Rethinking India: The Dalit Truth

The Dalit Truth is a symphony of Dalit voices as they call out to the future. The multitude of Dalit truths and their battles against the lies perpetrated by the caste system are reflected in the pages of this book, pointing towards a future filled with promise and prospects for the coming generations.

The eighth volume in the Rethinking India series, published in collaboration with the Samrudhha Bharat Foundation, probes into the pathway to be followed by the Dalits as articulated by Ambedkar's Constitution. The authors featured in the volume come from various fields of social existence and bring narratives of different colours-not just stories of dismay but those of possibilities. The essays offer deeper insights into social, educational, economic and cultural challenges and opportunities faced by the Dalits, the varied strategies of political parties for their mobilization and the choice to be made by Dalits for realizing equality.

The informed readers of today will find these pages both enlightening and refreshing. The Dalit Truth is a dossier for tomorrow.

K. Raju entered the Indian Administrative Service in 1981. His passion to listen and respond to people's needs while serving as district collector, Nellore and Kurnool, his pioneering work on self-help groups of women and delivery of MGNREGA with transparency and accountability, while heading the Rural Development Department of Andhra Pradesh, empowered the poor immensely. He worked with the National Advisory Council and contributed to the formulation of rights-based pro-poor legislations and policies, securing long-lasting benefits to the country's poor. Raju joined the Congress party in 2013 and is currently the National Coordinator for the SC, ST, OBC and Minorities Departments of the AICC.