Peoples and Nations
The Ancient Romans spoke of ‘Peoples’ and ‘Nations’. They saw traditions making a group into a people and distinguishing people (and, sometimes, ‘nations’) from each other. Different peoples (distinguished from…
Read moreColonial Consciousness and Servitude
[ Published on swarjyamag Aug 26, 2022] Let me recollect the question we agreed upon: how does the combined phrase (colonial mindset and servitude) make sense within the framework of…
Read moreSwacch Bharat, Public Interest and Corruption
[Transcribed from Balu’s talk at World Hindu Congress Dec 2014 ] Chairman Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning. Actually I’m the odd man out. We have success stories. We have…
Read moreSecularization of Communitas
The Ancient Romans spoke of ‘Peoples’ and ‘Nations’. They saw traditions making a group into a people and distinguishing people (and, sometimes, ‘nations’) from each other. Different peoples (distinguished from…
Read moreIs humility a virtue?
[For how secularization of Christianity has sold us humility as a virtue, check Balu’s paper, esp point 4.] First: there is nothing morally wrong in posting an opinion. My problem…
Read moreDark Hour of Secularism: Hindu Fundamentalism and Colonial Liberalism in India
[Appeared in Making sense of the Secular: Critical perspecitves from Europe to Asia (Ed. Ranjan Ghosh), Routledge, 2013, pp 111-130] The relation between religion and politics remains one of the…
Read moreSecular theme: cognitive stages of development — concrete vs abstract
1. The religious idea I am talking about in chapter 3 is this: Concrete and abstract characterize human thinking in the different phases of its development. By the time we…
Read moreThe Secular State and Religious Conflict: Liberal Neutrality and the Indian Case of Pluralism
Editor’s Note: This article appeared in the Journal of Political Philosophy. Authored by SN Balagangadhara and Jakob De Roover. For an alternative research programme (paradigm) for studying India, Indian culture…
Read moreHow do we understand the concept of Communal Violence?
[Originally published at cultivasian.org on Feb 2007] We all agree that events like the Gujarat riots are tragic and terrible. But what is the role of intellectuals in avoiding similar…
Read moreDawkin’s Delusion or The God Delusion?
While re-reading certain passages from Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion (2006), I was so shocked by his combination of ignorance and arrogance. Forgive me for some Dawkins- bashing: 1. In…
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