Using anthropologists to fight wars

A story this week in In These Times details the disturbing use of anthropologists in the field by the US Army and BAE Systems. The Network of Concerned Anthropologists is circulating a Pledge of Non-participation in Counterinsurgency, the text of which is given below, and which can be signed here.
We, the undersigned, believe that anthropologists […]

Posted at 3pm on 6/22/08 | no comments; | Tags: , | read on

Sanskrit and modern Indian identity

Apparently summer camps aiming to revive the Sanskrit language are causing great controversy in India (Washington Post). Originally set up and funded by the Hindu nationalist BJP government in 2003, the programme is seen by many as being used to aid in pushing the Hindutva ideology (including supremacist overtones).
To quote one 19 year old camp […]

Posted at 12am on 6/16/08 | no comments; | Tags: , , | read on