Dalit Refugees in Post-1947 Delhi

Minee Pratiksha

The research project is about the trajectory of Dalit Refugees in the event Partition 1947. It attempts to analyze how caste identity influences the struggles for rights, rehabilitation, and citizenship in the post-independence context. It has a threefold purpose: to trace their migration histories; understand the transmission of memory of resettlement; and recognize the significance of memory culture among the communities today.

For Dalits, independence represented not only liberation from a colonial state but also the promise of emancipation from historical-oppressive societal practices, with the constitution of India guaranteeing them equal status. By examining refugee rehabilitation policies, this research emphasizes the nuanced debate of class and caste. It delves into the historical practice of spatial segregation evident in post-independence resettlement programs, illustrating how these policies often perpetuated the ever-existing social hierarchies. The research involves extensive study of archival records and one year ethnographic fiedlwork in Delhi. This involves highlighting the notable absence of voices from Dalit communities in the archives through Participant Observation method of qualitative research.

When examining Dalit refugees in the context of Partition, it is essential to consider both public memory and personal memory. I will explore the transmission of memories that are reinforced through these practices through questions such as: Did the continuity of caste-consciousness in memory transmission play a crucial role in sustaining and navigating memory over time? Have the fundamental information and experiences that form caste identity been lost over time to the reduction of Partition memory as a communal issue between religious communities?