The Rise of Dalit Peasants Kolhi Activism in Lower Sindh
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The Rise of Dalit Peasants Kolhi Activism in Lower Sindh (Original Thesis Title) Kolhi-peasant Activism in Naon Dumbālo, Lower Sindh Creating Space for Marginalised through Multiple Channels Ghulam Hussain Mahesar Quaid-i-Azam University Department of Anthropology ii Islamabad - Pakistan Year 2014 Kolhi-Peasant Activism in Naon Dumbālo, Lower Sindh Creating Space for Marginalised through Multiple Channels Ghulam Hussain Thesis submitted to the Department of Anthropology, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, in partial fulfillment of the degree of ‗Master of Philosophy in Anthropology‘ iii Quaid-i-Azam University Department of Anthropology Islamabad - Pakistan Year 2014 Formal declaration I hereby, declare that I have produced the present work by myself and without any aid other than those mentioned herein. Any ideas taken directly or indirectly from third party sources are indicated as such. This work has not been published or submitted to any other examination board in the same or a similar form. Islamabad, 25 March 2014 Mr. Ghulam Hussain Mahesar iv Final Approval of Thesis Quaid-i-Azam University Department of Anthropology Islamabad - Pakistan This is to certify that we have read the thesis submitted by Mr. Ghulam Hussain. It is our judgment that this thesis is of sufficient standard to warrant its acceptance by Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad for the award of the degree of ―MPhil in Anthropology‖. Committee Supervisor: Dr. Waheed Iqbal Chaudhry External Examiner: Full name of external examiner incl. title Incharge: Dr. Waheed Iqbal Chaudhry v ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This thesis is the product of cumulative effort of many teachers, scholars, and some institutions, that duly deserve to be acknowledged here. I am grateful to Dr. Azam Chaudhry for guiding me as regards theoretical framework; to Dr. Andrea Ramos Fleshenberg for developing my interest in the ideas and issues of identities and nation building; to Dr. Ilhan Niaz for refining my thoughts about issues of governance in Pakistan; and to Hanns Seidel Foundation for providing me initial financial assistance to conduct pilot study for M.Phil Thesis. I am also thankful to some of my friends Mushtaq Ali Hab, Naveed Ahmed Lashari, Vikram Das, Faiz Rasool, Taj Maree and Veerji Kolhi that helped me, one way or another, to conduct this study smoothly. The facilitation and peace of mind provided by my family members, particularly by my sister Firdous Mahesar, was not less instrumental in the successful culmination of this research project. I am indebted to all my teachers of the Department of Anthropology, particularly, Dr. Anwaar Mohyuddin for teaching about references and citations; Dr. Rao Nadeem Alam for guiding in research methods in general and to Dr. Inamullah Laghari for helping in the analysis of developmental and post-developmental content. The constant guidance and instruction of my supervisor Dr. Waheed Iqbal Chaudhry as regards research methodology, ethnographic writing, and research ethics and about issues of plagiarism have been pivotal in the shaping of this research endeavor. I am also grateful for his kind suggestions about review of the literature, its systematic analysis and for sharing his personal research insights on peasant culture and politics from the Punjabi village background. vi ABSTRACT This study is based on ethnography of Kolhi peasant community of Lār (lower Sindh) followed by extensive ethnological account of the history, origin and identity reconstruction efforts of Kolhi-Dalit community. This study is to explain, ‗how Kolhi-Dalit peasant identities are being transformed under the impact of social forces, such as Kolhi peasant activists, NGOs, leftist and Marxist activists, civil society activists, and under the influence of mass media and social media networks? The prime focus of this study is the identification of the ‗processes of socio-political change that are involved in the transformation of Kolhi-Dalit ethnic peasant identities. Major Findings of the research are that the dependence of almost entire Kolhi community on sharecropping as landless peasants under debt bondage of landlords in barrage-area of south-eastern lower Sindh has been so overwhelming that it is difficult to conceive of their ethnic marginality independent of peasant related issues. In recent past, since 2006, peasants in the barrage area of lower Sindh, particularly sharecroppers and peasant activists of Kolhi community of Dumbālo, have been highly dynamic. Kolhi peasant activism is not just for land reforms, or against debt bondage, it is also the struggle for ethnic and communal rights and equal social status for the marginalized Dalit communities of lower Sindh. The phenomenal multiplicity of Kolhi ethnic maneuverability can be evidenced from their participation in political protests and rallies for their ethnic and peasant rights. Kolhi community has become conscious of the relationship between ethnic discrimination, landlessness, debt bondage and economic exploitation, the evidence of which can be had from the emerging trend to establish community-initiated self-funded Kolhi colonies at Naon Dumbālo, District Badin Sindh. Kolhi peasant activism provides a unique opportunity to understand peasant activism from the perspective of the sharecroppers of lower caste, the ethnically discriminated and marginalized minority community. Systematic effort has been made to look for ideological and political space for Kolhi-Dalit peasant-village community to coexist peacefully with other ethnic identities at local, provincial, national and international levels. Ethnically motivated Peasants‘ willingness or reluctance to accommodate with the dominant discourses at national level and capacity of Civil Society Organizations to transform ethnic-peasant identities has been assessed in relation to one another. In final chapter, to ensure ‗environmental justice and to empower ethnic peasant communities establishment of ‗communal councils‘ and peasant communities has been suggested to policy makers and to activists. To build the nation of Pakistan on more inclusive grounds, it has been suggested to approach socio-political issues at community level, and strive politically to empower local communities so that they could initiate and implement their self- planned projects in a manner that may suit their purpose best. vii Table of Contents Contents………………………………………………………………….Page ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... vi Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ vii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................xiii List of Maps .................................................................................................................................... xiv List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. xvi Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................. xix Chapter 1: Methodology and Theoretical Framework .......................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Significance of Study ................................................................................................................ 10 1.4 Objectives of the Study ....................................................................................................... 12 1.5 Research Question .............................................................................................................. 13 1.6 Ethnographic Case-study .................................................................................................... 13 1.7 Ethical Concerns ................................................................................................................. 18 1.7.1 Reflexivity ....................................................................................................................... 18 1.7.2. ‗I‘ as an ethnographer: Reflexive note of an ethnographer ............................................... 19 1.8 Field Area ................................................................................................................................. 21 1.8 Key informants ......................................................................................................................... 22 1.9 Duration of Field Work........................................................................................................... 22 1.10 Medium of Communication .................................................................................................... 23 1.11 Key terms: Definition and Explanation .................................................................................. 23 1.11.1 Caste as Class................................................................................................................... 23 1.11.2 Culture ............................................................................................................................