Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
The complicated connections between nation-building, minority rights, and denotified communities in India are examined in this article. It offers an epistemological knowledge of the historical, political and social influences that have moulded these populations’ experiences, which are frequently left out of discussions about fostering national identity and minority rights. The study makes the case that nation-building initiatives in India frequently rest on a homogenized notion of national identity that ignores the varied cultural, linguistic, and ethnic identities of marginalized communities. This has led to the systematic marginalization of groups that have been notified and the violation of minority rights. This article adopts the library research method. The utilization of library research is a significant resource for the researchers seeking to acquire a more profound comprehension of a specific topic or subject matter. The methodology offers a methodical and organized strategy for collecting and evaluating data, which can aid scholars in discovering novel avenues for their investigations or contribute to advancing fresh concepts or principles within their discipline. This study addresses the issue’s cultural, social, and political elements and considers more inclusive and equitable nation-building strategies while drawing on multidisciplinary scholarship. In the end, it makes the case that in order to be genuinely democratic, society must place a high priority on recognizing and defending the rights of all of its members, especially those who have historically been marginalized and excluded.

Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Invisible social groups are systematically left out of the process of development and have to make choices that are predetermined. Research suggests that the tribal and nomadic communities have been majorly affected by such processes. Nat, a peripatetic nomadic tribe in India has undergone similar exclusionary process. However, they continue to survive as a social group and maintain their distinguishing character. This study, therefore, is an attempt to understand their survival within the mainstream society by systematically analysing the following sociocultural attributes: identity construction, education and mobility, and multi-religious belonging. The Nat of Paschim Champaran, in the state of Bihar in India, were the focus of the study. Data was collected from 30 respondents and analysed by applying narrative inquiry. The findings suggest that their professional identity as acrobats continues to define their distinctiveness even when a few have chosen to shift towards other forms of livelihood. This distinctiveness continues to negatively influence their access to education and as a result no major change is witnessed in terms of social mobility of the group. However, it is observed that they have intelligently assimilated themselves within the popular culture by adopting multiple identities with respect to religion and which are activated for diverse purposes and at different times.