1st Edition

The Journey of Caste in India

Voices from Margins
Edited By Paul D'Souza, N. Sukumr

Aryan or Sanatan Dharma lacks the theological or philosophical elements to foster

social unity, a feeling of inclusion, or a sense of collective camaraderie. Instead, it
serves as a foundation for division, creating distinctions between 'Us' and 'Them.' The
Indian Constitution played a pivotal role in establishing a nationwide identity and
solidarity through its opening statement, 'We, the people of India.' This concept of 'we'
as a social agreement did not exist prior to the Constitution’s inception.

The book is divided into three parts. The first part of the book is “The Trajectory of Caste in
Post-Independent India.” The first chapter of this part is A Critique of Right-Based Policies on
Justice by Ambrose Pinto. In this chapter, Pinto argues how states grant power in their favour;
although the state provides people with their rights after a long-fought fight, even after providing
them, it uses them in its own favor however it wants.
The second chapter of the book is “Dalit and Cultural Identity: Ambedkar’s Prevarications on the
Questions of Culture'' by Valeriar Rodrigues. This chapter shares the view of Ambedkar on
indigenous Brahamanical culture. Ambedkar, by different essays, supports his argument on how
these so-called preachy cultures and traditions were used by upper-caste people to suppress
untouchables and make so-called purity rules and regulations for them
.
The third chapter’s name is “Ambedkar’s Quest for Social and Economic Democracy” by
Pradyumna Bag. As the chapter’s name indicates,Bag presents Ambedkar’s criticism of
democracy. Ambedkar here argues that until Dalits and other suppressed classes do not get
economic and social equality, political democracy would mean nothing for them.

“Dalit Culture and Identity” is the second part of the book. “Dalit Culture: A Perspective from
Below” by Raj Kumar is the name of the fourth chapter. Raj Kumar begins this chapter with the
Aryan invasion, which created castes and practiced untouchability, and ends the chapter in
modern India,a globalised world where this practice is criminalised and Dalits are struggling for
their place in the globalised world.

The fifth chapter of the book is named “Human Rights and the Subordinated People: A Cross-
Cultural Study of Dalit and Black Life in the World" by Selvaraj Arulnathan. An empirical survey
between Dalits and African Americans has been conducted in this chapter. Arulnathan conducts
interviews with people from both communities and records their experiences in a world in which
they were once not considered humans.
The sixth chapter is “The Rights to Selfhood: The Paradox of Being a Dalit Woman” by Subhdra
Mitra Channa. A Dalit woman suffers double oppression: first,of being a woman, and then, of
being born into a Dalit community. This chapter by Channa argues in favour of this statement
and also tries to create a contrast between the lives of Dalits and those seen by upper-class
people. This chapter is about a study and its findings by Channa in which she talks about the
condition of “Dhobi” women, their place in their society, and how they are seen by the upper-
class community.

Here begins the third part of the book, “Caste Violence: Movements for Social Mobility.”. The
name of the seventh chapter is “Dandora: The Madiga Movement for Equal Identity & Social
Justice in Andhra Pradesh by P. Muthaiah. This chapter talks about the Madiga’s struggle for
their equal share of the reservation provided by the government for the SC community.

The eighth chapter of the book is about the effect of the Ambedkarite movement in Andhra
Pradesh. The name of the chapter is “Post-Ambedkar Schedule Castes: Agitations and Social
Exclusion in Andhra Pradesh” by K.S. Chalam.

“Caste Conflict and Dalit Identity in Rural Punjab: Significance of Talhan” by Prakash Louis and
Surender S. Jodhka is the ninth chapter of the book. The writers of this chapter talk about the
life and condition of Ad-Dharmis in Punjab.

The tenth chapter of the book is “Globalisation: Assessing Impact on the Dalits in India" by
Anand Teltumbde. In this chapter,. This Teltumbde study examines the negative effects of
globalisation and privatisation on Dalits and other marginalised communities.

“Panchayati Raj Institutions and Social Inclusion of Dalits” by Karunakar Singh is the eleventh
chapter of the book. The chapter discusses the impact of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment
Act on the social inclusion of Dalits in India's Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

“Discrimination and Exclusion in Education: A Perspective from Below” by Paul D’Souza and
Teena Anil is the twelfth chapter of the book. This chapter talks about an empirical study
conducted in urban India, focusing on the children of households associated with "Unclean"
occupations, particularly those at the bottom of the social hierarchy, such as Dalits.

“Dalit Merit and Institutional Injustice: A Case Study” By N. Sukumar and Shailaja Menon is the
last chapter of this book. This chapter discusses the personal journey of Krishna Mohan,
who demonstrated his "merit" by persisting in his studies despite facing discrimination
and challenges within the educational system. The text highlights his courage in
confronting institutional barriers and seeking justice for himself. However, it also points
out the failure of the system, including the National Commission for Scheduled Castes,
to uphold their constitutional obligations to protect the rights of Dalit students.