Event Details

This workshop draws on two ongoing research projects to examine how access to further education and occupational mobility are mediated by caste, religion, and gender across South Asia (notably Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh) today.

The workshop will be held on 23rd April 2024 (10-4pm UK) at Lancaster University, in support of Dalit History Month.

The workshop will include a mixture of in-person and online guest speakers, reflecting on the following thematic areas:

• Session 1: Caste and religion across South Asia (notably Pakistan, Nepal, India, Bangladesh). This includes a wider discussion of historical formation and reproduction of caste and religion, and contemporary challenges facing Dalits across the region.

• Session 2: Challenges to, and opportunities for accessing further education (beyond secondary school) for Dalit, religious minorities in South Asia today.

• Session 3: Challenges to, and opportunities for accessing a range of employment opportunities with/without further education (outside hereditary or ascribed occupations).

Connecting across these wider themes, we want to highlight the actions of, and ways to support Dalit youth in breaking through barriers in access to further education and employment, as well as progressive examples of educational and occupational mobility.

We aim to create an inclusive and supportive space for reflection and dialogue, and encourage participation from underrepresented scholars and activists.

To sign up, please register as below!

The workshop is supported by the British Council, with additional support from FASS Decolonising Lancaster.