Columnists

D. Raja

The writer is national secretary, CPI, and Rajya Sabha MP.

Biden victory, Mahagathbandhan tally in Bihar show right wing rise can be halted

Fri, Nov 20, 2020

Both these elections have taught many lessons, opened opportunities and posed challenges for left-progressive and secular forces all over the world, especially in India. These two elections exposed the views expressed by many ideologues about the end of ideology and ideology-based politics.

India can play a constructive role in evolving a multipolar and just world order

Mon, Oct 26, 2020

India pursuing an independent foreign policy is not only essential for the country or the South Asian region, it can have a bearing on deprived populations of the world.

Hathras highlights how Project Hindu Rashtra has intensified caste oppression

Wed, Oct 14, 2020

The nexus between the casteist police machinery and the government of UP has been laid bare for all to see. The delayed medical care, destruction of evidence and the worst of all, dismissing the dying declaration of the victim are indicative of the intentions of the state machinery.

From mismanaging Covid to worsening economic distress, government missteps abound

Tue, Sep 08, 2020

There is no doubt that COVID-19 has engulfed the entire world in just a few months. The closure of industrial units and the complete halt of air, rail and road traffic added to the woes of an economy under strain. But the government had received several warnings about the looming crisis.

Project of Hindu Rashtra goes against inclusive legacy of freedom struggle

Sat, Aug 15, 2020

Equating August 5 with August 15 was a clear attempt at conflating the legacy of the freedom movement with Hindutva symbols.

Covid-19 pandemic has shown up inequities and injustices of the old order

Thu, Jun 11, 2020

D. Raja writes: The dangerously spiralling COVID infections are due to the failure of the Narendra Modi government to understand the gravity of the problem early. The WHO declared COVID-19 a health emergency on January 30, but the government failed to formulate any plan to check its transmission.

Reading Marx in times of COVID-19

Mon, May 04, 2020

His writings helps us understand how situations like the pandemic do not affect all sections of the society in the same way, helps frame the quest for a humane and democratic world order

More than ever, the rights of workers, vulnerable need to be secured

Fri, May 01, 2020

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has come out with an alarming report that 40-crore workers in India are at risk of falling deeper into poverty. They are mainly from the informal sector.

Learning from Lenin: At 150, the leader of the October Revolution has lessons for a post-Covid world

Wed, Apr 22, 2020

When we pay tributes to Lenin, we should not fail to think about ways to liberate people from all kinds of exploitations and enslavement.

The pandemic has exposed the limits of capitalism

Sat, Apr 11, 2020

The time has come to explore alternative social structures and economic systems.

Bhagat Singh’s commitment to people can inspire fightback against our COVID-19 crisis

Tue, Mar 24, 2020

The country, already facing multiple challenges, has to contend with a serious health crisis now. The situation demands strong political will and commitment for the people, the sort that Singh had.

Cost of a spectacle: Donald Trump succeeded in boosting the American economy when India is in a slowdown

Thu, Feb 27, 2020

The spectacle put up at huge public expense by the Narendra Modi government to welcome President Donald Trump in Gujarat speaks volumes about the penchant for exhibitionism and the utter servility of the people in power towards the US.

The targeting of university campuses is part of a campaign to discredit dissent

Fri, Jan 17, 2020

All fascist regimes target universities, since intellectuals have put up the greatest resistance against attacks on reason, freedom of expression and liberty.

Those who care for democracy, freedom, secularism, equality must resist CAA

Tue, Dec 17, 2019

By discriminating between migrants on the basis on their religious affiliation, the CAA divorces India from its rich humanitarian tradition of giving shelter to whoever is persecuted.

On Ambedkar’s death anniversary, his legacy can help counter Hindutva forces

Fri, Dec 06, 2019

Ambedkar’s increasing relevance in India gives hope to everyone who dreams of a society free of hierarchies, a society based on equality and dignity. His legacy and relevance is also an undying challenge to the reactionary and divisive forces that seek to perpetrate hierarchy and humiliation.

We owe it to freedom movement to protect ideals of democracy, secularism

Tue, Nov 26, 2019

The BJP-RSS combine wants to impose an undemocratic, monolithic, illiberal socio-political order. In this challenging period it is the responsibility of all citizens of the country to come together to protect the values we have inherited from the freedom struggle, and the Constitution.

Gurudas Dasgupta fought for the rights of working people throughout his life

Fri, Nov 01, 2019

The passing of Gurudas Dasgupta is not merely a loss for the CPI. It is a loss for the communist parties as a whole and all the other socialist and progressive forces. It is a loss for India.

Dyerism: Why the phrase coined by Mahatma Gandhi strikes a chord

Wed, Sep 18, 2019

What was done to J&K is contrary to PM Narendra Modi’s assurance — abjuring “gaali” and “goli” and winning over the Kashmiris by embracing them (“gale lagaane se”). But the clampdown on Kashmiris is nothing but Dyerism.

Hinduism is about catholicity and reforms, not just discrimination. Hindutva, in contrast, is a homogenising force

Fri, May 17, 2019

The debates around hard-Hindutva and soft-Hindutva are seriously tampering with the secular character of our elections and democracy. The RSS and the ruling regime wants to create a new normal — one in which being Hindu is considered a must for representing the population. This agenda should be resisted at all costs.