CHARVAKA

Rationalism. Secularism. Freedom

Communal Politics

  • Economic Condition of Religious Minorities: Quota or Affirmative Action

    RAM PUNIYANI

    Muslims in India continue to face economic deprivation, social exclusion and the consequences of communal violence. A new report proposes a religion-neutral approach to affirmative action, focusing on caste, occupation and socio-economic disadvantage. Can the recommendations overcome political resistance and help build a more equitable society rooted in constitutional values and social justice?

  • Did Ashoka’s embracing Buddhism and promoting Ahimsa Weaken India?

    RAM PUNIYANI

    Long before modern borders were drawn, an emperor renounced military conquest to build a state on compassion and pluralism. Today, that legacy is under attack. Blaming ancient non-violence for national vulnerability masks a deeper motive: discrediting an anti-caste transformation. Behind the nationalist critique of Ashoka lies a centuries-old struggle between egalitarian ideals and the revival…

  • Looking at the Past: Jaundiced Views

    RAM PUNIYANI

    Communal forces heavily rely on distorted, jaundiced histories to spread hatred against other communities. This animosity stems from British colonial legacies and modern communalists who selectively manipulate and misrepresent historical incidents to fit their divisive agendas.