Urbanisation, no liberating force for Dalits

Context

The discussion on urbanisation and Dalit liberation in India encompasses debates on caste discrimination, urban governance, and promises of development. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's view of urbanisation as a means of Dalit empowerment contrasts with the realities faced by Dalit communities in modern cities. Persistent caste-based segregation, discrimination, and unequal access to resources highlight the challenges in addressing caste oppression in urban areas.

Caste Dynamics in Urban Spaces

• Ambedkar's Perspective:Ambedkar viewed urbanisation as a potential avenue for Dalit liberation, seeing cities as spaces where the grip of caste oppression could weaken due to factors like anonymity and opportunities for economic advancement.
• Persistence of Caste in Cities: Despite the hopes pinned on urbanisation, caste-based segregation and discrimination continue to shape the spatiality of Indian cities, manifesting through practices like housing discrimination and Brahminical regulations on public spaces.
• Impact on Dalit Communities: Studies reveal that Dalits and Muslims face severe segregation and lack access to basic municipal services in urban areas, highlighting how urbanisation has not lived up to the expectations of Dalit liberation.

Challenges in Urban Governance and Caste Segregation

• Policy Implications: Urban governance policies and housing crises contribute to sustaining caste-based segregation, with Dalits and Muslims facing the most severe impacts according to research.
• State-Sanctioned Discrimination: Government regulations on issues like meat shops and street food further perpetuate caste-based discrimination, reflecting a Brahminical influence on public spaces and reinforcing purity-pollution ideologies.
• Inequitable Access to Services: Dalit and Muslim ghettos often lack access to essential services like clean drinking water, while forced evictions disproportionately affect these communities, indicating systemic failures in urban governance.

Challenges for Dalit Liberation in Urban Spaces

• Failed Promise of Urbanisation: Despite the belief in urbanisation as a liberating force, the persistence of caste-based discrimination and segregation in cities highlights the shortcomings of this transition for Dalit communities.
• Evolution of Caste Structures: Caste oppression in urban areas has evolved through language, policy, and state sanction, allowing caste to thrive despite attempts at liberation through urbanisation.
• Persistent Marginalisation: Even after a century of urban development, Dalits continue to face marginalisation and discrimination, indicating a failure of Indian cities to fulfill the promises of equality and liberation.