Notes of Nagesh

  Ideological interpellation   is a concept rooted in Marxist and Gramscian theory that describes how the state—and the broader network of institutions it controls—“calls” individuals into particular social identities and ways of thinking that serve the interests of the ruling class. By shaping the very categories through which people understand themselves and the world, the state can secure consent for existing power relations without relying solely on overt coercion. State power promotes ruling-class interests by shaping how individuals perceive reality through ideological interpellation. The state and its apparatuses tell individuals: • What exists: Defining their identity and their knowledge (or ignorance) of exploitation. • What is possible: Structuring their levels of ambition, self-confidence, and aspiration. • What is right: Establishing the norms of legitimacy and the ethics of work and interpersonal relations.   1. What exists – Defining identity an...

State power promotes the ruling class’s interests primarily by ensuring the reproduction of the mode of production —the economic, political, and ideological relations—of which that class is the dominant bearer. Rather than being a thing that can be "held," state power is a relationship where social power is concentrated in an institution to promote and protect specific social structures. This promotion of interests is achieved through two essential functions: representation and mediation . 1. Political Representation State power ensures that the ruling class is represented within the state, meaning the state's actions positively act upon the reproduction of its dominant positions. This is facilitated through various formats of representation , which are systems for selecting political leaders that ensure state leadership promotes and defends the ruling class’s positions. These formats include: • Notables : Leaders emerge from a ruling-class "public" of f...

The general public (especially ordinary villagers, lower castes, and tribal communities) in British India during the late 19th and early 20th centuries did not widely or consciously identify as "Hindu" in the modern, unified religious sense prior to or during the early censuses (1872–1911). Identities were far more fluid, local, and sectarian, shaped by caste, village, sect, deity worship, or tribe rather than a broad religious label. Evidence from Census Reports and Enumerator Experiences Confusing or Ambiguous Responses: Census officials repeatedly noted that many respondents struggled with the religion question. In the 1881 census, enumerators reported widespread ignorance or indifference—people often said they had no religion, belonged to their caste/tribe (e.g., "Meherat" instead of Muslim), or followed local practices without a label. Provincial reports described "great prejudice" among enumerators and respon...

The Mechanics of Rule: What Does the Ruling Class Do? To understand the path to social change, one must first understand the nature of class rule.  A ruling class does not merely occupy offices; it exercises state power to ensure the reproduction of the social relations that underpin its dominance. . State power is a relation where social power is concentrated and exercised to promote and protect specific structures—primarily the mode of production of which the ruling class is the dominant bearer. When a class rules, it carries out two essential functions through the state:  representation and mediation. . Through  representation , the state promotes the ruling class’s interests and ensures its leadership is reflected in state policies. Through  mediation , the state ensures that the ruled classes both  submit to and contribute to the existing order. . This is achieved through mechanisms such as  extraction  (taxation and surplus labour),  co-opta...

The Seven Scientific Laws That Quietly Shape Every Moment of Our Lives Insights from Mithun Kamath’s “Synkria: Seven Scientific Laws That Shape Our Living Experience” We like to believe our daily lives—our emotions, relationships, decisions, fatigue, joys, and struggles—are shaped mostly by personal choice, luck, or circumstance. Yet beneath the surface runs a deeper, quieter logic: the same unchanging scientific laws that govern stars, cells, ecosystems, and oceans also govern how we feel, connect, heal, and grow. In his concise 2025 book Synkria: Seven Scientific Laws That Shape Our Living Experience , Mithun Kamath invites readers to look at ordinary human experience through the lens of seven fundamental laws drawn from physics, biology, systems theory, neuroscience, and ecology. The result is not another self-help manual promising quick fixes, but a reflective, evidence-based map that reveals why life feels the way it does—and how aligning with these laws can bring greater coherenc...