The moment when a DBA candidate steps into an educational space, the additional scrutiny they go through and the doubts casted on their ‘merit’ by savarnas is a case of testimonial injustice. The recent surveys from IIT Bombay SC/ST cell shows that DBA students are excluded from participating in group discussions, and their views are discarded by savarna peers. The blatant disrespect to one’s ideas and opinions by others can affect the self-respect of an individual and harm their mental peace. DBA students are subjected to this epistemic violence by savarna students and faculties to destroy their confidence. Testimonial injustice happens in interviews, where savarna faculties does not believe that DBA candidates can produce quality research.
Pranav Jeevan, ‘Epistemic Injustice: Does Knowledge have Caste?’, Round Table India
