Papers by Prof Vivek Kumar
ATSK Journal of Sociology, 2024
This paper attempts to analyze how the 'BAMCEF' (Backward and Minorities Communities Employees' F... more This paper attempts to analyze how the 'BAMCEF' (Backward and Minorities Communities Employees' Federation) can be defined as an indigenous counterpart of the 'Civil Sphere' propounded by Jeffrey C. Alexander (2006) in his Civil Sphere Theory (CST). At the outset, it discusses how the Bahujans constituted this sphere and how this sphere helped 'BAMCEF' to create a discourse. It has identified who the actors who established this Civil Sphere were. How with the help of 'BAMCEF,' they established a discourse of binary between the so-called upper castes, who were termed as 'Manuwadi' by the BAMCEF members, and the exploited castes, who were termed as 'Bahujans.' This article has also probed how BAMCEF galvanized a counterpublic, which later on gave birth to the vibrant social movement 'DS4' (Dalit-Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti-literary translated it means-Dalit-Exploited Society Struggle Association) 'as a communicative institution to convince the public' with the help of 'cultural and institutional' arrangements to raise their voices against 'Manuvadis' and their exploitative values. The paper has tried to find out how it deepened the divide between 'Manuvadis' and 'Bahujans' and highlighted the role of uncivil institutions of the so-called upper castes, which subjugated and excluded the 'Bahujans.' It has found out how the 'Bahujan' have polluted the so-called upper castes by publicly denouncing them through demonstrations and organizing public meetings, criticizing their exploitative institutions, through democratic means, and so on. Towards the end, this article demonstrates how 'BAMCEF,' through galvanizing a counterpublic, gave birth to a social movement, DS4, that later turned into a political party called 'Bahujan Samaj Party' (BSP), leading civil repair-Whether repair was through civilizing the so-called upper castes or whether the repair was done by giving the erstwhile excluded castes self-representation or by giving them a share in the resources.
Routledge , 2024
This article highlights the question of interfacing with the teaching of methodological concerns ... more This article highlights the question of interfacing with the teaching of methodological concerns in philosophy, science, and sociology. The article argues that there is an intrinsic relationship between philosophy, science, and the social sciences. Philosophy and Science influence the social sciences. However, searching for 'reality' and knowledge about the human world have all undergone changes. We have especially seen how Sociology has been influenced by Newtonian, Einsteinian, and Quantum physics.
SLC India Publishers, 2023
This article tries to understand the meaning of experiences, trauma and memory of Dalits narrated... more This article tries to understand the meaning of experiences, trauma and memory of Dalits narrated and recorded by them in their creative writings through Sociological perspective. The article draws its academic legitimacy and rationale from C.W. Mills (1957), Burger and Luckman(1967), Thomas Kuhn (1969) Freire (1970), Bourdieu (1986). T.K. Oommen (2007), Nandu Ram, (1995), Sharmila Rege (2006) and Vivek Kumar (2019). The article has successfully proved the point that the production of literature creative or academic is both the ontological and epistemological in nature.
Social Change, 2021
as an 'activist, writer and teacher'. Her activism started during her student days, she says, jus... more as an 'activist, writer and teacher'. Her activism started during her student days, she says, just after 'returning to the University of California Berkeley' from India. She 'became active in the student movement for free speech against the Vietnam War, in support of [the] black movement and for women's liberation' (Omvedt, 1982) and remained closely associated with such issues till the end of her life. This might have been Gail's own assessment, but I and my associates in academia knew her more as a meticulous researcher, an objective academician and influential public intellectual.
Social Change , 2022
The 2022 Uttar Pradesh (UP) election verdict is a latent function of deep communal and casteist m... more The 2022 Uttar Pradesh (UP) election verdict is a latent function of deep communal and casteist mobilisation. However, it is being camouflaged under the garb of development and good governance. A new narrative of 'governability leading to a new category of people labharthi (beneficiary)' is being highlighted as the cause of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory. A nuanced understanding of the 2022 UP assembly verdict is necessary to understand realpolitik.
Transcience a journal of Global Sudies , 2021
Social scientists, baring a few, deny the existence of caste in the Indian diaspora. It is a fact... more Social scientists, baring a few, deny the existence of caste in the Indian diaspora. It is a fact that caste does not exist among Indians in diaspora as part of a stratification system per se. However, the empirical reality suggests that caste is not totally absent among the Indians in diaspora. On the basis of fieldwork done by the researcher during January 2012 until May 2012 in different states of the US at least three different shades of caste can be observed among Indians in the US. These three shades are, one, caste can be observed in the form of relationships which gives birth to networks and endogamous grouping. In terms of endogamy the membership of a caste has to be ascriptive (i.e. membership by birth). Hence the caste system assumes potential to influence patterns of interaction of its members in diaspora. Different matrimonial websites and matrimonial columns in varying newspapers in the US are testimony to the existence of endogamy and thereby caste in Indian diaspora. The second shade of caste among Indians in diaspora is that it exists as an institution of discrimination and exclusion. That means discrimination and exclusion exists in the name of castes in the diaspora. In this paper, I will highlight how caste discrimination and exclusion on the basis of higher and lower status of castes exists among Indians even in the US. The third shade of caste among the Indian diaspora in the US can be observed when different castes transcend their regional, religious and linguistic boundaries to form new communities. In this context, the paper will analyze how different castes among the Dalits of India have formed a formidable group that cuts across their religion, region and linguistic delineation to unite under one Dalit identity. Their new identity is now used as a symbol of assertion and emancipation. To conclude, we can safely argue that these three shades of caste will grow stronger as time passes with the potentiality of creating caste conflict as it occurs in the UK.
Round Table India: For an Informed Ambedkar Age , 2021
Is America half a century behind South Asia ? This question emerged because Kamala Harris's ele... more Is America half a century behind South Asia ? This question emerged because Kamala Harris's election as Vice President of US created lots of enthusiasm among Indian Tamils and Afro Americans. Therefore, the paper asks- Can we treat this American success as great, because this success of America has come 60 years late as compared to South Asia. It is to be remembered here that a woman was sworn in as head of state in 1960 in Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon at that time), which was just a small emerging democracy in South Asia.
School of Scoial Sciences: Indira Gandhi Open University, New Delhi, 2017
This chapter discusses B. R. Ambedkar's Ideas of Nation, Nation Building and Future of Indian Nat... more This chapter discusses B. R. Ambedkar's Ideas of Nation, Nation Building and Future of Indian Nation. Why B.R. Ambedkar emphasised the point that India is not a nation and only nation in the making? Why did he think that only language, religion and race do not make a nation.? Using Eaenest Renan how did he define nation ? Furher, why did Babasaheb Ambedkar thought that 'Self Repersentation' of marginalised communities like- Dalits, OBC, Muslims, Women etc. is the best strtegy to build a nation? Last but not the least, this chapter also discusses -What is the best strategy to make Nation's future secure?
Transcience (2014) Vol. 5, Issue 1, 2014
The paper tries to understand Inequality in India through Caste perspective. I have tried to anal... more The paper tries to understand Inequality in India through Caste perspective. I have tried to analyze how Hindu Social Order produces a hierarchical social structure by assigning its members various roles and statuses. These roles and statuses are religiously sanctioned and therefore are unalterable. The paper thus evolve an alternative perspective about Caste. It refutes the argument that caste originates because of division of labor. Instead paper argues it is division of laborers. Second caste produces graded inequality rather simple inequality between rich and poor. It also shows how it is associated with symbolic and social capital. How does it bring charisma to certain people and how it brings stigma to some. Many such issues have been discussed.
Economic and Political Weekly , 2016
An evolutionary and historical method has not helped us to understand the Caste System and its ex... more An evolutionary and historical method has not helped us to understand the Caste System and its exploitative nature in Indian Society. Therefore, we need to analyse it from a new perspective , that is, from a contemporary perspective which on the one hand highlights the domination and monopolization of secular institutions of governance, production, education etc. by so-called upper castes. And exclusion and simultaneous assertion of the so-called lower- castes Dalits. The paper has deliberately avoided the status and assertion of the intermediary and Other Backward (Shudra) Castes because paucity of space.
Even after completing a hundred years Indian sociology is practiced in the milieu of domination. ... more Even after completing a hundred years Indian sociology is practiced in the milieu of domination. British, European and American domination has been well documented while the domination of the so-called twice-born castes has not been analysed. This article highlights the domination of the twice-born castes at four levels--as members practicing sociology in universities, institutions and colleges, in the sphere of production of knowledge while writing chapters of books, producing knowledge with the help of scriptural sources, or producing data from the field and while teaching sociology in the classrooms.
Editor's Message
Dear Friends,
GRFDT hosted a talk by Datuk Denison Jayasooria from Malaysia as p... more Editor's Message
Dear Friends,
GRFDT hosted a talk by Datuk Denison Jayasooria from Malaysia as part of its monthly lecture series. His speech was titled ‘Moving Beyond the Stereotypes: The New Ethnic Relations in Malaysia”. He viewed that the racial riot in 1969 heralded, a new beginning for all the races. Aftermath the riot, owing to the implementation of new economic model, there has been emergence of an affluent middle class in all the races. If the con-temporary social reality is looked through the prism of class perspective, the ethnic divide can be overlooked and one could observe common issues for all the races. In order to address the common issues, he demanded for greater public accountability and review of public policies. He observed that there was a surge of discontentment among the urban middle class of all the races in the recent decade due to many structural barriers for per-sonal empowerment and financial security. On the other hand, contrary to his view, one can argue that the role of ethnicity is still relevant in deter-mining the ethnic relations as Malaysian political and economic systems are based on ethnicity. The hegemony of Malay race has cascading effects on the ethnic minorities such as Chinese and Indians. His talk raised many questions and comments from the audience.
This issue has all the usual features like interview, book reviews, article, global update, events about Diaspora, and call for papers. We hope you will find it an enjoyable and fruitful read. The interview of Prof. Vivek Kumar is very striking and revealing as he argues that the caste perspec-tive of Indian Diaspora has been subsumed by the scholars. He points out that caste is well entrenched in the Indian diaspora. His argument re-minds all of us what Dr Ambedkar has said "Wherever a Hindu goes, he [sic] will take his caste system with him."
Global update has very interesting information about Diaspora Volunteer-ism, migration and remittance inflow. It contains very fresh ideas to pon-der over. Do give us feedback about the issue and suggestions as to what can be done to improve the news letter as well as ideas for forth coming issues.
The newsletter has been making strides ever since its inception with the wonderful support from various walks of life. We look forward the same in future. Let us grow together.
Until next time.
Dr. Mahalingam M.
Guest Editor
Books by Prof Vivek Kumar
Caste and Democracy in India: A Perspective from Below, 2014
In this article an attempt has been made to evolve an epistemology of 'Social Exclusion' in India... more In this article an attempt has been made to evolve an epistemology of 'Social Exclusion' in Indian Society. It begins by defining the concept of 'Exclusion' and how does it become a process. Second, it tries to differentiate between western and South Asian perspective of social exclusion. Social Exclusion, in India, can be located at four levels because Indian Society is -Stratified, it is Religiously Plural, it is Culturally heterogeneous, and hierarchical. However, this article uses caste as an specific example to locate discrimination. The article also tries to develop a relationship between Social Exclusion, Discrimination , and Deprivation and goes on to ask whether 'Exclusion ' and 'Inclusion' a dichotomy or continuum. This Chapter also highlights the book view and field view of social exclusion in India and what are the hindrances it produces in the processes of nation building.
Uploads
Papers by Prof Vivek Kumar
Dear Friends,
GRFDT hosted a talk by Datuk Denison Jayasooria from Malaysia as part of its monthly lecture series. His speech was titled ‘Moving Beyond the Stereotypes: The New Ethnic Relations in Malaysia”. He viewed that the racial riot in 1969 heralded, a new beginning for all the races. Aftermath the riot, owing to the implementation of new economic model, there has been emergence of an affluent middle class in all the races. If the con-temporary social reality is looked through the prism of class perspective, the ethnic divide can be overlooked and one could observe common issues for all the races. In order to address the common issues, he demanded for greater public accountability and review of public policies. He observed that there was a surge of discontentment among the urban middle class of all the races in the recent decade due to many structural barriers for per-sonal empowerment and financial security. On the other hand, contrary to his view, one can argue that the role of ethnicity is still relevant in deter-mining the ethnic relations as Malaysian political and economic systems are based on ethnicity. The hegemony of Malay race has cascading effects on the ethnic minorities such as Chinese and Indians. His talk raised many questions and comments from the audience.
This issue has all the usual features like interview, book reviews, article, global update, events about Diaspora, and call for papers. We hope you will find it an enjoyable and fruitful read. The interview of Prof. Vivek Kumar is very striking and revealing as he argues that the caste perspec-tive of Indian Diaspora has been subsumed by the scholars. He points out that caste is well entrenched in the Indian diaspora. His argument re-minds all of us what Dr Ambedkar has said "Wherever a Hindu goes, he [sic] will take his caste system with him."
Global update has very interesting information about Diaspora Volunteer-ism, migration and remittance inflow. It contains very fresh ideas to pon-der over. Do give us feedback about the issue and suggestions as to what can be done to improve the news letter as well as ideas for forth coming issues.
The newsletter has been making strides ever since its inception with the wonderful support from various walks of life. We look forward the same in future. Let us grow together.
Until next time.
Dr. Mahalingam M.
Guest Editor
Books by Prof Vivek Kumar
Dear Friends,
GRFDT hosted a talk by Datuk Denison Jayasooria from Malaysia as part of its monthly lecture series. His speech was titled ‘Moving Beyond the Stereotypes: The New Ethnic Relations in Malaysia”. He viewed that the racial riot in 1969 heralded, a new beginning for all the races. Aftermath the riot, owing to the implementation of new economic model, there has been emergence of an affluent middle class in all the races. If the con-temporary social reality is looked through the prism of class perspective, the ethnic divide can be overlooked and one could observe common issues for all the races. In order to address the common issues, he demanded for greater public accountability and review of public policies. He observed that there was a surge of discontentment among the urban middle class of all the races in the recent decade due to many structural barriers for per-sonal empowerment and financial security. On the other hand, contrary to his view, one can argue that the role of ethnicity is still relevant in deter-mining the ethnic relations as Malaysian political and economic systems are based on ethnicity. The hegemony of Malay race has cascading effects on the ethnic minorities such as Chinese and Indians. His talk raised many questions and comments from the audience.
This issue has all the usual features like interview, book reviews, article, global update, events about Diaspora, and call for papers. We hope you will find it an enjoyable and fruitful read. The interview of Prof. Vivek Kumar is very striking and revealing as he argues that the caste perspec-tive of Indian Diaspora has been subsumed by the scholars. He points out that caste is well entrenched in the Indian diaspora. His argument re-minds all of us what Dr Ambedkar has said "Wherever a Hindu goes, he [sic] will take his caste system with him."
Global update has very interesting information about Diaspora Volunteer-ism, migration and remittance inflow. It contains very fresh ideas to pon-der over. Do give us feedback about the issue and suggestions as to what can be done to improve the news letter as well as ideas for forth coming issues.
The newsletter has been making strides ever since its inception with the wonderful support from various walks of life. We look forward the same in future. Let us grow together.
Until next time.
Dr. Mahalingam M.
Guest Editor