Synopsis This book explores different aspects of the histories of Dalit communities in colonial India. The essays bring together a variety of issues that have helped in framing Dalit identity and consciousness today, the roots of which go back to the colonial period. The essays trace the patterns of mobilisation and the process of empowerment of the so-called "lower castes", their ideology and perceptions, as also the activities of different Dalit organisations. The impact of colonial policies such as the communal award upon Dalits and changes in the socio-economic structure and the role of migration in transforming their economic status have been discussed. The Dalit attempt to change social practices and pose a ritual challenge to the hegemonic Brahmanical order and the issue of sacred prostitution, narrating a history of power, conflict and domination also figure in this collection.