THE REPRESENTATION OF CASTE CONFLICTS IN SOCIAL MEDIA: AN ENQUIRY

Abstract

:The representation of caste conflicts in India after independence has periodically surfaced in the public domain, either explicitly or implicitly. The political parties, social organizations and bureaucracy have been the arena where caste conflicts often found its manifestation. In the contemporary context, the Internet has become an important means of communication, by providing various (virtually social) platforms directly to the citizens. The concept of ‘gatekeeping’ denotes the act of controlling the opinions of readers in traditional print media. But social media platforms are thrown open to all types of users without any filtration of information and opinion. Consequently, interaction on social media has assumed the form of a battleground for caste identities and their expression. While social media does empower the civil society, its use by citizens is also enabling a divisive discourse about castes. This was observed strikingly during the recent ‘Maratha Morcha’ and ‘Dalit Morcha’ in Maharashtra. This study is an empirical analysis of the expression of caste conflicts on Facebook a year before and after these ‘morcha’s in Maharashtra, India, and the implications of such phenomena with respect to Facebook users in particular and the wider society in general. The study findings reveal that the use of facebook and its extremist expressions of caste conflict are negatively affecting the social fabric and the peaceful coexistence of its citizens.

Keywords:

: Caste Conflict, Social Media, Maratha and Dalit Morcha, Freedom of Expression,