Abstract Book of the 8th International Conference on Advanced Research in Social Sciences Studies
Year: 2025
DOI:
[PDF]
The Unravelling of High Culture: Dalit Aesthetics and Brahminical Elites in the Cultural Context of Social Problems in Modern India
Assis. Prof. Anindra Kumar Biswas
ABSTRACT:
For centuries, ideal values in India have been understood and shaped by the family foundation that privileges Brahminical notions of ‘high culture’ while marginalising Dalits as ‘inferior’ or ‘subordinate.’ Consequently, art and literature become central tools of counterhegemonic systems, challenging the established order by giving a powerful voice to the ideological process of casteism that permeates Indian society. This study examines the balance between Dalit aesthetics and Brahminical elitism, revealing how Dalit cultural production reflects oppressive narratives and redefines standards of beauty. It explores how Dalit aesthetics articulate a unique identity shaped by the experience of oppression, while critiquing the exclusivity and stereotypes embedded in traditional Brahminical literature. Through a detailed analysis of Dalit literature, folk art, and grassroots movements, the study demonstrates how Dalit aesthetics embody themes of resistance, defiance, and social justice. Unlike Brahminical aesthetics, which often prioritize purity and transcendence as markers of ‘high culture,’ Dalit aesthetics are grounded in material realities, reflecting the struggles and aspirations of marginalised groups. This duality also exposes the limitations of Brahminical elitism by disrupting its constructs of universality and neutrality, which are often portrayed as idealised standards of leadership. The paper argues that Dalit aesthetics play a vital role in advancing movements aimed at dismantling caste and fostering justice by creating alternative cultural narratives. Rather than being seen as secondary or alternative, Dalit aesthetics should be recognised as central to Indian cultural discourse. Such recognition amplifies the authentic Dalit voice, while promoting equitable and inclusive dialogue on Indian art and literature. By embracing the deep pluralism inherent in Dalit contributions, Indian culture can respect and value these expressions as integral rather than marginal. In this way, Dalit aesthetics emerge as a transformative force, capable of challenging and reforming the caste system, and addressing casteism, cultural hegemony, Indian art, social justice, caste abolition, counterhegemony, and cultural pluralism.
keywords: Dalit aesthetics, Brahminical elitism, Casteism, Social justice, Cultural pluralism