Context

The Indian cities has failed the aspirations and expectations that the Dalit liberation movement had placed in urbanization.

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Perspectives on Village Life

• Contrasting Views of Ambedkar and Gandhi: B.R. Ambedkar and Gandhi ji held contrasting views on the role of Indian villages in society.
  • Ambedkar saw villages as bastions of caste oppression, while Gandhi idealized them as equitable and self-reliant communities.
• Ambedkar’s Opposition to Village Autonomy: Ambedkar opposed the idea of recognizing villages as autonomous administrative units in the Constituent Assembly.
  • He believed such recognition would exacerbate caste-based discrimination, particularly affecting Dalits.

BR Ambedkar thoughts On Urbanization and Caste  

• Opportunity for Liberation: Ambedkar viewed urbanization as an opportunity for Dalit liberation, as cities weaken systems of caste oppression prevalent in villages.
• Anonymity in Cities: He believed anonymity in cities offered a chance to transition from caste-based to class-based social orders.
• Acknowledgement of Challenges: Ambedkar recognised the continuation of caste-based prejudice in urban settings, as evidenced by his difficulty to locate home in Baroda.

Caste and Spatiality in Indian Cities

• Language of ‘Purity-Pollution’: Caste emerges in urban spatiality through conceptions of ‘purity-pollution,’ which influence housing choices and public policy.
• Segregation and Discrimination: Dalits and Muslims are severely segregated and discriminated against in terms of housing, access to public facilities, and environmental quality.
• State Sanctioned Discrimination: State-sanctioned discrimination occurs when governments impose Brahminical restrictions, such as banning meat sales and promoting caste-based segregation in public settings.

Impact of Urban Governance Policies

• Housing Crises and Segregation: Urban governance practices exacerbate caste-based segregation, limiting housing access and public service delivery.
• Forced Evictions: Forced evictions disproportionately affect Dalits and Muslims, aggravating housing insecurity and marginalization.
  • A recent report by the Housing and Land Rights Network on forced evictions in India also shows that Dalits and Muslims are the most impacted by slum demolition drives.
• Failure of Indian Cities: Despite BR Ambedkar’s promises, Indian cities have failed to deliver on the promise of urbanization, leaving Dalits marginalized and trapped in ghettos.

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Conclusion

To achieve BR Ambedkar’s vision of urban emancipation, substantial policy interventions and social transformations must be implemented to address caste-based segregation and discrimination.

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