Performance and Performativity of Dalit Students Politics in India: The Justice for Rohith Movement

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Malavika Priyadarshini Rao

Performance and Performativity of Dalit Students Politics in India

The Justice for Rohith Movement

Malavika Priyadarshini Rao

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English

Routledge
18 July 2025

Performance art; Theatre Studies; Regional studies; Pressure groups & lobbying

Series: Routledge Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies

This book examines the significance of body, space, sound/voice/music and objects of resistance in everyday performance of Dalit student protests, focusing on the protests which erupted after Rohith Vemula, a Dalit PhD student, died,by suicide in Hyderabad Central University on 17 January 2016 in Hyderabad, India.

Rohith’s death sparked national and international outrage and led to the shutdown of the University for over a month and gave rise to the ‘Justice for Rohith movement’, which continued for over a year. Rohith’s death became a symbolic representation of other Dalit deaths due to systemic caste violence; the symbolism of his death expanded to include other marginalised groups who have faced systemic violence historically. The author highlights five distinct aesthetics prominent in Dalit student activist performance practices: (1) folk performance traditions; (2) counter-interpretation and representation of Hindu mythology and Hinduism; (3) inspiration from Ambedkar and Buddhist iconography; (4) Christian church hymns; and (5) the text of Rohith’s last letter.

In each chapter, the book explores how protesters draw on aesthetics and strategies from other political movements. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars in theatre and performance studies.

By: Malavika Priyadarshini Rao
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
Weight: 453g
ISBN: 9781032613925
ISBN 10: 1032613920
Series: Routledge Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies
Pages: 142
Publication Date: 18 July 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Malavika Priyadarshini Rao is an Assistant Professor at Christ Deemed to be University, Bangalore.