Published in Journal of Anthropology Vol. 20: 2015 1 Misrecognition, Exclusion and Untouchability: Thinking through 'Dalit-hood' in Bangladesh Mohammad Nasir Uddin * Abstract This paper draws on Nancy Fraser's theory of justice in which she questions the ‘false’ antithesis between the politics of economic redistribution and the politics of identity recognition. In line with Fraser’s theory, here I argue that 'Dalit-hood' in Bangladesh is deeply entrenched into a politics of misrecognition which creates the bedrock for economic exploitation and political non-representation. Along with explaining the political economy of caste-based exploitation, it is therefore important to unpack the politics that holds back Dalit communities of the country from getting 'recognition' of their identity (or, status), and from being represented with proper distinction. I present qualitative data to show how the state-machinery as well as society at large in Bangladesh has failed mostly to recognize the fact that discriminatory practices based on work and descent still remains a salient feature of social life here. International frameworks of human rights as well as donor-driven civil society activism are likely to prove ‘external’ and ineffective as long as state and society fail to come forward and give proper recognition to the social and cultural diversities as well as to take measures to address the injustices that emanate from structural inequalities. After providing a brief introduction to the context relating to Dalit- hood and Dalit human rights in general, I make an attempt here to show the magnitude of deprivation and exclusion. The 'gap' between national polices and international human rights framework is also explained in the same vein. Introduction: The “struggle for recognition” is fast becoming the paradigmatic form of political conflict.... Demands for “recognition of difference” fuel struggles of groups mobilized under the banners of nationality, ethnicity, “race”, gender, and sexuality (Fraser 1995: 68). ...Justice today requires both redistribution and recognition. ... In part, this means figuring out how to conceptualize cultural recognition and social equality in forms that support rather than undermine one another... It also means theorizing the ways in which economic disadvantage and cultural disrespect are currently entwined with and support one another. Then, too, it requires clarifying the political dilemmas that arise when [we] try to combat both those injustices simultaneously (Fraser 1997: 12). Nancy Fraser (1995, 1997) has developed a theory of justice in which she questions the ‘false’ antithesis between the politics of economic redistribution and the politics of cultural/identity recognition. She questioned both Marxism and post-structuralism and went forward to formulate ‘perspectival dualism’ in the 1990s. She used the language of 'recognition' and 'redistribution' * Department of Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka. Email: mailmnu@gmail.com