Highlights
- Shailaja Paik wins $800,000 MacArthur “Genius” Grant for Dalit women research.
- Her work explores the intersection of caste, gender, and sexuality in India.
- Paik is a distinguished history professor at the University of Cincinnati.
- The MacArthur Fellowship recognizes individuals with extraordinary potential.
- Paik’s personal journey as a Dalit woman growing up in India fuels her research.
- Her book The Vulgarity of Caste examines Dalit women performers in Tamasha.
Indian-American professor Shailaja Paik, a renowned scholar in Dalit women’s studies, has been honored with the prestigious MacArthur “Genius” Grant for her work on caste discrimination and gender issues.
The MacArthur Foundation awarded Paik an $800,000 fellowship, highlighting her research that explores how gender, sexuality, and caste intersect to shape the lives of Dalit women in India.
Paik is a distinguished history professor at the University of Cincinnati and is also affiliated with Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, as well as Asian Studies.
Her recent book, The Vulgarity of Caste: Dalits, Sexuality, and Humanity in Modern India, explores the lives of Dalit women performers in Tamasha, a traditional form of folk theatre in Maharashtra.
Her research sheds light on how these women, despite being key contributors to cultural heritage, continue to face stigma and social marginalization.
The MacArthur Foundation, in announcing the award, highlighted Paik’s ability to expose the deeply entrenched discrimination Dalit women face and praised her for bringing new perspectives on the intersection of caste, gender, and sexuality.
The “Genius” Grant is awarded annually to individuals with exceptional creativity and potential in their fields. Recipients are chosen anonymously, with no applications or lobbying involved.
Paik’s personal journey as a Dalit woman growing up in the slums of Pune, India, inspired her to pursue education and research.
After earning her master’s degree from Savitribai Phule University, Pune, and her PhD from the University of Warwick, she taught at Yale University before joining the University of Cincinnati.
Her award-winning work continues to break barriers, critiquing the narratives of caste abolitionist Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, while also challenging societal views on Dalit women’s dignity.
The MacArthur Fellowship will enable Paik to continue her work over the next five years, helping her further address the intersectional challenges Dalit women face in modern India.
This recognition cements Paik’s role as a leading voice in Dalit studies and a powerful advocate for gender equality.
