Together with its companion, Claiming Power from Below, this volume explores various issues such as hierarchy and reform, the role of religion, the idea of resistance, the functionality of the continued use of the term, 'Dalit', and the scope of current and future Dalit literature. This volume focuses on the role of religion- encompassing beliefs, ethics, ritual, devotional literature, folk culture, popular narratives, and artistic expression-and its role in the construction and deconstruction of caste and power in India. In this context it also examines the hierarchy of gender.