Jatavs' Mobility for the New Identity, 1917-1942

History

At the beginning of the twentieth century, a social revolution was seen all over India, where the different Dalit groups started asserting a different or a new social identity. This assertion was intended by the social upliftment and this social upliftment was intended by the caste hierarchy. Every social group of that time, especially Dalits, wanted to be an uplifted community. Charmakars, who were considered untouchable, opposed such discrimination which was based on caste hierarchy. It was the time when caste rank was decided by caste occupation. However, it was not a new caste decision concept, rather it has been taking its shape since the later Vedic period. Now the caste concept become more rigid. On the other hand, other Dalit sub-groups like Jatav asserted a new social identity. They claimed a pure Kshatriya status under the caste hierarchy. They changed their occupation and renounced such work which was considered as polluting. Arya Samaj played a major role in Jatavs' mobilization. It cemented their roots for the Sanskritized Kshatriya identity. Many organizations and committees were established by the Jatav activists. The shared purpose of these Jatav organizations was to articulate a Kshatriya status, practice Hindu rituals and traditions, and maintain a pure and clean lifestyle of the Jatavs. In the transitional period of the Jatav mobility, the Jatavs' claim for the new Kshatriya identity was not accepted by the orthodox upper-caste Hindus. Therefore, the Jatav movement for the new identity turned into a separate caste identity under the enumerated caste list. Finally, they succeeded in 1942, the British parliament accepted Jatavs claim as a separate caste.

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