Author: mara.ahmed

India: Intimations of an Ending

Arundhati Roy: None of the white supremacist, neo-Nazi groups that are on the rise in the world today can boast the infrastructure and manpower that the RSS commands. It says it has 57,000 shakhas—branches—across the country, and an armed, dedicated militia of over 600,000 “volunteers.” It runs schools in which millions of students are enrolled, and has its own medical missions, trade unions, farmers’ organizations, media outlets, and women’s groups. Recently, it announced that it was opening a training school for those who wish to join the Indian Army. Under its bhagwa dhwaj—its saffron pennant—a whole host of far-right organizations, known as the Sangh Parivar—the RSS’s “family”—have prospered and multiplied. These organizations, the political equivalents of shell companies, are responsible for shockingly violent attacks on minorities in which, over the years, uncounted thousands have been murdered.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a member of the RSS since he was 8 years old. He is a creation of the RSS. Although not Brahmin, he, more than anyone else in its history, has been responsible for turning it into the most powerful organization in India, and for writing its most glorious chapter yet. It is exasperating to have to constantly repeat the story of Modi’s ascent to power, but the officially sanctioned amnesia around it makes reiteration almost a duty.

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turkey…

as we begin to pack our books and albums, i keep finding these treasures. this picture was taken in istanbul. i was 15 years old and my friend Badi Ben Mabrouk, whom i met on that trip, was 16. we had both won a competition organized by the government of turkey to celebrate ‘modern turkey founded by ataturk.’ i wrote a very long poem in french. winners from all over the world were invited to the country as state guests for a week. it was an incredible experience. 

Revitalizing the Cheyenne language

Tommy Orange: Revitalizing the Cheyenne language, having tribal and non-tribal members learn the language, become fluent, is not an obscure hobby, is not like the learning of a past-time, like something that can’t be used or will not be useful. ‘Use’ itself depends on language and context, ‘use’ according whom? To understand the Cheyenne way of life, as Cheyenne people, as anyone interested in understanding Cheyenne people, language is the most direct route. There are ideas and worldviews embedded in the language. From what little I know to be true about any language, there is much to be learned.

Native people lived on this land for thousands and thousands of years. This country, American culture—which is in and of itself made of so many other cultures—has only existed for around three hundred years at most. There are relationships to this world, to the land, to each other to be learned from Native languages. There are ways to be we might need in a world such as this, one bent on destroying itself, one out of touch with what it means to consider our environment and our relationship to it. To have and embody respect, kindness, love, generosity. My dad told me the Cheyenne language has these qualities embedded in it. He said it’s a holy language.”

We grew up hearing our dad speak Cheyenne in phrases. Words for bread, or salt, or fart. Phrases like come sit down, come sit down for dinner. We didn’t grow up thinking we should or should not be learning our language. We didn’t know then how important a language is to keep, how it holds within… More here.