Manikya Manaswini Week 8

Week 8 summary of Nicolas Jaoul – “learning the use of symbolic means: Dalits, Ambedkar statues and the State in Uttar Pradesh”
The main point that comes through in N. Jaoul’s paper “learning the use of symbolic means: Dalits, Ambedkar statues and the state in Uttar Pradesh” is that Dalit sections of the society feel accepted among the wider society by way of seeing their struggles finding a spotlight and without any doubt Ambedkar stands as a strong icon or symbol of Dalit struggle. Ambedkar has always stood for Dalit aspirations of equality as citizens by way of democracy, so to see this powerful symbol in public space and be embraced for what it stands for by everyone gives them hope of acceptance and a renewed aspiration of equality. Not only does the use of Ambedkar as a symbol make Dalit feel accepted but it also empowers them to assert their existence against oppression and discrimination. Jaoul has tried to uncover the interaction and relationship of the Dalits with the State of Uttar Pradesh by understanding historically how the use of these symbols has changed, how it has mobilized the Dalit movement in the state and how the Dalit conceptualize the state to be.