ISSN (Print) - 0012-9976 | ISSN (Online) - 2349-8846

Articles by Vivek KumarSubscribe to Vivek Kumar

Caste, Contemporaneity and Assertion

This article is in response to the opinions and views expressed in the “Caste and Class” special (EPW, 19 November 2016). An evolutionary and historical method has not helped us to understand the caste system and its exploitative nature in its entirety. Therefore, we need to analyse it from a new perspective which can explain the caste system by critically looking at assertion of both, the so-called upper castes and Dalits together.

Criticism without Academic Substantiation

A reply to K L Sharma's rejoinder to "How Egalitarian Is Indian Sociology?" by the author of the article.

How Egalitarian Is Indian Sociology?

Even after completing a hundred years Indian sociology is practised in the milieu of domination. British, European and American domination has been well documented while the domination of the so-called twice-born castes has not been analysed. This article highlights the domination of the twice-born castes at four levels--as members practising sociology in universities, institutions and colleges, in the sphere of production of knowledge while writing chapters of books, producing knowledge with the help of scriptural sources, or producing data from the field and while teaching sociology in the classrooms.

Discrimination on Campuses of Higher Learning

We need to understand the many-headed nature of discrimination prevailing on the campuses of higher education in India. This article argues that discrimination, exclusion and humiliation in campuses can be expressed at different levels: in appointments, admission of students, content of curricula of the Social Sciences and Humanities, the way teachers and Dalit students interact, and how upper caste students interact with their Dalit counterparts. The article is based on the narratives of Dalit students and teachers collected purposively from different universities across the country.

Whose Cleanliness?

The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Campaign) glosses over issues of caste, which is inextricably linked to sanitation work across the country, and the rights of sanitation workers. It incorrectly tries to draw legitimacy from Gandhi’s thoughts on hygiene and cleanliness.

Behind the BSP Victory

Many simplistic explanations have been offered for the Bahujan Samaj Party's stunning victory in the recent Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. A better understanding can be had from a study of the historical struggle of the "Bahujan Movement" of which the BSP is an offshoot.

C Parvathamma

We mourn the passing away of C Parvathamma (1927-2006), the first dalit woman sociologist of India. She passed away on August 1, 2006 at the age of 79 in Mysore.

BSP and Dalit Aspirations

After years of being consistently used as a 'votebank' by mainstream political parties, dalit aspirations to wield political power received its first fillip with the formation of the BSP. In the 14th Lok Sabha elections, the BJP is seeking to extend its influence to other states by speaking up once again for dalit aspirations.

Understanding Dalit Diaspora

Today dalit assertion has transcended the national boundary and has reached international levels. The dalit diaspora that has remained invisible all these years has joined the fight with Indian dalits. Here an attempt is made to understand their presence in different parts of the world and the identities and symbols used for their assertion.

Uttar Pradesh: Politics of Change

Whenever in government the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has been able to initiate the kind of structural changes that have engendered a qualitative improvement in the lives of the dalits. This has generated a stable support base for the party election after election.

Dalit Movement and Dalit International Conferences

The dalit movement now presents an even greater diversity than before and dalit women, who remain triply exploited on the basis of caste, class and gender, largely remain outside the movement's fold.

Untouchability in Uttaranchal

Interestingly, untouchability and caste discrimination exist in the hill areas, even though there is little economic differentiation between dalits and non-dalits.

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