Chuppala Nagesh Bhushan 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-optation (securi...
Summary This document outlines an analysis, based on Rajeev Patel's book Vedic Yug Ka Ghalmel , of the appropriation and reinterpretation of key Buddhist symbols within the Hindu Vaishnavite tradition. The central argument is that prominent symbols currently associated with Hindu deities like Tirupati Balaji, specifically the Shankh (conch) and the Chakra (wheel), were originally Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist icons with distinct philosophical meanings. According to the source, these symbols were co-opted during a historical "rebranding" of Buddhist idols, such as those of Avalokiteshvara, into Hindu deities. This process involved stripping the symbols of their original context—representing concepts like the removal of ignorance and the spread of Buddhist teachings (Dhamma)—and assigning them a new "sectarian coating" to align with the emerging Vaishnavite narrative. Context of Symbolic Appropriation The analysis posits that the presence of the Shankh and Chak...