Social orphanhood as an aftermath of the Kolhati tribal women’s objectification: reading vulnerability, resilience, and resistance in Against All Odds

The present study focuses on social orphans as a marginalized group emerging from the multifaceted objectification of Tamasha dancers within the Kolhati community, a De-notified Nomadic Tribe (DNT). Social orphans are children who are often illegitimate, and their lower-caste status further deprives them of essential care and support. The article argues that these children negotiate entrenched vulnerabilities and create pathways of opportunities and dignified lives. Through a qualitative research methodology involving close textual analysis of Kishore Shantabai Kale’s autobiography, Against All Odds, the study draws on Objectification Theory and Vulnerability Theory to examine the complex interplay of patriarchy, caste hierarchy, and power relations that perpetuate intergenerational deprivation and vulnerability. Resilience Theory and Resistance Theory, in turn, provide a framework for understanding how social orphans confront, negotiate, and challenge these dominant structures.