-utilisation and diversion of SC, ST budget.
Listening to this podcast by
@confusedvichar
with
@glorious_gluten
now. Highly recommended for all those who seem to believe that law and justice system is objective, neutral, modern and most importantly casteless. Kanoon andha nahi hai, kanoon jati dekhta hai!
Episode 22 with
@glorious_gluten
is out!
Here we talk about the history of Vimukta jati, ways in which justice system acts against Bahujans, representation in courts and application of Atrocities Act on casteist slurs by comedians and celebs.
Spotify:
Spoke about Navigating Free Speech Concerns in the Digital Domain at the Social Media & Society conference at University of Michigan. Privileged to share the stage with these incredible humans
@hussainhaidry
@parthpunter
@shilpakannan
Shout-out to
@joyopal
for organising this!
Online learning is increasing existing discrimination risks. If online education is the future, right to have access to internet and online learning tools should be integral to right to education under Article 21.
Manusmriti is the "educational pathology" that Radhakrishnan's of the world have preached .In his book 'Satya ki khoj mai', Radhakrishnan writes that educated women lack the 'qualities' of 'sacrifice, politeness and patience', believed to be markers of 'ideal women'
#TeachersDay
Missing the Mark: How a Supreme Court judgment endangers the OBC status of several communities
@WadekarDisha
and Ravikant Kisan write in the July issue:
Congratulations
@WriterRavikumar
sir and party leader
@thirumaofficial
for winning the LS election for the second consecutive term. Panthers are roaring and thriving! Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan💙✊🏿
Our summer 2022 cohort applications are now open. CEDE has managed to arrange 84 paid internships for law students and graduates (more than half are female students) from marginalised backgrounds at 74 leading chambers and law firms in less than a year.
One of the many trailblazing efforts of
@PWilsonDMK
sir to 'democratise' the justice system in India. There is much to learn from both his advocacy in courts as well as his interventions in the Parliament.
Today I introduced PrivateMemberBill in Parliament to Establish
#RegionalBenchesofSupreme
Court at Delhi,Chennai,Mumbai & Kolkatta to make justice easily accessible even to a common man which is a facet of constitutional right and also 71years dream of a common man.please support