Paper short abstract:

This paper will try to study the linkages of gender and traditional social structure and role of politics in altering their position in the context of BSP politics of social change in Uttar Pradesh.

Paper long abstract:

Modern political institution has played a great role in redefining the social structure of the society. To recognize the subaltern's role and their empowerment is going to bring in the real essence of modern institutions. To examine the traditional order like caste in India is a remarkable parameter to locate the role of modern political institution. The subaltern position can be understood by studying the situation of dalit women in UP.

Post 1991 era has witnessed many series of changes in socio-economic structure of the Indian society. There were also many drastic changes which were happening in the subaltern politics. In Uttar Pradesh the emergence of BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) has created a new space for the marginalized sections of the society. It has given new politico-ideological structure for the aspiration of the people who were at the lower strata of the society. Identifying the power politics of the society and its bases within the state would definitely ensure the dalit women to enjoy a new type of political aspiration thereby creating their own space within the society. In this connection this paper is going to understand the role of a political party and its agenda in the transformation of the society.

The paper will mainly focus on the situation of women in Pratapgarh district, which is well known for their backwardness and feudal structure of society. Accordingly the paper will try to study the linkages of gender and traditional social structure and role of politics in altering their position. It will also try the impact of socio-political order existing in India which is governed by the old principal of Hindu ideological base and the need to locate the role of modern institution in transforming the caste-based traditional institutions. The central aim of the study is to focus on the modern institutional role and their capacity to transform the social position of dalit women.