Dalit Activism

Title

Dalit Activism

Creator

Nivea, Thomas K.

Description

In the post-Ambedkar era, Dalit activism has expanded beyond traditional modes and methods of protest by adopting diverse strategies. This includes social media campaigns like #DalitLivesMatter, which align with global movements such as #BlackLivesMatter. It signals a shift towards more globalised and intersectional forms of protest. There is a notable transition from an exclusive focus on domestic advocacy to transnational alliances for greater impact. Caste-based oppression has been framed as a violation of fundamental human rights, which demands accountability from both national and international agencies. Many scholars find the gap between international advocacy for Dalit rights and grassroots-level Dalit activism quite concerning. Some scholars believe that Dalit activism has lost much of its transformative potential and revolutionary vigour, and the movement has been reduced to a mere pressure group. These political pitfalls allow us to understand the challenges and complexities of Dalit activism and the factors that shaped its course. This chapter aims to trace the trajectory of Dalit activism and provide a detailed background to facilitate a critical engagement with the concept of activism. It explores its historical progression, strategic shifts, and ongoing struggles to offer a comprehensive view of how Dalit activism has evolved into its current form. 2026 selection and editorial matter, Mahitosh Mandal and Sanjiv Kondekar; individual chapters, the contributors.

Source

Dalit Studies: Key Terms and Concepts;pp.137-143

Date

01-01-2026

Publisher

Taylor and Francis

Coverage

Nivea T.K., Department of English and Cultural Studies, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISBN: 978-104087057-0; 978-104105815-1;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Book chapter

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003634010-16

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105032513241?origin=resultslist