Dalit Feminism: A Weapon Against the Two-Edged Sword of Caste and Patriarchy: Dr. Ambedkar's Enduring Legacy

Abstract

This article explores the foundational role of Dalit feminism as a radical, intersectional response to the two-edged sword of caste and patriarchy, grounded in the enduring legacy of Dr B. R. Ambedkar. Tracing both historical context and contemporary manifestations, it examines how Dalit women's oppression is structured by a fusion of caste, gender, and class-based hierarchies. It engages deeply with Ambedkar's feminist praxis—his advocacy for women's education, his challenge to caste-coded embodiment during the Mahad Satyagraha, his critique of Brahmanical patriarchy in The Rise and Fall of Hindu Women, and his transformative vision for self-liberation through Buddhism.
The article then shifts focus to present-day Dalit women's activism, showcasing their leadership in anti-caste and feminist movements, both through grassroots organising and global advocacy platforms. It argues that Dalit feminism is not just a theoretical framework, but a living, breathing resistance led by women who continue to challenge systemic violence while reimagining justice itself. In doing so, the article contributes to a growing body of work that centres Dalit women not as marginal subjects, but as central architects of India's most vital social transformations.