On the occasion of the Foundation day of the Centre for Ambedkar Studies, School of Social Sciences, University of Hyderabad (UoH), Eminent Professor Srinivasalu, former Dean of the Department of Social Sciences, Osmania University, Hyderabad gave a lecture on ‘Political society and caste dominance: Reflecting on the modes of engagement with Dalit subalternity’ on April 19, 2017 at the School of Social Sciences.
Focusing on the engagements between the dominant upper castes and the Dalit subaltern in India, Prof. Srinivasalu shed light on the regionalization of political parties and the differences in the upper-lower caste political relations post emergency. “Uniformed segregation of the state does not agree to the complexity of the country. Multiple trajectories of development are crucial for development. In the post-emergency era, the differences are explicit”, he opined.
Against the backdrop of Andhra politics, Prof. Srinivasalu spoke at length about the agrarian reforms that created a rich peasant class and the change in political dynamics thereafter. “There was a regeneration of Indian politics that led to the formation of the Dalit Mahasabhas. Every political had a caste association. Caste became a trump card for the political parties to pit two warring lower caste groups against each other. Differences were dug up. Thus, mass movements were diluted,” he noted. Prof. Srinivasalu also emphasized on the NGO-fication of Dalit organizations that led to the loss of original Dalit objectives. “In simple words, post emergency dominant structures have subdued all kinds of Dalit movements in India,” he remarked.
Prof. Srinivasalu is the author of ‘Caste, Class and Social Articulation in A.P: Mapping Differential Regional Trajectories.’ His interested areas are Public Policy, Development Studies, Political Economy, Regional Studies, Politics of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and State and Business relations in India. Professor. P. Venkata Rao, Dean, School of Social Sciences, UoH chaired the lecture. The lecture was followed by an interactive session between the students and the speaker.
By Ms. Priyanka Richi, Department of Communication