Shailaja Paik, a historian and author specializing in Dalit studies, gender, and sexuality in modern India, has become the first Dalit person to win the esteemed MacArthur Fellowship, often referred to as the 'genius grant.' Paik's exceptional scholarship has earned her an $800,000 award to continue her pioneering research, which explores the intersections of caste, gender, and sexuality.
Speaking about her achievement, Paik expressed her hope that non-Dalit communities would stand with Dalits to fight against caste and gender discrimination both in and outside of South Asia. "Dalits have sacrificed their blood and lives, and I hope that non-Dalits will join hands to fight caste, gender, and racial discrimination," she told ThePrint in an email from her home in Cincinnati, USA.
The MacArthur Fellowship, awarded to individuals demonstrating exceptional creative and intellectual capabilities, offers recipients the financial freedom to expand the scope of their work. Paik plans to use the fellowship to continue her research, collaborate with global colleagues on social justice issues, and shed further light on the ongoing caste struggles in India.
Born into a Dalit family in a rural part of Maharashtra, Paik grew up in challenging circumstances. Her father, the first Dalit in his village to earn a bachelor's degree, emphasized education and empowerment for his daughters. He attended night school and worked multiple jobs to earn a degree, setting a powerful example for Paik and her sisters.
Paik completed her education at Savitribai Phule Pune University and later obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Warwick, UK, with support from the Ford Foundation. Currently, she serves as a professor of history at the University of Cincinnati.
Paik's academic work has focused on Dalit feminist thought, using oral histories and archival materials to explore the experiences of Dalit women. Her research draws from English, Marathi, and Hindi sources and has helped elevate the often-overlooked stories of Dalit women and their fight for dignity. Her efforts have filled a crucial gap in mainstream Indian academia, where research on marginalized communities is limited. To preserve these stories, Paik is working on creating an archive of her interviews and fieldwork.
One of Paik's most impactful works, Dalit Women's Education in Modern India: Double Discrimination, focuses on the twin oppressions of caste and gender that Dalit women faced in their pursuit of education in the 20th century. This pioneering study drew significant attention among sociologists and scholars of education.
Her second book, The Vulgarity of Caste, examines the cultural and social dynamics of Tamasha, a traditional folk performance in Maharashtra. The work delves into how these performances, often considered vulgar, reflect broader issues of caste, gender, and exploitation, particularly for Dalit women.
The MacArthur Fellowship, often described as a 'no-strings-attached' grant, is awarded without any restrictions on how recipients use the funds. Paik's recognition adds to the growing list of Indian-origin MacArthur fellows, which includes mathematician Subhash Khot and bioengineer Manu Prakash. The fellowship has honored more than 1,100 individuals since its inception in 1981, with recipients chosen through a confidential nomination process.
For Paik, the fellowship provides the financial support needed to continue her research, but it also symbolizes a broader acknowledgment of the importance of Dalit studies and the struggle for social justice. "It's a fantastic reminder of the contributions that Dalit studies and scholars like me have made to global conversations on human rights," she said.
Her ongoing research seeks to illuminate the systemic inequalities perpetuated by caste, gender, and race, emphasizing the need for collective action to dismantle oppressive structures. Paik's work underlines that the burden of addressing these inequalities should not fall solely on the marginalized; privileged communities must also join in the fight for equality and justice.
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