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India Dissents: 3,000 Years of Difference, Doubt and Argument
Throughout Indian history, various individuals and groups have questioned, censured and debated authority—be it the state or empire, religious or political traditions, caste hierarchies, patriarchy or even the idea of god. These dissenting voices have persisted despite all attempts made to silence them. They have inspired revolutions and uprisings, helped preserve individual dignity and freedom, and promoted tolerance and a plurality in thought and lifestyle. India 3,000 Years of Difference, Doubt and Argument brings together some of these voices that have sustained India as a great and vibrant civilization. Collected in these pages are essays, letters, reports, poems, songs and calls to action—from texts ranging from the Rig Veda to Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste ; and by thinkers as varied as the Buddha, Akka Mahadevi, Lal Ded, Nanak, Ghalib, Tagore, Gandhi, Manto, Jayaprakash Narayan, Namdeo Dhasal, Mahasweta Devi and Amartya Sen. Their words embody the undying and essential spirit of dissent in one of the world’s most diverse, dynamic and oldest civilizations.
744 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2017
About the author
Ashok Vajpeyi
49 books10 followersAshok Vajpeyi (Hindi: अशोक वाजपेयी) (born 1941) is an Indian poet in Hindi, essayist, literary-cultural critic, apart from being a noted cultural and arts administrator, and a former civil servant.
He was chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi India's National Academy of Arts, Ministry of Culture, Govt of India, 2008–2011. He has published over 23 books of poetry, criticism and art, and was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award given by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, in 1994 for his poetry collection, Kahin Nahin Wahin.
His notable poetry collections include, Shaher Ab Bhi Sambhavana Hai (1966), Tatpurush (1986), Bahuri Akela (1992), Ibarat Se Giri Matrayen, Ummeed ka Doosra Naam (2004) and Vivaksha (2006), besides this he has also published works on literary and art criticism: Filhal, Kuchh Poorvagrah, Samay se Bahar, Kavita ka Galp and Sidhiyan Shuru ho Gayi Hain. He is generally seen as part of the old Delhi-centric literary-cultural establishment consisting of bureaucrat-poets and academicians like Sitakanta Mahapatra, Keki Daruwalla, J.P.Das, Gopi Chand Narang, Indra Nath Choudhari and K.Satchidanandan.
He was chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi India's National Academy of Arts, Ministry of Culture, Govt of India, 2008–2011. He has published over 23 books of poetry, criticism and art, and was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award given by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, in 1994 for his poetry collection, Kahin Nahin Wahin.
His notable poetry collections include, Shaher Ab Bhi Sambhavana Hai (1966), Tatpurush (1986), Bahuri Akela (1992), Ibarat Se Giri Matrayen, Ummeed ka Doosra Naam (2004) and Vivaksha (2006), besides this he has also published works on literary and art criticism: Filhal, Kuchh Poorvagrah, Samay se Bahar, Kavita ka Galp and Sidhiyan Shuru ho Gayi Hain. He is generally seen as part of the old Delhi-centric literary-cultural establishment consisting of bureaucrat-poets and academicians like Sitakanta Mahapatra, Keki Daruwalla, J.P.Das, Gopi Chand Narang, Indra Nath Choudhari and K.Satchidanandan.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 22, 2020
India Dissents is an excellent compilation of dissenting opinions from the Vedic ages to the contemporary times. If you've ever believed that dissent is a product of the modern education system or that the people of days bygone were more "tolerant", this book will prove you wrong and how. You will find poetry, letters, songs, and essays, all of which embody the spirit of dissent, with themes ranging from caste and religion to gender and sexuality to the freedom struggle and beyond. Extremely informative, enriching and very useful for students of history, law, and political science.
September 20, 2018
This is the reproduction of some discourses. I found interesting to read the thoughts of Indian politicians, the results were equally interesting. British influence or not, the politicians have the same empty words, too many and their shallow fallacious words. While Vajpeyi's intention while working for this book is probably well phrased by the title: different, doubt and argument, the text I have just read is precisely the opposite. It is about average people. Powerful when compared with the plebeians in the streets, yet weak compared with the people in power, these dissenters are actually doing their best through fallacy and fear mongering to get on top and be themselves the ones wielding the power of the state.
February 27, 2022
Epic shit. Lost in translation. Great boast, little host.
Should be renamed to “Losers Agree”.
Collection of bullshit by losers, haters, iconic jerks and urban Naxals including but not limited to Ashok, Ravish, Varun, Mrinal, Romila etc. All seeming to use a toolkit to have a word DISSENT in their contribution to this collection. They are the epidemic to the society.
To get some credibility the author, publisher and editor gathered some collections of historic philosophy and translated it to their tone just to suit something and build a narrative, most things are lost in translation.
Poor choice of words, forcing DISSENT wherever possible. Looks like an old headmaster asked his ivy students to write an essay using the word DISSENT and the blind followers have just put their stale stories and inserted DISSENT wherever possible.
Once in a society I live some JNU educated dumb people used to feed stray dogs with biscuits, pedigree and dry fruits. The others living in our society were not as rich as them and mostly were busy in their day-to-day chores. This activity of feeding stray dogs delicious food would often go unnoticed by others but I used to get some entertainment in it and ask few questions to JNU alumnus like why they like that. To me they showed that how important it was to solve the stray dogs hunger problem. They were so confident and would tell they were like angels to the dogs. The dogs were also loyal to them. But the JNU alumnus never realized what they were doing, they had made those dogs lazy and so much dependent on them that when they left the stray dogs couldn’t stop whining, whimpering and barking. Because when the masters left the dogs lost everything, their cozy world, the benefits they were getting, they started missing those 5 star food that their old masters used to feed them, the toys and dresses those were often especially made for them. Some of those dogs were given beautiful collars some golden, some silver some even look like medals. Now the dogs fooled by their masters inheriting some qualities from them started missing those privileges and they just couldn’t accept the normal. They would cry, whim and bark at everything they saw as they thought the fault was of people who lived there, Why can’t the people respect their collars and they would come and return those. Few became mad as well, few were treated were still in rehabilitation and still get occasional manic episodes and would start whining, and few died. Remaining didn’t know where to find food, lazy at core they were full of uncertainty and thus continue to make whatever noise they could.
The worst part is all collections sound so much same, all have the same pain. Just like when dogs bark they sound same. There is no dissent in barking.
Good part is the book was authored 8 years ago hope most of these ivy blue eyed dull jerks must now have removed their blue goggles and seen the India of common people. People whose hopes are now coming true and hold a lot of promise in coming days.
The shameful part is that these blue eyed slave authors felt proud while returning awards as if those were given by some unbiased real authority for really credible work. Come-on you are not that much idiot that you really believe you did something great to get those awards perhaps you think others don’t know that you bought those awards or were fed by your masters for the services you provided to them. Your loyalty was to them and you showed that very well.
But I sympathize with you as all your privileges are gone now you too are as common as an ordinary uncommon men.
Note to readers – Collection of essays on how to use dissent word and form narrative against India and its culture. Not recommended as the dissent is not real the fun part is all dissenting in same tone is actually not a dissent but an agreement. Don’t waste your time on this. I got this from my friend in JNU and demanding 10000/- as a fine for this recommendation.
Should be renamed to “Losers Agree”.
Collection of bullshit by losers, haters, iconic jerks and urban Naxals including but not limited to Ashok, Ravish, Varun, Mrinal, Romila etc. All seeming to use a toolkit to have a word DISSENT in their contribution to this collection. They are the epidemic to the society.
To get some credibility the author, publisher and editor gathered some collections of historic philosophy and translated it to their tone just to suit something and build a narrative, most things are lost in translation.
Poor choice of words, forcing DISSENT wherever possible. Looks like an old headmaster asked his ivy students to write an essay using the word DISSENT and the blind followers have just put their stale stories and inserted DISSENT wherever possible.
Once in a society I live some JNU educated dumb people used to feed stray dogs with biscuits, pedigree and dry fruits. The others living in our society were not as rich as them and mostly were busy in their day-to-day chores. This activity of feeding stray dogs delicious food would often go unnoticed by others but I used to get some entertainment in it and ask few questions to JNU alumnus like why they like that. To me they showed that how important it was to solve the stray dogs hunger problem. They were so confident and would tell they were like angels to the dogs. The dogs were also loyal to them. But the JNU alumnus never realized what they were doing, they had made those dogs lazy and so much dependent on them that when they left the stray dogs couldn’t stop whining, whimpering and barking. Because when the masters left the dogs lost everything, their cozy world, the benefits they were getting, they started missing those 5 star food that their old masters used to feed them, the toys and dresses those were often especially made for them. Some of those dogs were given beautiful collars some golden, some silver some even look like medals. Now the dogs fooled by their masters inheriting some qualities from them started missing those privileges and they just couldn’t accept the normal. They would cry, whim and bark at everything they saw as they thought the fault was of people who lived there, Why can’t the people respect their collars and they would come and return those. Few became mad as well, few were treated were still in rehabilitation and still get occasional manic episodes and would start whining, and few died. Remaining didn’t know where to find food, lazy at core they were full of uncertainty and thus continue to make whatever noise they could.
The worst part is all collections sound so much same, all have the same pain. Just like when dogs bark they sound same. There is no dissent in barking.
Good part is the book was authored 8 years ago hope most of these ivy blue eyed dull jerks must now have removed their blue goggles and seen the India of common people. People whose hopes are now coming true and hold a lot of promise in coming days.
The shameful part is that these blue eyed slave authors felt proud while returning awards as if those were given by some unbiased real authority for really credible work. Come-on you are not that much idiot that you really believe you did something great to get those awards perhaps you think others don’t know that you bought those awards or were fed by your masters for the services you provided to them. Your loyalty was to them and you showed that very well.
But I sympathize with you as all your privileges are gone now you too are as common as an ordinary uncommon men.
Note to readers – Collection of essays on how to use dissent word and form narrative against India and its culture. Not recommended as the dissent is not real the fun part is all dissenting in same tone is actually not a dissent but an agreement. Don’t waste your time on this. I got this from my friend in JNU and demanding 10000/- as a fine for this recommendation.
August 23, 2022
A boring compilation of essays, poems and speeches from different activists, national leaders and contemporary figures.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews