PoliticsAugust 29, 2026
intelligentsia
in-tel-uh-JEN-tsee-uh
Definition
The class of intellectuals, academics, and socially influential thinkers who are regarded as possessing cultural and political authority.
Etymology
Borrowed from Russian in the 19th century, it is derived from the Latin intelligentia, meaning 'understanding' or 'knowledge,' and originally referred to the educated elite of Russian society.
In the news
The author uses the term to critique liberal thinkers who prematurely praise new political movements without examining their internal power structures, suggesting they may be repeating past failures.
After the Common Man, the Convenient Bahujan: CJP Fails the Litmus Test of Representation
Read the full article ↗TheWire.in