Including Caste and Caste-Based Sexual Violence in Teaching

In India, sexual violence today is a routine form of violence directed against Dalit women--those from the most subordinated castes of India. Dalit is a socio-political identity affirmed by India's ex-untouchable communities, historically considered "service castes" and exploited based on their birth. While all Dalits are exploited for their physical labor and given brutal punishments for challenging or not abiding by the caste hierarchy, Dalit women particularly face gendered violence like sexual violence by upper-caste men. The author emphasizes that researching the phenomenon of caste-based sexual violence becomes essential. In this paper, the author argues that along with researching, even discussing and teaching about this violence through various social sciences like sociology, history, and women's studies becomes crucial. A teacher can transform the classroom as a space to discuss this violence, acknowledge this violence, and even initiate some healing.