Evaluating the impact of the Dalit movement in Tamil Nadu and arguing that they have challenged c... more Evaluating the impact of the Dalit movement in Tamil Nadu and arguing that they have challenged caste orthodoxy and created critical citizens.
This charts the VCK's first foray into electoral politics when they faced violence and caste disc... more This charts the VCK's first foray into electoral politics when they faced violence and caste discrimination, but enthused a generation of voters.
In 1999 the Dalit Movement known as the Dalit Panthers and then the Liberation Panthers (Viduthal... more In 1999 the Dalit Movement known as the Dalit Panthers and then the Liberation Panthers (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) transformed itself into a political party. This chapter charts the debates around this contentious process.
A chapter looking at the leadership of the DPI/VCK. Charting the strategies adopted by Thirumaval... more A chapter looking at the leadership of the DPI/VCK. Charting the strategies adopted by Thirumavalavan and the organisation of the movement.
Looking at the gendered nature of Dalit protest in Tamil Nadu. The chapter assesses the agency an... more Looking at the gendered nature of Dalit protest in Tamil Nadu. The chapter assesses the agency and autonomy of Dalit women activists.
The cultural geography of the Indian village is carefully laid out to assign to Dalit dwellings t... more The cultural geography of the Indian village is carefully laid out to assign to Dalit dwellings the lowliest and least desirable areasthe southern outskirts believed to be the abode of Yama, the God of death; the tail end of the irrigation systems; close to the most polluting areas; or on the fringes of deserts (P. Sainath in Devi 2000: 50). Looking at the spatial bases and practices of the DPI/VCK in Tamil Nadu.
Setting out the material context of Dalit protest. Looking at the structural bases of caste and p... more Setting out the material context of Dalit protest. Looking at the structural bases of caste and protest.
Setting out the conceptual and contextual ground of the study. Tamil politics and social movement... more Setting out the conceptual and contextual ground of the study. Tamil politics and social movement theory.
With the closure of SAGE books, I am uploading the full text of Untouchable Citizens here. Unfort... more With the closure of SAGE books, I am uploading the full text of Untouchable Citizens here. Unfortunately I only have individual chapter pdfs and not the whole book. This is chapter 1 looking at the DPI in 1990s - the movement that went on to become the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.
With the closure of SAGE books, I am uploading the full text of Untouchable Citizens here. Unfort... more With the closure of SAGE books, I am uploading the full text of Untouchable Citizens here. Unfortunately I only have individual chapter pdfs and not the whole book. This is the introduction which sets up the book.
With the closure of SAGE books, I am uploading the full text of Untouchable Citizens here. Unfort... more With the closure of SAGE books, I am uploading the full text of Untouchable Citizens here. Unfortunately I only have individual chapter pdfs and not the whole book.
Conventional analyses of domination ultimately conceive of individuals internalizing aspects of t... more Conventional analyses of domination ultimately conceive of individuals internalizing aspects of their contextual social environments (desires or norms) which determine their future behaviour in a pre-conscious fashion. We suggest that this conception of domination is mistaken and stems from a commitment to theoretical models which view individuals' actions as the result rather than a cause, of durable social structures. We offer a critical analysis of Lukes and Bourdieu as paradigmatic theorists of power who hold such a view, and contrast their work to that of Barnes and Foucault. Drawing on the latter we develop an intrinsic model of power which views interaction as central to social phenomena and understands social processes as arising from the continuous interaction of heterogeneous and calculative but mutually susceptible individuals. This approach re-conceptualises three central dichotomies in studies of power: consensus versus conflict, agency versus compliance and mind ve...
Caste is often presented as a stable or fixed form of social stratification that conditions the b... more Caste is often presented as a stable or fixed form of social stratification that conditions the behaviour of its members.This occludes the micro-structural process by which caste is embodied.This article uses empirical work on caste protest to discuss the fluid nature of embodied activity, and the analytical utility of two social constructionist accounts: the tacitly pre-given structures of Bourdieu's model are compared to the continuous creation model of Foucault.Whereas the internalized structures of Bourdieu's habitus initially appear to make most sense of the embodiment and permanence of caste, we contend that a Foucauldian approach offers better insight into the interactional basis of social structures and identity formation.The article reconsiders both theories in light of these empirical data and concludes that analysing interaction at a local level enables us to better comprehend the emergence of social structural features in a caste context.
Dalit (ex-Untouchable) movements across Tamilnadu are struggling to achieve equality, justice and... more Dalit (ex-Untouchable) movements across Tamilnadu are struggling to achieve equality, justice and an end to caste based discrimination. Over the past decades they have succeeded in entering parliamentary politics in the state. Many of the movements that have contributed to the ...
Although Dalit orators and slogans threaten (or promise) to ‘turn Tamil Nadu on its head’, the 20... more Although Dalit orators and slogans threaten (or promise) to ‘turn Tamil Nadu on its head’, the 2006 state elections offer Dalit analysts pause for thought. In compromising its principles and allying with established parties, the Dalit Panther Iyyakkam (Movement), the largest Dalit movement in the state, has come full circle since 1999. In alternately backing the two dominant parties in the state (the DMK and the AIADMK), the DPI appears to be increasingly institutionalised. Excavating the future of Dalit action from past trends and contemporary politics, I suggest that Dalit parties are following an established political repertoire in which a phase of militant activism gives way to ‘politics as normal’. In the face of this analysis the paper asks whether such an approach is sustainable or can carry the majority of Dalits with it. If Dalit politics is a continuation of hegemonic politics, it argues, the liberatory promises of Dalit activism will have been betrayed.
Following the devastating tsunami that ravaged parts of the South Indian coast on Boxing Day 2004... more Following the devastating tsunami that ravaged parts of the South Indian coast on Boxing Day 2004, there were reports of continuing caste discrimination against India's Scheduled Caste (Dalit) community. The reported absence of common feeling shattered the image of India as an 'imagined community'. Taking its cue from Aloysius, Nigam and Chatterjee, this paper draws on field-notes and archival reports to examine the ongoing and contested processes of nation and national identity formation in India. It is argued that the template against which the postcolonial state imagined the Indian 'nation' was one that excluded marginalised sections of the population. The paper concludes by asking whether India may be seen as a 'national-state' and critically analysing the interplay between caste and nation.
Drawing on fieldwork with Dalit movements in Tamil Nadu, this article focuses on often neglected ... more Drawing on fieldwork with Dalit movements in Tamil Nadu, this article focuses on often neglected aspects of activism. A pervasive lack of resources has rendered Tamil Dalit movements overly incident-sensitive: reacting to caste atrocities rather than pursuing a positive agenda. Movement leaders thus concentrate on community-building by means of exclusive rhetoric that is, at times, divorced from the day-to-day concerns of their constituents. High-profile events and fiery speeches attract attention and foster collective identity, but are only part of a wider struggle in which the more mundane and everyday aspects of struggle—establishing strong networks, chasing up officials, seeking alternate sources of employment and so on—may be most effective. Changing caste relations, it is argued, requires continual commitment rather than episodic protest. This challenges what we mean by ‘movement success’ and ‘activism’.
Although Dalit orators and slogans threaten (or promise) to 'turn Tamil Nadu on its head', the 20... more Although Dalit orators and slogans threaten (or promise) to 'turn Tamil Nadu on its head', the 2006 state elections offer Dalit analysts pause for thought. In compromising its principles and allying with established parties, the Dalit Panther Iyyakkam (Movement), the largest Dalit movement in the state, has come full circle since 1999. In alternately backing the two dominant parties in the state (the DMK and the AIADMK), the DPI appears to be increasingly institutionalised. Excavating the future of Dalit action from past trends and contemporary politics, I suggest that Dalit parties are following an established political repertoire in which a phase of militant activism gives way to 'politics as normal'. In the face of this analysis the paper asks whether such an approach is sustainable or can carry the majority of Dalits with it. If Dalit politics is a continuation of hegemonic politics, it argues, the liberatory promises of Dalit activism will have been betrayed. * This paper was presented at the 2006 SAAG conference. I am indebted to respondents and especially to Chris Fuller for detailed comments. I am also immensely grateful to two anonymous reviewers of the JSAD for perceptive and constructive insights.
Evaluating the impact of the Dalit movement in Tamil Nadu and arguing that they have challenged c... more Evaluating the impact of the Dalit movement in Tamil Nadu and arguing that they have challenged caste orthodoxy and created critical citizens.
This charts the VCK's first foray into electoral politics when they faced violence and caste disc... more This charts the VCK's first foray into electoral politics when they faced violence and caste discrimination, but enthused a generation of voters.
In 1999 the Dalit Movement known as the Dalit Panthers and then the Liberation Panthers (Viduthal... more In 1999 the Dalit Movement known as the Dalit Panthers and then the Liberation Panthers (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) transformed itself into a political party. This chapter charts the debates around this contentious process.
A chapter looking at the leadership of the DPI/VCK. Charting the strategies adopted by Thirumaval... more A chapter looking at the leadership of the DPI/VCK. Charting the strategies adopted by Thirumavalavan and the organisation of the movement.
Looking at the gendered nature of Dalit protest in Tamil Nadu. The chapter assesses the agency an... more Looking at the gendered nature of Dalit protest in Tamil Nadu. The chapter assesses the agency and autonomy of Dalit women activists.
The cultural geography of the Indian village is carefully laid out to assign to Dalit dwellings t... more The cultural geography of the Indian village is carefully laid out to assign to Dalit dwellings the lowliest and least desirable areasthe southern outskirts believed to be the abode of Yama, the God of death; the tail end of the irrigation systems; close to the most polluting areas; or on the fringes of deserts (P. Sainath in Devi 2000: 50). Looking at the spatial bases and practices of the DPI/VCK in Tamil Nadu.
Setting out the material context of Dalit protest. Looking at the structural bases of caste and p... more Setting out the material context of Dalit protest. Looking at the structural bases of caste and protest.
Setting out the conceptual and contextual ground of the study. Tamil politics and social movement... more Setting out the conceptual and contextual ground of the study. Tamil politics and social movement theory.
With the closure of SAGE books, I am uploading the full text of Untouchable Citizens here. Unfort... more With the closure of SAGE books, I am uploading the full text of Untouchable Citizens here. Unfortunately I only have individual chapter pdfs and not the whole book. This is chapter 1 looking at the DPI in 1990s - the movement that went on to become the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.
With the closure of SAGE books, I am uploading the full text of Untouchable Citizens here. Unfort... more With the closure of SAGE books, I am uploading the full text of Untouchable Citizens here. Unfortunately I only have individual chapter pdfs and not the whole book. This is the introduction which sets up the book.
With the closure of SAGE books, I am uploading the full text of Untouchable Citizens here. Unfort... more With the closure of SAGE books, I am uploading the full text of Untouchable Citizens here. Unfortunately I only have individual chapter pdfs and not the whole book.
Conventional analyses of domination ultimately conceive of individuals internalizing aspects of t... more Conventional analyses of domination ultimately conceive of individuals internalizing aspects of their contextual social environments (desires or norms) which determine their future behaviour in a pre-conscious fashion. We suggest that this conception of domination is mistaken and stems from a commitment to theoretical models which view individuals' actions as the result rather than a cause, of durable social structures. We offer a critical analysis of Lukes and Bourdieu as paradigmatic theorists of power who hold such a view, and contrast their work to that of Barnes and Foucault. Drawing on the latter we develop an intrinsic model of power which views interaction as central to social phenomena and understands social processes as arising from the continuous interaction of heterogeneous and calculative but mutually susceptible individuals. This approach re-conceptualises three central dichotomies in studies of power: consensus versus conflict, agency versus compliance and mind ve...
Caste is often presented as a stable or fixed form of social stratification that conditions the b... more Caste is often presented as a stable or fixed form of social stratification that conditions the behaviour of its members.This occludes the micro-structural process by which caste is embodied.This article uses empirical work on caste protest to discuss the fluid nature of embodied activity, and the analytical utility of two social constructionist accounts: the tacitly pre-given structures of Bourdieu's model are compared to the continuous creation model of Foucault.Whereas the internalized structures of Bourdieu's habitus initially appear to make most sense of the embodiment and permanence of caste, we contend that a Foucauldian approach offers better insight into the interactional basis of social structures and identity formation.The article reconsiders both theories in light of these empirical data and concludes that analysing interaction at a local level enables us to better comprehend the emergence of social structural features in a caste context.
Dalit (ex-Untouchable) movements across Tamilnadu are struggling to achieve equality, justice and... more Dalit (ex-Untouchable) movements across Tamilnadu are struggling to achieve equality, justice and an end to caste based discrimination. Over the past decades they have succeeded in entering parliamentary politics in the state. Many of the movements that have contributed to the ...
Although Dalit orators and slogans threaten (or promise) to ‘turn Tamil Nadu on its head’, the 20... more Although Dalit orators and slogans threaten (or promise) to ‘turn Tamil Nadu on its head’, the 2006 state elections offer Dalit analysts pause for thought. In compromising its principles and allying with established parties, the Dalit Panther Iyyakkam (Movement), the largest Dalit movement in the state, has come full circle since 1999. In alternately backing the two dominant parties in the state (the DMK and the AIADMK), the DPI appears to be increasingly institutionalised. Excavating the future of Dalit action from past trends and contemporary politics, I suggest that Dalit parties are following an established political repertoire in which a phase of militant activism gives way to ‘politics as normal’. In the face of this analysis the paper asks whether such an approach is sustainable or can carry the majority of Dalits with it. If Dalit politics is a continuation of hegemonic politics, it argues, the liberatory promises of Dalit activism will have been betrayed.
Following the devastating tsunami that ravaged parts of the South Indian coast on Boxing Day 2004... more Following the devastating tsunami that ravaged parts of the South Indian coast on Boxing Day 2004, there were reports of continuing caste discrimination against India's Scheduled Caste (Dalit) community. The reported absence of common feeling shattered the image of India as an 'imagined community'. Taking its cue from Aloysius, Nigam and Chatterjee, this paper draws on field-notes and archival reports to examine the ongoing and contested processes of nation and national identity formation in India. It is argued that the template against which the postcolonial state imagined the Indian 'nation' was one that excluded marginalised sections of the population. The paper concludes by asking whether India may be seen as a 'national-state' and critically analysing the interplay between caste and nation.
Drawing on fieldwork with Dalit movements in Tamil Nadu, this article focuses on often neglected ... more Drawing on fieldwork with Dalit movements in Tamil Nadu, this article focuses on often neglected aspects of activism. A pervasive lack of resources has rendered Tamil Dalit movements overly incident-sensitive: reacting to caste atrocities rather than pursuing a positive agenda. Movement leaders thus concentrate on community-building by means of exclusive rhetoric that is, at times, divorced from the day-to-day concerns of their constituents. High-profile events and fiery speeches attract attention and foster collective identity, but are only part of a wider struggle in which the more mundane and everyday aspects of struggle—establishing strong networks, chasing up officials, seeking alternate sources of employment and so on—may be most effective. Changing caste relations, it is argued, requires continual commitment rather than episodic protest. This challenges what we mean by ‘movement success’ and ‘activism’.
Although Dalit orators and slogans threaten (or promise) to 'turn Tamil Nadu on its head', the 20... more Although Dalit orators and slogans threaten (or promise) to 'turn Tamil Nadu on its head', the 2006 state elections offer Dalit analysts pause for thought. In compromising its principles and allying with established parties, the Dalit Panther Iyyakkam (Movement), the largest Dalit movement in the state, has come full circle since 1999. In alternately backing the two dominant parties in the state (the DMK and the AIADMK), the DPI appears to be increasingly institutionalised. Excavating the future of Dalit action from past trends and contemporary politics, I suggest that Dalit parties are following an established political repertoire in which a phase of militant activism gives way to 'politics as normal'. In the face of this analysis the paper asks whether such an approach is sustainable or can carry the majority of Dalits with it. If Dalit politics is a continuation of hegemonic politics, it argues, the liberatory promises of Dalit activism will have been betrayed. * This paper was presented at the 2006 SAAG conference. I am indebted to respondents and especially to Chris Fuller for detailed comments. I am also immensely grateful to two anonymous reviewers of the JSAD for perceptive and constructive insights.
Book edited by Hugo Gorringe, Suryakant Waghmore and Roger Jeffery.
The premise of democratic pol... more Book edited by Hugo Gorringe, Suryakant Waghmore and Roger Jeffery. The premise of democratic politics is that all citizens are equal and have an equal right to a say in national politics. This definition of democracy, however, is observed far more in the breach than in practice. Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis continue their struggle to seek entry into the institution from which they seem to be barred. Drawing on in-depth case studies the book explores how marginalized groups that achieve a degree of political inclusion often discover that it amounts to ‘adverse incorporation’ which is disempowering because it requires them to moderate or abandon key demands. The book is a unique work on the irony of ‘institutionalization’.
ii We feel that nobody can remove our grievances as well as we can, and we cannot remove them unl... more ii We feel that nobody can remove our grievances as well as we can, and we cannot remove them unless we get political power in our own hands (Ambedkar 1982: 505). Pre-proof copy of manuscript.
Uploads
Papers by Gorringe Hugo
Looking at the spatial bases and practices of the DPI/VCK in Tamil Nadu.
Looking at the spatial bases and practices of the DPI/VCK in Tamil Nadu.
The premise of democratic politics is that all citizens are equal and have an equal right to a say in national politics. This definition of democracy, however, is observed far more in the breach than in practice. Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis continue their struggle to seek entry into the institution from which they seem to be barred. Drawing on in-depth case studies the book explores how marginalized groups that achieve a degree of political inclusion often discover that it amounts to ‘adverse incorporation’ which is disempowering because it requires them to moderate or abandon key demands. The book is a unique work on the irony of ‘institutionalization’.
Pre-proof copy of manuscript.