Spatial Injustice and Memory: Dalit Refugees' resettlement in Post-1947 Delhi

The 1947 Partition of colonial India was a traumatic event, often remembered through refugee narratives in popular culture. Yet, these narratives overlook the Dalit (Untouchables/Harijans/Lowest Castes/Scheduled Castes) perspective. This project will examine, historically and ethnographically, the impact of Partition on Dalit refugee communities who were resettled in Delhi from West Pakistan. It has a threefold purpose: to trace their post- migration histories; understand the transmission of memory of resettlement; and recognize the significance of memory culture among the communities today. How did caste identity influence the struggles for rights, rehabilitation, and citizenship in the post-independence context? The case study will be conducted on the condition of the Dalit Refugees of Delhi’s Refugee Camps in the locality of Baljit Nagar and Rameshwari Nehru Nagar.

India had neither signed the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 nor its 1967 Protocol, which demarcated the definition and rights of ‘all’ refugees. This highlights that refugees relied on state benevolence rather than on a regime of rights to rebuild their lives with dignity. This research analyses the long-term consequences of Dalit refugees’ resettlement and rehabilitation. Firstly, I study the 'spatial segregation' of Dalits, by examining the interrelationship of caste dynamics and inequality in the resettlement plan. I focus on the state’s contribution to the refugees’ rights, resource distribution, and employment pattern through archival research. These aspects are essential for shedding light on the previously overlooked narrative of socially marginal communities in Partition history. Secondly, I will establish an understanding of memory transmission among Dalits. What are the remembered post-Partition interjections for Dalits? Thirdly, I explore the existing memory culture in the Dalit community of post-Partition narratives. I examine how generational differences shape narratives of displacement and rehabilitation through ethnographic fieldwork. This research not only contributes to academic scholarship but also advocates for more equitable interventions, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and fostering a deeper, more inclusive comprehension of historical events and their lasting repercussions.