Quest for social justice: an illustrated primer

More than one-sixth of India's population, some 160 million people, lives a precarious existence, shunned by much of society because of their rank as 'untouchables' or Dalits - literally meaning 'broken-people', at the bottom of India's caste system. Dalits are discriminated against, denied access to land, forced to work in degrading conditions, and routinely abused at the hands of police and "higher-caste" groups that enjoy the state's protection. In what has been called India's apartheid, entire villages in many Indian states remain completely segregated by caste. National legislations and constitution serve only to mask the social realities of discrimination and violence faced by those living below 'pollution line.
Currently, India is witnessing a situation where politics in the name of religion, is ruling the roost. It has been dominating the social scene since last two decades. Its aim is to stifle the democratic liberal space in the society and to impose a societal relations. It projects itself to be a savior of Hindu society and makes us believe that it is sort of status quo in the there to save India from the "internal" and "external" enemies, and so is the politics of nation building. Its ascendance as such began from the decade of 80s when the Dalit ascendency and women's role in the social scene became prominent. Its first political expression came in the form of anti- Reservation riots Gujarat. Its second strengthening took place in the wake of Mandal Commission implementation. It is this politics, which aims to ensure that transformation in caste and gender relations is stalled.
With the rise of sections of affluent middle classes in cities, small towns a new twist was given to this opposition to the emergence of Dalit assertion. Religiosity formed the base of this reaction and its Yatras, Jai Matadi, Vaishnoo Devi, Balaji Temple visits, etc. started assuming an importance never seen earlier in first three decades of the Republic. The response to Mandal Commission was clearly aimed at giving the signal to lower castes/classes to 'know' their place in society. Hindutva primaril is a consolidation of these sections of society, which successfully fools the unemployed, the deprive lot into its fold. The real social issues are buried deep and temple/mosque comes to the fore The social progress, the base of Dalit liberation is halted.