Ravaged by the 2004 tsunami and aid, the historically isolated Indigenous peoples of Great Nicoba... more Ravaged by the 2004 tsunami and aid, the historically isolated Indigenous peoples of Great Nicobar Island now face the perils of megadevelopment
Sociology saved a young, restless Michael Burawoy, and, in return, he devoted a lifetime to breat... more Sociology saved a young, restless Michael Burawoy, and, in return, he devoted a lifetime to breathing new life into the discipline.
Stunning photographs set this coffee table book apart, but historians might frown upon oversimpli... more Stunning photographs set this coffee table book apart, but historians might frown upon oversimplifications and generalisations of a colonial past.
The sprawling "golden road," linking India to the Red Sea and the Far East, became the lifeblood ... more The sprawling "golden road," linking India to the Red Sea and the Far East, became the lifeblood of trade and cultural exchange, shaping the economic and cultural landscapes of entire regions for centuries to come.
As we mark the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, the story of Nicobar off- ers import... more As we mark the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, the story of Nicobar off- ers important lessons: how top-down, culturally insensitive tsunami aid not only failed to help but became a disaster in itself, ravaging the very communities it sought to protect.
The ₹72,000-crore mega infrastructure project on Great Nicobar will now also have an internationa... more The ₹72,000-crore mega infrastructure project on Great Nicobar will now also have an international cruise terminal and a shipbreaking yard, as proposed by the Union Shipping Ministry. In this article, dated April 22, 2024, Ajay Saini and Manish Chandi talk about the rights of the indigenous communities over the little islands of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago and how they have been able to protect and preserve the area’s ecological balance.
The closing paragraphs of the book reminded me of a scholar’s witty remark: Never mind the future... more The closing paragraphs of the book reminded me of a scholar’s witty remark: Never mind the future—even history is at risk in India. In this light, The Golden Road stands as a remarkable scholarly achievement, illuminating one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented periods of Indian history, while making it accessible to a wide audience.
Even though it is fiction, the distortion of North Sentinel Island’s complex history and the gros... more Even though it is fiction, the distortion of North Sentinel Island’s complex history and the gross misrepresentation of the endangered Sentinelese tribe make Island a deeply troubling novel. Island is a dangerously misguided novel—it is immoral, irrational, unethical, ugly.
The Wide Wide Sea delivers a thoughtful, even-handed portrayal of Captain Cook. By presenting div... more The Wide Wide Sea delivers a thoughtful, even-handed portrayal of Captain Cook. By presenting diverse viewpoints, it invites readers to reflect deeply on the explorer’s complex legacy. With vivid details and Side’s hallmark storytelling, the book transports readers to the age of sail, immersing them in a haunting tale of exploration, colonial ambition, and cultural clash—one that lingers long after the final page is turned.
Interview with Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla, survivors-turned-activists who led India’s lon... more Interview with Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla, survivors-turned-activists who led India’s longest-running environmental justice movement.
By Ajay Saini, Seema Sharma, and Nancy
A unilateral decision to establish three wildlife sanctuaries in the southern Nicobar will depriv... more A unilateral decision to establish three wildlife sanctuaries in the southern Nicobar will deprive the indigenous peoples of their ancestral territories and lifeways.
This David Grann book distinguishes itself with a thematic scope broader
than any of his previous... more This David Grann book distinguishes itself with a thematic scope broader than any of his previous works. A breathtaking read, it brilliantly unmasks the empire’s true nature and its war on truth.
Having migrated out of Africa some 70,000 years ago, the Andaman Islanders thrived in complete is... more Having migrated out of Africa some 70,000 years ago, the Andaman Islanders thrived in complete isolation until the British colonized and ravaged them. The Sentinelese continue to hold their last bastion. Goodheart delves into their history but barely learns anything from it.
Examining the life of evangelist John Allen Chau, a new documentary raises questions about faith,... more Examining the life of evangelist John Allen Chau, a new documentary raises questions about faith, colonialism, and the right to remain uncontacted.
In this conversation, activist Rachna Dhingra and I discuss the Supreme Court's March 2023 judgme... more In this conversation, activist Rachna Dhingra and I discuss the Supreme Court's March 2023 judgment on the curative petitions filed by the Union government seeking enhancement of compensation for the victims of the world's worst industrial disaster - the Bhopal Gas Tragedy - and the mass-scale contamination of soil and groundwater aquifers around the abandoned Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, among others.
"A free mix of fiction and lopsided depictions of reality, the book is a historian’s and anthropo... more "A free mix of fiction and lopsided depictions of reality, the book is a historian’s and anthropologist’s nightmare."
The world speaks around 7,000 languages, 50 to 95 per cent of which might be extinct or seriously... more The world speaks around 7,000 languages, 50 to 95 per cent of which might be extinct or seriously endangered by the end of the century. The risk looms large on indigenous languages. How alarming is the situation in India?
The island’s indigenous people, whose traditional habitats and worldviews the mega project imperi... more The island’s indigenous people, whose traditional habitats and worldviews the mega project imperils, are frantically trying to have their voices heard.
In early 2018, when students and colleagues were bidding Parasuraman goodbye, little did they kno... more In early 2018, when students and colleagues were bidding Parasuraman goodbye, little did they know that he would take away a part of TISS, its very best, with him forever.
On 26 January 2010, when India was celebrating its 61st Republic Day with pomp and show, an octog... more On 26 January 2010, when India was celebrating its 61st Republic Day with pomp and show, an octogenarian— Boa Sr.—silently passed away in the remote Andaman Islands. She was the last of the Bo indigenous peoples. With her demise, yet another Great Andamanese tribe and one of the world’s oldest languages were also wiped out.
Ravaged by the 2004 tsunami and aid, the historically isolated Indigenous peoples of Great Nicoba... more Ravaged by the 2004 tsunami and aid, the historically isolated Indigenous peoples of Great Nicobar Island now face the perils of megadevelopment
Sociology saved a young, restless Michael Burawoy, and, in return, he devoted a lifetime to breat... more Sociology saved a young, restless Michael Burawoy, and, in return, he devoted a lifetime to breathing new life into the discipline.
Stunning photographs set this coffee table book apart, but historians might frown upon oversimpli... more Stunning photographs set this coffee table book apart, but historians might frown upon oversimplifications and generalisations of a colonial past.
The sprawling "golden road," linking India to the Red Sea and the Far East, became the lifeblood ... more The sprawling "golden road," linking India to the Red Sea and the Far East, became the lifeblood of trade and cultural exchange, shaping the economic and cultural landscapes of entire regions for centuries to come.
As we mark the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, the story of Nicobar off- ers import... more As we mark the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, the story of Nicobar off- ers important lessons: how top-down, culturally insensitive tsunami aid not only failed to help but became a disaster in itself, ravaging the very communities it sought to protect.
The ₹72,000-crore mega infrastructure project on Great Nicobar will now also have an internationa... more The ₹72,000-crore mega infrastructure project on Great Nicobar will now also have an international cruise terminal and a shipbreaking yard, as proposed by the Union Shipping Ministry. In this article, dated April 22, 2024, Ajay Saini and Manish Chandi talk about the rights of the indigenous communities over the little islands of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago and how they have been able to protect and preserve the area’s ecological balance.
The closing paragraphs of the book reminded me of a scholar’s witty remark: Never mind the future... more The closing paragraphs of the book reminded me of a scholar’s witty remark: Never mind the future—even history is at risk in India. In this light, The Golden Road stands as a remarkable scholarly achievement, illuminating one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented periods of Indian history, while making it accessible to a wide audience.
Even though it is fiction, the distortion of North Sentinel Island’s complex history and the gros... more Even though it is fiction, the distortion of North Sentinel Island’s complex history and the gross misrepresentation of the endangered Sentinelese tribe make Island a deeply troubling novel. Island is a dangerously misguided novel—it is immoral, irrational, unethical, ugly.
The Wide Wide Sea delivers a thoughtful, even-handed portrayal of Captain Cook. By presenting div... more The Wide Wide Sea delivers a thoughtful, even-handed portrayal of Captain Cook. By presenting diverse viewpoints, it invites readers to reflect deeply on the explorer’s complex legacy. With vivid details and Side’s hallmark storytelling, the book transports readers to the age of sail, immersing them in a haunting tale of exploration, colonial ambition, and cultural clash—one that lingers long after the final page is turned.
Interview with Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla, survivors-turned-activists who led India’s lon... more Interview with Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla, survivors-turned-activists who led India’s longest-running environmental justice movement.
By Ajay Saini, Seema Sharma, and Nancy
A unilateral decision to establish three wildlife sanctuaries in the southern Nicobar will depriv... more A unilateral decision to establish three wildlife sanctuaries in the southern Nicobar will deprive the indigenous peoples of their ancestral territories and lifeways.
This David Grann book distinguishes itself with a thematic scope broader
than any of his previous... more This David Grann book distinguishes itself with a thematic scope broader than any of his previous works. A breathtaking read, it brilliantly unmasks the empire’s true nature and its war on truth.
Having migrated out of Africa some 70,000 years ago, the Andaman Islanders thrived in complete is... more Having migrated out of Africa some 70,000 years ago, the Andaman Islanders thrived in complete isolation until the British colonized and ravaged them. The Sentinelese continue to hold their last bastion. Goodheart delves into their history but barely learns anything from it.
Examining the life of evangelist John Allen Chau, a new documentary raises questions about faith,... more Examining the life of evangelist John Allen Chau, a new documentary raises questions about faith, colonialism, and the right to remain uncontacted.
In this conversation, activist Rachna Dhingra and I discuss the Supreme Court's March 2023 judgme... more In this conversation, activist Rachna Dhingra and I discuss the Supreme Court's March 2023 judgment on the curative petitions filed by the Union government seeking enhancement of compensation for the victims of the world's worst industrial disaster - the Bhopal Gas Tragedy - and the mass-scale contamination of soil and groundwater aquifers around the abandoned Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, among others.
"A free mix of fiction and lopsided depictions of reality, the book is a historian’s and anthropo... more "A free mix of fiction and lopsided depictions of reality, the book is a historian’s and anthropologist’s nightmare."
The world speaks around 7,000 languages, 50 to 95 per cent of which might be extinct or seriously... more The world speaks around 7,000 languages, 50 to 95 per cent of which might be extinct or seriously endangered by the end of the century. The risk looms large on indigenous languages. How alarming is the situation in India?
The island’s indigenous people, whose traditional habitats and worldviews the mega project imperi... more The island’s indigenous people, whose traditional habitats and worldviews the mega project imperils, are frantically trying to have their voices heard.
In early 2018, when students and colleagues were bidding Parasuraman goodbye, little did they kno... more In early 2018, when students and colleagues were bidding Parasuraman goodbye, little did they know that he would take away a part of TISS, its very best, with him forever.
On 26 January 2010, when India was celebrating its 61st Republic Day with pomp and show, an octog... more On 26 January 2010, when India was celebrating its 61st Republic Day with pomp and show, an octogenarian— Boa Sr.—silently passed away in the remote Andaman Islands. She was the last of the Bo indigenous peoples. With her demise, yet another Great Andamanese tribe and one of the world’s oldest languages were also wiped out.
Filmed in one of the most isolated spaces, ‘The Queen of Indigenous Island’ portrays the life and... more Filmed in one of the most isolated spaces, ‘The Queen of Indigenous Island’ portrays the life and times of a charismatic Nicobarese Queen, ‘Lachmi’. It is a maiden film that explores the pristine culture of the indigenes of the Nancowry group of Islands. As a unique film starring two real characters, Ajay Saini and Prince Rasheed Yusoof, this film explores the unexplored lives of the Nicobarese, the indigenes who have been living an isolated life in a tribal reserve. Through this film, the Director, Naresh Chander Lal, has intended to revive the Nicobarese culture that has been eroding quickly ever since the islands were struck by the killer waves of the Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004). The Nicobarese society has witnessed quick acculturation after the sudden death of its elderly, who were a repository of traditional wisdom, and kept the community intact. This film is an attempt to capture the narratives of such few surviving elderly before they silently pass away. The unheard-unseen Nicobarese rituals, their discourse on traditional life and narratives of catastrophic experiences during the tsunami make this film an exceptional piece of art. This film exquisitely reminds the audience, esp. a Nicobarese, of the glorious life of Queen ‘Lachmi’, and a unique indigenous culture of harmonious socio-ecological existence.
TED talk: A Paradox In Communities: What really Is Primitive? TEDxStXaviersMumbai
www.ted.com/talks/ajay_saini_a_paradox_in_communities_what_really_is_primitive
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Papers by Ajay Saini
By Ajay Saini, Seema Sharma, and Nancy
than any of his previous works. A breathtaking read, it brilliantly unmasks
the empire’s true nature and its war on truth.
By Ajay Saini, Seema Sharma, and Nancy
than any of his previous works. A breathtaking read, it brilliantly unmasks
the empire’s true nature and its war on truth.