Archana Kaushik, Shruti Nagvanshi
2016
In India, life of millions of Dalits, even today, is characterised by long, consistent struggle from cradle to grave. Their life is defined by caste-discrimination, exploitation, abuse, and denial of basic right to life with resources for survival – food, shelter, clothing, livelihood, and education. Sufferings and pains associated with vicious cycle of poverty continue for generations together. Margins to Centre Stage: Empowering Dalits in India chronicles the process of empowerment of many powerless and marginalised Dalits, located in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It portrays the triumph of hope, courage and social action over despair, poverty, oppression and vulnerability narrating the struggle of Dalits who paved their way to a life of dignity, rightful share in the resources and decision making. The critique records how the innocent victims of custodial-torture become active human rights defenders or freedom of bonded-labourers is snatched from the confinement of feudal and capitalist oppressors, and the change of weavers’ nightmares transformed into dreams, optimism and motivation. The discourse would be beneficial for the educators, students and practitioners of social work, and administrators in welfare and development sector, NGO workers, policy planners and all those who wish to build an egalitarian society that is free from all forms of exploitation and abuse.
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