With ally’s needling & eye on northern TN, Stalin cabinet makes history with highest-ever Dalit quorum
With the induction of Dr. Govi Chezhiaan Sunday, there are now 4 Dalit ministers in the TN Cabinet. DMK denies external pressure, says a deserving candidate was given the post. Key Points
ThePrint‘Not Dalit enough’: US anti-caste group issues statement in support of 'Coming out as Dalit' author
University of California (UC) Collective for Caste Abolition describes its cause as ‘pushing for caste abolition in, and beyond, the UC system’. It issued the statement earlier this month. Key Points
ThePrintKharge as INDIA bloc’s PM candidate kills 2 birds with 1 stone for Mamata and Kejriwal
Mamata Banerjee floated the idea during the 4th meeting of the INDIA bloc on 19 December, with backing from Kejriwal. Now crowned as INDIA chief, Kharge seems like a logical choice. Key Points
ThePrintHow political parties in UP are seeking to appropriate Kanshi Ram as BSP weakens
SP, Congress, BJP & ASP plan outreach programmes for Dalit community. BSP chief Mayawati calls them ‘new well-wishers’ of party founder, says 'posing for sake of votes' ahead of 2024. Key Points
ThePrintUntouchability to social jealousy—Understanding 21st century Dalit in the emerging scholarship
Sudha Pai’s Dalits in the New Millennium, which she’s edited along with D. Shyam Babu and Rahul Verma, explores the Dalit identity in Modi’s India. Key Points
ThePrint
India's Scheduled Caste list must be religion-neutral. Muslims, Christians are also Dalit
Dalit Muslims and Christians have been mobilising to be duly added to the SC list. This is a fit case for the Supreme Court to exercise the power of judicial review. Key Points
ThePrint2 sentenced to life imprisonment for Dalit minors’ gang rape & murder in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri
Two others have been sentenced to six years of imprisonment in the crime. All four — Junaid, Sunil alias Chhotu (who was known to the family), Karimuddin and Arif — were convicted last week. Key Points
ThePrintWith ‘Kathal’, the rise of the new Dalit protagonist
Lead characters in Hindi films, de facto, don upper-caste identity markers and adopt Brahmanical cultural values. With Dahaad and Kathal, we see the portrayal of Dalits as dynamic and intelligent middle-class professionals. Key Points
The Indian ExpressKarnataka’s wait for a Dalit CM continues: Why Congress passed up the chance to break with the past
In recent times, the Congress has thrice let the opportunity of appointing a Dalit CM go begging — 2004, 2013, and now 2023. While the dominant caste groups seem far more united, the political support base of Dalits has increasingly got split between the Congress and the BJP. Key Points
The Indian Express“Dalit Atrocities and dead society”
More than a decade ago, Dalit scholars in the US intended to start a web portal to exclusively report atrocities. They enlisted me. However, I could not. I did not. I don’t know if the reason was my work pressure or unwillingness to undergo the trauma. Key Points
The Indian Express
Accused of harassment, 2 Dalit men thrashed, forced to ‘eat dirt’ in Madhya Pradesh
Seven people, including two women, were arrested for allegedly thrashing two Dalit men and parading them around their village. The two Dalit men were accused of harassing the women but the allegations turned out to be false, police said. Key Points
India TodayShot in the arm for Stalin’s social justice pitch: Reservation for Dalit Christians gets TN Assembly backing
Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin says, "Denying reservation to Dalits just because they embraced another faith... is not justifiable" Key Points
The Indian ExpressIndian films and OTTs see money in Dalit stories. But watch out for symbolic violence
Dalit creative diaspora must contend with coerced aesthetic labour to survive in the media and entertainment industry. Unfortunately, their struggle finds no room or narrative support. Key Points
ThePrint10 Dalit communities in black & white photographs—Delhi exhibition has no room for politics
Asha Thadani's photographs of Dalit communities are part of an exhibition titled ‘Broken’ at Delhi's India Habitat Centre. Those photographed are united in their 'shared trauma'. Key Points
ThePrintIslam's Syedwad more toxic than Hinduism's Manuwad. Denying SC quota to Pasmandas is unjust
The denial of SC quota to Dalit Muslims is based on fallacies. Discourse about their experiences does not exist in the mainstream due to a lack of scholarly discussion. Key Points
ThePrint
With Dalit Bandhu, drone sprayer operators soar to dizzying heights
Several tech-savvy Dalit Bandhu beneficiaries are scripting inspirational success stories by leveraging drone technology to break the shackles of poverty and achieve financial self-reliance in Khammam district’s Chintakani mandal. The scheme has helped the beneficiaries set up income-generating units of their choice across various sectors, including Agriculture and allied segments. Key Points
The HinduDalit teen, his grandmother assaulted by upper caste students, 4 detained
A 14-year-old Dalit student and his grandmother was assaulted in Tamil Nadu by students from the upper caste. Four people were detained in connection with the incident. Key Points
India TodayWhere will Shillong’s Dalit Sikhs go? The question at the heart of rift with Khasi
Mazhabi Sikhs came to Shillong in the 19th century. Now they are deemed outsiders crowding the city’s prime commercial area. Key Points
ThePrintBJP invokes 'Urdu' move to attack KCR, alleges 'appeasement'
JP Nadda also accused BRS MLAs of corruption. He said the MLAs charged a 30 percent commission in the Dalit Bandhu scheme. | Latest News India Key Points
Hindustan TimesDalit outreach: How Akali patriarch crafted populist schemes for those on the margins
Badal was a five-time CM and his Dalit outreach — Punjab has the highest Dalit population in the country — can be visibly traced from 1997 onwards. That year, he launched the popular Shagun scheme to provide monetary help to women from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) for their marriage. Key Points
The Indian Express
Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians | Andhra Pradesh BJP chief Somu Veerraju says the move would encourage religious conversions
BJP State president Somu Veerraju strongly deplored the resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly for giving Scheduled Caste (SC) status to Dalit Christians, alleging that it would encourage religious conversions. Leading a protest against the resolution at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada on March 27, Mr. Veerraju said it reflected the appeasement of Christians by the Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. Key Points
The HinduKarnataka Dalit activist calls Congress's Parameshwar 'inefficient', says he has relations with RSS; arrested
After a Dalit activist in Karnataka's Mandya district shared a social media post criticising Congress MLA G Parameshwar, he was arrested. Congress leader KM Doddy registered a complaint against the activist. Key Points
India TodayDalit 'made to drink urine': TN university anti-ragging panel recommends 2 students be barred from exams
Two final-year students of Tamil Nadu National Law University allegedly forced Dalit classmate to consume soft drink laced with urine. Final decision to be taken by Executive Council. Key Points
ThePrintNeeraj Ghaywan denies using Yashica Dutt’s work in Made In Heaven 2
Made In Heaven Season 2 was criticised by a Dalit author for using her work without credit. She claimed Radhika Apte as a Dalit woman was taken from her life. | Web Series Key Points
Hindustan TimesThis Odisha man fought to open Brahmin cremation ground for Dalits. It's called Heaven's Gate
For activist Nagendra Jena, ‘Brahmin Shamsan’ on the signboard was odious in the 21st century. The burial ground is now 'Swarg Dwar' and open to all, but Dalits in the village are still not rushing to cremate their dead. Key Points
ThePrint
Lok Sabha elections 2024: Akhilesh Yadav takes ‘Hitler’ jibe at PM Modi, says ‘2014- 2024…10 years was the time of…’
Akhilesh Yadav criticizes PM Modi, comparing his rule to Hitler. He stresses the importance of defending the Constitution and democracy in the upcoming elections. Key Points
mint'How dare you, Dalit' — Morbi assault case for 'demanding salary' highlights state's 'cultural disaster'
Gujarat man Nilesh Dalsaniya claims he was beaten by at least 15 people, including former employers, for seeking pending dues of around Rs 5,000. SC community alleges such atrocity not new. Key Points
ThePrintAgra court hands two life imprisonment for killing Dalit man 15 years ago
Three people had brutally beaten up victim, a bicycle mechanic, over minor dispute in 2007. Third accused was let off due to lack of evidence. Key Points
ThePrintDalit woman's rape case: BJP lashes out at Gehlot govt, says law and order in tatters
The 44-year-old Dalit woman was raped and set afire on Thursday. She suffered around 50 per cent burn injuries due to a highly inflammatory chemical that was thrown at her and is currently undergoing treatment in Jodhpur. Key Points
India TodayDaughter of Indian sanitation worker praises country for uplifting Dalit, OBCs at UNHRC
Speaking exclusively to ANI at the UN, Rohini Ghavari said: I have got a golden chance to be at the UN. For the past two years, I am doing my PhD in Geneva and it was my dream to represent India at the United Nations and spread awareness about the situation of the Dalit community in India . Key Points
Economic Times