Restructuring Dalit identity: Intra-caste dynamics and psycho-social reflections on subcategorisation in rural Haryana
Caste remains the most significant factor in India's social stratification, operating as both a socio-economic construct and a deeply rooted psychological one. Ambedkar (1936) described caste as a ''state of mind,'' highlighting its pervasive influence on individual and coll...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125005078 |
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| author | Robin Choudhary |
| author_facet | Robin Choudhary |
| author_sort | Robin Choudhary |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Caste remains the most significant factor in India's social stratification, operating as both a socio-economic construct and a deeply rooted psychological one. Ambedkar (1936) described caste as a ''state of mind,'' highlighting its pervasive influence on individual and collective consciousness. In everyday life, caste identity is experienced and practiced as jati (Srinivas, 1976). Despite its centrality, intra-caste or jati-level dynamics have received limited scholarly attention. Recognizing the varying degrees of backwardness at the jati level, the Haryana government introduced the Deprived Scheduled Castes (DSC) subcategorization in 2020, creating a new institutional caste identity within the broader SC category. This study examines the psycho-social implications of this redefined identity among rural SC students (N = 106) in Ambala district, Haryana. Using a mixed-methods approach, the quantitative phase identified respondents for the qualitative phase, which explored the perceived impact of this institutional identity shift. Guided by Social Identity Theory (SIT), the analysis reveals key themes related to the restructuring of caste identity and its implications for social belonging, self-perception, and intergroup dynamics within the SC community. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d751acc6c7f048bdb304b2a0dcb607b0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-2911 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-d751acc6c7f048bdb304b2a0dcb607b02025-08-20T03:38:19ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112025-01-011210177910.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101779Restructuring Dalit identity: Intra-caste dynamics and psycho-social reflections on subcategorisation in rural HaryanaRobin Choudhary0Panjab University, Chandigarh, IndiaCaste remains the most significant factor in India's social stratification, operating as both a socio-economic construct and a deeply rooted psychological one. Ambedkar (1936) described caste as a ''state of mind,'' highlighting its pervasive influence on individual and collective consciousness. In everyday life, caste identity is experienced and practiced as jati (Srinivas, 1976). Despite its centrality, intra-caste or jati-level dynamics have received limited scholarly attention. Recognizing the varying degrees of backwardness at the jati level, the Haryana government introduced the Deprived Scheduled Castes (DSC) subcategorization in 2020, creating a new institutional caste identity within the broader SC category. This study examines the psycho-social implications of this redefined identity among rural SC students (N = 106) in Ambala district, Haryana. Using a mixed-methods approach, the quantitative phase identified respondents for the qualitative phase, which explored the perceived impact of this institutional identity shift. Guided by Social Identity Theory (SIT), the analysis reveals key themes related to the restructuring of caste identity and its implications for social belonging, self-perception, and intergroup dynamics within the SC community.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125005078Scheduled castes (SC)Deprived scheduled castes (DSC)HaryanaSubcategorizationSocial identity theoryPsycho-social differences |
| spellingShingle | Robin Choudhary Restructuring Dalit identity: Intra-caste dynamics and psycho-social reflections on subcategorisation in rural Haryana Social Sciences and Humanities Open Scheduled castes (SC) Deprived scheduled castes (DSC) Haryana Subcategorization Social identity theory Psycho-social differences |
| title | Restructuring Dalit identity: Intra-caste dynamics and psycho-social reflections on subcategorisation in rural Haryana |
| title_full | Restructuring Dalit identity: Intra-caste dynamics and psycho-social reflections on subcategorisation in rural Haryana |
| title_fullStr | Restructuring Dalit identity: Intra-caste dynamics and psycho-social reflections on subcategorisation in rural Haryana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Restructuring Dalit identity: Intra-caste dynamics and psycho-social reflections on subcategorisation in rural Haryana |
| title_short | Restructuring Dalit identity: Intra-caste dynamics and psycho-social reflections on subcategorisation in rural Haryana |
| title_sort | restructuring dalit identity intra caste dynamics and psycho social reflections on subcategorisation in rural haryana |
| topic | Scheduled castes (SC) Deprived scheduled castes (DSC) Haryana Subcategorization Social identity theory Psycho-social differences |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125005078 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robinchoudhary restructuringdalitidentityintracastedynamicsandpsychosocialreflectionsonsubcategorisationinruralharyana |