Caste Dynamics and Urban Transformation in Ahmedabad's Real Estate Market
Explore how caste influences the formation of new neighborhoods in Ahmedabad, particularly in the context of rapid urbanization and economic mobility.
CasteUrbanizationReal EstateAhmedabadMarginalizationReal EstateAug 22, 2025
The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, 26th August 2025, at 3:45 PM IST and will be conducted online via Zoom. Registration is required to attend this insightful session.
'What are you?' (translated) is a common question heard in many Indian languages, often used to inquire about a person's caste identity during the house-hunting process. This question underscores the deep-rooted influence of caste on the real estate market in Indian cities, where caste-homogeneous neighborhoods are a well-documented phenomenon.
Dyotana Banerjee's study, based on extensive fieldwork in the Gomtipur-Dani Limda and Chandkheda areas of Ahmedabad, examines the role of caste in the formation of new neighborhoods. The research explores how caste operates as a principal axis in the context of city-remaking projects, capturing the major shifts and continuities in the cultural and political production of pre and post-liberalisation Dalit neighborhoods.
The study reveals that caste is strategically masked and intensified in the formation of new neighborhoods. It investigates the mechanisms by which inter-caste and intra-caste exclusion are produced in emergent middle-class areas. Banerjee argues that the economic mobility associated with rapid urbanisation leads to increasingly homogenous and exclusionary spaces, both in terms of class within caste and vice versa.
Middle-class and working-class Dalit identities are articulated through various socio-cultural dispositions, often embedded in a broader regional political narrative. The emergent politics and spaces draw on and simultaneously reconstitute hegemonic norms of aesthetics, political aspirations, and contestations. This complex interplay reveals the multifaceted nature of the urban-caste nexus.
Dyotana Banerjee, the speaker, is an Assistant Professor of Politics at the School of Interwoven Arts and Sciences at Krea University, India. She holds a Ph.D. from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar and an M.Sc. in International Development from The University of Edinburgh. Her research interests include the politics of urban spaces, caste, labour, social movements, and identity politics in Gujarat.
Banerjee has published extensively in various academic journals, including Contemporary South Asia, South Asian History and Culture, Critical Asian Studies, and International Journal of Urban and Regional Research. Her work provides valuable insights into the dynamics of caste and urban transformation in India.
For those interested in previous workshops, a collection of videos is available for viewing. The workshop promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between caste, urban development, and social mobility in Ahmedabad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main focus of the workshop?
The workshop focuses on the role of caste in the formation of new neighborhoods in Ahmedabad, exploring how caste dynamics influence urban spaces and social mobility.
Who is the speaker for the workshop?
The speaker is Dyotana Banerjee, an Assistant Professor of Politics at Krea University, India, with expertise in the politics of urban spaces, caste, and identity politics.
When and where is the workshop taking place?
The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, 26th August 2025, at 3:45 PM IST and will be conducted online via Zoom.
Why is the real estate market in Indian cities tied to caste?
The real estate market in Indian cities is tied to caste due to the deep-rooted social and cultural norms that influence housing decisions and the formation of caste-homogeneous neighborhoods.
What are the key findings of Dyotana Banerjee's study?
The study reveals that economic mobility and rapid urbanisation lead to increasingly homogenous and exclusionary spaces, both in terms of class within caste and vice versa, and that caste is strategically masked and intensified in the formation of new neighborhoods.
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