Collective Action, relevant truth and contemporary caste movements

The religious lawbooks written by Brahmins ensured the hegemony of Dwijas for a large part of Indian History. It is yet another manifestation of the fact that 'Knowledge is power and power is knowledge' . However, recent caste movements bring out various legends which are popular within the respective castes. These alternative legends have an important role in caste mobility because they make it possible for any particular caste to uphold their belief in caste mobility and keep the hope alive. Now when lower castes are taking collective action and are gaining strength, these legends are being unsurfaced and discussed in open. For instance, Kurmis ( an importnt backwrd caste in North India), believed in their Kshatriya status even before they claimed it through their caste organisation, which is now called 'Kurmi Kshatriya Mahasabha'. We also see such legends in Dalit literature. Notably, 'Achhut' a novel written by Daya Panwar ( a Mahar) mentions such legends. However the candidness of Dalit literature has only come after Ambedkar movement.

I experienced such a legend during my fieldwork, when I heard it from Meenas of Udaipur in Rajasthan. It was about how meenas and rajputs once were equals and how some of their ancestors were wrongly accused of sin, resulting in lowering down of their caste status. Now, when Meenas have gained strength, many of them have begun to use sirnames of rajputs and have taken up gotras of rajputs. All this was prestent earlier too, but in a latent form. The relevant truth till then was what told by Brahmins and other higher castes. The truth of Meenas has come up after gaining political power, which in turn they gained through collective action.