Caste Oppression

The Valmiki community's protest against empty political gestures — and an oppressive occupation

For many centuries, the Valmiki community has suffered oppression and been deprived of opportunities because of a caste-ordained occupation — cleaning sewers and human waste

Dalit shahirs of Maharashtra: Vilas Ghogare sang of Ambedkar with his iktara

Vilas Ghogare portrayed the dreadful life of the workers that he observed up close, since he was a worker himself in Mumbai. He also spoke of his life as a Dalit — a life that he had inherited.

Dalit shahirs of Maharashtra: Anna Bhau Sathe's powerful songs

Anna Bhau Sathe voiced the pain of an entire generation of untouchable workers, who migrated from the villages to cities in search of a life of dignity

Meet Chitralekha, the Dalit auto-rickshaw driver battling CPM-led caste oppression in Kerala

The CPM-led Left government in Kerala, which came into power in 2016, will particularly be noted for two things: First is the constant criticism over political violence between the CPM and RSS, and the subsequent political deliberation by the BJP's central leadership. And secondly, repeated instances of caste-based discrimination in the state.

Kaala is not a 'Rajinikanth movie': A Dalit-Bahujan reading of the anti-caste politics in Pa Ranjith's film

Kaala contains within itself a Dalit-Bahujan life-world with an explicit anti-caste politics at the centre

Ambedkar Jayanti 2017: A look at the life of Dalits through Sudharak Olwe's lens

Photojournalist Sudharak Olwe talks to us about his photo series on Dalits.

Bombay Black: These portraits aim to capture the caste conflict in rural Maharashtra

The Kala Ghoda festival features a photo series by Sudharak Olwe that focuses on the caste conflict in rural Maharashtra.