Afleveringen
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Reform precedes revolution and in the words of John Adams the only true revolution is that which occurs in the minds of the people. Similarly in the words of the first prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, just as revolution occurs in the mind so does peace as demonstrated by his declaration that, “Peace is not a relationship of nations. It is a condition of mind brought about by a serenity of soul. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people.” In the words of the Buddha our own internal state reflects the external world: “The mind is everything.” Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar relates this principal as the basis for transforming the world through social democracy when he declared in reference to the constitution that, “However good a Constitution may be, if those who are implementing it are not good, it will prove to be bad. However bad a Constitution may be, if those implementing it are good, it will prove to be good.” Progress only happens when we recognize we can only transform the world not only through an understanding of history, but also by the awareness of the mutual struggle we all undergo that happens not only through the struggle to reinvent individual liberty through every generation, but also by the notion that the arbiters of justice in every era are responsible for upholding constitutional liberties. It is through the individual agency of ordinary citizens who understand that responsibility means in the words of the 44th president of the United States of America Barack Obama, “Justice grows out of recognition of ourselves in each other… that my liberty depends on you being free, too… that history can't be a sword to justify injustice or a shield against progress… but must be a manual for how to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.”
There are several key truths to recognize for the preservation of any democratic society: Democracy is reborn in every generation, and this has yet to happen in India, the key to social reform, which leads to revolution, is radical social democracy as described by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, there must be human rights literature to educate people so they are “people alert enough not to constitute masses,” and finally social democracy transcends political parties as my cousins describe in this podcast.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was the chairman of the constitution’s drafting committee. At this position, he had argued for safeguards for Dalits in the constitution. Consequently, article 14 (equality), article 15 (non-discrimination), article 17 (no untouchability) were included in the constitution of India. He has supported the uniform civil code which was included in the Directive Principles of State Policy.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and President Barack Obama, through both their advocacy for theoretical education for the upliftment of the normally marginalized as well as practical advocacy, stands as a testament to the lesson that judicial oversight must be accompanied by public pressure to truly force vested political interests, tied to money in politics, to implement social democratic reform. Though they were at odds, Dr. Ambedkar must have observed this principle both through his political organizing of both the labor class and Dalits, as seen through his development of two political parties for these groups, but also his close observation of Mahatma Gandhi’s civil disobedience or active nonviolent movement. President Obama not only learned this principle from the Civil Rights Movement through such figures as Bayard Rustin, who was the principal organizer and active nonviolent strategist for the 1963 March on Washington, but he also applied this principle through the first truly organized social media Presidential campaign in history in 2008 that eventually led to the establishment of Universal health care reform. -
In this podcast, I discuss why the global citizen, constitutional expert, humanitarian, egalitarian, and social reformer President Barack Obama is perhaps the most consequential president of the modern era.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Tune in to part 1 of a 5 part series I will be making on the significance of the legacy of Abraham Lincoln the 16th president of the United States who united America during its Civil War, emancipated the slaves, and gave meaning, more so than any American (or even world leader) to America's experiment in self government and humanitarianism.
I rely heavily and recommend Doris Kearns Goodwins seminal book on Lincoln called Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.
If I reach 20 downloads for every subsequent podcast including this one I will continue to release new podcast episodes on President Lincoln. -
Tune in to hear about Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's most famous clarion call and slogan declared at the 1942 All India Depressed Class Conference to "Educate, Agitate, Organize".
This phrase has been a motto of labor organizers throughout the world.
Dr. Ambedkar was a true servant to the people (Bodhisattva) with a vision to end systemic discrimination not just in India but throughout the world. He indeed was the greatest social reformer of modern day history in India. To him, our fight for liberation transcended labor organizing and intellectual discourse, it was intensely spiritual as well. Obtaining social democracy, that is Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, was only possible when people are educated enough to ask questions through an awareness of laws and rights, agitate themselves to upset the traditional status quo as well as preconceived notions of what is possible, and organize to fight for a better world of social justice.
This podcast was also made in reference to the change I made to my logo. -
President Lincoln stayed true to himself till his assassination leaving the grandest legacy by any leader in not only the 19th century but perhaps all of the modern era. Through his leadership and moral example, he gave a renewed meaning to democracy and social justice for America and the world watched America during their time of challenge, evaluating whether America, the first democracy's experiment in self government would endure. President Lincoln outlines not only this challenge in his Gettysburg Address, but reassures the American people that American democracy by the people and for the people shall not perish from this earth.
President Lincoln was not the greatest general in history though he taught himself the rules of war and he certainly was not the greatest statesman though he was a practicing politicians, but he indeed was the greatest humanitarian of the modern era, who through his leadership of the Union and emancipation of slaves, was an impeccable icon of freedom. He played the central and most pivotal role in Americas darkest hour and in doing so made justice triumphant to so many who have been exploited and marginalized. Every generation must give renewed meaning to freedom and justice and in doing so President Lincoln gave America the room to breathe again opening the door to a whole new generation of activists and leaders. Thats why he mattered. -
Over time the legend of President Lincoln has only grown larger. A man, through his very goodness became great by which he represented the true ideals of democratic self government as outlined by the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence. As the Leader of America, he took it upon himself to impress upon his people, political cabinet, and political general his policy, personality, and force of character. Through the navigation of a complex military and political problem of the Civil War, President Lincoln demonstrated not only his diplomatic ability, but also his stern conviction to forgive the bloodshed so America can have a new birth of freedom.
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At the end of the war, President Lincoln, through the establishment of certain stipulations for the Southern Rebels to be brought back into the Confederacy, made the Emancipation of the Slaves the Cornerstone of Reconstruction in the South. Through his determination and personality, Lincoln he had won the affections and popular support of the American people. Moreover, he took a conciliatory route to resolving the war so as to tamper down any vitriol and vengeance on both sides. This was indeed the most costly war in American history. It is clear that Lincoln was wise and prudent with every step he took and through his love of the people on both sides he wanted all Americans to heal from the conflict.
Along with one of the most renowned orators in American history Frederick Douglas and a legacy of freedom fighting abolitionist since the first slaves were brought to the Americas, President Lincoln not only gave meaning to the humanitarian efforts to abolish slavery, he also set the precedent for the true founding of American democracy through the Three Reconstruction Amendments (1865-1870), the 13th abolition of slavery, 14th Equal Protection Clause for all US citizens, and 15th Amendment granting all citizens the right to vote.
To this day we are still fighting for their realization not just politically but socially. -
The 16th President of the United States of America Abraham Lincoln Shifted the Moral Narrative of Slavery during the Civil War from being merely a political issue to one of social justice and reform. He did so masterfully through the traits he possessed of a unselfish heart that allowed him not only to be a quintessential humanitarian during a unique time and crisis in American history but also his wielding of a logical intellect which allowed him to administer his capacity of reason to decisively put an end to the evil of slavery that has plagued America for centuries. His cabinet members were critical in helping him do so, but it was Lincoln who through a masterful understanding of popular opinion had the decisive and final say for the most opportune time to capitalize on the advantageous position that the abolition of slavery would yield for the Northern Union victory over the Southern Confederacy.
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Join Sunny Sharma with his elder, insightful, and informative cousins in a discussion around some of the themes highlighted by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King's most famous piece of writing from 1963 called Letter from a Birmingham Jail. We discuss such ideas as the need to break unjust laws in a society, moral authority to confront societal despotism, and most importantly whether there is a place for organized religion in the world today when so many young people are leaving religious institutions.
Is the modern day world organized in a way to no longer need saints or social reformers?
Do the church and other religious institutions only get involved in politics when there are not enough saints?
Tune in to hear us engage with these questions. -
In this podcast I briefly describe the legacy of Malcolm X.
"Standing up and telling the truth can warp reality."
Malcolm X was the best example of the above statement as he changed the minds and perspectives of millions of people during his lifetime and after his death. -
The revolutionary Bhagat Singh who lived from 1907 to 1931 was executed by the British for throwing a bomb in Parliament at the age of 23.
He was indeed the greatest revolutionary of the Indian Indenpedence movement, likened as the Che Guevara of India. Like Che he was a student of class revolutions and Marxism and use these principles to not only inspire the Indian nation, but a whole generation of young people throughout the globe on the need to break away from traditional dogma and the social tyranny that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar so eloquently describes in favor of a class consciousness that leads to triumphant social justice.
He was not only as famous as Gandhi, but many people view him as the one of the primary reasons so many Indians flocked towards the Independence struggle and ultimately gained independence. Furthermore, he represented the spirit of youth; a strategist with a clear visions of his place in the historical struggle of liberty against despotism. He was aware his life would inspire millions after him, fighting till the very end through tactical hunger strikes while leaving a tangible legacy behind through his writings in jail that provide a glimpse into the mind of a true rebel, revolutionary, lover of poetry and non conformer.
It's difficult for us to put ourselves into the shoes of a man who was brought up in revolutionary sentiment of his relatives, but one thing is for certain. Bhagat Singh is the product of renewed vision of the world whereby we continue to question not only prevailing despotic institutions of government, but also the habits, traditions, and dogma that marginalize the working class farmers and proletariat that make up the backbone of global society. He had the courage to not only take action, but to systematically question the prevailing norms and narratives of a world in dire need of social reform. In many respects, India is a success story in large part due to his legacy. If we want true unlimited progress in society, then we need people like Bhagat Singh from Punjab to Bengal, from Kashmir to Kerala, and all across the globe. -
In honor of Indian Independence Day August 15, 2024.
Tune in to hear about the founding fathers of India (lost generation) that set the constitutional and institutional foundation for India.
These men and women set the foundation for future generations yearning for democratic aspirations and maintaining the pillars of democracy in their society.
These men born from 1869 to 1897 called the lost generation included Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, Acharya Kripalani, and Abul Kalam Azad (Maulana Azad).
Nonetheless, India was also shaped by numerous other men and women from numerous classes and religions during this generation and later on especially because in every generation there are essential and impeccable individuals who could be characterized as founders such as the revolutionary Bhagat Singh. -
Please enjoy this discussion between Sunny Sharma and his two elder cousins Abhishek Kasid (Vinni) and Ranjan Wali (Tinku).
This podcast was in honor of the main nonviolent and Civil Rights tactician Reverend James Lawson who passed away this year June 9 at the age of 95.
James Lawson final message to the world was "We need the Constitution to come alive" if we are to honor the legacy of John Lewis.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called the Reverend Lawson “the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.” He successfully mobilized students in nonviolent direct-action campaigns against inhumane segregationist laws during the 1950s and 1960s in Nashville, TN, and other cities in the U.S. South. Lawson studied Mahatma Gandhi’s strategies of nonviolence and satyagraha, and he used them creatively to confront the violence of racist laws, labor exploitation, xenophobia and gender discrimination.
My idea for the podcast came from the notion that to understand what James Lawson meant by the Constitution coming alive I had to look into the ideas of the main Architect of the US Constitution James Madison.
James Madison was the fourth president of the United States of America and a serious student of history and politics whether that be grabbing lessons from the years of religious war through Europe, the history of Roman Republics, or the politics of the Greek city states and democracies. -
The discussion is between Sunny Sharma and his elder cousins Vinni (Abhishek Kasid) and Tinku (Ranjan Wali).
This is a continuation of the previous podcast concerning the Indian election of 2024.
The India election took place through 7 phases of voting in different regions respectively in india lasting from April 19, 2025 to June 1, 2024.
How important and difficult is it for our political leaders and others to give real value to the people in the way of economic opportunity, social cohesion, and political liberty?
With the new coalition will there be a return to normalcy and a level playing field politically and perhaps even economically? Is it a problem that even though India needs a massive overhaul, reform, and even revolution to ita political and financial institutions, we will have to settle with incremental changes? How can we challenge corruption? -
The discussion is between Sunny Sharma and his elder cousins Vinni (Abhishek Kasid) and Tinku (Ranjan Wali).
The India election took place through 7 phases of voting in different regions respectively in india lasting from April 19, 2025 to June 1, 2024.
Is the fact that the BJP won the election but reduced its seat number to 240 a sign of a referendum on either the BJP, Hindutva, or Modi? Was this a consequence of a changing tide in the youth vote where the average age of young people is 28 or by the vote and agency of energized farmers, Muslims, and the lower classes? Is India becoming more polarized, extenuating tribal lines or will competing interests, like competing factions, cancel each other out like a tempestuous sea of liberty rather than a calm despotism to in the end serve the larger interests of the people in India? Are the basic necessities for a thriving democracy such as independent media, free speech, economic opportunities and meritocracy and political education under threat in India?
Was this election a paradigm shift or watershed moment that will witness a revitalization of Indian institutions and renewed faith in our political process? Ultimately will the next generation be able to grasp the opportunity represented by the crisis of civilization occuring for the better? -
Whether it was on the Selma bridge, in Cairo, the stadiums of South Africa, the legislative chambers of England and India, or the executive halls of America, President Obama strove to reshape the mores of a globalized society away from separation, extremism, oppression, and bigotry towards a politic that stood for not only human rights, but also an understanding that rights can only be fostered through a sort of collective understanding of agency and responsibility that opened the door to future possibilities. Most importantly, President Obama not only acted as Uniter in Chief during a time of social unrest, racial tension, and turmoil, he also was the main leader for tumultuous social reform that brought the United States of America out of the worst recession from 2008-2011 since the Great Depression. Additionally, President Obama acted not only as a social reformer, but also as an advocate for political and social democracy through the period of the Arab Spring. Through his reform efforts and advocacy, he provided an inherent meaning to millions in the Arab world with aspirations towards self-determination for democratic governance while also navigating and espousing equality for millions in America on the question of economic inequality through the Occupy Wall Street Movement that started in 2011 as well as highlighting racial inequality that was brought to the forefront of American political reality through the Black Lives Matter Movement that was founded during his presidency in 2013.
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Malcolm X not only reimagined the place of black people in America and around the globe, but he also told the truth about the political mechanisms and techniques in society that denigrated the poor and working class.
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Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, born in 1891 and died in 1956, was indeed a unique visionary who combined practical advocacy with his education as a Ph.D. in economics and his training as a lawyer. He tested his principals in the fiery chasm of social and political liberty in India through the development of political parties and the testing of his academic scholarship. We have his principals in the Constitution of India and his legacy and experience of starting political parties for the subaltern (underclass) because he chose to try hard and fail hard rather than to not try at all.
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Quotation Themes:
Primary themes: Truth, risk, liberty and justice, morality, personal responsibility, conscience.
Secondary themes: Fragility of democracy, reputation/legacy, service, demanding rights, tyranny, duty and patriotism, societal and common welfare, fundamental rights, legality, reform, individual and collective agency or action, and constitutional liberties.In this 11-minute podcast, I highlight informative and insightful quotes by Enlightenment men as well as from Great men who inherit the spirit of Enlightenment values. Some of the men of which I highlight either 1-2 quotes include the Buddha who was born in India, Cyrus the Great of Persia, Frederick II of Prussia, Baruch Spinoza of the Netherlands, Immanuel Kant of Germany, Benjamin Franklin of the United States of America, Samuel Adams of the United States of America, Edmund Burke of Ireland, Thomas Jefferson of the United States of America, Benjamin Rush of the United States of America, and Georges Bernanos of France. Additionally, I highlight multiple quotes by three icons of human rights and constitutional liberty of whom are the 2nd president of the United States of America John Adams, the first law minister of India and creator of its constitution Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, and the 44th president of the United States who established universal health care reform for the first time in American history, ended the War in Iraq, and killed the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks Osama Bin Laden, President Barack Obama.
The figures of President John Adams, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, and President Barack Obama are not only a few of my most admired advocates of liberty, justice, and human rights, but they are also all constitutional experts and proponents of constitutional principles: President John Adams wrote the first constitution for a representative republic in modern history for the Massachusetts government in 1780 setting the precedent for all constitutions in the modern era; Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was the first law minister of India and thus was the primary drafter of India’s first constitution allowing for the establishment of parliamentary democracy and India’s code of ethics for all Indians especially through the institutions of quotas and reservations for the underclass; President Barack Obama not only shaped political democracy, but also American mores, values, and ethics, channeling his experience as a young community organizer in Chicago, Illinois and his expertise as a constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago for 10 years into the American presidency where he fostered a new dialogue on race relations by establishing the Brother Keeper’s foundation to provide mentorship to young men across the United States of America while also setting the precedent for equality through the implementation of the Fair Pay Act for women and proliferating liberty and justice around the world by fostering future leaders through his Obama foundation.
As illustrated by the men who I have chosen to quote, there is a thread in history that binds us all together and a tradition of freedom that we all share. More importantly, as these men have demonstrated, it is only through an understanding of history, political precedents, and cultural norms, that we can even begin to reform the social fabric of society which is predicated on social democracy.
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