Dismantling the caste-class dichotomy: An Ambedkarist-Marxist reading of Dalit oppression in seasons of the palm

Abstract

This study investigates the pervasive influence of the caste system, which retards Dalits’ social security and economic stability through systemic oppression. Following textual analysis, it unveils the intricate layers of the novel Seasons of the Palm to exemplify the congruence between caste and class by delineating how this integrated system perpetuates the material exploitation and social marginalisation of Dalits in the village. Foregrounding Marxism and Gramsci’s discourse, it contends that the hegemonic power exerted by caste is maintained not only through coercion but also through the consent of Dalits, whose material dependency and ascribed social identity compel them to comply with caste dogmas. Moreover, this research situates the novel in the Marxist framework and Ambedkar’s insights to exemplify how economic deprivation and social exclusion of Dalits are concomitant with everyday realities by highlighting the interlocking dynamics of caste, class, and hegemony, and concluding that the annihilation of caste is a pragmatic attempt to create a classless society. Finally, this study insists on abolishing the caste system not merely as a social reform but to achieve the political and economic empowerment of Dalits, thereby contributing to broader debates on equality, social justice, and radical restructuring of Indian society with fraternity.