About the Book
The Untouchables, from time immemorial, have been socially and economically oppressed, culturally subjugated and politically marginalized. However, in recent times they have begun to assert themselves and have launched socio-cultural and political movements aimed at ushering in a new social order based on the principles of equality and liberty. Even though many untouchables, as a consequence, have reached at the position of power and prominence, particularly in the political arena, a vast majority of them continue to suffer discrimination, poverty and humiliation, and are often targets of inhuman atrocities.
Quite a few researches, books and essays covering this topic of crisis of untouchables leadership have been published in recent years, but they lack the genuine efforts to seek truth. Untouchables perceive their politicians (MLAs, MPs, bureaucrats, social organizations) as their savior, who will liberate them from the shackles of bondage and deprivation.
The book is an attempt to seek the following key issues pertaining to political culture of the untouchable leaders; including MLAs, MPs and bureaucrats:
• What are their set of values and expectations?
• Do they adhere and are true to the Ambedkarian teachings of action to which they have vowed?
• Do their untouchable brethren trust them and how are they paying back to their community?
• Do the upper caste politicians and bureaucrats treat them with contempt and try to suppress them?
• Lastly, the most important question, has the untouchable leadership failed?
These basic questions and more have been examined in a lucid style in this enriching book.
Contents
1. Introduction: Looking Up at Caste Discrimination in Everyday Life in India
2. Short Electoral Political History of Rajasthan (1948–2018)
3. Clashes Between Mahars and Marathas at Koregaon-Bhima, Pune
4. Leadership Crisis Among Dalits in India
5. Untouchables and Ambedkar Leadership Struggle for Socio-Political Identity
6. Dilution of SC’s Rights – Apex Court Verdict, 2018: The Emergence of Bharat Bandh
7. Atrocities on Dalits in Rajasthan
8. Twentieth Century Background of Dalit Movement in Rajasthan: Emergence of Anusuchit Jati Mahasangh
9. Struggle for Dalit Votes in Congress and the BJP
10. Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s Sthal in Delhi: A Must for Dalits
11. SCs Elite, Internal Dynamics and Suppression in Rajasthan
12. Judiciary, Untouchables and BJP Rule: Struggle for Constitutional Rights
About the Author / Editor
Shyam Lal is an eminent sociologist. He was previously Vice Chancellor, Patna University, Patna; Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur and also acting Vice Chancellor of University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. Earlier, he served as Professor and Head, Department of Sociology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur and Chairman, Institute of Social Research and Applied Anthropology, Calcutta. He is the recipient of ICSSR’s Dr B.R. Ambedkar National Fellowship for 2003–04 and 2004–05. He also held the post of Chairman, Drafting Committee, Ambedkar Foundation, Department of Art, Literature and Culture, Government of Rajasthan. Professor Shyam Lal is a prolific writer and has to his credit over 22 books and more than 50 research papers published in various journals and edited volumes.
