Jay Sagathia

About

Jay Sagathia is an illustrator, communication designer, and anti-caste activist from Gujarat, India. In 2024, he earned his Master of Arts in Visual Communication from the Royal College of Art. Prior to that, he completed a Master’s in Visual Arts with a specialization in illustration from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, in 2022. He also holds a Bachelor of Design in Fashion Communication from the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Gandhinagar which he completed in 2020.

Jay’s work critiques the caste system and fosters global conversations on the issue. Through his illustrations, Jay aims to share insights on the caste system and celebrate the diverse culture of marginalized communities. His art serves as a representation of the Dalit community and addresses the misrepresentations they often face in popular culture.

Human-Animal-Caste – Historically, stigmatized animals and oppressed communities have had a same story, which is frequently interwoven with specific jobs. Outcaste groups are compared to animals in caste-based civilizations, generating a parallel caste identity. This project highlights stories that illustrate how the caste system dehumanizes oppressed castes, placing them far below animals in the social hierarchy.

Tigress Milk – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a well-known social activist who fights caste oppression, eloquently relates education and empowerment. He encourages marginalized populations to embrace knowledge for self-empowerment by using the metaphor of tigress milk. “Education is the tigress milk, the one who drinks it can’t stay without roaring”

Anti-Caste Textile designs- This project embodies the wearable form of Dalit resistance against the evil caste system, which enforces sartorial choices on them. The design features icons like Dr. Ambedkar, Savitri Phule, and Buddha, who paved the path towards liberation for marginalised communities. This collection empowers and honours the culture of the Dalit community in addition to bringing attention to the anti-caste struggle. The designs aim to spread awareness and inspire change against caste-based discrimination.

Keywords – Caste System, Dalit, Anti-caste movement, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar