Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Ashok Gopal, A Part Apart: The Life and Thought of B.R. Ambedkar. New Delhi: Navayana Publishing Pvt Ltd, 2023, 864 pp., ₹999 (Hardback). ISBN: 9788195838516.
Book review: Mukul Sharma, Caste and Nature: Dalits and Indian Environmental Politics
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Mukul Sharma, Caste and Nature: Dalits and Indian Environmental Politics. Delhi: Oxford Academic, 2018, 336 pp., ₹1,100. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199477562.001.0001
Mukul Sharma, Caste and Nature: Dalits and Indian Environmental Politics. Delhi: Oxford Academic, 2018, 336 pp., ₹1,100. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199477562.001.0001
Book review: Raj Kumar, Dalit Literature and Criticism
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Raj Kumar, Dalit Literature and Criticism. Hyderabad: Orient BlackSwan, 2019, 159 pp., ₹250.00 (paperback). ISBN: 978-93-5287-532-0.
Raj Kumar, Dalit Literature and Criticism. Hyderabad: Orient BlackSwan, 2019, 159 pp., ₹250.00 (paperback). ISBN: 978-93-5287-532-0.
The Making of Two Intellectuals: Caste, Epistemology and the Question of Dissent
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
Caste has an unspeakable presence in the ‘Kerala model’ development discourse. Over the years, Dalits have countered the upper-caste imagination of Kerala. The discontent with the popular imagination of Kerala started to gain momentum in the 1980s and 1990s. By then, the less privileged groups, such as women and Dalits, found reasons to contest the false promises of a modern secular society and the principles of socialist ideology. The study focuses on the intellectual engagements of two Dalit intellectuals from Kerala. K. K. Kochu and M. Kunjaman trace their epistemological framework through dissent and disagreement. Their discontent creates a rift in the hegemonic discourses produced by upper castes, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala and other power structures. K. K. Kochu’s Dalithan (Dalit) and M. Kunjaman’s Ethiru (Dissent) are two autobiographical accounts that map out the intellectual life of these two prominent public figures.
Caste has an unspeakable presence in the ‘Kerala model’ development discourse. Over the years, Dalits have countered the upper-caste imagination of Kerala. The discontent with the popular imagination of Kerala started to gain momentum in the 1980s and 1990s. By then, the less privileged groups, such as women and Dalits, found reasons to contest the false promises of a modern secular society and the principles of socialist ideology. The study focuses on the intellectual engagements of two Dalit intellectuals from Kerala. K. K. Kochu and M. Kunjaman trace their epistemological framework through dissent and disagreement. Their discontent creates a rift in the hegemonic discourses produced by upper castes, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala and other power structures. K. K. Kochu’s Dalithan (Dalit) and M. Kunjaman’s Ethiru (Dissent) are two autobiographical accounts that map out the intellectual life of these two prominent public figures.
Environmental Movements in Odisha: A Perspective on Mining
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
This article attempts to discuss various protest movements especially issues related to mining in Odisha. Although Odisha is a mineral-rich state, the article only discussed the environmental movement interlinked with mining in Odisha. This article also focuses on the nature, strategies, outcomes, and situations of different environmental movements in Odisha. The important environmental movements interlinked with mining issues are discussed such as the Kalinganagar movement, the anti-POSCO movement, Kashipur (UAIL) movement, the Niyamgiri movement, and the BALCO movement of Odisha.
This article attempts to discuss various protest movements especially issues related to mining in Odisha. Although Odisha is a mineral-rich state, the article only discussed the environmental movement interlinked with mining in Odisha. This article also focuses on the nature, strategies, outcomes, and situations of different environmental movements in Odisha. The important environmental movements interlinked with mining issues are discussed such as the Kalinganagar movement, the anti-POSCO movement, Kashipur (UAIL) movement, the Niyamgiri movement, and the BALCO movement of Odisha.
Eco-caste Migrants in Kerala: A Posthumanist Reading of Veyilmarangal
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
With hundreds of people losing their houses and properties, climate change and its related disasters have changed the face of humanity. This has had a considerable impact on popular visual media such as film as well. From the conventional romanticized portrayal of nature in Malayalam films, a few contemporary Malayalam films have sensitized the ecological issues and the predicaments of its victims. This marks the shift from the idealized portrayal of landscape to the depiction of the fury of nature on human beings. Taking cues from a Posthumanist theoretical perspective, this article considers the Malayalam film Veyilmarangal (2020) directed by Dr. Biju Damodaran to analyse how caste divisions in the society surface during the climate catastrophe. To analyse the nuances of climate change and its posthuman turn, this article takes its insights from the domains of environmental casteism and climate displacement to explain what is used as ‘eco-caste migrants’ in this article. The term signifies the role of caste hierarchy among human and non-human entities during the ecological crisis, especially focusing on the experiences of the Dalits and other caste subalterns. The article also attempts to find parallels between the non-human group and sub-human group hierarchies in society and, thereby, analyse the intersectional casteism from the vantage point of Kerala society through the representation of eco-caste migrants in the film.
With hundreds of people losing their houses and properties, climate change and its related disasters have changed the face of humanity. This has had a considerable impact on popular visual media such as film as well. From the conventional romanticized portrayal of nature in Malayalam films, a few contemporary Malayalam films have sensitized the ecological issues and the predicaments of its victims. This marks the shift from the idealized portrayal of landscape to the depiction of the fury of nature on human beings. Taking cues from a Posthumanist theoretical perspective, this article considers the Malayalam film Veyilmarangal (2020) directed by Dr. Biju Damodaran to analyse how caste divisions in the society surface during the climate catastrophe. To analyse the nuances of climate change and its posthuman turn, this article takes its insights from the domains of environmental casteism and climate displacement to explain what is used as ‘eco-caste migrants’ in this article. The term signifies the role of caste hierarchy among human and non-human entities during the ecological crisis, especially focusing on the experiences of the Dalits and other caste subalterns. The article also attempts to find parallels between the non-human group and sub-human group hierarchies in society and, thereby, analyse the intersectional casteism from the vantage point of Kerala society through the representation of eco-caste migrants in the film.
Livelihood Challenges in Handicraft Industry: A Qualitative Study on Poverty and Exploitation of Women Artisans in Srinagar
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
This study was framed to gain an in-depth understanding and first-hand experiences of women artisans of Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). Purposive and snowball sampling were employed in conducting the study. In this study, 20 Kashmiri women artisans were interviewed. Face-to-face interviews based on open-ended and descriptive questions were probed. Several interpretative and specific questions were also asked during the interview process to ensure thoroughness. The collected data were read multiple times to achieve familiarization and then compared with other data sets and interpreted thematically. The following themes emerged from the data set by application of descriptive phenomenology (a) financial hardships, (b) exploitation of women artisans in handicrafts sector under different agents, (c) exploitation in the form of low wages, (d) impact of conflict and (e) livelihood challenges and pathways to sustain women artisans livelihood. The findings also reveal that artisans had suffered dramatically due to two lockdowns: the lockdown imposed because of the removal of Article 370 of India’s constitution, which guaranteed special status to citizens of J&K, and the lockdown imposed as a result of Covid-19.
This study was framed to gain an in-depth understanding and first-hand experiences of women artisans of Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). Purposive and snowball sampling were employed in conducting the study. In this study, 20 Kashmiri women artisans were interviewed. Face-to-face interviews based on open-ended and descriptive questions were probed. Several interpretative and specific questions were also asked during the interview process to ensure thoroughness. The collected data were read multiple times to achieve familiarization and then compared with other data sets and interpreted thematically. The following themes emerged from the data set by application of descriptive phenomenology (a) financial hardships, (b) exploitation of women artisans in handicrafts sector under different agents, (c) exploitation in the form of low wages, (d) impact of conflict and (e) livelihood challenges and pathways to sustain women artisans livelihood. The findings also reveal that artisans had suffered dramatically due to two lockdowns: the lockdown imposed because of the removal of Article 370 of India’s constitution, which guaranteed special status to citizens of J&K, and the lockdown imposed as a result of Covid-19.
The Beggars During the COVID-19 in India: Marginality, (In)visibility and the Role of Civil Society
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
A sizable number of beggars are visible on Indian streets and public places, but because they hardly have any bargaining power, the administration appears reluctant to assist the beggars to build their capacity. As a result, beggars are largely invisible in discussions on public policy. Since beggars from lower castes and Dalits make up a bigger percentage of the population than beggars from upper castes and since they cannot raise their voice against their marginality, the case of beggars may also be viewed through the lens of Dalit and subaltern perspectives. Even though the Delhi High Court decriminalized begging in 2018, it still carries a negative social stigma. The COVID-19 lockdown in India put the lives of beggars in danger. The governments mostly failed to offer social security to beggars throughout the lockdown, notwithstanding certain efforts that had been made. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which are a part of civil society, have had more success than the governments in resolving the tragic situation of beggars. Despite the fact that both the government and NGOs must build up their infrastructure, the government has a greater obligation to ensure the well-being of beggars.
A sizable number of beggars are visible on Indian streets and public places, but because they hardly have any bargaining power, the administration appears reluctant to assist the beggars to build their capacity. As a result, beggars are largely invisible in discussions on public policy. Since beggars from lower castes and Dalits make up a bigger percentage of the population than beggars from upper castes and since they cannot raise their voice against their marginality, the case of beggars may also be viewed through the lens of Dalit and subaltern perspectives. Even though the Delhi High Court decriminalized begging in 2018, it still carries a negative social stigma. The COVID-19 lockdown in India put the lives of beggars in danger. The governments mostly failed to offer social security to beggars throughout the lockdown, notwithstanding certain efforts that had been made. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which are a part of civil society, have had more success than the governments in resolving the tragic situation of beggars. Despite the fact that both the government and NGOs must build up their infrastructure, the government has a greater obligation to ensure the well-being of beggars.
Lack of a Dedicated Focus on Dalit in Corporate Social Responsibility Projects: A Qualitative Exploration of Mandated CSR in India
Contemporary Voice of Dalit, Ahead of Print.
The concepts of caste discrimination and corporate social responsibility are not novel. They have existed for decades in social, political and academic discourses, albeit as separate concepts. Notably, how CSR engages with Dalit issues in India has not been explored, especially in mandated CSR. This article explores why corporates do not cater devoutly to the needs of Dalits in CSR projects. The article adopts a qualitative approach to interviewing participants from corporates, NGOs and external consultants from research and academic organizations. The author adopted the thematic analysis method and arrived at four major themes about the lack of a dedicated focus on Dalits in CSR projects. These are corporate boards’ caste-blindness, the design of CSR projects, the adoption of the umbrella target category—‘poor’ and the changing character of NGOs. These findings suggest larger structural issues with the way CSR projects are planned, designed and implemented, excluding the scheduled castes (SC). The findings underline a glaring gap and the need for corporates to understand the issues faced by SCs, resulting in inequality, poverty and socioeconomic exclusion. There is a crucial need for corporates to direct, design and implement their CSR projects with a dedicated focus on empowering the Dalit population.
The concepts of caste discrimination and corporate social responsibility are not novel. They have existed for decades in social, political and academic discourses, albeit as separate concepts. Notably, how CSR engages with Dalit issues in India has not been explored, especially in mandated CSR. This article explores why corporates do not cater devoutly to the needs of Dalits in CSR projects. The article adopts a qualitative approach to interviewing participants from corporates, NGOs and external consultants from research and academic organizations. The author adopted the thematic analysis method and arrived at four major themes about the lack of a dedicated focus on Dalits in CSR projects. These are corporate boards’ caste-blindness, the design of CSR projects, the adoption of the umbrella target category—‘poor’ and the changing character of NGOs. These findings suggest larger structural issues with the way CSR projects are planned, designed and implemented, excluding the scheduled castes (SC). The findings underline a glaring gap and the need for corporates to understand the issues faced by SCs, resulting in inequality, poverty and socioeconomic exclusion. There is a crucial need for corporates to direct, design and implement their CSR projects with a dedicated focus on empowering the Dalit population.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: A Framework for Understanding China’s SOEs, SMEs and Decentralisation
China Report, Ahead of Print.
This study delves into the intricate interplay between state-owned enterprises (SOEs), disposable income and economic decentralisation within China’s economic landscape, all underpinned by the principles of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It highlights the unique roles of SOEs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), while assessing disposable income’s effect in bolstering support for decentralisation. Emphasis is placed on whether a higher disposable income often a product of SOEs’ control over vital industries and utility prices can catalyse public enthusiasm for decentralisation. Utilising a spectrum of analytical techniques on secondary data, the study uncovers vital patterns that suggest a symbiotic relationship between SOEs and SMEs in advancing economic growth and decentralisation. The findings offer valuable insights for policy development and further understanding of the nexus between SOEs, disposable income and decentralisation, as contextualised within Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
This study delves into the intricate interplay between state-owned enterprises (SOEs), disposable income and economic decentralisation within China’s economic landscape, all underpinned by the principles of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. It highlights the unique roles of SOEs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), while assessing disposable income’s effect in bolstering support for decentralisation. Emphasis is placed on whether a higher disposable income often a product of SOEs’ control over vital industries and utility prices can catalyse public enthusiasm for decentralisation. Utilising a spectrum of analytical techniques on secondary data, the study uncovers vital patterns that suggest a symbiotic relationship between SOEs and SMEs in advancing economic growth and decentralisation. The findings offer valuable insights for policy development and further understanding of the nexus between SOEs, disposable income and decentralisation, as contextualised within Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.