Performance and Performativity of Dalit Students Politics in India: The Justice for Rohith Movement

Title

Performance and Performativity of Dalit Students Politics in India: The Justice for Rohith Movement

Creator

Rao, Malavika Priyadarshini

Description

This book examines the significance of body, space, sound/voice/music and objects of resistance in everyday performance of Dalit student protests, focusing on the protests which erupted after Rohith Vemula, a Dalit PhD student, died,by suicide in Hyderabad Central University on 17 January 2016 in Hyderabad, India. Rohiths death sparked national and international outrage and led to the shutdown of the University for over a month and gave rise to the Justice for Rohith movement, which continued for over a year. Rohiths death became a symbolic representation of other Dalit deaths due to systemic caste violence; the symbolism of his death expanded to include other marginalised groups who have faced systemic violence historically. The author highlights five distinct aesthetics prominent in Dalit student activist performance practices: (1) folk performance traditions; (2) counter-interpretation and representation of Hindu mythology and Hinduism; (3) inspiration from Ambedkar and Buddhist iconography; (4) Christian church hymns; and (5) the text of Rohiths last letter. In each chapter, the book explores how protesters draw on aesthetics and strategies from other political movements. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars in theatre and performance studies. 2026 Malavika Priyadarshini Rao.

Source

Performance and Performativity of Dalit Students Politics in India: The Justice for Rohith Movement;pp.1-142

Date

01-01-2025

Publisher

Taylor and Francis

Coverage

Rao M.P., Christ Deemed to be University, Bangalore, India

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISBN: 978-104038961-4; 978-103261392-5;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Book

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032613963

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105014378379?origin=resultslist