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VOL. 12, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Caste, capital, and modernity: Theorizing Dalit resistance in contemporary India
Authors
Dr. Chaganti Rami Reddy
Abstract
This paper explores the
intersection of caste, capital, and modernity in shaping contemporary forms of
Dalit resistance in India. Modernity in India functions not as a rupture from
caste hierarchy but as its transformation through capitalist and cultural
processes. Using a theoretical framework grounded in Ambedkarite thought,
subaltern studies, and decolonial theory, the study examines how economic
inclusion, digital activism, and feminist interventions collectively redefine
the contours of Dalit empowerment. State initiatives such as the Venture
Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC) demonstrate attempts to
institutionalize Dalit participation in capitalist modernity; however, these
efforts often risk reproducing entrenched inequalities. The discussion
highlights the emergence of new modes of resistance — particularly through
digital platforms, cultural production, and intellectual engagement — that
challenge both material and epistemic exclusion. The paper contends that Dalit
resistance today operates as a dual process: engagement with neoliberal
structures to gain agency, and critique of those same structures to expose
their limitations. By situating Dalit agency within global debates on
capitalism, decoloniality, and social justice, this study contributes to a
deeper understanding of how marginalized communities reimagine modernity. It
concludes that Dalit modernity embodies an ethical and epistemic
reconfiguration of resistance, one that transforms the moral foundations of
India’s democratic and capitalist order.
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Pages:435-440
How to cite this article:
Dr. Chaganti Rami Reddy "Caste, capital, and modernity: Theorizing Dalit resistance in contemporary India". International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, Vol 12, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 435-440
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