ABSTRACT

Historically, the ‘Dalit Question’, that is, the abolition of discrimination against dalits, improving their socio-economic situation and ensuring them a share in political power, has occupied centre stage in Indian politics. Since the colonial period political leaders have put forward various paths for the upliftment of this section, hoping thereby to mobilize them and obtain their support. This issue was the cause of the disagreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Ambedkar, which left its imprint on future political debates. Although the Constitution granted reservation and other benefits to the dalits, the issue of dalit upliftment was far from being resolved and has remained a salient question in post-independence India.