Transformation of Dalits in Ambedkar Villages in UP

Abstract

Six decades ago, Dr. Ambedkar recognised that “....What is the village but a sink of localism, a den of ignorance, narrow mindedness, and communalism?”( Kapur et. al,2010). Being born in the family of dalits, Dr. Ambedkar’s speeches and writings on social justice for mass have revealed the facts that influence the thoughts of Indian academia in the post-independent era. Contemporary writings and academic insights of the current era highlight casteism as a well sheltered factor being gradually growing in many forms within the lap of Indian villages. Casteism—the traditional belief that persists in the society has become significant stumbling block. It is primarily a socio-cultural belief (prominent at rural level) which is at the core of labelling a group of individual or community as dalits. Epistemologically, casteism has kinship with the social perception and recognition toward the vocations in which the dalit communities are involved in. Truly speaking, dalits in rural contexts are at the farthest distance from the mainstream and are in jeopardy—poor mental and physical health, lack of traditional jobs, failing to meet the minimum levels of living, lack of awareness, casteism, rural contexts, illiteracy.