SOCIAL EXCLUSION AND MARGINAL COMMUNITIES IN INDIA : HISTORICAL AND FUTURE PERSP

This volume presents a comprehensive exploration of the existential and experiential realities of marginalized communities in Indian society. The essays collectively engage with the philosophical, epistemological, theoretical, conceptual, and empirical foundations necessary for a nuanced understanding of marginality in India.
The volume interrogates the genealogy of the concept of “exclusion,” tracing its first usage in the Indian context and examining the circumstances of its emergence. Further, the essays demonstrate that marginality in India – much like elsewhere – arises from multiple sources: structural, social, economic, political, cultural, educational, religious, and geographical. A particularly novel contribution of this volume is its discussion of digital marginalization, an emerging and critical dimension of exclusion in the 21st century. By engaging with this diversity, the volume highlights the multifaceted nature of marginality in Indian society. It identifies scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, women, transgender persons, the elderly, persons with disabilities, religious and linguistic minorities, and migrant populations as among the most marginalized groups.
This volume will be of great value to both general readers and specialists. It will serve as a useful resource for students, researchers, teachers, administrators, policymakers, political leaders, and NGOs working toward a more inclusive society.