In April 2023, Feminism In India is seeking entries for “Dalit History Month” to change the prevalent Brahminical & Varna discourse about Dalits and other caste minorities and to create a Dalit exclusive discourse.
By FII Team
Dr BR Ambedkar was born in April, which is also recognised as “Dalit History Month” across the globe. The first call for Dalit History Month was made by a Tamil Dalit activist, Paari Chezhian in 2011 in a blog post. The concept was later put into action by a six-member team of Vee Karunakaran, Christina Thomas Dhanaraj, Asha Kowtal, Sanghapali Aruna, Manisha Devi and Thenmozhi Soundararajan in 2015. It was modelled after Black History Month in America.
The month holds symbolic importance because it recalls the caste-based violence, atrocities, abuse, marginalisation, and subjugation that Dalit minorities, Adivaisis, Bahujans, and Scheduled Tribes have had to endure in a deeply caste-divided and polarised Indian society. The month also honours the memory of those who made supreme sacrifices, led revolutionary movements, and feminist and intersectional campaigns and shaped & improved the history of Dalits and other caste minorities.
It has been observed that the current political system is tightening its grip on minorities more firmly, leading to lynchings, killings, humiliations, sub-humanisation, and boycotts. Dalits and other caste minorities have been subject to systematic violence, oppression, and ostracisation for centuries.
Patriarchal Brahmanism and Hindus of the upper caste and class varna, in addition to the crimes promoted by the state, severely marginalise and discriminate against Dalits, Adivasis, and Scheduled Tribes.
The month holds symbolic importance because it recalls the caste-based violence, atrocities, abuse, marginalisation, and subjugation that Dalit minorities, Adivaisis, Bahujans, and Scheduled Tribes have had to endure in a deeply caste-divided and polarised Indian society.
Dalits have been marginalised on all fronts in an atmosphere of prejudice from many directions, including economic, sociopolitical, and cultural exclusion.
Consequently, it is important to list and record the histories, revolutionary movements, and feminist groups that have existed and are still active in the Dalit discourse. The purpose is to preserve and sustain a space that is strictly for Dalits and other caste minorities, free from interruptions from Brahminical and Varna narratives.
To create more enlightening and accurate Dalit discourse, this month is the time to learn, unlearn, and rewrite the histories, narratives, testimonies, and accounts of Dalits and other minorities autonomously from the influence of Brahminical and Varna caste narratives and perspectives.
It is important to list and record the histories, revolutionary movements, and feminist groups that have existed and are still active in the Dalit discourse. The purpose is to preserve and sustain a space that is strictly for Dalits and other caste minorities, free from interruptions from Brahminical and Varna narratives.
In April 2023, Feminism In India is seeking entries for “Dalit History Month” to change the prevalent Brahminical & Varna discourse about Dalits and other caste minorities and to create a Dalit discourse. We aim to start conversations, hone and contribute to histories, and construct a Dalit exclusive discourse. We would encourage Dalit authors to write the pieces because of our stringent, anti-appropriation editorial policy.
In April 2023, Feminism In India is seeking entries for “Dalit History Month” to change the prevalent Brahminical & Varna discourse about Dalits and other caste minorities and to create a Dalit discourse. We aim to start conversations, hone and contribute to histories, and construct a Dalit exclusive discourse. We would encourage Dalit authors to write the pieces because of our stringent, anti-appropriation editorial policy.
Courtesy : FII
Note: This news piece was originally published in feminisminindia.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights
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