BENGALURU, 4 JAN

Social transformation requires protesting against oppressive systems and fostering a new, humane culture, Professor Yogendra Yadav said on Saturday.

Speaking at an event organised to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of renowned philosopher and writer Sebastian Kappen in Bengaluru, the leader of Swaraj India, delivered a thought-provoking keynote address, reflecting on democracy and the ideas of Kappen.

Highlighting Kappen’s vision of social transformation, Yadav noted that Kappen, as a committed socialist, championed counter-culture as a powerful tool to challenge societal injustices.

Critiquing the current state of democracy, Yadav argued that while democracy is often idealised, it remains vulnerable to exploitation. He urged the public to engage beyond the electoral process, emphasising that “democracy cannot be protected in Parliament; it is defended by the people on the streets.”

He also addressed the dangers of religious intolerance, referencing Kappen’s analysis of the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 as an example of “mythocracy”—the use of mythical narratives to justify oppressive political agendas. He further said that , “For the last 10 years, we’ve been buying medicines and then searching for the relevant diseases. Demonetisation is the best example of this.”

He pointed out the nation’s glaring inequalities in access to wealth and education. Criticising the “lapdog media,” Yadav further said that it largely serves the privileged sections of society and fails to hold power to account. “Safeguarding democracy requires people to have a keen sense of independence, self-respect, and unity,” he added. —Salar News