Nidhi: Good morning everyone. Today, Riya and I will be presenting our field project
titled “Neighborhood in Chembur: Lines that Divide through Caste, Class and
Inequality.”
This project was part of our Politics and Society in Maharashtra course. We chose
Chembur because it’s a cosmopolitan area that brings together diverse caste and class
groups, making it the perfect site to explore how these identities continue to shape
everyday life.
(Introduction):
To begin with, both caste and class are systems of hierarchy, but they work differently.
Caste is something you’re born into – it’s rigid, hereditary, and linked to ideas of purity
and social rules.
Class, on the other hand, depends on things like income, education, and lifestyle – it’s
more flexible, people can move up or down.
But in reality, caste and class overlap. For instance, upper castes are often found in
higher classes, while Dalits and OBCs still face barriers to moving up.
Our study in Chembur was about exploring how these two identities shape people’s
everyday lives.
Nidhi: In Maharashtra, caste and class are deeply intertwined.

The Marathas have historically been a dominant caste with significant political
and social power.

Meanwhile, the Ambedkarite Dalit movement has been central in challenging
caste hierarchies.

Reservation demands—from Marathas, Dhangars, and others—also show how
caste continues to influence policy.
When it comes to class, the divide is also sharp. Urban centers like Mumbai have
thriving middle and upper classes due to industry and services. But rural Maharashtra
continues to face agrarian distress. Migrant workers from UP and Bihar in urban areas
form a precarious working class