| Abstrakt: |
This paper attempts to unfold the ordinary life of a 'Marginal Caste' referred to as the 'Valmikis', the lowest in the traditional caste hierarchy, closely associated with those engaged in 'unclean occupations'. Over the years, this Marginal Caste has been urbanised to a large extent as sanitary workers in cities. The urbanised population of the Marginal Caste, found residing in segregated community clusters, is noted as replicating the rural caste milieu in urban centres. However, in spite of its marginality and vulnerable position, urbanisation and urbanism have provided opportunities for them to assert its identity and claim for space in socio-economic and political life of the city. In this context, this paper examines where the Marginal Caste is located in the urban landscape and how it has been able to claim space in the urban way of life in the city of Ahmedabad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
