India is experiencing something like a national emergency. This is in the form of persistent, nation-wide attacks on the basic democratic rights of ordinary citizens, by hyper-nationalist and communal forces which are supporting, and which are supported by, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They are especially targeting religious minorities, secularists, Leftists, as well as dalits. No … Keep reading »

What every working Indian needs to know about the all-India trade union strike – and why it matters Since India embraced what trade unions call the LPG route to growth (that is liberalization, privatization and globalization) in 1991, the country has seen 16 general strikes. And the 17th all India workers’ strike falls on September 2nd. … Keep reading »

Since the election of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in May 2014, there has been an unprecedented onslaught on workers’ rights along with a well-planned assault on democratic institutions, academic-cultural centres, intellectuals, left, progressive and secular groups, religious minorities, women and marginalized sections across India. Watch video »

There are things. And there are conditions of existence of things. In India, as in all countries of the world, many social problems exist. Close to 700 million Indians do not have access to food that will provide the minimum number of calories required for a healthy life. In other words, there is a massive … Keep reading »

Toronto — 26 May 2014. Reflections on the recent elections in India Moderated by Ananya Mukherjee. Presentation by: Prabhat Patnaik is a highly distinguished and internationally renowned critical scholar. He holds a D.Phil in Economics from the University of Oxford, UK, and in 2012, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science (Economics) by SOAS, University of … Watch video »

The debacle faced by the CPI(M)-led Left Front (LF) in the 2014 general elections, especially in its erstwhile stronghold of West Bengal, has stunned supporters and opponents alike, and caused stirrings within the ranks of the Left activists. Out of the 98 seats it contested this time, the CPI(M) has won only 9 seats and … Keep reading »

An Interview with Sudha Bharadwaj Sudha Bharadwaj is a lawyer and a member of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha (Mazdoor Karkyakarta Committee). CMM was founded in 1982 by legendary union leader Shankar Guha Niyogi (assassinated in 1991), to organize beyond union issues alone. Sudha is also part of a … Keep reading »

India’s New Economic Policy The Bollywood movie The Dirty Picture (apparently) runs on three things: entertainment, entertainment and entertainment. The dirty picture of neoliberalism runs on three things, as well: class, class, and class. Indeed, neoliberalism must be seen as the restoration and reinforcement of class power (Harvey 2005), class power of large owners of business … Keep reading »

“How is India?” asked an erudite friend of mine from North America soon after I reached India last December. How indeed? I write this piece this week as India goes to the polls: a mammoth process involving 714 million voters is about to unfold over the next one month. The polity looks fractured as never … Keep reading »