Politics of the Marginalized: A Study of Dalit Participation in Punjab
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Abstract
The complex dynamics of Dalit political engagement in Punjab, the Indian state with the most significant percentage of Scheduled Caste residents, are examined in this essay. Dalits are still underrepresented in decision-making positions and politically marginalized despite their size; with a focus on significant activities like the Ad Dharm movement and the emergence of Dalit-centric religious deras, the book charts the historical development of Dalit assertion in Punjab. It examines critically how mainstream political parties, including the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, and Aam Aadmi Party, interact with Dalit voters, frequently through token efforts rather than real empowerment. The impact of the Bahujan Samaj Party and the constraints of Dalit-led political mobilization in the state are also assessed in the report. Dalit political agency is hampered by structural problems such as caste division, economic reliance, landlessness, and proxy leadership in Panchayati Raj institutions. The study exposes the symbolic vs substantive representation of Dalits through case studies such as the brief tenure of Charanjit Singh Channi as Chief Minister and the electoral function of religious deras. In order to guarantee significant and long-lasting political empowerment in Punjab, the paper's conclusion highlights the necessity of transformative policies and united Dalit movements.
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