Canterbury Christ Church University’s repository of research outputs http://create.canterbury.ac.uk Copyright © and Moral Rights for this thesis are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder/s. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given e.g. Lucas, E. (2017) Discrimination against Dalits in contemporary India: affirmative action, religious conversions and women’s activism as responses to caste-based social injustice. M.A. thesis, Canterbury Christ Church University. Contact:
[email protected] Discrimination against Dalits in Contemporary India: Affirmative Action, Religious Conversions and Women’s Activism as Responses to Caste-based Social Injustice by Eirlys Joan Lucas Canterbury Christ Church University Thesis submitted for the Degree of Masters by Research 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents……………………………………………………...……………… ii Abstract…………………………………………………………………………iii Dedication……………………………………..……………………………… iv Acknowledgements….……………………………………………………….. v List of Abbreviations…………………………………………………………..vi Introduction…………………….……………………………………………….7 Chapter 1: Affirmative Action…………………………………………………17 Chapter 2: Religious Conversion ……………………………………………..39 Chapter 3Ś Dalit women’s Activism ………………………………………….73 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………….92 Bibliography ………………………………………………………………….96 ii ABSTRACT Due to entrenched social caste divisions, discrimination against Dalits is a serious on-G.O.I.ng issue in contemporary India. This thesis focuses on how the caste system affects the lives and treatment of Dalits.