dalits

Caste has been a major defining characteristic of Indian society. It has its origins in early India and finds mention in Hindu scriptures. There have been efforts by the likes of Gautam Budhha, Kabir, Ambedkar who have challenged and opposed this social system. Despite the change in the patterns of society the caste rigidities have not been done away with till today. This is a system of structural hierarchy which needs to be annihilated. During freedom movement the foundation of an equal society were laid. The freedom of the country gave a big hope that the Indian Constitution and its norms will ensure the eradication of this system, but it persists in newer forms. There have been social streams which have been preserving the graded structure of our society. The book is compilation of essays and articles which highlight the salient features of the caste system, the ideology which aims to preserve it and the struggles which are going on to eradicate the same. The book traces the principles and forms of the campaigns/movements aiming at society with Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

Born into the Indian untouchable class, but possessing the rare gift of a higher education, Sujatha Gidla travels to India to interview her family about the sociopolitical forces that helped shape her family history. From her uncles' political allegiances to her mother's difficulty living in the caste system, Gidla recounts testimonies from first-hand accounts of what life is like in India as an untouchable.

The author relates the story of his family's struggle to rise above the discrimination and humiliation associated with being a Dalit, or "untouchable," the lowest level of the Hindu caste system.

The author relates the story of his family's struggle to rise above the discrimination and humiliation associated with being a Dalit, or "untouchable," the lowest level of the Hindu caste system.