This study traces the trajectory and discourse changes of the lower-caste Dalits, who sought to secure equal rights and political rights while surviving between British political power and the social power of the upper-caste, against the backdrop of the two-tier domination of colonial India’s ruling structure. This study focuses on the Dalit movement from the early 1920s to before India’s independence in 1947. Particularly towards the end of the colonial era, the dynamics of power shifted rapidly, and although the number of Indian voters was limited, they exerted unprecedented influence in the political arena of elections, affecting the power structure of the majority and various minority groups.
The Dalit movement is characterized by numerous ideological orientations, regional characteristics, affiliations with different political parties, and castes involved. Even within the same movement, many layers were present, resulting in a fragmented appearance. However, this study focused on political and social characteristics from the late colonial period until the early Republic period, emphasizing the context of power transfer from British rulers to upper-caste Hindus within the two-tier power structure. The study also considered the changes in the public sphere brought about by political and social changes. Therefore, among the various Dalit and lower-caste movements, this paper described the changes in Dalit discourse, focusing on the Dalit movements that were politicized and nationalized in response to the political and social trends and changes in the public sphere at the time.
During the process of power transfer in the late colonial period and the formation of the Republic of India, communication between the two power centers—the colonial government and the upper-caste-dominated Congress—and the Dalit forces was continuous. This process saw the formation, interaction, and evolution of Dalit discourse. Particularly, the Dalits, as a minority group, refined and sophisticated their movement’s discourse in response to the political and social trends of the time to be recognized as an independent political entity and to establish themselves as equal citizens. It is necessary to continuously examine how the Dalit discourse has evolved in response to political and social changes after independence, especially in the unprecedented political context of India since the 2000s.