Current Affairs question from JKAS Prelims, 2021 by JKPSC
Ruth Manorama is an Indian woman activist. Mention her area of work
Last updated May 15, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option A —
Working for Dalit women 91(A)
Ruth Manorama is one of India’s most prominent advocates for the rights of Dalit women. She has been a vocal leader in highlighting the "triple burden" faced by this community: gender (as women), caste (as Dalits), and class (as the economically impoverished).
Key Contributions of Ruth Manorama
National Federation of Dalit Women (NFDW): She was instrumental in founding the NFDW in 1995, which was one of the first major organized platforms specifically for Dalit women's issues.
International Advocacy: She played a significant role in the Beijing World Conference on Women (1995), ensuring that the specific intersectional struggles of Dalit women were recognized on a global stage.
Awards: In recognition of her lifelong commitment to social justice, she was awarded the Right Livelihood Award (often called the "Alternative Nobel Prize") in 2006.
Core Philosophy
Manorama’s work centers on the idea that Dalit women are the "Dalits among the Dalits." Her activism focuses on:
Securing Land Rights: Advocating for ownership rights for marginalized women.
Ending Violence: Addressing the disproportionate levels of caste-based violence and sexual assault against Dalit women.
Political Participation: Encouraging and training women from marginalized backgrounds to take up roles in local governance (Panchayats).
Fast Facts for Revision:
Hometown: Originally from Chennai, but her work has been heavily centered in Bangalore and at the national level.
Key Concept: Intersectionality (though a global term, she pioneered its practical application in the Indian caste context).
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
