Introduction to Out-Caste

Out-Caste is an informal, public wall-journal started by the Dalit Studies class under the guidance of our course instructor, Dr. K. Satyanarayana. This is an open forum that engages with the caste question in a specifically Indian context. We wish to look at caste as a category that structures both exclusion and privilege. Our main aim is to represent the Dalit visions of a new India.

We do not subscribe to any political agenda. Our motive is merely to engage the community with questions concerning the complex workings of caste and the struggles against this form of inequality and oppression and its relation with other forms of inequality and oppression such as social class, poverty, gender etc. Through this journal, we wish to acquaint our readers with certain key historical personalities and crucial events in the field of socio-political reform. Evidence of such neglect is obvious in the ongoing suppression and violence inflicted on Dalits on an everyday basis in different parts of the country. In this context, we wish to acquaint our readers with key narratives and debates in this area. We also wish to provide a space for the representation of alternative histories and literatures of Dalits.

While some consider the word ‘Dalit’ to be politically charged, we wish to bring out its emancipatory and inclusive potential. Dalit is a Marathi word whose literal meaning is ‘ground’ (verb) or ‘broken or reduced to pieces’. Dalits then are those people who have been deliberately broken and ground down in a very active way by those above them. As opposed to other terms like untouchable, scheduled caste, harijan etc, the word Dalit itself is a radical rejection of the religious legitimization of untouchability, social immobility and unequal access to opportunities. The clearest definition of Dalit in its contemporary usage is seen in a letter written to Eleanor Zelliot by Gangadhar Pantawane, founder editor of Asmitadarsh (mirror of identity), the chief organ of Dalit literature:

“To me, Dalit is not a caste. He is a man exploited by the social and economic traditions of this country. He does not believe in God, Rebirth, Soul, Holy Books teaching separatism, Fate and Heaven because they have made him a slave. He does believe in humanism. Dalit is a symbol of change and revolution.”

Keeping this in mind, we wish to inaugurate the first issue of this wall journal.

We would like to thank the administration for their continued support in bringing out this Wall Journal. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to all the people on campus who gave us their valuable time, support and inputs in bringing out this journal. We would especially like to thank our course instructor Dr. K Satyanarayana, Pro-VC Dr. Maya Pandit, Registrar Mr. T A V Murthy, Deputy Registrar Mr Murlidhar Tadi, DBMSA President Mr. Raju Nayak, T Jyoti, Mr Murti of Stores Department, Dr. Geetha Durairajan and Vidya Kesavan. We would also like to thank Dr Kancha Illiah and Mrs. Deepa of Anveshi for their invaluable support at all junctures of bringing out this journal.