Volume : 8, Issue : 4, APR 2022

QUEST FOR EQUALITY: CULTURAL ASSERTION AMONG DALITS IN PUNJAB

SUMANPREET KAUR

Abstract

Caste has played an important role in India’s democratic politics since its independence. The hold of the upper castes on the political and educational institutions has maintained caste divisions both visibly and invisibly.  The organization of Dalits through their socio-cultural and religious movements has largely affected Punjab caste inequality. The post colonial period expanded their struggle while providing equal opportunities to the lower caste people. The Ad-Dharm movement which emerged in the early twentieth century organized the lower castes in Punjab. Ad Dharm movement, aimed at facilitating a cultural transformation in the life of lower castes that, under the impact of the centuries old system of degradation, had actually internalized a sense of being low and polluted. Mangu Ram, the pioneer of Ad-Dharm movement wanted to liberate them from such a state of mind and also to inculcate in them the feeling of dignity and self respect whereby they could start thinking about them as equal to the so-called twice-born people.

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