The South Asianist Blog

By Dhaneswar Bhoi

Caste is a social reality that plays a dominant role in the life of those born in its frame. Caste secures probabilities, opportunities, and outcomes in the life of one born in the system. Particularly in Indian society it acts as the marker in society to get access or denial to resources. Its occurrences have been evident within families, governance, places of worship, and shape access to amusements, shops, markets and local government. Caste discrimination operates through the medium of sight (appearance), touch (ability to touched or be touched), sound (to be heard or listen) and smell (olfactory registers).

Academics from various universities came together to present and discuss their views on the everyday realities and experiences of ‘caste’ on 18^th and 19^th October 2021, noting how it results in life threatening fear for some, and life strengthening networks for others. The two-day workshop was organised by Dr. Dhaneswar Bhoi, and Dr. Hugo Gorringe, Centre for South Asian Studies, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, UK. Fourteen academic papers were presented seeking to showcase and understand caste in everyday life. The details of the sessions and paper titles with their respective authors/presenters are:

Psycho-emotional Effects of Caste chaired by Dr. Sumeet Jain, University of Edinburgh, UK

1. Persistence of Caste Violence in Contemporary Indian Society: Psychosocial Underpinnings, Dr. G. C. Pal, Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi

2. Caste, Experience and Psycho-emotional Feelings of Dalits in Higher Education, Dr. Dhaneswar Bhoi, University of Edinburgh, UK

Caste Ritual and Practice chaired by Dr. Hugo Gorringe, University of Edinburgh, UK

3. Living Memories of Caste: The Thoti’s Stick, Prof. N. Sukumar, University of Delhi

4. The Pulluvans, Sacred Serpents and Performative Healing in Kerala, Dr. Shailaja Menon, Ambedkar University, Delhi

5. Democratizing the Sacral Space: Deciphering Dalits’ Demand for Equal Rights in Temple Entry, Deity Worship Rituals and Temple Festivals in Tamil Nadu, Dhivya Sivaramane, University of Delhi

Caste and Education chaired by Prof. Sthabir Khora, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

6. University and Untouchability: Mapping the Everyday Experiences of Dalit Students from India, Prof. Nagaraju Gundemeda, University of Hyderabad

7. Caste in Schools: Experiences of Dalit Children, Subhadarshee Nayak, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore

8. (Re)production of Caste Prejudices: Viva-Voce Examination in Higher Education in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Deep Chand, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany

Caste and Occupation chaired by Dr. Hugo Gorringe, University of Edinburgh, UK

9. Intergenerational Occupational Mobility in India: Does Caste Matter? C. Libitha, Centre for Development Studies, Kerala

10. Caste, Labour and Migration: Unending Everyday Pains of Dalits at Brick Kilns in Non-agrarian Sector, Dr. Neelima Rashmi Lakra, Galgotias University, NCR Delhi

Navigating Caste Boundaries chaired by Prof. Bipin Jojo, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.

11. Family, Belongingness and Caste: Narratives of Dalit Women in Non-endogamous Marriages, Disha K R, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

12. Navigating and Challenging Casted Urban Life: Everyday Experiences of Dalits in Contemporary Mumbai, Raju Chalwadi, Indian Institute of Technology

Caste Purity chaired by Dr. Devender Singh, University of Delhi

13. Brahmins Touch in Digital Branding: Food, Taste, and Identity, Rohini Srikumar, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and Amritha Mohankumar, Delhi School of Economics

14. Do not talk like the other castes: Language and Everyday Casteism in a Marathi Brahmin Household in Mumbai, Ankita Bhatkhande, Mumbai based writer, journalist

The workshop included a panel discussion on ‘Caste in Everyday Life’. The panellists of this session were Shri Vikash Trivedi, Dr. Varun Gulati, Dr. Rehana and Dr. Rajiv Kumar, from Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. The workshop came to an end with a concluding session that synthesized and summarized the entire two days with plans for publication by the workshop organisers with special thanks to the School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, UK and Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, India.

Watch the presentations and discussions here:

In July 2021, the Centre for South Asian Studies hosted a symposium to showcase the research of three post-doctoral scholars working on Dalit and anti-caste thought and struggles. The talks ranged from theoretical engagement with key thinkers to empirical data on caste experiences and discrimination, in an insightful and interesting event. There was a stimulating discussion of issues relating to caste, social justice and egalitarian movements, structured around three talks from research scholars.

Introduction and Welcome.

Prof Roger Jeffery, University of Edinburgh

B R Ambedkar on Caste and Land Relations in India.

Dr Awanish Kumar, British Academy Newton International Fellow, University of Edinburgh.

A Battle on all Fronts: Periyar and the Dalit Question.

Dr Karthik Ram Manoharan, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow, University of Wolverhampton.

Caste and Higher Education: Experiences of Dalit Students in India.

Dr Dhaneswar Bhoi, Dr Ambedkar International Centre Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh

Synthesis and Summary

Professor Meena Dhanda, University of Wolverhampton

The event was recorded and may be viewed here: https://ed-ac-uk.zoom.us/rec/share/T7Yy286808Za9RXLUJbwAXNgRJQj8i7sOB-rLbqFeQcCWL1fy48MOt-dUO82sWB8.rvo9FohhUmWvtO-D

The South Asianist Blog

Caste in Everyday Life: Report from a Workshop

Dalit and Anti-Caste Thought and Politics

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