Shailaja Paik on Ambedkar, caste "vulgarity", and women’s bodies

In this episode of Frontline Conversations, part of a special interview series for Dalit History Month, historian and MacArthur Fellow Shailaja Paik discusses her work on caste, gender, and Dalit women’s history in India. She explains how her research challenges dominant narratives by centring the lived experiences of Dalit women, whose voices have long been absent from mainstream archives. Paik speaks about her books on Dalit women’s education and the cultural history of Tamasha performers, highlighting how caste operates through everyday practices, institutions, and control over women’s bodies and labour. She also introduces her concept of the “sex-gender-caste complex” to explain layered forms of oppression. From the legacy of B.R. Ambedkar and anti-caste movements in Maharashtra to contemporary debates on feminism, academic freedom, and caste in global contexts, Paik provides an analysis of why caste remains central to understanding modern India. She also discusses the challenges of writing histories that were never meant to be preserved and the importance of recovering marginalised voices. Highlights: - Shailaja Paik on Dalit women’s education - “Education freed and disciplined at the same time” - The politics of caste, gender, and sexuality - The “sex-gender-caste complex” explained - Tamasha performers and hidden cultural histories - Ambedkar’s legacy and anti-caste movements - Why caste still shapes everyday life - Feminism, archives, and erased histories Perfect for: - Students of history, sociology, and gender studies - UPSC aspirants and competitive exam candidates - Researchers studying caste, Dalit history, and feminism - Journalists covering social justice and identity politics - Anyone interested in understanding caste in modern India Credits: Host: Ayesha Minhaz Camera: Mridula Vijayarangakumar Editing: Razal Pareed Producers: Mridula Vijayarangakumar and Kavya Pradeep M If you found this discussion insightful, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to Frontline for more in-depth conversations. Subscribe to Frontline: https://frontline.thehindu.com/online-subscription/ Follow us on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/frontlineindia/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/frontline_india Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/frontline.magazine LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/frontline-magazine-b12921295/ #ShailajaPaik #DalitHistory #Ambedkar #DalitWomen #CasteInIndia #IndianHistory #FeminismIndia #DalitFeminism #FrontlineConversations #SocialJustice #CasteSystem #GenderStudies