Caste Research Articles

Exploring Women's Roles, Contributions, and Challenges in Medieval India from the 10th to 18th Century

This paper explores the roles that women portrayed, the contributions they made, and the obstacles encountered during the medieval period in India, from the 10th to the 18th century. Drawing light on the status of women and the complex forces in that life, the analysis done above tries to unfold the socio-political, cultural, and economic background of the period under consideration. This research studies the social and cultural landscape, assessing how the caste system, religious practices, and gender norms have affected the roles that women have played out in various diverse places. Added to this in the study is further looking into the various ways through which the very significant dynasties of Rajputs, Mughals, and Deccan Sultanates were influencing the experiences of women. Therefore, a special focus would be placed on the roles women assume in political and administrative roles, particular to their involvement in specific positions like being rulers, regent moms, military leaders, and ambassadors. In addition, the influence of royal women in courts and assemblies and their contributions to governance and strategy is also probed, which essentially provides a comprehensive knowledge of the agency that the royal women possessed throughout this period and the problems that they encountered.

Dalit Muslims of Barak Valley: A Socio-Historical Study

This article is an attempt to examine the historical background of Dalit Muslim communities in the Barak Valley of southern Assam in the context of Dalit Muslims in India. The Marathi word ‘Dalit’ (broken) has been widely used in the intellectual discourses to mean the oppressed class of people among the Hindus—the untouchables and low castes. It was the outcome of age-old social inequality and discrimination prevalent in the Indian subcontinent that a large segment of the population was being pushed to the outer edge of human society. They were destined to live a life of semi-human beings. Following from this, the word ‘Dalit Muslim’ is quite new in the academic and political discourses and strongly resented by the orthodox Muslims. Theoretically, Islam does not recognize any social distinctions based on race, ethnicity, occupation and, of course, caste. However, empirical studies including censuses since the British period confirm the presence of severe social inequality and discrimination among Indian Muslims similar to the Hindu caste system. The origin of Dalit Muslims was associated with the historical expansion of Islam in India following the conversion of millions of low castes and Dalits to Islam in order to escape social discrimination. But their conversion to Islam did not mitigate caste; rather, they were simply added to the new social organization with similar class and status. They continued to pursue their hereditary occupation, being considered demeaning by their ashraf co-religionists, and branded them with derogatory terms such as ajlaf, razil, kamin, itr, arzal, or lowborn. They were treated the most contumely without having the slightest regard for the Islamic principle of social equality by the upper caste Muslims due to their association with the demeaning occupations. Therefore, they were destined to live apart from the mainstream social life and reduced to the extent of outcastes or Dalit as compared to the Hindu caste organization. This article examines the socio-historical background of different Dalit Muslim communities in the Barak Valley of southern Assam.

A case for recognition of caste as a sui generis category in international law

AbstractCaste, a system of social division based on inherited status, has a long history in South Asia. At present, Caste is no longer specific to any religion or region, having been exported to various countries by the South-Asian diaspora, often lacking the equality framework required to address Caste-based discrimination. Caste and race are closely interconnected as comparable systems of oppression and discrimination. However, Caste-based discrimination has been accepted as a form of racial discrimination by the UN Committee since 1996 as a sub-element of discrimination under Article 1(1) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) and as a form of discrimination based on work and descent prohibited by international human rights law since 2000. India has consistently held that caste can neither be equated with race nor covered under descent. The conceptualization of Caste in the wide category of work and descent to cover analogous systems worldwide has proven insufficient to address rampant abuses. Caste is not acknowledged as a distinct ground of discrimination due to its complexities, which require a targeted response internationally. Hence, recognising Caste as a sui generis category of discrimination would provide adequate guidance for national approaches to prevent such discrimination and achieve the equality guaranteed in the international legal framework.

Women’s Land Ownership in India: The Impact of Caste and Religion

This study empirically examines the role of caste and religion in shaping women’s land ownership in India using data from the National Sample Survey Office 77th round survey. The findings reveal significant disparities in land ownership among women across religious and caste lines. Hindu, Muslim and Christian women are consistently less likely to own land compared to those from other religious backgrounds, reflecting the influence of religious laws and customs on property rights. Similarly, women from Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes face heightened barriers to land ownership, highlighting socio-economic inequalities perpetuated by the caste system. Addressing legal ambiguities, cultural norms and socio-economic inequalities can foster a more inclusive and equitable land ownership landscape, empowering women economically and socially. Such measures contribute to broader goals of sustainable development and gender equality as outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Study on stress wave propagation and failure characteristics of key parts in tunnel under blasting load

To investigate the propagation mechanisms of stress waves and the characteristics of crack distribution in tunnel structures subjected to explosive effects, an experimental model simulating rock mass using cement mortar was employed. Blasting experiments were conducted at various vertical locations relative to the tunnel. Utilizing ultra-dynamic strain monitoring alongside high-speed digital image recognition, we captured in real time the dynamic evolution of stress waves as well as the precise initiation and expansion paths of cracks. A comprehensive analysis was performed on both stress wave propagation and damage patterns within the refuge structure. Furthermore, the reliability of our numerical simulation algorithm was validated through an examination of fluid-structure coupling algorithms. The results indicated that peak strains at monitoring points within the tunnel increased as detonation points approached it, leading to heightened structural damage. Numerical simulations demonstrated a strong correlation between observed peak strains at critical locations and corresponding damage data from our experimental model. Additionally, it was found that decreasing height between detonation points and the tunnel resulted in increased dynamic response parameters—such as overpressure, velocity, and acceleration—at monitoring sites within the tunnel, thereby exacerbating damage to key areas including vaults and footwall structures. To mitigate potential structural instability within refuges, a full-section molded concrete lining support system was implemented along with supplementary anchor (mesh) spraying in critical regions to ensure long-term operational safety.

The continuing significance of Oliver Cox’s Caste, Class, and Race

Abstract Despite being a major study that compares India’s caste system to the system of racial stratification in the United States, Oliver C. Cox’s Caste, Class, and Race continues to be largely under-appreciated and under-explored by scholars of both systems. This article re-evaluates Cox’s contributions to social theory by putting him into conversation with Isabel Wilkerson, Bhimrao Ambedkar, and Gunnar Myrdal. Cox, like Ambedkar, concluded that, despite occasional similarities, caste and racial systems were products of two distinct pasts with distinct objectives. Whereas the caste system emerged from a variant of an estate society akin to European feudalism, the modern racial system is an outgrowth of capitalism, according to Cox. However, what Cox failed to consider in his theory of the caste system is the degree to which its expansion and institutionalization over the Indian subcontinent were also modern phenomena.

Beyond Enrolment: How Urban Poverty Affects Educational Experiences

In a country as diverse as India, inequalities in access to education are deeply interwoven with the economic, social and political identities of individuals. In this regard, the need to expand access to education is usually emphasised broadly in terms of enrolment ratios, as these reflect the overall percentages of children going to school across different age groups. However, enrolment ratios depict merely an entry point into a school. This paper contends that it is important to look beyond enrolment numbers and focus on the social and economic barriers that prevent students from fully engaging with the education provided in school. Once enrolled in a school, whether government or private, numerous factors affect the ability of a child to fully participate in the educational process. This paper aims to understand the various challenges faced by those belonging to economically and socially marginalised sections of the population in a metropolitan city such as Delhi. This study finds that even after getting admission, several factors related to the child’s home, family and neighbourhood significantly affect how he/she engages with the educational process. In addition to this, factors such as caste-based discrimination were also found to play an important role in the schooling experiences of children living in urban poverty.

Model Checking Strategic Abilities in Information-sharing Systems

We introduce a subclass of concurrent game structures (CGS) with imperfect information in which agents are endowed with private data-sharing capabilities. Importantly, our CGSs are such that it is still decidable to model-check these CGSs against a relevant fragment of ATL. These systems can be thought as a generalisation of architectures allowing information forks, that is, cases where strategic abilities lead to certain agents outside a coalition privately sharing information with selected agents inside that coalition. Moreover, in our case, in the initial states of the system, we allow information forks from agents outside a given set \(A\) to agents inside this group \(A\) . For this reason, together with the fact that the communication in our models underpins a specialised form of broadcast, we call our formalism \(A\) -cast systems . To underline, the fragment of ATL for which we show the model-checking problem to be decidable over \(A\) -cast is a large and significant one; it expresses coalitions over agents in any subset of the set \(A\) . Indeed, as we show, our systems and this ATL fragments can encode security problems that are notoriously hard to express faithfully: terrorist-fraud attacks in identity schemes.

The Visible ‘Caste Gaps’ amid an ‘Invisible’ Caste System in West Bengal, India: A Study of Discrimination in Bengali Society

The invisibility of the caste system in Bengal is so firmly ingrained in the psyche of the upper-caste Bengali Hindu population that any acknowledgement of the same by the bhadralok class appears to be a pipe dream. This moral high ground of the bhadralok directly stands antithetical to the rampant cases of caste-based discrimination in the aforementioned state on a regular basis. However, this very inconspicuous nature of the caste system in Bengal has been hogging the centre stage of academic attention in recent years and has become a well-studied phenomenon in the process. Several scholars have catapulted fresh discussions on the visibly strong undercurrents of the caste system in Bengal and accorded a new legitimacy to the different ways in which caste caters to exclusion and discrimination on socioeconomic lines. Still, Bengal’s caste system remains relatively mild and lenient in popular perceptions compared to other states, owing to its strong pedigree as a cultural hotbed. Amid this invisibility of caste in public understanding, the economic (and occupational), religious, ideological and cultural gaps exuding from the allegedly ‘invisible’ caste system between the ‘bhadralok’ class and the marginalised communities are ironically very visible. Nevertheless, such existing caste gaps in several fields have remained relatively unexplored as there is not a great deal of scholarship acknowledging the tangible presence of these gaps. Therefore, I have, in my article, attempted to analyse these patent apertures and the lack of reciprocity in occupational, cultural and ideological transactions between the bhadralok and the so-called ‘chotolok’ as the byproducts of the deeply ossified caste hierarchy in Bengal that has gradually whittled away the human agency of the state’s severely disadvantaged marginalised groups.

Politicising the Public Space: On Dalit Women Sanitation Workers in India

Caste determines the life worlds of people in India in particular and South Asia in general. Historically, it is observed that caste has conditioned the nature of public spaces. Upper castes can appropriate the public spaces legitimized by caste ideology and practice. However, colonial and post-colonial India witnessed changes in the caste system due to its (modern) legal interventions. Paradoxically, caste persists in its crude and subtle forms. It has also acquired new forms in post-independent public spaces. Caste determines certain bodily dispositions within the so-called public spaces. The ambiguous nature of modernity and the weight of tradition have drastically transformed the public space. A socially regulated economy and public institutions are determining the people, space, and mobility of the castes, too. This article investigates the nature of the stigmatized labour of Dalit women sanitation workers (who come under the manual scavenging community) within diverse public urban spaces. It analyses the various questions related to the Dalit women sanitation workers who work in select public universities, urban housing colonies, and slums in Delhi, India. It probes the Dalit women sanitation workers’ day-to-day life in caste-ridden spaces of urban- “public” spaces. One of the central questions that needs to be addressed is whether the socioeconomic space of these Dalit women workers has changed in contemporary India. Why do Dalit women have to do stigmatized work in public spaces? How are purity and pollution reinforced in elusive ways? Thus, it initiates a critique of the Indian feminist understanding of public spaces. This article acts as a way to engage with the epistemic priority of women sanitation workers to problematize Brahmanic feminism in India. Can there be any social-political engagement with the public space in the case of Dalit women sanitation workers? At the level of theory, this article critiques the dominant-Habermasian idea of the public sphere and Nancy Fraser’s counter-public to reflect on conceptual practice grounded in the Dalit women sanitation workers and public space.

Power, Performance, and the Limits of Contemporary Animism as a (De)colonial Perspective for Indian Caste Society

“Contemporary animism” or what is often termed as “new animism” has emerged as one of the most powerful perspectives to understand and decolonize the indigenous cultural practices and knowledge systems in recent years. Brahmanical Hinduism (or neo-Brahmanism) is considered as a cultural-religious practice that still carries undercurrents of animism in India.2 Animist beliefs have remained strongly embedded in Brahminical religious and cultural practices, such as belief in the existence of soul, persona and so on. This article argues that the ethos of neo-Brahmanism is not only antithetical to the perspectivism of contemporary animism, it rather offers a model that can be termed as ‘inverted animism’ or the cultural practices that tend to colonize the radical potentials of animism. Such Hinduism as hegemonic cultural practices disrobe the environment from its personhood, even fetishizes the person, and turns them into objects. It is an ‘animism’ that goes against its own spirit by colonizing the personality of the object, materials and other entities.

Experiences of Caste Discrimination Among Muslims: Marginalization of Ga’ad Ha’enz Community in Kashmir

Caste-based hierarchies and discrimination are not confined to the Hindus, but it is equally profound in the lived experience of other religions in South Asia, including Islam. Muslim majority Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir in India is no exception to this. Kashmiri Muslim identity in the valley is not a monolith; apart from the differences in terms of sect, language and ethnicity, there is also social hierarchy among Kashmiri Muslims. Among the various social castes in Kashmir Valley, the Hanji community is considered ‘lower’ in the social hierarchy. There are sub-groups within the Hanji community with varied vocations, livelihoods and places of residence, whereas the Ga’ad Ha’enz community engaged in fishing is the lowest in the hierarchy and historically experienced marginalization. Not only do they face stereotyping and castiest slurs, they face caste-based discrimination in their livelihood and their residential areas. This article unravels the intersection of caste, marginalization and religious identity by exploring the challenges faced by the Ga’ad Ha’enz (fishing community) in Kashmir. Based on the narratives from the field, the article aims to uncover the nuanced ways in which caste-based hierarchy among Kashmiri Muslims contributes to their marginalization. By examining the everyday experiences in residential areas and the livelihood challenges, the article attempts to establish a relationship between the marginalization of Ga’ad Ha’enz community and their social-caste identity of belonging to the Hanji community.

Representation of Dalit Characters and Reflection of Their Consciousness in Nepali Short Stories

The paper attempts to explore the position of Dalit characters and their consciousness on the contexts, contents, and issues as portrayed in the select stories from “Nepali Kathama Dalit [Dalits in Nepali Stories]” published by Nepal Academy. The stories written on Dalit subject matters and issues primarily portray the socio-economic and political positions, problems and issues of exclusion of Dalits in different forms. The characters of the stories demonstrate the miserable condition of Dalits; however, they speak up against the oppression and discrimination for their rights, equality, justice and liberation. For the purpose, the researcher has selected the stories of Khagendra Sangroula’s “Sangram Bahadur Sarki”, Narayan Dhakal’s “Sunakhari Tol”, Matrika Pokharel’s “Itihasko Chihanmathi Ubhiyera” and Krishna Bam Malla’s “Pudke Damai”. The stories are plotted on the context, issues, and problems of Dalits and their resistance against the caste system. The study basically explores the representation of the Dalit characters, their socio economic and political positions, consciousness and protest for the change. Hence, the stories are studied from the perspectives class consciousness connecting with caste consciousness. The researcher has employed the qualitative approach with descriptive and exploratory methods.

Numerical study on the effects of strands consistency on metallurgical transport behaviours of low-carbon steel in tundish–submerged entry nozzle–mould systems

In this study, the innovative tundish–submerged entry nozzle (SEN)–mould systems that enabled data transmission between the tundish and the mould were constructed to investigate the effect of strands consistency on the metallurgical transport behaviours of low-carbon steel. The velocity magnitude near stopper-rod A and T-outlet A was notably low. Owing to inactive flow regions and temperature variations near the stopper-rods, the maximum temperature difference between T-outlet A and T-outlet B was approximately 2.8 K. In case 2, a vortex occurred near the right narrow face of the steel–slag interface, while no vortex was present near the left narrow face. In cases 3, 5 and 6, some streamlines existed approximately perpendicular to the steel–slag interface. These phenomena increased the possibility of slag entrainment via the upward flow mechanism and shear layer instability. Cases belonging to strand A featured a higher temperature gradient than cases belonging to strand B, and this trend was related to the temperature difference between T-outlet A and T-outlet B. The extreme differences in temperature gradient were 0.067 K/mm for case 3 and 0.056 K/mm for case 4. At an SEN port angle of 15°, strands consistency had the greatest influence on the uniformity of the temperature gradient. Different solutes exhibited similar distribution patterns, and solute segregation was closely related to the partition coefficient. Various velocity components and SEN structures determined the position of the impact point, thereby influencing fluid flow and temperature distribution in the mould. The concentration distribution of solutes was closely related to the velocity at T-outlet A/B. The thickness of the solidified shell and mushy zone closely depended on the temperature at T-outlet A/B. Strands consistency impacted metallurgical transport behaviours in the mould and the quality of the bloom.

From a Community to a ‘Scheduled Tribe’: A Ethnographic Study of the Hatti

The Hatti community of the Trans-Giri region of Sirmaur District with its recent inclusion in Article 342 of the Indian constitution was designated as Scheduled Tribe (ST). The research article is an ethnographic account of the Hatti Tribe of the Trans-Giri region of Sirmaur District, Himachal Pradesh. The study documents the rich culture and tradition of the Hattis in the existing social institutions of caste, family, marriage, kinship, political organisation and religion on account of fieldwork that was conducted in seven villages. The caste system of the Hatti observes strict defined hierarchies, their pre-determined roles and often determines occupation. It is divided into upper, middle and lower caste, with each caste further divided into sub-categories. The institution of kinship amongst the Hattis is unique and the recognition of kin is extended to the father’s father brother family such that kinship is identified and terminology is used for father’s father family. In addition, they recognise both consanguine and affinal kin and there is no distinct kinship term for lineal and collateral kin. The institution of marriage is also unique in its own way with five types of marriages that are known to take place in the area. Some of them are polyandrous marriage, monogamous marriage, remarriage usually/often after divorce, child marriage and marriage by elopement. Interestingly, all marriages have a different cultural process to solemnise the wedding. The political organisation of the Hattis is known by Khumbli, a traditional council that governs the law and order in the villages, is categorised as per village territories and is still considered the first place to resort differences. There is a close relationship between political and religious organisation such that many a times dispute resolution may take place at the deity level. The Hatti reflect a similar culture and tradition to the Jaunsari, a recognised ST in Uttarakhand. The existing Daichara between the two tribes is one of the strong indicators of common ancestral lines. The ethnographic account of the Hatti tribe in the research article is the first of its kind that documents the culture of the Hatti after they were granted the status of the ST before it embarked on the journey of planned development.

HUMAN EXPLOITATION IN ARAVIND ADIGA’S NOVEL THE WHITE TIGER

Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger explores the stark social disparities between the wealthy and impoverished in India, illustrating how systemic poverty perpetuates marginalization. The protagonist, Balram Halwai, narrates his journey from a lower-caste background to becoming a self-made, successful individual in India. Balram's story is not just one of personal ambition but also of navigating a rigidly stratified society. This study addresses two primary issues: the exploitation Balram endures due to his socioeconomic status; and his strategic actions are to attain freedom from the oppressive forces in his life. Using a library research method, the study integrates secondary sources, including books and articles, to deepen the analysis of the novel. Employing a psychological approach, this study examines the psychological complexities of Balram’s character, supported by theories on character development, data credibility, theoretical triangulation, and reliability. Balram is depicted as an astute yet morally ambiguous character, exhibiting selfishness, cunning, irresponsibility, dishonesty, and a lack of remorse. The analysis reveals how his behaviors and attitudes—such as detachment from others and deviant tendencies—are shaped by his environment. India’s entrenched caste system underpins various social issues in the novel, including poverty, unemployment, corruption in education, inadequate healthcare, exploitation, discrimination, and the persistence of hierarchical master-servant relationships. These factors collectively influence Balram’s psychological development, and shape him into a figure both reflective and critical of the society he navigates.

Comparison of Scheduled Caste Youth Lifestyles and Those of Other Castes in Tamil Nadu: Youth Subculture and Identity

Social institutions and structures are crucial in shaping individual personalities and facilitating transitions, but systemic barriers can hinder youth’s smooth transition to adulthood and participation in society. When a transition fails, an identity crisis occurs and develops identity confusion as a result they will not have a clear sense of their role in society. No research has been done on the identity problems and transition challenges faced by Scheduled Caste Youth in Tamil Nadu, India. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate how rural youth in Tamil Nadu are influenced by socio-economic, political and cultural factors in forming their identity. Qualitative research techniques like case studies and focus group discussions were employed to examine the perspectives of youth from Katchipattu and Pattunool Chatram villages in Tamil Nadu. The results of the study highlight the significance of sub-cultural context, caste system and social exclusion in shaping youth attitudes and behaviours.

From Ignorance to Empowerment: Education’s Role in Sujatha Gidla’s Ants Among Elephants

This research paper mainly focuses on Sujatha Gidla’s Ants Among Elephants, which thoroughly explores the systematic oppression and tenacity prevalent in the Indian social structure, specifically focusing on the caste system. The comprehensive study analyses how personal decisions and environmental constraints determine identity in the context of extensive societal hierarchy. Gidla, from an academic perspective, explores the significant impact of education in promoting empowerment and upward social mobility among marginalised communities. Inspired by Indian scholars who take an interdisciplinary approach to Dalit feminism and by the lens through which Hooks interprets Black feminism. Using intersectionality, this study investigates how caste, gender, and socioeconomic issues affect Dalits in the caste system scenario to highlight their marginalization.

Investigating the photocatalytic efficacy of a porous cuprous gallate (CuGa2O4) thick film

Abstract The study aimed to investigate the photocatalytic activity of porous copper gallate (CuGa2O4) thick film with significant wall dimensions. The thick film was meticulously fabricated using tape casting systems, with CuGa2O4 nanoparticles synthesized by Sol–Gel technique and subsequently transformed into gels for the tape casting process. Rietveld refinements were employed to elucidate the crystal structure and lattice parameters of the CuGa2O4 spinel oxide lattice. Moreover, electronic energy configurations and optical transmittance measurements were acquired through UV-visible spectrophotometry. The correlations between the crystal structure, band gap change and formation of electronic energy levels in relation to the photocatalytic performance of CuGa2O4 were explored. The comprehensive examination provides valuable insights into the complex interaction between material properties and photocatalytic behavior, offering a nuanced understanding of the potential applications of porous CuGa2O4 thick films in various technological fields.

A Renewable Energy Program to Address Power Dynamics in East Sumba, Indonesia

The Indonesian government's commitment to sustainable development includes reducing emissions by 29% by 2030, with initiatives like the Sumba Iconic Island, which aims to provide 100% renewable energy on Sumba Island. Despite the economic opportunities this initiative offers, women in Sumba, especially in remote areas like Luku Wingir Village, face significant barriers, including limited access to energy resources and exclusion from decision-making processes due to traditional power dynamics and caste systems. This research aims to explore how renewable energy programs can address these challenges and promote gender equality. Using qualitative methods such as desk research, interviews, and focus group discussions, the research examines the potential of renewable energy initiatives to transform gender norms and empower marginalized groups. The results suggest that such programs can positively influence women's economic participation and improve overall rural community well-being by challenging existing power dynamics. The research’s findings have important implications for the design and implementation of inclusive renewable energy initiatives, particularly in fostering gender equity and sustainable development in rural areas.