Social Movements in Contemporary India

Krishna Menon is a Professor of Gender Studies at Ambedkar University, Delhi. Previously, she taught at Lady Shri Ram College. She was until recently one of the editors-in-chief of the International Feminist Journal of Politics. Her recent publications include the co-edited book Doing Feminisms in the Academy published in 2021 and Gendered Body in South Asia in 2023. She received the Saahas Pragya Award in 2020 for her contribution to higher education from WISCOMP and the AURPIS Award for Good Researcher from Ambedkar University Delhi in 2022 and 2023. She was also the recipient of the Teacher of Distinction award from the University of Delhi in 2009. Ranjana Subberwal, a postgraduate in sociology from Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, is presently the Chief Functionary of Raahein Development Society, an NGO committed to research, action, and advocacy for the marginalized sections of society. She has participated in and directed grassroots-level research and advocacy projects on socially relevant issues for over three decades. She has authored and co-authored a number of research reports, articles, and books for several organizations like Oxfam, Action Aid, and Indian People’s Tribunal. She is the author of Sociology Dictionary (2009). She has been teaching sociology to civil service aspirants (for Prelims and Mains examinations) for over 30 years, initially at Rau’s Study Circle and later at Alternative Learning Systems (ALS). She is a studio potter and has participated in several exhibitions and pottery events.

List of Figures vi Preface vii Acknowledgements ix List of Abbreviations x 1 Understanding Social Movements: An Introduction 1 2 The Quest for Dignity: Dalit Movement 34 3 Towards Equality: Women’s Movement 61 4 The Land and the Tiller: Farmer’s Movement 87 5 Struggle for Rights: Disability Movement 99 6 Nature and People: Environmental Movement 131 7 Difference and Democracy: Queer Movement 164 8 Autonomy and Association: Civil Society Mobilizations 184 Index 213