The Vulgarity of Caste: Dalits, Sexuality, and Humanity in Modern India

This book provides a social and intellectual history of Dalit performance of Tamasha, highlighting how Dalit women negotiated violence and stigma to claim human dignity and transform themselves. It challenges Ambedkar-centered historiography and emphasizes the ordinary and everydayness in Dalit lives, offering new approaches for Dalit politics and global history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 422 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2022
Publisher: Stanford University Press

This captivating book delves into the rich tapestry of Dalit performance, offering a comprehensive social and intellectual history of Tamasha, a beloved form of public, secular, and traveling theater that flourished in Maharashtra, India, during the twentieth century. At its core, this remarkable work places Dalit Tamasha women at the forefront of modernization, capturing their desires, frustrations, and complex roles within patriarchal society. Through meticulous research, including ethnographies, films, and untapped archival materials, Shailaja Paik unveils the intricate processes that shaped Tamasha, revealing how conflicts over caste, gender, sexuality, and culture played a pivotal role in its production and evolution.

Dalit performers, activists, and leaders, armed with their resilience and determination, navigated the treacherous terrain of Tamasha, confronting the violence and stigma that often accompanied their performances. Their struggles were fueled by a deep-seated quest for manuski, a fundamental human dignity, and a desire to shed the labels of ashlil (vulgar) and assli (authentic) and become recognized as manus (human beings).

In her groundbreaking work, Paik departs from the Ambedkar-centered historiography and movement-focused approach of Dalit studies, instead delving into the ordinary and everyday experiences of Dalits. She explores the nuances of their lives, shedding light on their joys, sorrows, triumphs, and challenges. Through this lens, she demonstrates how the choices made by communities about their culture hold profound implications for issues of inclusion, inequality, and the enduring structures of caste-based violence within Indian society.

Moreover, Paik's book extends its reach beyond India's borders, offering a global perspective on gender, sexuality, and the human. She explores how Tamasha, with its rich repertoire of characters and themes, resonated with audiences across different cultures and social contexts, challenging prevailing notions of identity and power. By highlighting the transformative potential of Dalit politics and the global history of gender, sexuality, and the human, Paik opens up new avenues for understanding and addressing the complex challenges facing societies today.

In conclusion, this book is a groundbreaking contribution to the field of Dalit studies and cultural history. It provides a deep and nuanced understanding of Dalit performance, showcasing the resilience and creativity of Dalit women as they navigate the complexities of patriarchal society. Through its exploration of culture, identity, and power, it offers valuable insights into the broader issues of inclusion, inequality, and the human experience. As we continue to grapple with the legacies of colonialism, discrimination, and violence, this book serves as a call to action, inspiring us to embrace diversity, challenge oppressive systems, and work towards a more just and equitable world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503632387