Who Names, Who Belongs: Caste, Memory, and the Making of Fokatpura

Why does living off scraps become a necessity? Who decides whose labour is worth discarding, whose hunger is an afterthought? And more crucially—why do these so-called ‘Fokatpuras’ always end up being Dalit settlements? Origins & Meaning Fokat (फोकट) means free, worthless, or without value. Pura (पुरा) typically refers to a settlement, village, or locality. Together, Fokatpura implies a place associated with ‘freeloaders’ or ‘unproductive’ people—a label often used in a derogatory way. April marks Dalit History Month: a time to reflect on the resilience, struggles, and ongoing challenges faced by Dalit communities in India. It is a month dedicated to understanding their history, the legacies of systemic oppression, and the ongoing fight for dignity and justice.  This year, we took