Caste, as a category, has played an important role in the analysis of Indian
politics. While in the socio-political realm it has long remained a very crucial
source of collective identity, in the contemporary discourse, when India is
transforming itself into a modern society, it is the sub-caste that has acquired
supremacy over the broader category of caste in Indian politics. This volume
traces the shift in the collective consciousness of India's Dalits, a
marginalized group in Indian society. The book provides a comprehensive overview
of issues regarding the sub-categorization of the scheduled castes that have
emerged and which are widely debated in popular media and academic