Kanshiram Leader of the Dalits

Drawing on myriad oral and written sources, Badri Narayan shows how Kanshiram rouses Dalits' self-respect with his homespun idiom, cycle rallies and, uniquely, the use of local folk myths. In contrast to Ambedkar, who sought to annihilate caste, Kanshiram forged Dalit identity as a source of political empowerment and struck opportunistic alliances with higher-caste parties-a vision that his protégée, Mayawati, continues topursue. Narayan also describes Kanshiram's extraordinary relationship with Mayawati, right until his death.
Authoritative and insightful, this is a rare portrait of the man who changed the face of dalit society and, indeed, of Indian politics.