Dalit Leadership, Collective Pride and Struggle for Social Change Among Educated Dalits: Contesting the Legitimacy of Social Class Mobility Approach

Abstract

Dalit leaders have played a significant role in the lives of lower caste people. They have created a meaningful political identity for Dalits (oppressed) and inspired them in the collective movement for social change. This article critically explores three major theoretically interlinked and contested components, which are Dalit leadership, collective pride and social class mobility, and discusses the emergent categories. Participants in the present work are highly educated Dalits who take inspiration and pride from Ambedkar’s leadership and believe in the role of collective movement for social change.