Dalit Activists Promote Social Change Differently: Challenges and Opportunities of Digital Activism and Social Change in Indian Society

Abstract

While the power of the internet is often assumed to be universally pervasive and inherently democratic, the unique challenges faced by disadvantaged groups in utilising it within repressive socio-political contexts are less understood. We examine how Dalits, a historically marginalised group in India living under repressive conditions, engage in online political activism. Drawing upon semi-structured interviews with 20 Dalit activists (15 men and 5 women), we argue that online political activism enables Dalits to circumvent the constraints imposed by caste-biased traditional media. This empowerment and mobilisation of the Dalit movement are achieved through identity consolidation, politicisation and the formation of strong solidarity networks. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we developed three themes that explore Dalit activists' strategic utilisation of digital technology and the potential ways social identity processes unfold in a repressive environment. The first theme highlights the ways in which Dalit activists navigate their exclusion from the mainstream by using social media to emphasise their grievances, build pressure on authorities and gain attention of the public. The second illustrates the strategies Dalit activists use to develop the social psychological resources needed for social change, through building online community and political solidarity. Finally, the third highlights Dalit activists' difficulties when interacting online, such as incurring state-sanctioned punitive actions, increasing hostility on digital media platforms and costs to well-being. We discuss the implications of our study for understanding political activism among marginalised groups and collective action under repressive contexts.