1st Edition

Marginalised Groups in India Historiography, Politics, and Policies

Edited By Kunal Debnath, Souvik Chatterjee Copyright 2025
    272 Pages 16 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This book intersects marginality, politics, and policies by focusing on the narratives of selective marginalised groups within India. 

    Encouraging inclusive government policies that considers the diverse identities of individuals and groups within India, this book is a systematic documentation of the lived experiences of various marginalised collectives, such as the Naths of Bengal, the De-notified Tribes of Maharashtra, the Kukis of Manipur, and the Beggars. The chapters use historiography as a method to understand narratives of marginality in India, illuminating how power imbalances in Indian society lead to the marginalisation of specific groups, depriving them of fundamental rights and opportunities, while others enjoy privileges. The political analysis of this edited volume introspects the political dynamics that perpetuate marginalisation. It details the aspirations of various marginal groups in evolving and changing socio-political circumstances. 

    The book offers a deeper understanding of the intricate issues faced by marginalised groups. It will be of interest to students, academicians, and researchers in South Asian Studies, Subaltern Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Social History, and Migration/refugee studies.

    1. Introduction: The Axes of Marginality Section A: Caste and Ethnicity through the Lens of Marginality 2. Sunk in Oblivion: The Marginalisation and Resistance of the Naths of Bengal3. Living in and out of Marginality: Observing ‘Dehasadhana’ among the Matuas through the Prism of ‘Sahajiya’ Tradition of Dissent4. Citizenship and Denizenship: The Chakma Community’s Dilemma in Arunachal Pradesh5. Competing Perspectives of Ethno-Nationalisms in Contemporary India: The Marginalised Kukis and Making Sense of the Recent Ethnic Conflict in Manipur Section B: Gender Marginalisation 6. The Socio-economic Marginalization of Dalit Women in India: A Critical Overview7. Unveiling Marginalisation: Neuroqueer Experiences at the Intersection of Neurodivergence and Gender/Sexual Diversity in India8. Relative Marginalisation and Limited Access of Women to Healthcare Services: A Case Study of West Bengal9. Marginalisation of Space: The Strategic Arrangements of Domestic Sphere and the Neoliberal City in India Section C: States and Vulnerability 10. Marginalisation and Vulnerability of Workers in Tea Gardens in North Bengal11. Locating the Bengali Bubbles: Language, Ethnicity, and Assam’s Federal Conundrum12. Urban Margins and Nomadic Marginalities: Elucidating the Status of Habitation among Pardhis of Mumbai Section D: Public Policies and the Marginal Communities 13. E-governance: A Critical Appraisal of Digital Tools to Mitigate Marginalisation14. Empowering Women and Revitalizing Rural Communities: Exploring the Socio-Economic Consequences of Bihar's JEEViKA Program15. Beggars and Policy Discourse: Searching for a Solution of an Age-old Marginality16. Concluding Remarks: Marginality in the Indian ScenarioIndex

    Biography

    Kunal Debnath is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, India.

    Souvik Chatterjee is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Amity Institute of Liberal Arts, Amity University Mumbai, India.