Question

Sociologists, attempts to classify Dalit movements have led them to believe that they belong to all the types, namely reformative, redemptive, revolutionary. …the anti-caste movement which began in the 19th century under the inspiration of Jotiba Phule and was carried out in the 1920s by the non-Brahmin movements in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu and then developed under the leadership of Dr. Ambedkar had characteristics of all types. At its best it was revolutionary in terms of society and redemptive in terms of individuals. In partial context, the ‘post Ambedkar Dalit movement’ has had revolutionary practice. It has provided alternative ways of living, at some points limited and at some points radical and all-encompassing, ranging from changes in behaviour such as giving up eating beaf to religious conversion. It has focussed on changes in the entire society, from radical revolutionary goal of abolishing caste oppression and economic exploitation to the limited goals of providing scope for members of Scheduled Caste to achieve social mobility. But on the whole…this movement has been a reformist movement. It has mobilized along caste lines, but only made half hearted efforts to destroy caste; it has attempted and achieved some real though limited societal changes with gains especially for the educated sections among Dalits, but it has failed to transform society sufficiently to raise the general mass from what is still among the most excruciating poverty in the world. 

(a) Define any two types of social movements. 

(b) Dalit movements belong to all types of social movements. Explain.

Answer 1

The two types of social movements. 

They can be classified as: 

(i) redemptive or transformatory; 

(ii) reformist; and 

(iii) revolutionary. 

A redemptive social movement aims to bring about a change in the personal consciousness and actions of its individual members. 

Reformist social movements strive to change the existing social and political arrangements through gradual, incremental steps. 

Revolutionary social movements attempt to radically transform social relations, often by capturing state power.

Dalit movements belong to all types of social movements 

• It was revolutionary in terms of society and redemptive in terms of individuals. 
• The ‘post Ambedkar Dalit movement’ has had revolutionary practice. It has provided alternative ways of living, at some points limited and at some points radical and all-encompassing, ranging from  changes in behaviour such as giving up eating beaf to religious conversion. 
• It has focused on changes in the entire society, from radical revolutionary goal of abolishing caste oppression and economic exploitation to the limited goals of providing scope for members of Scheduled Caste to achieve social mobility. 

On the whole, this movement has been a reformist movement. It has mobilized along caste lines; it has attempted and achieved societal changes with gains especially for the educated sections among Dalits.