Professore di storia sociale e antropologia culturale, il suo lavoro è caratterizzato da un profondo impegno nel folklore, nella storia e nelle espressioni culturali. La sua poesia, celebrata per la sua urgenza e forma, approfondisce temi di identità e trasformazione sociale. Applica la sua vasta esperienza accademica per analizzare la politica e i movimenti sociali, in particolare nel contesto dell'India settentrionale. I suoi scritti sono caratterizzati da un approccio interdisciplinare che fonde la creazione letteraria con la ricerca antropologica.
Kanshiram's journey from rural Punjab to becoming a prominent Dalit leader is explored in this biography. It highlights his early influences, including his connection with Ambedkarites in Pune, and details his pivotal role in founding BAMCEF and the Bahujan Samaj Party in 1984. The book emphasizes his significant contributions to the Dalit movement and his status as a revered icon alongside Ambedkar.
The book explores the transformation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) into a more technologically adept and socially inclusive organization, which has successfully engaged marginalized communities like Dalits and tribals. It highlights how the RSS's strategies of social work and appropriation of identity contribute to the political success of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India. Through extensive field research in Uttar Pradesh, the author reveals the complex dynamics of Hindutva and its impact on Indian democracy, challenging conventional perceptions of caste in electoral politics.
Exploring the impact of migration on popular culture, this book examines the identity-making processes of nearly 200 million Indians globally, spanning from colonial eras to the present. It delves into how cultural formations evolve in both homelands and destinations, highlighting the dynamic interplay between migration and cultural identity.