That reservations encourage “mediocrity” & discourage “merit” is a highly atrocious claim. In recent months we’ve seen a large uptick in its expression. I was moved to write this after a particularly misleading monologue by TV presenter Palki Sharma. The essay uses evidence from the history of the medical profession to inspect this oft-made, offensive… Continue reading Do Reservations “Encourage Mediocrity”?
The callous response to Dr Payal Tadvi’s suicide last year prompted me to write this piece. It’s an appeal to the medical profession in India to wake up to casteism in their midst before it is too late. The article was published in the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics on 23rd Nov 2020. The full… Continue reading Caste and casteism in medical education and training in India
I wrote this article on the occasion of National Doctors’ Day in India (July 1). It was published in ‘thewire.in’. Here is the link. Below is an excerpt: Satyajit Ray and Pather Panchali – Satyajit Ray had to struggle to fund his film Pather Panchali, later on a world-famous venture. After several dead-ends, his mother… Continue reading When India’s ‘National Doctor’ Was Denied Service By an American Restaurant
The recent movie ‘Sairat’, while being wildly entertaining, also did a commendable social job of enlightening people about the ultimate cruelty and futility of our society’s general opposition to inter-caste relationships. Way back in 1936, a movie touching on the same aspects had become one of Indian cinema’s first huge blockbusters: Achhut Kanya. In this… Continue reading ‘Achhut Kanya’ To ‘Sairat’: Tracing Love And Caste, 80 Years Apart
CARING FOR INDIA 