Monumental pride: Mayawati's memorials in Lucknow

Abstract

Over the past decade, dozens of large-scale architectural memorials commemorating social reformers associated with India's historically oppressed "untouchable" (dalit) caste have been built throughout Uttar Pradesh. The memorials were commissioned by the state's former chief minister, Mayawati, herself a dalit. This essay analyzes intersections of politics, caste, gender, and visibility at two of her memorials in Lucknow-the Ambedkar Memorial and the Prerna Kendra (a crematory memorial). Specifically, the author argues that the forms and decoration of the memorials highlight the absence of earlier dalit leaders and present Mayawati as their legitimate political heir.