Politics of Accommodation and Governmentality: State, Welfare and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes in India

Abstract

The denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes (DTNT and SNT’s) are one of the most subjugated groups in Indian society. Due to the historic injustice they continue to remain at the periphery of development and struggling for their constitutional right to justice, equality and freedom. This paper attempts to explore few intricate questions for instance: Why they are not accommodated and represented adequately as legitimate citizens of democracy? and Are they victims of the politics of accommodation and the targets of developmental governmentality? To investigate the research problem under investigation the paper applies critical discourse method and “politics of accommodation and governmentatility” as prime theoretical foundations. The paper concludes that (DTNT and SNT’s) have become the hapless victims of the politics of accommodation since colonial period and the post-colonial state also failed to decolonise this false construction tactically. The paper suggest that the meaningful accommodation of (DTNT and SNT’s) in the democratic structures is centred on i) how state and the larger society build necessary and sufficient conditions and ii) time bound strategic action framework for the legitimate dialog with democratic and political institution for the welfare of historically vulnerable masses.