FACULTY OF LAW

JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA

SOCIAL INEQUALITY
DALIT MOVEMENTS AND ADIVASI STRUGGLES IN INDIA

PRESENTED TO:
PROF. RASHEED C A

PRESENTED BY: SAMEER B.A.LL.B.(Hons) SELF FINANCE

SEMESTER-I (2021-22) ROLL NO. 36 STUDENT ID: 202101657
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks and gratitude to my mentor-teacher Professor

Rasheed C A, who gave me the golden opportunity to express my views on the topic Social
Inequality: Dalit Movements and Adivasi Struggles in India . Without his constant
support, this project would have been a distant reality.

I would also like to express my special thanks to the Dean of faculty, Dr Eqbal Hussain for

their thorough counselling.

This work is an outcome of an unparalleled support that I have received from The Faculty of
Law, Jamia Millia Islamia

Thank You
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sr. No. Topic Page number

1 Introduction 3

2 Social Inequality in India 3

3 Dalit Movements 4

4 Adivasi Struggles 7

5 Conclusion 11

6 Bibliography 12
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Social Inequality: Dalit Movements and Adivasi Struggles in India

INTRODUCTION

“I ibelieve ithat ivirtually iall ithe iproblems iin ithe iworld icome ifrom iinequality iof ione
ikind ior ianother”. iThis ihas ibeen irightly isaid iby irenowned ieconomist iand iphilosopher
iAmartya iSen. iA isociety ican idevelop ionly iwhen ipeople ihave iequal iopportunities ito
iexcel. iIndia ihas iless isocial imobility ithan iin imany iunder-developed icountries.1 iThis iis
ia iproblem ithat ineeds ito ibe ianswered. iSocial iinequality iis ia iterm ithat ione imust iknow
iin iorder ito ihave ian iunderstanding iof ia iparticular isociety iexisting iin ia icountry.

Social iinequality iis iinequality ioccurs iwhen iresources iin ia igiven isociety iare idistributed
iunevenly ibased ion inorms iof ia isociety ithat icreates ispecific ipatterns ialong ilines iof
isocially idefined icategories ie.g., ireligion, ikinship, iprestige, irace, icaste, iethnicity, igender
ietc. ihave idifferent iaccess ito iresources iof ipower, iprestige iand iwealth idepending ion
ithe inorms iof ia isociety.

SOCIAL iINEQUALITY iIN iINDIA

Social iinequality ihas ibeen iprevalent iin iIndia ifor ia ilong itime. iVarious imeasures iwere
iundertaken ito ireduce ithese iinequalities. iThere iare ivarious iprovisions iin ithe iconstitution
ias iwell ias istatutes ithat iaim ito ireduce iinequality iin iIndian isociety. iStill, ithe irank iof
iIndia iin ithe iglobal imobility iindex iindicates iinequality ithat istill ipersists iin ithe icountry.
iThere iare ivarious itypes iof isocial iinequalities iexisting iin iIndia ilike igender iinequality,
icaste iinequality, ideprivations, ietc. iSome iof ithe imajor iinequalities iare-

• Regional idisparity iincreased iin ithe i1990s iwith isouthern iand iwestern iparts idoing
ibetter ithan inorthern ior ieastern iparts. iThe ieconomic idisparity ialso iincreased
iwithin istates.

1
https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-mobility
 4

• The imost ipersistent iinequality iin iIndia iis iin ithe iincome iand idistribution iof
iincome iand iresources iamong ithe ipeople. iThis iis idue ito ifactors ilike ifamily
iinfluence iand iinheritance ietc.
➢ There iexists ia ilarge-scale idifference ibetween ipeople iemployed iin ithe
iformal iand inon-formal isector. iPeople ireceived iless imoney iin ithe
iinformal isector iwhen icompared ito iformal isectors.
• There ihave ibeen iinequalities ifaced iby ivarious icommunities iin ithe icountry. iThis
ihas ioften iled ito ivarious iconflicts iwithin igroups ior ibetween ione isocial igroup
iand ithe iother.
➢ People iare istill ifighting ion ithe ibasis iof ireligion. iThere iexists iinequality
ibetween ithese igroups ion ivarious ifronts ilike iemployment iand ieducation.
iFor iinstance, iupper-caste iSikhs iand iChristians iand iHindus iare imore
iaffluent ithan ilower-caste iones iin iboth iurban iand irural iareas.
➢ The icaste isystem ifollowed iin iIndia ihas ibeen iabolished ibut ionly ion
ipaper. iPeople istill ipractice ithe isame. iThere iexist iwide iinequalities
ibetween iupper icaste ipeople iand ilower icaste ipeople.

DALIT iMOVEMENTS

Dalits ihave idifferent inames iin idifferent iparts iof iour icountry. iThey iare icalled iHolaya,
iPanchama, iChandala, iSamagara, iChammar, iAdikarnataka, iand iAdidravida ietc.The iword
i“Dalit” iis iderived ifrom ithe iSanskrit iword iDal, imeans”ground”, i“suppressed”,
i“crushed”, ior i“broken ito ipieces”.2 iIt iwas ifirst iused iby iJyotiba iPhule, ithe ifounder iof
ithe iSatya iShodak iSamaj, ia inon-Brahmin imovement iin iMaharashtra. iVictor iPremasagar
iwrites ithat ithe iterm iexpresses ithe iDalits’ i“weakness, ipoverty iand ihumiliation iat ithe
ihands iof ithe iupper icastes iin ithe iIndian isociety.”The iterm iDalit ihas ibecome ia ipolitical
iidentity, isimilar ito ithe iway iAfrican iAmericans iin ithe iUnited iStates imoved iaway ifrom
ithe iuse iof ithe iterm i“Negro”, ito ithe iuse iof i“Black” ior i“African-American.

List iof iCaste iMovement iin iIndia:

2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalit
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1. Satyashodhak iMovement: iSatyashodhak iSamaj i(Truth-seekers iSociety) iwas ia

isocial ireform isociety ifounded iby iJyotiba iPhule iin iPune, iMaharashtra, ion i24
iSeptember i1873. iIt iespoused ia imission iof ieducation iand iincreased isocial irights
iand ipolitical iaccess ifor iunderprivileged igroups, ifocused iespecially ion iwomen,
iShudras, iand iDalits, iin iMaharashtra. iJyotirao's iwife iSavitribai iwas ithe ihead iof
iwomen's isection iof ithe isociety. iThe iSamaj idisbanded iduring ithe i1930s ias
ileaders ileft ito ijoin ithe iIndian iNational iCongress iparty. i
2. Depressed iClasses iMovement i(Mahar iMovement): iStarted iunder ithe ileadership
iof iBR iAmbedkar iin i1924. iIt iespoused ifor ithe iupliftment iof idepressed
iclasses,against iuntouchability. iIt ifounded iDepressed iClasses iInstitution iin i1924.
iMarathi ifortnightly iBahiskrit iBharat iwas istarted iin i1927. iIt iestablished iSamaj
iSamta iSangh iin i1927. iScheduled iCaste iFederation iwas ialso iestablished iin i1942
ithat ipropagated itheir iviews ion idepressed iclasses.
3. Harijan iSevak iSangh: iOn i30 iSeptember, iGandhi ifounded iAll iIndia iAnti
iUntouchability iLeague, ito iremove iuntouchability iin ithe isociety, iwhich ilater
irenamed ias iHarijan iSevak iSangh i("Servants iof iHarijan iSociety"). iAt ithe itime
iindustrialist iGhanshyam iDas iBirla iwas iits ifounding ipresident iwith iAmritlal
iTakkar ias iits iSecretary. iThe iSangh ihelped ithe idepressed iclasses ito iaccess
ipublic iplaces isuch ias itemples, ischools, iroads iand iwater iresources, ialso
iconducted iinter idining iand iinter icaste imarriages. iIt iconstructed iand imaintains
iseveral ischools iand ihostels iacross ithe icountry. iThrough itheir imovements, imore
ithan i100 itemples iwere iopened ito iall isections iof ithe isociety.
4. Dalit iPanthers iMovement i: iThe iorganisation iwas ifounded iby iNamdeo iDhasal,
iArjun iDangle, iRaja iDhale iand iJ. iV. iPawar ion i29 iMay i1972 iin ithe iIndian
istate iof iMaharashtra. ihey icalled ithemselves i“Panthers” ibecause ithey iwere
isupposed ito ifight ifor itheir irights ilike ipanthers iand inot iget isuppressed iby ithe
istrength iand imight iof itheir ioppressors. iThe imembers iwere iyoung imen
ibelonging ito iNeo-Buddhists iand iScheduled iCastes. iThe icontroversy iover ithe
iarticle i“Kala iSwatantrata iDin” i(Black iIndependence iDay) iby iDhale iwhich iwas
ipublished iin i“Sadhana” iin i1972 icreated ia igreat isensation iand ipublicised ithe
 6

iDalit iPanthers ithrough iMaharashtra.3 iThey ilinked itheir istruggles ito ithe
istruggles iof iall ioppressed ipeople iover ithe iglobe.The iclear icut ileftist istand
ireflected iby ithis imovement iran icounter ito ithe iaccepted ilegacy iof iAmbedkar ias
iprojected.

❖ Ambedkar’s iActivism:4
➢ Ambedkar ilaunched ifull-fledged imovements ifor iDalit irights iduring ithe i1930s.
iHe idemanded ipublic idrinking iwater isources iopen ito iall iand iright ifor iall icastes
ito ienter itemples. iHe iopenly icondemned iHindu iScriptures iadvocating
idiscrimination iand iarranged isymbolic idemonstrations ito ienter ithe iKalaram
iTemple iin iNashik.
➢ He iadopted ivarious imeans ito isafeguard iDalit irights. iAmbedkar ilaunched ia
imovement iagainst iDalit idiscrimination iby icreating ipublic iopinion ithrough ihis
iwritings iin iseveral iperiodicals isuch ias iMook iNayak, iVahishkrit iBharat, iand
iEquality iJanta, iwhich ihe istarted ifor ithe iprotection iof iDalit irights.
➢ Ambedkar ihad ibeen iclosely iinvolved iin ithe istruggle ito igive iScheduled iCaste
ipeople isolid istatutory isafeguard. iHe iwas ia idelegate iat ithe iRound iTable
iConference iin iLondon, iwhere ihe iasked ifor iseparate ielectorate ifor iDalits.
➢ In i1932, ithe ihistoric iPoona iPact iwas isigned ibetween iDr. iAmbedkar iand iPandit
iMadan iMohan iMalviya ito iensure ireservation iof iseats ifor ithe iuntouchable iclass
iin ithe iProvincial ilegislatures, iwithin ithe igeneral ielectorate. iThese iclasses iwere
ilater idesignated ias iScheduled iClasses iand iScheduled iTribes.
➢ In i1936, iAmbedkar ifounded ithe iIndependent iLabor iParty iwhich ilater
itransformed iinto ithe iAll iIndia iScheduled iCastes iFederation.
➢ He ilinked inationalism iwith ithe isocial iand ipolitical iaspiration iof ithe
iuntouchables.
➢ According ito iAmbedkar iwhat iBritish iimperialism iwas ito iIndia, iHindu
iimperialism iwas ito ithe iuntouchables. iHe iwas iagainst iinjustice iand iimperialism
iin iany iform iand iany ipart iof ihuman isociety.

3
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/dalit-panthers-raja-dhale-maharashtra-history-headline-
5839690/
4
Kaushal Goyal. B.R. Ambedkar: A Biography
 7

➢ He iencouraged ithe iDalits ito iembrace iBuddhism ito iliberate itheir iown iselves
ifrom iHindu isubjugation.
➢ He isaw ithat ithe iDalit imovement ilacked iphilosophical ijustification. iSo ihe iwrote
iabout ithe iFrench irevolution iideas iof ifraternity, iliberty iand iequality.
➢ Being ithe ichairman iof ithe idrafting icommittee iof iIndian iConstitution, iDr iB.R.
iAmbedkar iprovided icertain iconstitutional iprovisions ito iprotect ithe irights iof
iDalits iin isocial, ieconomic, ieducational, iemployment, iand ipolitical ifields, iin ithe
iform iof ipositive idiscriminations ior ipreferential itreatments ior ireservation ipolicy.
➢ Ambedkar ilaunched ithe isocial iliberation imovement ifor isocial irights iand
iopportunities iof ithe ideprived iand idowntrodden isection iof isociety.
➢ Ambedkar’s iefforts ibrought ieducational iawareness iamong iDalits iwho ibecame
isocially iconscious iabout ithe icircumstances iand isocial iproblems iof
iuntouchability iand icaste idiscrimination imeted iout ito ithem.

ADIVASI iSTRUGGLES

Indigenous ipeople ior ithe iaboriginals, ias ithe iname isuggests, iare inative iinhabitants iof
ithe iland. iThey iare ialso icalled iadivasis, ivanvasis, ietc. iSince itime iimmemorial, ithey
ihave iresided iin iforests, ithereby iconserving iflora, ifauna iand ithe iwhole iecosystem iin
igeneral. iBut, ithey iare iones iwho ihave ibeen isubject ito iutmost iinjustice iand isocial
iexclusion. iIt istill icontinues, ithough inot iopenly. iThey ihave ibeen ideprived iof ialmost
ieverything, imost, iimportantly, itheir iforest irights. iFor iexample, ithe iright ito iinhabit,
iright ito icollect, iuse iforest iproduce, ietc, iand ithe iright ito ilife ias ienshrined iunder
iArticle i21 iof ithe iconstitution iof iIndia. iBut iwhat’s iworse iis ithat ithey iare ialso itagged
ias i‘destroyers iof ithe ienvironment’. iSome ipeople, iespecially ithe igovernment, iare iso
inaive ithat ithey ihave ibranded itribals ias i“destroyers” iof itheir iown ihome. iAfter
iIndependence, iefforts ihave ibeen imade ito iensure ijustice. iIt iis ibecause iof ithese iefforts
ithat iat ileast ia ivery ismall i(almost inegligible) ifraction iof ithe iST icommunity iis inow ia
ipart iof imainstream isociety.5

5
https://en.gaonconnection.com/adivasis-in-india-are-being-made-to-suffer-a-lot-and-are-being-blamed-for-it-
too/
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❖ List iof iAdivasi iMovements:

1. The iSanthal iInsurrection: i
• The iSanthal iRevolt itook iplace iin i1855-56. iSanthals iare ia itribal igroup
iconcentrated iin ithe istate iof iJharkhand. iOriginally, ihunting, ifishing iwere itheir
ioccupation ibut ilater ion iwith iBritish’s iinvolvement, ithey iturned ito isettled
iagriculture. iThis iwas ithe ifirst ipeasant irevolt ithat ioccurred iin iIndia. iThe
irebellion iwas iled iby ithe ifour iMurmu iBrothers i- iSidhu, iKanhu, iChand iand
iBhairav. iThe irevolt ican ibe iattributed ito ithe iintroduction iof ithe iPermanent iLand
iSettlement iof i1793.
• The iaforesaid isettlement ipattern iby ithe iBritish isnatched ilands ithat ithe iSanthals
ihad ibeen icultivating ifor icenturies ifrom ithem. iThe izamindars, imoneylenders,
iEuropeans iand ithe iBritish igovernment iofficials iraised ithe iland itax iand
iexploited ifarmers. iThey icharged iexorbitant irate iof iinterest iand iinflicted
iviolence ion ithe isanthals. iThey iwere iso ioppressed ithat ithey iresolved ito irebel
iagainst ithe ilandlords iand ithe igovernment.
• The iSanthals iengaged iin iguerrilla iwarfare. iThis iwas ia inew ioccurrence ifor
iBihar. iThe iSanthals iformed itheir iown iarmies icomposed iof ipeasants imarching
iagainst itheir ioppressors. iThe iSanthal iarmy idismantled ithe irailway iand ipostal
icommunications. iSurely, ithe iSanthal irevolt iwas ivery ieffective ifor ia iwhile ibut
iit icould inot isucceed iagainst ithe iabsolute ipower iof ithe igovernment iand iwas
isuppressed. iDespite ithe isuppression, ithe iSanthal irebellion iwas ia isuccess ias iit
iunited iother itribal igroups iand igave ia iclear imessage ito iresist ithe ioppressive
iforces. iDue ito ithe iSanthal irebellion, ithe iSanthal iareas iare iconsidered ias
iSanthal iParagana.

2. The iMunda iRebellion:

• It iis ione iof ithe imost iimportant itribal imovements.It iwas iled iby iBirsa iMunda
iin ithe isouth iof iRanchi iin i1899-1900.The imovement iidentified ifollowing iforces
ias ithe icause iof ithe imisery ithe iMundas iwere isuffering:
➢ The iland ipolicies iof ithe iBritish iwere idestroying itheir itraditional iland
isystem.
➢ Hindu ilandlords iand imoneylenders iwere itaking iover itheir iland.
➢ Missionaries iwere icriticising itheir itraditional iculture.
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• The i'Ulgulan' ior ithe i'Great iTumult' ias ithe imovement icame ito ibe icalled, iaimed
iat iestablishing iMunda iRaj iby idriving iout ithe iBritish.
• Munda iused itraditional isymbols iand ilanguage ito irouse ipeople, iurging ithem ito
idestroy i“Ravana” i(dikus/outsiders iand ithe iEuropeans) iand iestablish ia ikingdom
iunder ihis ileadership. iBirsa’s ifollowers ibegan itargeting ithe isymbols iof idiku iand
iEuropean ipower. iThey iattacked ipolice istations iand ichurches, iand iraided ithe
iproperty iof imoneylenders iand izamindars. iThey iraised ithe iwhite iflag ias ia
isymbol iof iBirsa iRaj.
• On i3rd iMarch, i1900, iBirsa iMunda iwas iarrested iby ithe iBritish ipolice iwhile ihe
iwas isleeping iwith ihis itribal iguerilla iarmy iat iJamkopai iforest iin iChakradharpur
i(Jharkhand). iBirsa idied iof icholera iin ithe ijail iand ithe imovement ifaded iout.
• The imovement iwas iimportant ias iit iforced ithe icolonial igovernment ito iintroduce
ilaws iso ithat ithe iland iof ithe itribals icould inot ibe ieasily itaken iover iby idikus
i(Chotanagpur iTenancy iAct, i1908). iIt ishowed ithat ithe itribal ipeople ihad ithe
icapacity ito iprotest iagainst iinjustice iand iexpress itheir ianger iagainst icolonial
irule.

3. Early iNaga iMovement:

• Among ithe iNaga iethnic igroups iin iManipur, iit iwas ithe iZeliangrong iNagas iwho
itook ithe iinitiative ito irevolt iagainst ithe iBritish irule iin iManipur. iIt iwas iled iby
ithe icharismatic ileaders, iHaipou iJadonang iand ihis icousin isister iRani iGaidinliu.
• The ifounder iof iHeraka ireligion, ienvisaged ifor ian iindependent iNaga iKingdom
iespecially ifor ithe iZeliangrong icommunity.6 iHe iwas ihanged iby ithe iBritish iin
i1931. iAt ithis itime iof itroubles iand idissatisfaction, iJadonang iappeared ion ithe
iscene ias ia imessiah ior ia isaviour iof ithe iKaccha iNagas, i i
• The iexciting islogan iof iJadonang iwas i–“Makammei irui iGwang iTupuni”
i(meaning iMakam iPeople iwill ibe ithe irulers) iwhich iinspired ithe imasses. iThey
irefused ito icooperate iwith ithe iGovernment. iThey idenied ito ipay ihouse itax ito
ithe iBritish iand idid inot iparticipate iin iany iexecutive iworks. iJadonang istarted ia
itribal imovement iunder ihis itrend iof ireligious iand isocial iactivities iagainst ithe
iBritish iRule iin iManipur, iparticularly iin ithe ihills iregion iof iTamenglong. iWhen
iall ithe iplans iof ioverthrowing ithe iBritish iRaj iwere iabout ito iput iinto iaction,

6
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naga_nationalism
 10

iJadonang iwas iarrested iand imartyred ion i29th iAugust i1931 iat iImphal. iRani
iGaidinliu, ithe isuccessor iof iJadonang, itook iactive ipart iin igiving itraining ito ithe
iyoung igirls. iShe iorganised iarmed isoldiers iand ifought iagainst ithe iBritish.
iHowever ishe iwas iarrested iand iimprisoned. iShe iwas ireleased iafter iIndia igot
iIndependence iand idied iin i1993. i
• The imovement ifounded iby iJadonang iand iRani iGaidinliu ihad iinspired imany
iother iethnic imovements iin iNorth iEast iIndia. iIt iserved ias ia iwake-up icall ifor
iunity iamong ithe iNaga iethnic igroup iand iBritish ibegun ito ibe i‘common ienemy’
iof iall ithe iNagas iat ithat iperiod iof itime.

4. Bodo iMovement:
• Bodoland iis ithe iname igiven iby ithe iBodo inationalists iin iAssam, iIndia, ito
irepresent itheir ihomeland.The iofficial imovement iof ithe iBodos ifor ian
iindependent istate iof iBodoland istarted iunder ithe ileadership iof iUpendranath
iBrahma iof iAll iBodo iStudents’ iUnion i(ABSU) ion i2 iMarch i1987. i
• iIn iorder ito ispearhead ithe imovement, ithe iABSU icreated ia ipolitical iorganization
icalled ithe iBodo iPeople’s iAction iCommittee i(BPAC). iThe imovement iof iABSU
ibegan iwith ithe islogan i“Divide iAssam iFifty-Fifty”. iThis imovement iended iup
iwith ithe icreation iof iBodo iAccord iin i1993. iThe iaccord isoon icollapsed iand
ithere iwas ia isplit iin iABSU iand iother ipolitical iparties. iThis isplit icaused
iviolence iin ivarious iBodo iareas iand iled ito ithe idisplacement iof iabout i70,000
ipeople.
• After ithe iBodo iAccord, ithe iBodoland iAutonomous iCouncil i(BAC) iwas
iconstituted. iLater ion, ithe iBAC iwas ireplaced iby ithe iBTQ iwhich iwas
iestablished iin iaccordance iwith ithe iMemorandum iof iSettlement i(MoS) ion i10
iFebruary i2003. i
• The iBTC iconsists iof i12 iexecutive imembers iwho iare iresponsible ifor ithe
iadministration iof ia ispecific iarea iof icontrol icalled isomisthi. iThe iareas iwhich
icome iunder ithe ijurisdiction iof iBodo iTerritorial iCouncil iis iknown ias iBodo
iTerritorial iAutonomous iDistrict i(BTAD). iThe icouncil ihas iautonomy iand icontrol
iover ithe idepartments iwhich iare ispecified iin ithe iMemorandum iof
iUnderstanding, ihowever, iit idoes inot icontrol ithe iwhole iof idistrict iadministration.
 11

• Till inow, ithe iBTC iseems ito ihave imostly iaddressed ithe iissues ipertaining ito
iBodo iself-determination. iThis iwas iindeed ithe ifirst itime iwhen iguarantees ito iall
ithe ihill itribes iunder ithe iSixth iSchedule iof ithe iConstitution iof iIndia ihave ibeen
iextended ito ithe itribes iof ithe iplains.

CONCLUSION

All ithe iabove imentioned imovements iin iIndia iwere imainly ilaunched ifor iliberation ifrom
ioppression iand idiscrimination, ineglect iand ibackwardness, icallous iattitude iof
igovernment itowards ithe ipoverty, ihunger, iunemployment iand iexploitation. iHere, iit iis
ialso iimportant ito imention ithat ithe iwithdrawal iof ithe iState ifrom ithe isocial isector iand
iits iincreasing itendency ito iprivatize icommon iand inatural iresources ihave ifurther
ijeopardized ithe ifuture iof idisplaced ipeople iwho iare imainly iadivasis. iThe igovernment
ishould iwork itogether iwith ithe ipeople iand iremove ithe ivarious iinequalities ifrom ithe
isociety.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

1) C.N. Shankar Rao. Principles of Sociology with an Introduction to Sociological

Thought

2) K.L. Sharma. Social Inequality in India

3) Omvedt Gail. Dalit Visions: The Anti-caste Movement and the Construction on an
Indian Identity

4) Kaushal Goyal. B.R. Ambedkar: A Biography

5) K.S. Singh. Tribal Movements in India: Vol 1 and Vol 2

6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

7) https://www.britannica.com/