Contextualizing the Identity of Dalit Self: A Phenomenological Reading

<strong>Centre for Philosophy School of Social Sciences</strong> a Talk on <strong>Contextualizing the Identity of Dalit Self: A Phenomenological Reading </strong> by <strong>Dr. S. Panneerselvam</strong> Date: <strong>October 7, 2015</strong> <strong>Abstract : </strong>Heterophenomenlogy is a method of phenomenological description that can do justice to the most private and effable subjective experiences. The pain, agony and suffering of the Dalit self is expressed through this. The social stratification in India does not allow the oppressed and the suppressed to be treated on par with others. In the name of caste, the welfare of the backward and the scheduled caste and tribes are neglected. Dr. Ambedkar says that caste has killed public spirit and has made public opinion impossible. Habermasian notion of "inclusion of the other" and the "symmetrical understanding" are useful in this context. Gopal Guru rightly says that many of the Dalits who are the regular recipients of humiliating experiences may find it morally embarrassing to make their experience public. Sarukkai's phenomenology of touching tells that the displacement of the characteristic to the untouchables illustrates not just the "outsourcing" of untouchability but also a philosophical move of "supplementation".