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Scroll.in
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Kumkum Roy, professor of Ancient History, recollects her days as an MA student at JNU, Delhi
By January 1977, I made what seemed to be a more or less permanent move to Delhi. My parents had shifted into a large, spacious house with a garden in Safdarjung Enclave, very different from our home in Kolkata. There were strong feelings in the air about the Emergency and hopes that the election would bring it to an end. I realised from conversations at home that the Emergency had changed Delhi and people's lives drastically – demolitions and displacement in the name of 'improvement', sterilisations to enforce 'family planning', censorship, and more. Somehow, all this seemed far more immediate and oppressive in Delhi than it had been in Kolkata. Friends and relatives, rather different from those in Kolkata, were part of my parents' social world. These included bureaucrats who were keenly interested in what I should or should not have been doing. So, while there were neighbours and friends who taught at Jawaharlal Nehru University ( JNU) and thought it would be the ideal place for me, there were those who felt I needed to join the bureaucracy, which they thought would be far more exciting than becoming an academic. I duly took the entrance tests for the MA programmes at the Centre for Historical Studies (CHS) and the School of International Studies (SIS), the latter being considered ideal for would-be bureaucrats (I had reluctantly decided to keep my options open). I cleared both the tests and appeared for both the interviews. I do not remember what I did or said at the SIS interview, but the one at CHS seemed to me to have been an unmitigated disaster – I boldly declared that I wanted to study ancient history in order to decipher the Harappan script and that I wanted to study at JNU simply because it was close to where my family lived at the time. It was perhaps out of appreciation for my naivete that the faculty decided to give me a chance. When I joined JNU, the academic sections of the university were located in what was affectionately referred to as the 'down campus' in contrast to the 'up campus', which seemed rather remote and was located in what was then barren, rocky terrain. The more appropriate titles – 'old campus' and 'new campus' – were used sparingly, if at all. Smaller classes were held in the offices of the teachers, and as CHS was on the fifth floor of the southernmost building in the old campus, one could gaze out on a vast expanse of the campus. The view was pristine, or seemed so to me, anyway. However, opportunities to gaze out of the windows during class were fleeting and momentary. The history we were being introduced to was very different from what we had learnt in college. Even dynastic history appeared in a new, almost unrecognisable avatar, as we learnt to evaluate and assess both the Mauryas and Guptas in terms not simply of battles won and lost but also of complex socio-economic and cultural contexts. We learnt the rudiments of Sanskrit, epigraphy, and archaeology. We also got to explore religious histories, histories of the economy and society, political ideas and institutions. Equally challenging and demanding were the 'core courses', which provided insights into broad global developments through lectures and readings that were remarkable for their breadth and depth. Then there were the 'non-Indian' history courses, and we also had the option of taking courses in other centres. These had to be chosen in consultation with the faculty. So, while I chose to do a course on Bronze Age Mesopotamia, which was fascinating, I was advised, rather sternly and firmly, to do one on the Russian Revolution as well. I was petrified, but discovered, once I overcame my initial fear of the massive reading list, that the course had far more to offer than I had imagined. Also, doing a course on anthropological theories was particularly enriching, and, although I was and remain wary of abstruse theory, the course opened windows into new possibilities that perhaps informed my later interests. It seemed as if we were thrown into an immense ocean of books, talks, and more – we could sink, swim, or drift along. I am not sure whether I consciously thought through my choice of specialisation – 'Ancient History' – at this stage. Perhaps it was the pursuit of origins. It may also have had to do with the passion of my teacher in college, which was infectious. But once I exercised the option, I had no regrets. It turned out to be an almost lifelong obsession. Our Ancient History class was small and fairly close-knit but markedly different from what I had been used to in Presidency College. I was the only Bengali, and we were three women in a class of 12. The men were from very diverse backgrounds, as indeed were the women. But what for me was particularly exciting was that virtually the entire faculty, with the notable exception of the quiet, uncompromising scholar Brajadulal Chattopadhyaya, consisted of women, and rather formidable women at that. All of them were doyennes in their fields – R Champakalakshmi for her pioneering work in early Tamil history, K Meenakshi for her remarkable studies on Tamil and Sanskrit grammar, Romila Thapar for challenging the earlier understanding of Mauryan history, Shereen Ratnagar for opening up a fresh perspective on the Harappan civilisation, and Suvira Jaiswal for her revisionist religious history. I am not sure whether they saw themselves as mentors and role models, but for many of us, it was wonderful to have a cluster of women around, women who were very different from one another in terms of their lifestyles and styles of teaching. Passionate about their research, most of them were unsparing towards their students. As a result, almost before I realised it, I began to think that I was meant to become a researcher, as that seemed to be all that mattered. The past beckoned. I do not think any of these women would have explicitly identified themselves as feminists. And yet, their very presence made a difference to the environment both within the classroom and beyond it. In retrospect, it does seem that the decades following 1947 were marked by the creation of spaces through debate and discussion and the building of new institutions. Our teachers were part of a generation that both benefited from these spaces and shaped them creatively and constructively. A fruitful conjuncture. Not surprisingly, the faculty had put in place a demanding tutorial and semester system. We were expected to produce a tutorial of about 2,000 words every fortnight, according to what seemed to be a punishing timetable, and then present our work for discussion in groups of threes and fours. Our tutorial scripts were often returned with copious markings and comments along the margins – no shortcuts! Invariably, we were nervous and stressed out, but soon enough, we began to look forward to these ordeals, learning to hold our own, acknowledging what we had missed out or not understood, and working our way through sharing our ideas with others. The formal discussions would often continue as informal chats over countless cups of tea, sipped either in the canteen or, more commonly, sitting on the floors of corridors around the library. Some of those conversations, fortunately, still continue, even as the venues have shifted over the years. The sense that we were discovering and sharing new ways of thinking was a heady experience, to say the least. And the tutorial system, which accounted for 50 per cent of the evaluation, also meant that the pressure of the end-of-semester examination was considerably reduced.
The Citizen
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Mabuza remembered as humble leader who resisted capture
David Mabuza is celebrated for his integrity, refusal to support the Guptas, and service to South Africa and Mpumalanga. Tributes continue to pour in for former deputy president David Mabuza, whom many see as the man who stopped a second takeover by Jacob Zuma through his proxies. Although he was initially on the Zuma faction slate before the ANC national conference election in 2017, Mabuza's last-minute withdrawal from supporting then presidential candidate Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was regarded as a betrayal by Zuma supporters. He joined the Ramaphosa camp, helping it to secure victory as he brought all of his massive Mpumalanga support base to back him against Dlamini-Zuma. Mabuza's switch from Dlamini-Zuma to Ramaphosa seen as turning point This was regarded as a wise move by many who believed Dlamini-Zuma's presidency would have ensured the continuation of the Zuma status quo, which was unpopular with voters. Dlamini-Zuma was loyal to the former president and the Gupta brothers, who were fingered for the corporate capture of the state, adored her. They selected Dlamini-Zuma as The New Age Newsmaker of the Year and she was one of the movers and shakers they believed in, along with Zuma himself. ALSO READ: David Mabuza's funeral date confirmed as Mokonyane dismisses ANC criticism claims The Guptas captured some provinces and offered their premiers extra publicity on the pages of The New Age and ANN7 TV channel. Gauteng under Nomvula Mokonyane, Ace Magashule's Free State, Northern Cape which was then led by Sylvia Lucas and North West under Supra Mahumapelo received special treatments on the Gupta publication and channel. While other premiers were eating from the Guptas' hand and, in turn, dishing out state advertisements to The New Age to keep it afloat after commercial advertisers boycotted it, Mabuza refused to cooperate or be captured by the Guptas. Blacklisted by Guptas He pulled out adverts from the Mpumalanga administration at the last moment after learning that the ads were earmarked to be published in The New Age. This caused Mabuza and then Western Cape premier, Helen Zille to be blacklisted by the Guptas. Zille's sin was to stop participating in the business breakfast shows organised by New Age, after discovering that it was a conduit to syphon off state funds. Zille called for transparency and accountability from the stateowned enterprises that were funding The New Age. ALSO READ: Remembering Mabuza: The man who 'dashed' the potential Zuma dynasty In its tribute to Mabuza, Cosatu said Mabuza, at 64 years of age, had led a full life: 'Comrade DD dedicated his time on earth in service of the people, not only in his home communities and the broader Mpumalanga province, but the entire nation.' The federation's parliamentary coordinator, Matthew Parks, praised Mabuza for the role he played as a student during the darkest days of apartheid in the 1970s and 1980s and as a teacher activist. Cosatu said Mabuza's experience as a teacher and principal made him a fitting choice as the first MEC for education in Mpumalanga after the democratic breakthrough of 1994. Raised profile of Mpumalanga Mabuza, alongside stalwarts Mathews Phosa, Thabang Makwetla and January 'Che' Masilela, raised the profile of Mpumalanga from the quiet Eastern Transvaal, to the land of the rising sun. It is a sign of how far South Africa has come that a young man born in poverty-stricken Phola, eMalahleni, can rise to be an MEC, a premier and a deputy president. History will remember 'DD', as he is affectionately known, as a humble leader, one who was not afraid to lead. NOW READ: Ramaphosa pays tribute to former deputy David Mabuza
TimesLIVE
23-06-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
A walk through the Gupta's properties before auction day
Three properties formerly owned by the controversial Gupta family in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, are set to be auctioned individually on July 24. Located within a single estate, the homes include a three-storey mansion, a single-storey house with three bedrooms, and a 17-bedroom luxury dwelling. The properties once served as the Gupta family's South African residence during their rise to political influence. During a recent media tour hosted by the auctioneers tasked with selling the properties, remnants of their lifestyle, from unused furniture to private prayer rooms and locked safes, offered a rare glimpse into the spaces they left behind when they departed the country in 2018 under a cloud of state capture allegations. The Saxonwold compound was where the Gupta family wined and dined politicians in what was widely viewed as part of a strategy to capture state influence and secure government contracts. The Guptas fled South Africa and are being pursued by the government to face criminal charges. First on the tour is house number five, a three-storey compound known among staff and auctioneers as 'the white house'. From the outside, it appears as if the façade is weeping, the white paint peeling and curling off the walls like old wallpaper, revealing the brick beneath. You are not welcomed by grandeur. Instead, it's the blue park village auction posters pasted on pillars that meet your eye first, declaring the property's impending fate. Inside, the house feels cold. Not just in temperature but in spirit. There is a faint scent of abandonment and stale air that clings to the corridors. Light filters through thick curtains and dust dancing in the rays. The house has eight bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. Some rooms still cradle remnants of life, dusty bed sheets, half-burnt candles, unopened shower gels and forgotten toys. It's like time hit pause, but only for some things. In one room, a prayer space is preserved with uncanny stillness. Two red chairs, incense, salts, candles and a picture of their deity remain, untouched. It feels sacred almost off-limits even now. All the electronics have been ripped from the walls. Wires dangle where televisions used to hang. Yet old-school telephones remain beside each bed. There is mould in corners of the bedrooms, fed by roof leaks and disuse. Portraits signed by artist June Tuckett, hang slightly skew on the walls. According to Art Market Tuckett is an 'artist born in South Africa in 1944. The artist's works have gone up for sale at public auction 75 times, mostly in the painting category.' The indoor swimming pool still holds water, stagnant, cloudy and green. At the back, the garden remains lush with trees and flowers, but the grass is beginning to die. Nature is trying to reclaim what power it has left behind.
The Citizen
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Extradition request to get Gupta brothers back gains momentum
South Africa's extradition request to the UAE was rebuffed for flimsy procedural reasons. In a matter that has been dragging on for years, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) is hoping that the Gupta brothers will soon be in South Africa to face a raft of charges. IDAC is expected to submit a new extradition application for the Gupta brothers to be hauled back to South Africa from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a 'strategic initiative.' Extradition South Africa's extradition request to the UAE was rebuffed in April 2023 for flimsy procedural reasons, and without sufficient explanation, after Atul and Rajesh Gupta were quietly let off the hook months before. Following an outcry, the South African authorities were simply told to 'resubmit the application'. In November of last year, the extradition request again ended in failure due to issues with jurisdiction. ALSO READ: Gupta arrests: Turning state's witness could put brothers' lives in danger Hiding in UAE IDAC head Andrea Johnson said they will now submit a new extradition application. 'When we resubmit an application now, we've got to resubmit an application with all of the other matters that has since been investigated so that we can do it in on shot'. WATCH: Advocate Andrea Johnson speaking about the Gupta brothers extradition The Investigating Directorate will soon submit a fresh extradition application, for the Gupta brothers to be brought back from the UAE. Emirates authorities rejected the previous application, submitted in November last year. #Guptas #eNCA — eNCA (@eNCA) June 23, 2025 Johnson said Rajesh and Atul are still hiding out in the UAE. 'From what we understand, yes. I do believe that they do perhaps from time to time go to India. Be that as it may, our extradition applications would perhaps have to be more than just the UAE. It would depend at the time of the execution of the application, we would be most certainly looking at where are they and send those applications to the relevant authorities'. Zuptas Rajesh and Atul, friends of former president Jacob Zuma, are accused of using their relationship with the former president to profit financially and influence senior government appointments. They were arrested in the UAE in June 2022 after Interpol placed them on its most wanted list. The Guptas and the Zumas, famously named 'The Zuptas', were fingered in state capture. Witnesses alleged they worked together to siphon money from Transnet, Eskom, and Denel, and made decisions about who was to be appointed to Cabinet. Zuma and the Guptas have persistently denied wrongdoing. ALSO READ: Zuma and entire ANC must be sweating bullets after Gupta brothers' arrest Spilling the beans While many want a speedy extradition of the brothers to South Africa, political analyst Ralph Mathekga believes the Guptas might be in danger when they set foot on South African soil, because of the information they possess about the African National Congress (ANC) and top politicians. Mathekga previously told The Citizen that politics in South Africa would be unravelled if the Guptas are extradited. 'They will be having to speak the truth, and it's a dangerous thing for the ANC. I won't be surprised if someone tries to kill them. This thing is big, it goes deep into the party, so look at what happened to the likes of Gavin Watson.' 'When you are becoming a liability and in a moment such as this, when the ANC is at this crossroad, ANC members will not be enticed. We've seen how they kill each other, I don't think there will be a problem,' Mathekga said. Gupta threat Gareth Newham, head of the Justice and Violence Prevention Program at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) said there may be people, possibly even Zuma that were implicated in state capture and would see the Guptas as a threat. 'That would be dependent on whether they would be willing to relay information, and considering that they would want to avoid spending the rest of their lives in prison, I can't imagine they would be very keen to give that information up.' 'What they would be doing with their billions is trying to ensure like our former president that they use every possible legal channel available, the 'Stalingrad Strategy' so to speak, to try and avoid standing trial and then they would try and make sure they are acquitted by not cooperating and providing potentially plausible narrative or evidence as to why they are not guilty of any crime,' said Newham. Newham said, given the value of the Gupta brothers to the South African government, the fugitives from justice would be under intense protection against any attacks. ALSO READ: SCA overturns Nulane accused's acquittal and orders retrial
News24
20-06-2025
- Politics
- News24
Edgar Lungu funeral feud; State lottery alarm: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. Saxonwold shebeen on sale: Opulence, neglect and the bitter legacy of the Guptas - The Gupta's Saxonwold compound, once a symbol of state capture and lavish wealth, now stands abandoned and decaying, revealing remnants of luxury and hasty departure. - The properties, featuring opulent amenities like spas and cinemas, are up for auction after years of legal battles, with proceeds going to creditors. - The state of the compound reflects the Guptas' fall from power and serves as a reminder of the authorities' failure to bring them to justice for their role in state capture. ALS Paramedics/Supplied Missing Comrades Marathon runner was among dozens hospitalised after race - Moira Harding, a Comrades Marathon runner who went missing for 15 hours after the race, was among 37 runners hospitalised. - Harding has been discharged from the hospital but has no memory of getting lost and is undergoing treatment for a chest infection and occupational therapy. - Race organisers and doctors noted an above-average number of runners requiring medical assistance, potentially due to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, exhaustion, and a disorganised finish area. NSFAS advised to scrap deals worth R1.3bn with IT firms amid student housing crisis - NSFAS paid more than R1.3 billion to four unaccredited IT companies to disburse student accommodation payments, leading to a student housing crisis. - A legal opinion advises NSFAS to cancel the contracts due to irregularities, including the IT companies' lack of financial service provider status and failure to properly manage the online portal. - The student housing crisis has resulted in unsafe living conditions, non-payment issues, and students allegedly trading sex for accommodation, prompting Rental Housing Tribunal hearings. Philippe Wojazer/pool/AFP Zambia's Hichilema apologises to Ramaphosa for drama over return of Lungu's body - Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema apologised to President Cyril Ramaphosa for delays in repatriating former president Edgar Lungu's body, caused by tensions between Lungu's family and the Zambian government over funeral arrangements. - Lungu's family halted the repatriation, accusing the government of sidelining them in decision-making, despite earlier agreements and preparations for a state funeral in Zambia. - Hichilema declared the national mourning period over, urging unity and calm, while the South African government will continue to hold Lungu's remains until the dispute is resolved. Alarm raised over plans for state-run lottery - The South African government plans to nationalise the lottery when the current operator's licence expires in 2034, requiring the new Sizekhaya Consortium to help develop state skills and infrastructure. - Critics warn that a state-run lottery could increase corruption, citing past financial mismanagement in parastatals and government entities. - The Request for Proposals for the new licence mandates that bidders support the state in developing the capacity to operate the lottery, including transferring technology rights. Paul Harding/Gallo Images Proteas Test captain Bavuma ruled out of Zimbabwe series - Temba Bavuma is out of the Test series against Zimbabwe due to a hamstring injury sustained in the World Test Championship final. - Keshav Maharaj will captain the Proteas in Bavuma's absence for the two matches in Bulawayo. - Several key players are being rested, while Lhuan-dré Pretorius and Lesego Senokwane received their first Test call-ups. DRIVEN | Hyundai enters new energy vehicle tango in SA with fresh Sante Fe Hybrid SUV - Hyundai SA has introduced its first hybrid vehicle, the Sante Fe Hybrid seven-seater SUV, despite having successful electric cars in global markets. - The Sante Fe Hybrid features a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor, offering a total output of 175kW and 367Nm, along with various safety and convenience technologies. - Priced at R1 249 900, the Sante Fe Hybrid Elite AWD comes with a seven-year/200 000km warranty and an eight-year/160 000km warranty for the hybrid battery pack.
