The Outcaste becomes the Guru

India’s deep-rooted caste system, a legacy of over two millennia, has led to an extensive, systematic stigmatization of lower castes, which, in turn led to their marginalization and disenfranchisement. The few centuries of British rule, the implementation of caste-based affirmative action movements have resulted in limited upward mobilization of these groups. However, most from these marginalized groups still suffer from lack of education and gainful career opportunities. India’s Dalit communities often suffer due to the stigma associated with the community’s practices.
In this research project, we attempt to focus on a group of community-focused entrepreneurs emerging from these marginalized communities, who are attempting to break the stigma and taboo around the caste boundaries and venture out to remove the indignation suffered by the communities they belong to by adopting professions and building a narrative that legitimizes their consumption practices.