Dalitocracy : the theory and praxis of dalit politics

Dalitocracy, is a unique articulation of a "Theory and Praxis of Dalit Politics", in the contemporary Indian Political paradigm written by M.C. Raj and his colleague and wife Mrs. Jyothi, from the town of Tumkur, Karnataka. "Politics is all about Power", in Raju's words it is the exercise of Power. The exercise of power manifests itself either in dominance or in resistance. They have made difference between "Power and Governance". What I like about their opening remarks on Governance is that it is "distribution of value, both material and spiritual", which is totally lacking in the present world of politics.

It is highly enterprising to read the evolution of power and governance through the historical development from monarchy to feudalism, capitalism and contemporary globalization in order to understand the intricacies of the way of the Nation and State functions. They have cited a very interesting phenomenon of India's independence struggle wherein the British imperialists transferred political power into the hands of dominant caste Indians. However, the much prevailing internal colonization of the Dalits within India was not addressed which clearly indicates resistance was subsumed by the unquestionable dominant power of the ruling caste elites. The history of the development of political theory has been traced very well in the Chapter 1 - International Political Discourse. In the next Chapter "Indian Political Discourse" the authors have narrated different trajectories that nationalist discourses carried on. Such discourses were carried on primarily by the caste elite and the contradictions in the nationalist discourses come glaring as dominance within the emerging nation called India. It was born out of self assertion of the dominant elite as slogans of self rule and self determination against the alien race of white people. In this context it becomes very clear that the culture of the indigenous peoples, their philosophy, principles of governance etc. were ignored totally and were twisted to promote hegemonic agenda.