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{{Short description|Indian scholar, activist and writer (born 1952)}}
{{wikiquote}}'''Kancha Ilaiah''' is the ] of the ] department at ], a ] and author. He is a ] {{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}and a major figure in the ] movement against the ]. He is often labelled as ] by several Hindu advocacy groups<ref></ref>. Ilaiah is a prominent endorser ] which is critical of ] and ] in general.<ref> '']'', March 30, 2004.</ref>.
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2016}}
== Background==
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
He was born into ] Golla (an ']' and not a '']'', or outcaste) family on October 5, 1952 and was brought up in a small ]n village. His family's main profession was ]. He earned his doctorate degree in political science at the ] in ], ]. His Ph.D. thesis was based on ]'s ].
{{Infobox person
During a recent interview in CNN IBN (Indian wing of CNN) he went ahead and commented that all Hindu religious leaders and organizations were totally irresponsible, cash rich and also that Christian organizations were the only ones serving the purpose of education.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} He has said that he hates Hinduism.<ref>In an interview, Dr. Kanch Illaiha said, "Yes, I hate Hinduism" </ref>
| name = Kancha Ilaiah
| image = Kancha Ilaiah klf.jpg
| image_size =
| alt = Kancha Ilaiah at ] in 2018
| caption = Ilaiah at ] in 2018
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1952|10|5}}
| birth_place = Papaiahpet, ], ], India (now in ], India)
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = {{Plainlist|
* ] {{small|(M.A. Political Science)}}
* Osmania University {{small|(M.Phil Political Science)}}
}}
| occupation = Retired Director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive
Policy (CSSEIP) at ],
Hyderabad
| known_for = Writer and speaker on Indian political thought
| awards = Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Award
Nehru Fellow 1994-97
Manyawar Kanshiram Smriti Mahanayak Puraskar
| spouse =
}}


'''Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd''' (born 5 October 1952) is an Indian ], writer and a ] rights activist. He writes in both English and ] languages. His main domain of study and activism is the annihilation of caste.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/taking-aim-at-the-messenger/article19797679.ece|title=Taking aim at the messenger: on the attack on Kancha Ilaiah|first=Kalpana|last=Kannabiran|newspaper=The Hindu |date=5 October 2017|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
== Activism==
He has authored several books and publishes articles regularly in national news papers and magazines. His book published in 1996, "Why I am not a Hindu - A critique of Hindutva from a Dalit-Bahujan perspective" became the best seller. He also authored ''God As Political Philosopher: Budha's challenge to Brahminism'', ''A Hollow Shell'', ''The State and Repressive Culture'', ''Manatatwam'' (in Telugu), and ''Buffalo Nationalism: A Critique of Spiritual Fascism''. Dr. Ilaiah in his efforts to internationalize the ] issues for the first time, ; on 6 October 2005, he testified before a ] subcommittee against the practice of ] and urged the US Government to work with the Indian government to end what he said was the persecution of Dalits and religious minority groups in India.


==Early life==
He has also been critical of the Namaste claiming it to be an indicator of social inequality in Hinduism. He says:<ref name="yogindersikand.blogspot.com">http://yogindersikand.blogspot.com/2008/02/interview-kancha-ilaiah-on-dalits.html</ref>
{{Criticism of religion sidebar}}
<blockquote>
Kancha Ilaiah was born in the village of Papaiahpet of ] mandal, ] in present-day ].<ref name="rediff">{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/may/24ap.htm |work=Rediff |title=The attempt to censor my writings is part of a larger game plan |date=24 May 2000 |access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> He belongs to the ] caste,<ref>{{Citation |title=Kancha Ilaiah {{!}}{{!}} Talking About One Of His Book {{!}}{{!}} నేను హిందువుని ఎలా అవుతా |date=1 March 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdYRqTjbntw&t=145s |access-date=2023-05-08 |publisher=RTV Telugu |language=en}}; Event occurs from 2:25 to 2:32</ref><ref name=":0" /> a community of ]s designated as an ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/how-a-caste-reference-in-his-2009-book-has-come-back-to-haunt-kancha-ilaiah/story-q7EbiFUWXbW902JDn5u1MI.html|title=How a caste reference in his 2009 book has come back to haunt Kancha Ilaiah|date=16 October 2017|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> Ilaiah's father Kancha Komuraiah was always away from home while grazing sheep.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-09-16|title=How anti-caste activist Kancha Ilaiah's mother was an inspiration for his rebellion|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/how-anti-caste-activist-kancha-ilaiah-s-mother-was-inspiration-his-rebellion-133170|access-date=2021-03-10|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref> The dominant figure in the family was his mother. Ilaiah credited his mother, Kancha Kattamma, as pivotal in shaping his political thought.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/how-cow-protection-laws-brutalise-our-culture/articleshow/53691544.cms|title=How cow protection laws brutalise our culture|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=14 August 2016 }}</ref>
Take a very simple thing—the Hindu namaste, folding your hands to greet someone—is a very powerful symbolic statement. It suggests that I recognise you but you should not touch me. In contrast, the custom that the Christians introduced of shaking of hands is a touching relationship, while the Muslims go even further and physically embrace you. Even today in the villages the Muslims are the only people who actually physically embrace the Dalit-Bahujans.
</blockquote>


Ilaaih suffixed 'Shepherd' to his name symbolically, as he comes from a shepherding family.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shepherd|first=Kancha Ilaiah|title=The violence of caste: Why I have changed my name to Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd|url=http://scroll.in/article/808890/kancha-ilaiah-explains-why-he-decided-to-add-shepherd-to-his-name|access-date=2021-05-13|website=Scroll.in|date=27 May 2016 |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== ''Why I Am Not A Hindu'' ===
His book, ''Why I Am Not A Hindu'' purports to the life-experience of the Dalits and Other Backward Castes and alleges that their poverty-ridden experience holds little connection to the Brahmin religious experience<ref name="yogindersikand.blogspot.com"/>. By explaining this dichotomy from his own personal experience as an OBC, he advocates the "Dalitization" of Indian culture. As Ilaiah claims, the Dalit philosophy prizes productivity over personal pleasure and values the graciousness of community over the "elevation of Brahmin men" at the expense of women and Dalits/OBCs. Ilaiah asserts that this shift in societal thinking will enable India to become a more prosperous and egalitarian society<ref name="yogindersikand.blogspot.com"/>.


==Professional life==
The book was criticized by leading historian and ] holder ] for promoting ] views concerning the origins of ]s, and for abusing ]'s theories concerning the origins of social strata in India as ammunition for ] confrontation (see ]). Thapar essentially dubs this sort of historiography as "extreme" and "weak".<ref>, by ], Transcript of lecture delivered on 11th October 1999,
Ilaiah received an M.A. degree in ] and an M.Phil., awarded for his study of ] in undivided ].<ref name=rediff/> He has been a recipient of the ] Award and was a ] between 1994 and 1997.<ref name=rediff/>
at the Academic Staff College, JNU</ref> Journalist and editor of the Telugu daily, ], M V R Sastry criticized the book for its 'undisguised hatred for the targeted community (Hindus), its crudeness, a general lack of scholarship and academic rigor, the abundance of cheap rhetoric, distortion of facts and finally, the author's total lack of understanding of the religion it seeks to denigrate'<ref>, Critique of 'Why I am Not a Hindu', by Shri MVR Sastry</ref>


Ilaiah earned a ] on the basis of his work exploring the political dimension of ], culminating in ''God as Political Philosopher - Buddha's Challenge to Brahminism''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/%E2%80%9CModi-should-ask-sadhus-to-clean-the-streets%E2%80%9D/article14481502.ece|title="Modi should ask sadhus to clean the streets"|author=<!--Not stated--> |newspaper=The Hindu |date=10 July 2016|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> He later elaborated several of its key themes in his best-known book. ''Why I Am Not a Hindu: A Sudra critique of Hindutva philosophy, culture and political economy'' (1996). A chapter of the book, ''Hindu Death and Our Death'' has been reprinted in the book ''The Hunger of the Republic: Our Present in Retrospect'', part of the ] series published by ].
Ilaiah was censured by for publishing "Why I am not a Hindu" in a letter addressed to him by Dr. Pannalal, the ] of ]. The registrar stated in his letter that, in his opinion, some articles in popular newspapers on the book were increasing ]. He said that Ilaiah should "write within the canons of conduct of our profession" and his articles "should not accentuate prejudices and inflame hatred among various sections of society"<ref name="rediff"></ref>. Ilaiah has responded in interviews that the book aims to suggest ways to "eliminate the caste system" and proposes "unity on an equal basis"<ref name="rediff"/>. Following a complaint from Ilaiah that the letter constrained his "basic right to academic freedom" the Osmania University Teachers Association submitted a "representation" asking the Registrar to withdraw the letter<ref name="rediff"/>.


Ilaiah has encouraged proficiency in the English language for Dalits, arguing that it would allow Dalits in India to intellectually engage the world outside India without non-Dalits speaking "for them".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Introduce English in all schools, says Kancha Ilaiah|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2016/aug/08/introduce-english-in-all-schools-says-kancha-ilaiah-1506820.html|access-date=2020-10-31|website=The New Indian Express|date=8 August 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Swati|last=Mathur|date=2013-02-15|title=Kancha Ilaiah: Even if 10% dalit children got English education, India would change |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/interviews/kancha-ilaiah-even-if-10-dalit-children-got-english-education-india-would-change/articleshow/18503625.cms|access-date=2022-02-09|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/808852/in-defense-of-english-blame-the-education-system-not-the-language|title=In defence of English: Blame the Indian education system, not the language|first=Akshat|last=Jain|website=Scroll.in|date=5 June 2016 }}</ref> In May 2016, in protest against "Brahmanic hegemony" he says continues to persist in India, Ilaiah appended "Shepherd" to his name. Ilaiah identified in this choice recognition and reaffirmation of his family origins. As an English-language proper noun rather than its equivalent in an Indian language, "Shepherd" is meant to demonstrate a symbolic break with the cultural norms Ilaiah believed Brahmins sought to "impose" on Indian society. Ilaiah characterises his name change as a tool to break these norms and to value the work of what he terms "productive classes:" including Scheduled Castes and OBCs.<ref name="hindustantimes1">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/we-need-a-new-god-says-dalit-thinker-kancha-ilaiah/story-ooWKO6iUKLAXv7qFqEW4ML.html |title=Good Shepherd: Dalit thinker Kancha Ilaiah on name, caste |work=Hindustan Times |date=2016-05-27 |access-date=2016-07-18}}</ref>
=== ''Turning the Pot, Tilling the Land'' ===
Ilaiah's book, ''Turning the Pot, Tilling the Land'', was published in 2007. According to Unicef-India's country director Samphe D. Lhalungpa quoted in the ''Washington Post'' , "It's a hugely important book. Every Indian child should read it." ''The Hindu'' in a review said, "this book would be a valuable addition to those who teach social sciences in schools". Uncief distributed 14,000 copies of the Telugu edition of the book, published by Hyderabad Book Trust, among government schoolchildren. The Tamil edition was recently published by Tulika . The Hindi edition has been published by Eklavya and the Malayalam edition is forthcoming from DC Books .


Kancha Ilaiah is an ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyo.in/voices/kancha-ilaiah-dalit-gauri-lankesh-br-ambedkar/story/1/19836.html|title=Threats to Kancha Ilaiah show India has learnt nothing from Gauri Lankesh's death|website=www.dailyo.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/the-ethereal-realist/280966|title=The Ethereal Realist &#124; Outlook India Magazine|website=www.outlookindia.com/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/2019/06/21/gandhi-was-not-a-caste-abolitionist-kancha-ilaiah-shepherd.html|title=Gandhi was not a caste abolitionist: Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd|website=The Week}}</ref> As an anti-caste activist,<ref name="rediff" /> Ilaiah is often misidentified by the media as being a Dalit himself.<ref>{{cite news|title=India's President Ram Nath Kovind takes oath|work=www.aljazeera.com|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/07/india-president-ram-nath-kovind-takes-oath-170725074458219.html}}</ref> Ilaiah identifies himself as a ] intellectual.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mondal |first1=Sudipto |title=Good Shepherd: Dalit thinker Kancha Ilaiah on name, caste |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/we-need-a-new-god-says-dalit-thinker-kancha-ilaiah/story-ooWKO6iUKLAXv7qFqEW4ML.html |access-date=21 January 2020 |work=Hindustan Times |date=27 May 2016 |language=en}}</ref>
==See also==
]
* ]
In November 2015, Ilaiah stated that if ], the first Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of India credited with accession of a princely states into India amidst the intense violence and bloodletting that followed the creation of Pakistan, had been Prime Minister of India, India "would have become Pakistan".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/if-sardar-patel-was-pm-india-would-ve-become-pakistan-kancha-ilaiah/story-l3SqCY5Dqta6uu0TeLIYHJ.html |title=If Sardar Patel was PM, India would've become Pakistan: Kancha Ilaiah |work=Hindustan Times |date=2015-11-30 |access-date=2016-07-18}}</ref>
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]


==References== ==Criticism==
While working as an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at ], several of Ilaiah's colleagues as well as academics affiliated with the university expressed, in an open-letter, their concern with respect to certain articles and opinions that Ilaiah had contributed to a local newspaper and advised him against writing material that could inflame sectarian discontent or prejudice.<ref name=rediff/>
{{Reflist}}


In April 2016, Ilaiah gave a controversial remark that vegetarianism is ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/vegetarians-are-anti-national-kancha-ilaiahs-hyperbole-illustrating-ambedkars-food-democracy-2728650.html|title=Vegetarianism is anti-nationalism: Kancha Ilaiah on Ambedkar's food democracy|date=14 April 2016|website=Firstpost}}</ref> On 18 September 2017, ], a member of ] representing the ] and a prominent leader of the ] said at a press conference that Ilaiah was a traitor and should be hanged because his writings were "intended to divide society."<ref>{{cite web|title=TD MP TG Venkatesh says 'Hang ilaiah' for his book|date=18 September 2017 |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/politics/180917/td-mp-tg-venkatesh-says-hang-ilaiah-for-his-book.html|publisher=The Deccan Chronicle|access-date=2018-01-04}}</ref> Ilaiah alleged that the members of Arya Vysya community had tried to kill him and lodged a police complaint when Arya Vysya community members attacked his car in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2017/sep/24/after-vehicle-pelted-with-stones-kancha-ilaiah-files-plaint-says-death-threats-against-him-1661914.html|title=After vehicle pelted with stones, Kancha Ilaiah files plaint, says death threats against him|website=The New Indian Express|date=24 September 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/latest/851750/writer-kancha-ilaiah-says-his-car-was-attacked-with-stones-in-telangana|title=Writer Kancha Ilaiah says his car was attacked with stones in Telangana|author=Scroll Staff|website=Scroll.in|date=24 September 2017 }}</ref>
== Bibliography ==

In September 2017, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister ] banned Ilaiah's book on Vyshas for hurting the sentiments of the community after Vysyas community members protested and demanded a ban on the book.<ref name="Deccan Chronicle 2017">{{cite web | title=Pawan Kalyan's tweet, comments by MPs make CM see red | website=Deccan Chronicle | date=2017-10-07 | url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/politics/071017/pawan-kalyans-tweet-comments-by-mps-make-cm-see-red.html | access-date=2022-04-12}}</ref><ref name="Sharda 2017">{{cite web | last=Sharda | first=Ratan | title=TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu slams Kancha Ilaiah for provocative writing | website=NewsBharati | date=2017-09-27 | url=https://www.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2017/9/27/Kancha-Ilaiah-.html | access-date=2022-04-12}}</ref>

==Appointments==
Among Ilaiah's official appointments have been:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osmania.ac.in/Naac%20Dept%20Evoluation/Social%20Sciences.pdf|title=3rd Cycle of Accreditation – NAAC, Self – Study Report, 2013|page=48|date=2013|publisher=Osmania University|access-date=7 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314190854/http://www.osmania.ac.in/Naac%20Dept%20Evoluation/Social%20Sciences.pdf|archive-date=14 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*Retired Director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP) at Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad
*Former Head of department, Political Science, ], Hyderabad<ref name="rediff" />
*Member of National Research Committee constituted by the Ministry of Social Justice, New Delhi
*Member – ] (ICSSR), New Delhi
*Former Member of the ], Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India, New Delhi for three years
*Member of the ] Sub Committee to formulate an agenda for land reforms for the ]
*Member of the ] Constitutional Committee to oversee the implementation of OBC reservations in all ] and ] in India
*Former member of the Executive Council of ] (Tamil Nadu)

==Selected publications==
<!--these need publishing dates and publisher information--> <!--these need publishing dates and publisher information-->
English language publications:
*''Why I Am Not a Hindu: A ] critique of ] philosophy, culture and political economy''(Calcutta: Samya, 1996)
*Ilaiah, K. ''Why I Am Not a Hindu: A Sudra critique of Hindutva philosophy, culture and political economy'' (Calcutta: Samya, 1996) {{ISBN|8185604185}}
*''God as Political Philosopher: Buddha's Challenge to ]'' (Calcutta: Samya, 2001)
*Ilaiah, K. '''' (Calcutta: Samya, 2001) {{ISBN|8185604444}}
*''Democracy in India: A Hollow Shell'' (edited by Arthur Bonner)
*''Buffalo Nationalism: A Critique of Spiritual ]'' (Calcutta: Samya, 2004) *Ilaiah, K. '''' (Calcutta: Samya, 2004) {{ISBN|818560469X}}
*Ilaiah, K., & Vyam, D. (2007). ''Turning the Pot, Tilling the Land: Dignity of Labour in Our Times''. Pondicherry: Navayana Pub. {{ISBN|9788189059095}} {{OCLC|184927533}}
*Ilaiah, K. '''' (SAGE Publications Pvt. Ltd, 2009) {{ISBN|9788132104339}}
*Ilaiah, K. '' Untouchable God: A Novel on Caste and Race ''(Kolkata: Samya, 2011) {{ISBN|9788185604336}} {{OCLC|828612357}}
*Ilaiah, K (1989-01-01). ''The State and Repressive Culture: The Andhra Experience''. Hyderabad: Swecha Prachuranalu. {{OCLC|21518320}}
*Bonner, A., Ilaiah, K., Saha, S. K., Engineer, A. A., & Heuze, G. (1994). ''Democracy in India: A Hollow Shell''. Washington D.C: The American University Press. {{ISBN|1879383268}} {{OCLC|470188534}}
*Ilaiah, K; ]; Centre for Contemporary Studies (1995-01-01). ''Caste or Class or Caste-class: A study in Dalitabhujan Consciousness and Struggles in Andhra Pradesh in 1980s''. New Delhi: Centre for Contemporary Studies, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library {{OCLC|436463940}}
*Ilaiah, K., & Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. (1996). ''In Search of the Roots of Anti-Caste Struggle: A Dalitist Reading of the Buddhist Discourse''. New Delhi: Centre for Contemporary Studies, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. {{OCLC|863611670}}
*Ilaiah, K., & Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. (1997). ''Productive Labour, Consciousness and History: The Dalitabahujan Alternative''. New Delhi: Centre for Contemporary Studies, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. {{OCLC|793342817}}
*Ilaiah, K (1999-01-01). ''Reservations: Experience as Framework of Debate'' {{OCLC|606215716}}
*D'Souza, J., Ilaiah, K., Raj, U., & Dalit Freedom Network. (2004). ''Dalit Freedom: Now and Forever; The Epic Struggle for Dalit Forever''. {{OCLC|930036331}}
*Nisar, ], M., & Ilaiah, K. (2007). '' Ayyankali: Dalit Leader of Organic Protest''. Calicut, Kerala: Other Books. {{ISBN|9788190388764}} {{OCLC|437026595}}
*Ilaiah, K (2010-01-01). ''The Weapon of the Other: Dalitbahujan Writings and the Remaking of Indian Nationalist Thought''. Delhi: Longman. {{ISBN|9788177582468}} {{OCLC|502268560}}

Telugu language publications:
*ఐలయ్య, క. ''మన తత్వం: దళిత బహుజన తాత్వికత''. హైదరాబాద్: హైదరాబాద్ బుక్ ట్రస్ట్

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{commons category|Kancha Ilaiah}}
* "Leading Dalit Rights Campaigner in India"
{{Wikiquote}}
* with Ilaiah
* "Leading Dalit Rights Campaigner in India"
* Washington Post feature on Ilaiah's children's book.
*"" Washington Post feature on Ilaiah's children's book.
* "The attempt to censor my writings is part of a larger game plan"
* "The State of Dalit Mobilization: An Interview with Kancha Ilaiah" * "The State of Dalit Mobilization: An Interview with Kancha Ilaiah"
* "Institutes like ] and ] should be closed down"
* "Kancha Ilaiah’s ‘Why I am Not a Hindu’: A Critical Review by Shri M. V. R. Sastry"
* "Merit of Reservations"
* "Institutes like ]s and ]s should be closed down"
*{{usurped|1=}}
* "Merit of Reservations"
{{Authority control}}
* "Anger Is No Substitute For Substance, Mr. Kancha Ilaiah"


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Latest revision as of 18:53, 21 December 2024

Indian scholar, activist and writer (born 1952)

Kancha Ilaiah
Kancha Ilaiah at Kerala Literature Festival in 2018Ilaiah at Kerala Literature Festival in 2018
Born (1952-10-05) 5 October 1952 (age 72)
Papaiahpet, Warangal, Hyderabad State, India (now in Telangana, India)
Education
Occupation(s)Retired Director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive

Policy (CSSEIP) at Maulana Azad National Urdu University,

Hyderabad
Known forWriter and speaker on Indian political thought
AwardsMahatma Jyotirao Phule Award

Nehru Fellow 1994-97

Manyawar Kanshiram Smriti Mahanayak Puraskar

Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd (born 5 October 1952) is an Indian political theorist, writer and a Dalit rights activist. He writes in both English and Telugu languages. His main domain of study and activism is the annihilation of caste.

Early life

This article is of a series on
Criticism of religion
By religion
By religious figure
By text
Religious violence
Bibliographies
Related topics

Kancha Ilaiah was born in the village of Papaiahpet of Chennaraopet mandal, Warangal district in present-day Telangana. He belongs to the Kuruma golla (Yadav) caste, a community of goatherds designated as an Other Backward Class. Ilaiah's father Kancha Komuraiah was always away from home while grazing sheep. The dominant figure in the family was his mother. Ilaiah credited his mother, Kancha Kattamma, as pivotal in shaping his political thought.

Ilaaih suffixed 'Shepherd' to his name symbolically, as he comes from a shepherding family.

Professional life

Ilaiah received an M.A. degree in political science and an M.Phil., awarded for his study of land reform in undivided Andhra Pradesh. He has been a recipient of the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Award and was a Nehru Fellow between 1994 and 1997.

Ilaiah earned a Ph.D on the basis of his work exploring the political dimension of Buddhism, culminating in God as Political Philosopher - Buddha's Challenge to Brahminism. He later elaborated several of its key themes in his best-known book. Why I Am Not a Hindu: A Sudra critique of Hindutva philosophy, culture and political economy (1996). A chapter of the book, Hindu Death and Our Death has been reprinted in the book The Hunger of the Republic: Our Present in Retrospect, part of the India Since the 90s series published by Tulika Books.

Ilaiah has encouraged proficiency in the English language for Dalits, arguing that it would allow Dalits in India to intellectually engage the world outside India without non-Dalits speaking "for them". In May 2016, in protest against "Brahmanic hegemony" he says continues to persist in India, Ilaiah appended "Shepherd" to his name. Ilaiah identified in this choice recognition and reaffirmation of his family origins. As an English-language proper noun rather than its equivalent in an Indian language, "Shepherd" is meant to demonstrate a symbolic break with the cultural norms Ilaiah believed Brahmins sought to "impose" on Indian society. Ilaiah characterises his name change as a tool to break these norms and to value the work of what he terms "productive classes:" including Scheduled Castes and OBCs.

Kancha Ilaiah is an Ambedkarite. As an anti-caste activist, Ilaiah is often misidentified by the media as being a Dalit himself. Ilaiah identifies himself as a Sudra intellectual.

Kancha Ilaiah in 2024

In November 2015, Ilaiah stated that if Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of India credited with accession of a princely states into India amidst the intense violence and bloodletting that followed the creation of Pakistan, had been Prime Minister of India, India "would have become Pakistan".

Criticism

While working as an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at Osmania University, several of Ilaiah's colleagues as well as academics affiliated with the university expressed, in an open-letter, their concern with respect to certain articles and opinions that Ilaiah had contributed to a local newspaper and advised him against writing material that could inflame sectarian discontent or prejudice.

In April 2016, Ilaiah gave a controversial remark that vegetarianism is anti-nationalism. On 18 September 2017, T. G. Venkatesh, a member of Indian Parliament representing the Telugu Desam Party and a prominent leader of the Arya Vysya said at a press conference that Ilaiah was a traitor and should be hanged because his writings were "intended to divide society." Ilaiah alleged that the members of Arya Vysya community had tried to kill him and lodged a police complaint when Arya Vysya community members attacked his car in 2017.

In September 2017, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu banned Ilaiah's book on Vyshas for hurting the sentiments of the community after Vysyas community members protested and demanded a ban on the book.

Appointments

Among Ilaiah's official appointments have been:

Selected publications

English language publications:

Telugu language publications:

  • ఐలయ్య, క. మన తత్వం: దళిత బహుజన తాత్వికత. హైదరాబాద్: హైదరాబాద్ బుక్ ట్రస్ట్

References

  1. Kannabiran, Kalpana (5 October 2017). "Taking aim at the messenger: on the attack on Kancha Ilaiah". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  2. ^ "The attempt to censor my writings is part of a larger game plan". Rediff. 24 May 2000. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  3. Kancha Ilaiah || Talking About One Of His Book || నేను హిందువుని ఎలా అవుతా, RTV Telugu, 1 March 2023, retrieved 8 May 2023; Event occurs from 2:25 to 2:32
  4. ^ "How anti-caste activist Kancha Ilaiah's mother was an inspiration for his rebellion". The News Minute. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  5. "How a caste reference in his 2009 book has come back to haunt Kancha Ilaiah". Hindustan Times. 16 October 2017.
  6. "How cow protection laws brutalise our culture". The Economic Times. 14 August 2016.
  7. Shepherd, Kancha Ilaiah (27 May 2016). "The violence of caste: Why I have changed my name to Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd". Scroll.in. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  8. ""Modi should ask sadhus to clean the streets"". The Hindu. 10 July 2016 – via www.thehindu.com.
  9. "Introduce English in all schools, says Kancha Ilaiah". The New Indian Express. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  10. Mathur, Swati (15 February 2013). "Kancha Ilaiah: Even if 10% dalit children got English education, India would change". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  11. Jain, Akshat (5 June 2016). "In defence of English: Blame the Indian education system, not the language". Scroll.in.
  12. "Good Shepherd: Dalit thinker Kancha Ilaiah on name, caste". Hindustan Times. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  13. "Threats to Kancha Ilaiah show India has learnt nothing from Gauri Lankesh's death". www.dailyo.in.
  14. "The Ethereal Realist | Outlook India Magazine". www.outlookindia.com/.
  15. "Gandhi was not a caste abolitionist: Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd". The Week.
  16. "India's President Ram Nath Kovind takes oath". www.aljazeera.com.
  17. Mondal, Sudipto (27 May 2016). "Good Shepherd: Dalit thinker Kancha Ilaiah on name, caste". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  18. "If Sardar Patel was PM, India would've become Pakistan: Kancha Ilaiah". Hindustan Times. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  19. "Vegetarianism is anti-nationalism: Kancha Ilaiah on Ambedkar's food democracy". Firstpost. 14 April 2016.
  20. "TD MP TG Venkatesh says 'Hang ilaiah' for his book". The Deccan Chronicle. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  21. "After vehicle pelted with stones, Kancha Ilaiah files plaint, says death threats against him". The New Indian Express. 24 September 2017.
  22. Scroll Staff (24 September 2017). "Writer Kancha Ilaiah says his car was attacked with stones in Telangana". Scroll.in.
  23. "Pawan Kalyan's tweet, comments by MPs make CM see red". Deccan Chronicle. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  24. Sharda, Ratan (27 September 2017). "TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu slams Kancha Ilaiah for provocative writing". NewsBharati. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  25. "3rd Cycle of Accreditation – NAAC, Self – Study Report, 2013" (PDF). Osmania University. 2013. p. 48. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.

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