Samajik Samvaad is an initiative of a group of young professionals to reach out to the various sections of society, especially Dalits and subaltern castes, and establish a dialogue on socio-economic and political issues.

India in 21st century is undergoing massive churn driven by a youth bulge, economic transformation and urbanisation. The old social order, certainties and politics of the past are getting disrupted under the weight of increasing socio-economic mobility. It is, therefore, pertinent that we engage with society to shape the future social and political trajectory to create a modern prosperous and strong India. Our idea of New India believes in national integration, social equality, harmony and Antyodaya (over all development of the last women standing in que).

But the change process also opens space for disruptive forces to take root and create social conflicts and political unrest by fomenting misunderstanding between different sections of the society.

Such tendencies can only be countered by a continuous open dialogue where people’s aspirations and grievances can be openly discussed, and consensus on the causes and solutions of problems can be built.

One major issue is the caste issue, especially the continued marginalisation and social handicaps faced by the Dalit castes. Several government initiatives aim to address these issues, but we believe that it is ultimately a social issue and can only be resolved through social action.

And of late, several important changes are visible on this front. Most notable among them is the growth of the Dalit middle class and the increasing assertion of the heterogeneity of aspirations of the Dalit castes.

The emergence of a Dalit middle and neo-middle class is one of the crucial socio-economic phenomena of our times. This small but rapidly growing class is becoming a strong supporter of economic reforms and good governance. Also, there is an increasing assertion of the heterogeneity of the Dalit community, where every caste is mobilising to become visible to the State and claim their legitimate representation and resources of the State.

With this increasing heterogeneity comes different narratives, cultural moorings, immediate concerns, and aspirations which requires an evolution in the political structure to accommodate the new trends.

It’s, therefore, important for us to reach out to the middle and upper-middle class of the Dalit castes and establish a vibrant dialogue on the issues facing the country today. We must also reach out to the other subaltern castes who are newly mobilising for visibility in the social and political arena to understand their concerns and aspirations.

Samajik Samvaad is a platform for such an outreach where youth and professionals from diverse backgrounds will meet and interact with the community members and discuss various issues, government policies, and schemes. It will foster the mature political culture of debates and discussions in the society to envision a New India of prosperity, equality, and justice.