Caste, Merit and Reservation | Professor Vivek Kumar | Talk With Parmindar

Professor Vivek Kumar: A Leading Scholar of Caste, Social Justice, and the Bahujan Movement Hello everyone! Welcome to Talk With Parmindar. Today, we are joined by Professor Dr. Vivek Kumar, a distinguished sociologist at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), who is known for his academic work on social structures, the caste system, marginalized communities, and social justice. Professor Vivek Kumar is a professor at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems, under JNU’s School of Social Sciences. He completed his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. at JNU. His major areas of academic interest include the sociology of marginalized communities, the Indian diaspora, and the sociology of South Asia. His academic work is important for understanding caste, social exclusion, Dalit leadership, and Bahujan politics in Indian society. His books, including Dalit Leadership in India, India’s Roaring Revolution: Dalit Assertions and New Horizons, and Caste and Democracy in India, offer valuable insights into Dalit identity, social transformation, and the challenges facing Indian democracy. Professor Vivek Kumar has also worked on subjects such as the movement led by Kanshi Ram, Dalit consciousness, social representation, and the role of caste in Indian sociology. His work draws attention to an important question: To what extent have the constitutional ideals of equality and social justice been realized in Indian society? His academic experience also includes serving as a Visiting Associate Professor at Columbia University in New York and contributing as visiting faculty at Humboldt University in Germany. In today’s conversation, we will discuss the caste system, reservation, merit and equal opportunities, the Dalit-Bahujan movement, Kanshi Ram’s politics, and representation in Indian democracy. We will also explore the role of education, politics, and institutions in achieving social equality. So, let us welcome Professor Vivek Kumar to Talk With Parmindar for an insightful and thought-provoking conversation. 00:00 — Introduction 01:30 — Reservation and the Constitution 05:00 — Was Reservation Meant for Only 10 Years? 08:00 — History of Reservation in India 12:00 — Article 340 and OBC Reservation 16:00 — Reservation Is Not Poverty Alleviation 20:00 — Caste Discrimination and Social Segregation 24:00 — Ambedkar’s Vision of Self-Representation 28:00 — Kanshi Ram and the Mandal Movement 32:00 — SC/ST Act: Atrocities and Misuse Claims 36:00 — Reservation and First-Generation Beneficiaries 40:00 — Bahujan Students, Campus Discrimination and Suicides 44:00 — The Merit Debate: Caste, Privilege and Education 48:00 — Why Private Sector Reservation Matters 52:00 — Bahujan Contributions to Science and Knowledge 56:00 — Academic Ambedkar and Nation Building 59:00 — Books on Caste, Social Justice and Ambedkar 1:02:00 — Final Message to Bahujan Youth 1:05:00 — Outro Guest : Professor Vivek Kumar https://www.facebook.com/share/1Jz58XiQCL/? Host : Parmindar Ambar https://www.instagram.com/parmindar_ambar Studio Name : Talk With Parmindar https://www.instagram.com/talkwithparmindarteam Episode Editor : Hasim Saifi Producer : Upasana Ranga https://www.instagram.com/bindi.aur.saree_