The Dalit Movement :
Social movements of Dalits show a particular character. The movements cannot be explained satisfactorily by reference to economic exploitations alone or political oppression, although these dimensions are important. This is a struggle for recognition as fellow human beings. It is a struggle for self-confidence and a space for self-determination. It is a struggle for abolishment of stigmatisation, that untouchability implied. It has been called a struggle to be touched. The word Dalit is commonly used in Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati and many other Indian languages, meaning the poor and oppressed persons. It was first used in the new context in Marathi by neo-Buddhist activists, the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar in the early 1970's. It refers to those who have been broken, ground down by those above them in a deliberate way. There is, in the word itself, inherent denial of pollution, karma and justified caste hierarchy.
Which among these is NOT the characteristic of Dalit movement ?
(1) Evolutionary
(2) Revolutionary
(3) Reformative
(4) Redemptive
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Evolutionary
Option (1) Evolutionary — Not a characteristic of the Dalit movement (Correct). Social movements are classified as redemptive, reformist and revolutionary; ‘evolutionary’ is not one of these types. An evolutionary change is a slow, natural change that comes on its own over a long time, whereas a movement is sustained collective action that people take on purpose to bring about change.
Option (2) Revolutionary — A characteristic of the Dalit movement (Incorrect). A revolutionary movement tries to radically transform social relations. The anti-caste movement, at its best, was revolutionary in terms of society.
Option (3) Reformative — A characteristic of the Dalit movement (Incorrect). A reformist movement changes the existing social and political arrangements through gradual, incremental steps. Sociologists find that Dalit movements belong to all the types, the reformative among them.
Option (4) Redemptive — A characteristic of the Dalit movement (Incorrect). A redemptive movement aims at a change in the personal consciousness and actions of its members. The anti-caste movement was redemptive in terms of individuals.
NCERT (2025-26): “8.3 Types of Social Movements … There are different kinds of social movements. They can be classified as: (i) redemptive or transformatory; (ii) reformist; and (iii) revolutionary. A redemptive social movement aims to bring about a change in the personal consciousness and actions of its individual members. For instance, people in the Ezhava community in Kerala were led by Narayana Guru to change their social practices. Reformist social movements strive to change the existing social and political arrangements through gradual, incremental steps. The 1960s movement for the reorganisation of Indian states on the basis of language and the recent Right to Information campaign are examples of reformist movements. Revolutionary social movements attempt to radically transform social relations, often by capturing state power. The Bolshevik revolution in Russia that deposed the Tsar to create a communist state and the Naxalite movement in India that seeks to remove oppressive landlords and state officials can be described as revolutionary movements.…” “Sociologists’ attempts to classify Dalit movements have led them to believe that they belong to all the types, namely reformative, redemptive, revolutionary.” |