Dalit Symbolism: A Journey Towards Renewed Aspirations and Democratic Public Space

Abstract

The article talks about how Dalit symbolism has become an epitome of the Dalits’ assertion for democratic space in the contemporary period. The renewed aspirations of Dalits have emerged in the form of physical as well as cultural symbols. They are carving out their own public space through physical symbols such as imposition of icons through statues and monumental structures, and cultural symbols in the form of inventing popular myths, folk heroes, stories and history, which can be referred to as counter-publics or alternative public sphere. Treated as subservient and marginalized under the hegemonic power structure, the oppressed Dalits want to have their own voice and to present their own alternate views about State, culture and political philosophy. Nothing can be better than the exhibition of radical progressive Dalit symbols in the form of statues of Dalit icons at public places, calendars of Dalit heroes, Dalit blogs, Dalit songs, stories, poems and so on as mentioned, in order to develop an understanding of Dalit aspirations and history among the general public. Thus, the article endeavours to explore and analyse those symbols, narratives and songs, and their contributions towards Dalits’ renewed aspirations, historical claims and craving for democratic space.