Social justice is not justice, and it is dangerous and wrong to conflate the two
It’s not out yet, but we are at imminent risk of being drenched by a book on the principle of justice written by an celebrated expert on…economics. Now, no one would give too much credence to a book on nuclear physics [...]
What do you with a problem like Gyanendra?
From Nepal comes news of an royal billing dispute. After doing away with the monarchy and nationalising many of the royal assets—including the main royal palace—the government of the new republic wants King Gyanendra to cough up payment for the electricity the royal family used while he was [...]
And the source of so many of India’s problems
Today’s dose of excellent writing comes from Mint, where Vipin Veetil argues that “social justice is injustice”.
Governments were larger than ever before, and socialism the intellectual high ground. And justice became muddled. Right to education, right to leisure, right to what politicians want were all called justice. [...]
On socialism, constitutionalism and curbing intolerance
For contemplation on Independence Day—on the need to expunge socialism from the Constitution in letter and spirit; on the norms of public activism; and how competitive intolerance might be reined in.
Related Links: Three thoughts on Independence Day 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 & on Republic Day 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005
Epics out of proportion
Over at Varnam, JK has pithy on a commenter:
T.R.Ramaswami: Would you not also classify epics like the Mahabharatha and Ramayana, whose historic authencity is doubtful and also other religious texts as instruments for political and social control?
JK: No. Socialism has been used for political and social control in India. [Varnam]
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And a very faulty analogy
In a piece commemorating Bhagat Singh’s hanging by the colonial British government, historian Irfan Habib describes how the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu interpreted his politics. Bhagat Singh’s views on the political use of religion struck a chord down south. As did his economics.
Periyar wrote further in the editorial that “to [...]
Expunging socialism from it should matter to all those who take the Constitution seriously
Whether it was Indira Gandhi, Joan Robinson or Shashi Tharoor who first came up with the aphorism, India’s highest constitutional authorities proved it right this week.
Refusing to entertain a petition that sought the deletion of the word “socialist” to describe the [...]
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