Religious reforms are deeply rooted in demands for access to and reinterpretation of the domain of worship. Besides they are also associated with the assertion for right to equality and social justice. Together they are likely to contribute to the process of democratisation of religion. In 1947, Pandurang Sadashiv Sane (better known as Sane Guruji) went on a satyagraha to secure entry for Dalits to the Vitthal temple in Pandharpur. At our Online Talk #DemocratisingReligion, political scientist Dr Chaitra Redkar puts this incident in context to the internal dynamics of the process of democratisation of religion. In what way do the religious reforms contribute to the process of building a more egalitarian and just society? Are the religious reforms and social change internally connected? These are some of concerns she tries to address.

About the speaker:

Dr Chaitra Redkar is a political scientist and has spent over 25 years in academia. She is currently the Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the prestigious academic institute IISER, Pune. Prior to that, she taught Political Science at SNDT Women’s University in Mumbai. Her research focuses on the intellectual history of modern India, especially how Indian thinkers shaped ideas about community, nationhood, state, civil society, development, and justice.