Dalit Capital

by Aseem Prakash

This book details the discrimination and unfavourable treatment that Dalit entrepreneurs encounter in the functioning of markets in modern India. It refutes the optimistic notion that the process of modernization in India will automatically undermine the significance of social identities.

Genres: India

296 pages, Paperback

First published September 7, 2014

Reviews

[Conrad Barwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential and ground-breaking book on Dalit businesses and capitalists. Based on in-depth research of 90 Dalit business owners across 6 different states; this works maps out in great detail the process of ''unfavourable inclusion'' into markets faced by Dalit business owners. It also delivers a decisive blow to the idea that globalisation, capitalism or market-orientated policies and processes will eliminate caste-based discrimination or improve the economic position of Dalits. In fact the very organisation of capitalism in India is heavily mediated by caste-structures and bodies; limiting entry of Dalits into lucrative economic sectors and when they do manage to break into such markets, ensure that their inclusion is on conditions favourable to the upper castes established in these markets.