Faces of Discrimination in Higher Education in India Quota policy, social justice and the Dalits PDF
Preview Faces of Discrimination in Higher Education in India Quota policy, social justice and the Dalits
Faces of Discrimination in Higher Education in India This book illuminates the experiences of a set of students and faculty who are members of the Dalit caste – commonly known as the ‘untouchables’ – and are relatively ‘successful’ in that they attend or are academics at a prestigious univer- sity. The book provides a background to the study, exploring the role of caste and its enduring influence on social relations in all aspects of life. The book also contains a critical account of the current experiences of Dalit students and faculty in one elite university setting – the University of Shah Jahan (pseudonym). Drawing on a set of in-depth semi-structured interviews, the empirical study that is at the centre of this book explores the perceptions of staff and students in rela- tion to the Quota policy and their experiences of living, working and studying in this elite setting. The data chapters are organised in such a way as to first explore the faculty views. The experiences of students are then examined with a focus on the way in which their caste is still an everyday part of how they are sometimes ‘othered’. Also, a focus on female Dalit experiences attempts to capture the interconnecting aspects of abject discrimination encountered in their university life. Faces of Discrimination in Higher Education in India explores: • critical exploration of the Quota System policy and related social justice issues; • faculty voices: Quota, caste and discrimination; • students’ perceptions and experiences of the Quota policy; • being a ‘female Dalit’ student; • positioning caste relations and the Quota policy: a critical analysis. This study will be of interest to educational sociologists examining policies in education and analysts of multicultural and South Asian studies. It will also steer pertinent discussions on equality and human rights issues. Samson K. Ovichegan is a Research Associate at Goldsmiths, University of London. Routledge Research in Educational Equality and Diversity Books in the series include: Identity, Neoliberalism and Aspiration Educating white working-class boys Garth Stahl Faces of Discrimination in Higher Education in India Quota policy, social justice and the Dalits Samson K. Ovichegan Faces of Discrimination in Higher Education in India Quota policy, social justice and the Dalits Samson K. Ovichegan First published 2015 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business 2015 Samson K. Ovichegan The right of Samson K. Ovichegan to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Ovichegan, Samson K. Faces of discrimination in higher education in India: quota policy, social justice and the Dalits/Samson K. Ovichegan. pages cm. — (Routledge research in educational equality and diversity; 4) Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Discrimination in higher education—India. 2. Education, Higher— India. 3. Dalits—Education (Higher)—India. 4. Educational equalization—India. I. Title. LC212.43.I4O85 2015 379.2′60954—dc23 2014035234 ISBN: 978-1-138-79379-8 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-315-76086-5 (ebk) Typeset in Galliard by Swales & Willis Ltd, Exeter, Devon For my mother Mrs Mary K. Ovichegan and my late father Mr Keyghobad Ovichegan This page intentionally left blank Contents Acknowledgements ix List of abbreviations x Abstract xi Brief overview of book chapters xii 1 Introduction 1 The caste situation 1 The ‘Dalit’ caste 3 Indian education: pre- and post-independence 8 Theoretical framework 16 Locating research studies 17 Critical analysis 19 Case study 22 Sample 25 Conclusion 30 2 Critical exploration of the Quota System policy and related social justice issues 33 Introduction 33 Quota System: legal position 35 Quota policy and social justice 39 Forms of justice 43 Merit: arguments ‘for’ and ‘against’ 47 Cultural injustice 51 Outcomes of Quota policy in practice 54 Discussion 56 3 Faculty voices: Quota, caste and discrimination 59 Introduction 59 Faculty and the Quota System 60 Power, dominance and corruption 68 viii Contents Discrimination 72 Strategies for coping/survival 84 Discussion and conclusion 86 4 Students’ perceptions and experiences of the Quota policy 88 Introduction 88 Perceptions of the Quota System 89 Students’ experiences in higher education 93 Formal and informal encounters 107 Discussion and conclusion 111 5 Being a ‘female Dalit’ student 115 Introduction 115 Women’s status in Indian society 116 Access and participation 123 Views and experiences 128 Inclusion and exclusion 132 Conclusion 136 6 Positioning caste relations and the Quota policy: a critical analysis 138 Introduction 138 Tension between Dalits 141 Characteristics of their lives 147 Caste divisions 150 Emerging concerns in higher education 153 Conclusion 159 7 Conclusion 164 Introduction 164 Issues to consider 168 Need for political involvement and upliftment 175 Prospective strategies 175 Concluding remarks 178 Bibliography 181 Index 200 Acknowledgements I thank Dr Meg Maguire and Dr Sharon Gewirtz for their valuable support. Professor Maguire guided me well with good suggestions and comments. I also thank my mom Mary K. Ovichegan who is my pillar of strength; and my wife Sabeen for ever being by my side through thick and thin. I would like thank all my interviewees (both Dalit faculty and students) who took time off from their busy schedules to accommodate my research interview sessions. Their personal life experiences, knowledge and expertise within their respective fields brought immense contribution to the development and finalisation of this book. Above all, I would like to thank God Almighty for guidance, wisdom and health, and without whose help nothing is possible.
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