She told the story of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit student at the University of Hyderabad who committed suicide in 2016. In the excerpt, Dutt detailed caste discrimination in education, including the negative effects of this discrimation and violence that results. Dalit people are also referred to as “untouchables.” They are often subjected to discrimination and ridicule both within India and in Indian communities in the U.S.Īfter being introduced by Jamkar, Dutt read a few paragraphs from Coming Out as Dalit. In addition to Dutt, anthropology professor Arjun Guneratne and University of Minnesota PhD student Vishal Jamkar facilitated the discussion.ĭalit is a term used to describe a person who does not belong to a named caste in the Indian varna caste system. 29, Macalester College welcomed anti-caste activist Yashica Dutt for “Coming Out as Dalit,” a Conversation with Yashica Dutt.ĭutt is a journalist and the award-winning author of the book Coming Out as Dalit.

Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of discrimination and suicide. So far this subject has not received any attention,' she said.Emma Runchey Smalley, Contributing Writer I am trying to document what this side of being a Dalit is like. I am trying to tell stories that have not found space so far in media or pop culture narratives. Through her book, published by Aleph Book Company, Dutt said she wants to reach out to those 'who think we live in a post-caste world' and caste discrimination existed only in ancient India. Because Dalits have been doing these jobs, and they exist in cities also,' she said. 'People who come to collect garbage at homes are almost always Dalits, those who do manual scavenging 99 per cent times they are Dalits, nobody from upper caste seeks quota in these jobs. 'Often when I returned from school, my mother would enquire if someone asked me about my caste and if someone did I am supposed to say 'Brahmin' because she was worried that if I revealed I was from the 'bhangi' caste, I would face discrimination even by my teachers and friends in Ajmer and miss out on opportunities,' she said reminiscing the Rajasthan of early 1990s.Īsked if the 'gap' in 'discrimination' shrinks in urban spaces where money and services appear more dominant instead of caste, she said in villages caste is more visible, in cities it is invisible but it is equally present in both areas. Dutt, 33, recalled incidents from her childhood about discrimination that had left her 'scarred' and became the reason for choosing to hide her caste even when working with a leading daily in New Delhi.

Coming out as dalit by yashica dutt