in Society, Literature and History

Edited by Imtiaz Ahmad and Shashi Bhushan Upadhyay

Publisher: Deshkal
ISBN: 81-9028651-X
Publication Date: 2007
Price: Rs.595, $ 14
Photo Credit: The Fotomedia Archive
Cover Design: Bindia Thapar
Page Design: Bibhas Das
Extent: 283 pages

About the Book
One of the most important phenomena in post-independence India is the assertion by those socially -oppressed groups broadly known as Dalits. Whether it is the Dalit woman or man, the old days of apathy are over and an active, sometimes militant, mood is largely witnessed. The former untouchables have become conscious of their oppression at various levels. And they are now voicing their grievances in various forms. Its manifestations can be seen in a different arena where vocal resistance is pitted against new forms of oppression and renewed attempts at dominance. Many social and political tensions are a result of the assertion by the Dalits, which the dominant groups construe as a challenge to their dominance.
The essays in this volume are concerned with the life and struggle of the Dalits and their quest to break free from the chains of oppression and poverty imposed on them by the dominant social groups. They also discuss the divisive nature of the pervasive caste system, which is proving inimical to the growth of a collective consciousness among the oppressed.

About the Series:
This series on Dalit Studies seeks to intervene in the dominant socio-political discourse surrounding the system of higher education in order to sensitise it to issues of marginalised sections of society.

We feel that the dominant discourse in social sciences in India tends to accept caste as a normative category of Indian society. Our aim is to problemtise this category by highlighting the daily experiences of communities who have been long oppressed by the system of caste. We thus wish to question the category as it is used in the social sciences while at the same time drawing attention to the reality of its presence in the everyday life of Dalits. We feel it is imperative that the living perspective of
Dalits be incorporated into the academic understanding of caste.