Reading Caste in India

Prejudice, Discrimination and Exclusion
Erscheinungsjahr 2026
ISBN: 978-981-9239-26-9
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 175 Seiten, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm

The volume offers a rigorous exploration of caste as a persistent structure of social exclusion in India. Blending personal narratives with academic inquiry, the book situates Dalit experiences within global frameworks of marginalization, drawing parallels with race-based discrimination and systemic oppression worldwide. It critically interrogates the Gandhi–Ambedkar discourse, examines intersectionality—particularly caste and gender—and addresses contemporary movements such as   'Dalit Lives Matter' , 'Black Lives Matter.' Moreover, the volume  describes the Bhim Army and Balmikis' struggles against manual scavenging. Through comparative and transnational perspectives, the work engages foundational theorists, including Max Weber and Louis Dumont, alongside global thinkers like W.E.B. Du Bois, Frantz Fanon and Martin Luther King Jr., to position caste is aligned with race. It incorporates legal developments, such as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Prevention of Atrocities Act (1989), and explores affirmative action debates, media representation, and diaspora dynamics.

The volume  brings together research and real-life experiences to make complex ideas accessible and relevant. By documenting resilience and resistance, the volume  is  articulating     global conversations on equality and the pursuit of dignity . It reveals that prisons are hell for Dalits, as the author  has spent a few months in   Prison because of casteism.  Moreover, the volume also reveals that  the question of the “colonizer”   is  different for Dalits  from the entire world. It is an essential resource for scholars, researchers, and policymakers concerned with caste, race, social justice, and inclusion.

 
" ."
- Professor Ulka Anjaria, author of  Reading India Now: Contemporary Formations in Literature and Popular Culture.
 
" d."
- Zach Sell, author of Trouble of the World: Slavery and Empire in the Age of Capital

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Kumar, Krishan

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Kultur Menschenrechte, Bürgerrechte
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziologie Allgemein
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Soziale Gruppen & Klassen
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction. The Flame of Hope.- Chapter 01. Shattered Identities: Tracing the Origins of Caste and Dalit Oppression.- Chapter 0. Contours of exclusion: The Complexities of Dalit Marginalisation in India.- Chapter 03. Ethos of ‘Caste’ in Hinduism: Rhetoric the Threads of Tradition and Hierarchy.- Chapter 04. Ambedkar's Pursuit of Caste Annihilation: Crafting a Grounded Legacy.- Chapter 5. Gandhian Outlook on Caste - Evasive of the religious Underpinnings.- Chapter 6. Manual Scavenging: A Stigma Tied to the ‘Balmiki’ Community.- Chapter 7. Feminism Through the Lens of Caste: Unveiling Women’s Multifold Struggles.- Chapter 08. From India to the World: The Persistent Challenges of Caste and Inequality.- Chapter 09. The Evolution of Dalits Empowerment: Laws, Challenges and Aspiration.- Chapter 10. Shattering Chains: Caste, Race and Pursuit of Justice.

Über Autor(innen)

Krishan Kumar is a political sociologist, researcher, and educator specializing in the study of marginalized groups and Dalit studies. An alumnus of Panjab University and currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Lovely Professional University, India, he adopts an interdisciplinary approach that integrates political  science with sociology  to examine caste-based structures of exclusion  of Dalits in Indian society. His scholarship is deeply influenced by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and Mahatma Gandhi, whose ideas he applies to contemporary debates on caste, race,  human rights, and social justice.With over a decade of teaching experience in political science, law, and human rights across Indian universities, Kumar has consistently worked to advance educational justice for marginalized communities. He is a regular contributor to leading platforms, including Mooknayak, ThePrint, and JusticeNews, where he writes on caste issues, social inclusion, and structural inequality.Beyond academia, Kumar is the founder of the Bookreading Movement, which promotes critical thinking and reading culture among youth. He also founded the International Ambedkarites’ Network , an initiative dedicated to advancing educational justice for Dalit and marginalized communities at a global level. As a political sociologist, Kumar’s research focuses on the intersectionality of caste, race, gender, law, mental health, and societal institutions. His work highlights structural caste-based discrimination and advocates reforms in education and public policy. He has consistently raised his voice on issues concerning manual scavengers and deprived Scheduled Castes in Haryana, while also writing extensively on disparities within Dalit communities. Kumar bridges academic inquiry with grassroots activism in the pursuit of  dignity, rights, and social equality.