Dalit Literature

Subaltern Studies includes dalit literature. History was being written by people in power. Subaltern studies ose its origin to Ranajit Guha. Dalit lit comes under subaltern and is associated with caste system. Caste system arrived with the Aryans. India is a deeply divided society.
Systematic oppression over 250 million dalits has been taking place.
In 1972, dalit word, a maratha word started getting identified. Dalit panthers of Bombay became prominent. Tamil and hindi dalit words are quite synonymous. Hindi dalit usage is very slow.

Marxism and Buddhism brought the dalit matter. Marxism is based on equality. Buddhism says, everyone has power.

The term came to be used by Jyotiba Rao Phule first used it.

Dalit lit tries to interrogate the main stream hindu discourse & uppercaste brahminical hegemony. It is lit of Action  In India we follow the varna system. Its a very very stratified system.

Namdeo Dhasal, Arjun Dangle, Raja Dhale, JV Pawar on 29th May, 1972 formed a social organisation called 'The Dalit Panthers' to combat caste discrimination. It was an Ambedkarite organisation.

The word 'Dalit literature ' was first used in 1958 in a 1st conference of Maharashtra Dalit Sahitya Sangha in Bombay. This lit is all about anubhav or experience. It literates readers about dalit experiences. The Dalit Mahasabha is in Andhra Pradesh. Dalit Sangarsha Samiti is in Karnataka. Dalit Panthers is in Bombay. These are structured organisations for social justice. Antonio Gramsci also talks about giving such organic lift to such talks and associations.

Practice of untouchability started in 187 BC by Pushyamitra Sungha.

The Dalit Buddhist Movement in 1956 with nearly half a million Dalits formed by Babasaheb Ambedkar and converted to Navayana Buddhism.

Drummond:"He that will not reason is a bigot.... " reacted to Gandhi's treatise 'Annihilation of Caste" on untouchability.

Sharan Kumar Limbale developed an aesthetics for Dalit Literature. The more you write the more you empower the community. 'The Outcaste' or 'Akkarmashi' translated by Santosh Bhoomkar is his autobiography where Mahar women are sexually oppressed is pictured.

Laxman Gaikwad, Hira Bansode, Babarao Bagul, Bandhu Madhav, Shakarao Kharat, Urmila Pawar are other dalit writers who write about dalit 'Anubhav'.

Hazari's 'Untouchable: The Autobiography of an Indian Outcaste' is an important book.

Dalit childhood is a very problematic childhood.

'Poisoned Bread: Translations from modern Marathi Literature'  by Arjun Dangle popularized dalit lit throughout India in recent times. It is translations from hindu marathi literature.

Mahasweta Devi specialised in Adivasi, dalit, women and marginalized. Originally she wrote in Bengali. Naxal bengal is background of her max works. 'Hazar chaurashir maa' 'Rudali' 'Chotti Munda and his Arrow' are her famous books. Gayatri Spivak translated her works in 3 books 'Imaginary Maps'(1995), 'Old Woman'(1997) and 'The Breast Stories'(1997). Dalit feminism comes with such writers and translations.

Bama's 'Karukku' is a dalit narrative. Bama was ostracized from her village for writing it.

Babarao Bagul's 'Jevha Mi Jat Chirali Hoti'(When I had concealed my caste) in 1963; 'Maran Swasta Hit Ahe (Death is Getting Cheaper) in 1963; Ambedkar's Bharat, 1981 are his important books. Literature of visibility is his objective.

Namdeo Dhasal wtote in Marathi. These writers dint prefer any Art for Art's sake. His ' Poetry is Politics', 'A current of blood'(a poetry collection), 'Colpitha' ( poetry collection' received Soviet Nehru Award are his important works.

Urmila Pawar's ' Amihi Itihas' is an important work. Her 'Aidan' ( The Weave of my Life: A Dalit Woman's Memoir) is her famous autobiography. 'Kavachi, A Childhood Tale' is widel y read.

Balute is an important autobiographical writer of 1987 where Dadgu Pawar and Daya Pawar are personas of the author.

Laxman Mane's 'Upara' of 1984 is dalit autobiography too. A k kamat transkated it from Marathi. Mane was the first person from kaikade community who graduated.

James M Freeman, an American anthropologist wrote 'Untouchable : An Indian Life History' is translated from Oriya. Bauri wrote it.

'Vasant Moon' or Vasti:Growing up untouchable is also fighting the sub-human status.

Om Pakash Valmiki's 'Joothan: A Dalit's Life' is about chuhra or chamar community.

Kashiram Singh says : ' You dont have to be a horse to write about the horse'.

Laxman Gaikwad's ' The Branded' is about Uchalya community.

Sumitra Bhave writes 'Pan on fire' is about 8 women in slums in Metropolitan Bombay.

Viramma's 'Life of an Untouchable ' is important work too.

Dalit lit is protest, action, autobiographical literatures.

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