Everyday life is an empty signifier of Ernesto Laclau . It is a nodal point that somehow brings together Everything and makes life meaningful to us as individuals as well as communities. It is Jacques Lacan’s point de capiton. We can transcend everyday life and critically look at it. Yet we stay immersed in this stream of life that...
The Emptiness of Hope: Linking Ernesto Laclau’s Empty Signifier and Buddhist Shunyata to Affirm That Hope Does Not Disappoint
In an era marked by uncertainty—political upheavals, existential crises, and the relentless churn of global events—hope often emerges as a fragile beacon. Yet, as the Apostle Paul asserts in Romans 5:5, “hope does not disappoint us.” This profound declaration invites deeper philosophical inquiry: How can hope, seemingly vulnerable to the whims of reality, evade disappointment? To explore this, we...
A Guiding Light: Remembering Fr. Cyril Desbruslais SJ.
The news of Fr. Cyril Desbruslais SJ’s passing on September 8, 2025, in Pune, Maharashtra, at the age of 84, struck a deeply personal chord. For me, and countless others, Fr. Cyril was not just a towering figure in Indian Jesuit circles, a brilliant philosopher, or a transformative playwright—he was my teacher, a mentor whose compassion and wisdom shaped...
The Food Miracle: Can India’s Culinary History Be an Antidote to Hindutva Violence?
India’s food is a vibrant tapestry, woven from threads of history, migration, and cultural exchange. It is a cuisine that defies rigid boundaries, embracing influences from across the globe while remaining distinctly local. Yet, food in India is also a site of contestation, entangled with politics, caste, and, increasingly, the divisive ideology of Hindutva. From debates over beef to...
The Overton Window and the Plight of Two Sisters in Chhattisgarh
The Overton window, a concept introduced by political scientist Joseph Overton, describes the range of ideas deemed acceptable within public discourse at any given time. It serves as a framework for understanding how societal norms, political rhetoric, and media narratives shape what is considered permissible or taboo. Ideas within the window are seen as mainstream, while those outside it...
The Theology of the Magnificent in Light of Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste: Beyond Economic Affirmative Action
The intersection of theology and social justice presents a profound opportunity to explore divine magnificence not as a distant, abstract ideal but as a transformative force rooted in the radical dismantling of oppressive structures. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s seminal work, Annihilation of Caste, provides a powerful lens through which to reimagine a theology of the magnificent—one that transcends mere economic...
Did the Bible Assist and the Making of Modern India?
Vishal Mangalwadi’s book, The Bible and the Making of Modern India, asserts that the Bible was a central force in shaping modern India, influencing its education system, social reforms, and nation-building process. Mangalwadi, an Indian Christian philosopher, argues that biblical principles introduced by Christian missionaries during the colonial era provided the intellectual and moral framework for India’s transformation into...
Jacques Rancière’s Vision of the Modern Classroom at the Advent of AI
In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping educational landscapes, Jacques Rancière’s concept of the “emancipated spectator,” as articulated in his works The Ignorant Schoolmaster (1987) and The Emancipated Spectator (2009), offers a profound framework for reimagining pedagogy. Rancière’s philosophy, rooted in the radical equality of intelligence and the rejection of hierarchical knowledge transmission, challenges traditional classroom dynamics...
Enhancing the Synodal Methodology of Communion, Participation, and Mission in the Parish
The synodal methodology, as promoted by the Catholic Church, emphasizes communion, participation, and mission as essential pillars for fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and mission-oriented faith community. This approach calls for collaborative dialogue, shared responsibility, and active engagement among all members of the Church. The educational and psychological theories of Lev Vygotsky, a pioneering Soviet psychologist, offer valuable insights that...
From Hostility to Hospitality: Reimagining Cosmopolitanism through Goan-ness, Derrida and Pope Francis
Immanuel Kant’s vision of perpetual peace through cosmopolitan hospitality, rooted in the economic interdependence of nation-states, has faltered in the face of persistent global hostilities. Jacques Derrida’s deconstructive critique of Kant’s cosmopolitanism, particularly through his concepts of the New International and unconditional hospitality, offers a framework to rethink global relations beyond state sovereignty. This study explores Derrida’s ideas alongside...
