Dalit literature is a genre of Indian writing that focuses on the lives, experiences, and struggles of the Dalit community, who have faced caste-based oppression and discrimination for centuries.[1][2][3] This literature encompasses various Indian languages such as Marathi, Bangla, Hindi,[4] Kannada, Punjabi,[5] Sindhi, Odia and Tamil and includes diverse narratives like poems, short stories, and autobiographies. The movement originated in response to the caste-based social injustices in mid-twentieth-century independent India and has since spread across various Indian languages, critiquing caste practices and experimenting with different literary forms.[6][7][8]

Prominent works within Dalit literature emerged in the colonial and post-colonial period, with Jyotirao Phule's Gulamgiri, published in 1873, being a seminal work highlighting the plight of the Untouchables in India. Numerous authors, such as Sharankumar Limbale, Namdeo Dhasal, and Bama, have contributed to the Dalit literary movement, each offering unique perspectives on the Dalit experience. The Dalit Panther movement in Maharashtra and the influence of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, an advocate for Dalit rights, have played significant roles in shaping Dalit literature across India.

Dalit literature has also been instrumental in the development of Dalit feminism, with the autobiographies and testimonios of Dalit women authors emphasizing the intersection of caste, class, and gender in the context of social exclusion. Prominent Dalit women authors, such as Urmila Pawar and Baby Kamble, have shed light on the struggles of their communities, providing a foundation for understanding the complexities of caste, class, and gender in Indian society.

Early Dalit literature

One of the first Dalit writers was Madara Chennaiah, an 11th-century cobbler-saint who lived during the reign of the Western Chalukyas and who is also regarded by some scholars as the "father of Vachana poetry". Another poet from the same Jangam order, who finds mention is Dohara Kakkaiah, a Dalit by birth, whose six confessional poems survive.[9][10][11] The origins of Dalit writing can also be traced back to Marathi Dalit Bhakti poets like Gora, Chokha Mela and Karmamela, and to the Tamil Siddhas, or Chittars — many of whose hagiographies, in accounts such as the 12th-century Periyapuranam, suggest that they may have been Dalits. Modern Dalit writing only emerged as a distinct genre after the democratic and egalitarian thinkers such as Sree Narayana Guru, Jyotiba Phule, B.R. Ambedkar, Iyothee Thass, Sahodaran Ayyappan, Ayyankali, Poykayil Appachan, and others began to articulate the sources and modes of caste oppression.[12][13]

Modern Dalit Literature

According to Satyanarayana and Tharu,

"although it is possible to identify a few Dalit writers from earlier times, the real originality and force of Dalit writing, which today comprises a substantial and growing body of work, can be traced to the decades following the late 1960s. Those are the years when the Dalit Panthers revisit and embrace the ideas of Babasaheb Ambedkar, and elaborate his disagreements with the essentially Gandhian mode of Indian nationalism, to begin a new social movement. In the following decades, Dalit writing becomes an all-India phenomenon. This writing reformulates the caste question and reassesses the significance of colonialism and of missionary activity. It resists the reduction of caste to class or to non-Brahminism and vividly describes and analyzes the contemporary workings of caste power."

[14]

Jaydeep Sarangi, in his 2018 introduction to "Dalit Voice," writes that Dalit literature is a culture-specific upheaval in India giving importance to Dalit realization, aesthetics and resistance.[15] Dalit literature in the colonial and post-colonial period came to prominence in 1873 with the publication of Jyotirao Phule's Gulamgiri, which depicted the plight of the Untouchables in India. Since then, numerous writers have contributed to the Dalit literature movement, each offering their unique perspectives on the Dalit experience. Some of the most well-known Dalit writers include Mahasweta Devi, Arjun Dangle, Sachi Rautray, Rabi Singh, Basudev Sunani, Bama, Abhimani, Poomani, Imayam, Marku, Mangal Rathod, Neerav Patel, Perumal Murugan, Palamalai, Sudhakar, and D. Gopi. Sharankumar Limbale, a prominent Dalit writer, described Dalit literature as a "lofty image of grief" that artistically portrays the sorrows, tribulations, slavery, degradation, ridicule, and poverty endured by Dalits.[16]

There is an emergence of new and powerful Dalit writers who are transforming the literary space with their unique perspectives and stories in recent years. One such writer is P. Sivakami, who is considered one of the most prominent Dalit writers today. Her book, "The Grip of Change" is widely regarded as a masterpiece of Dalit literature. Vijila Chirrappad, another Dalit woman writer based in Kerala, has also made significant contributions to the genre with three published collections. Her writings typically explore the challenges and issues faced by women. Dev Kumar is a well-known Dalit writer and dramatist who founded the Apna Theatre in 1992. Through his plays, he has consistently worked towards arousing Dalit consciousness. Meena Kandasamy is a renowned feminist writer based in Tamil Nadu whose work is deeply connected to the anti-caste movement.[13]

Regional Literature

Dalit literature in Maharashtra

Dalit literature originally emerged in the Marathi language as a literary response to the everyday oppressions of caste in mid-twentieth-century independent India, critiquing caste practices by experimenting with various literary forms. Subsequently, Dalit literature emerged as a remarkable phenomenon in various Indian languages.[17] In 1958, the term "Dalit literature" was used at the first conference of Maharashtra Dalit Sahitya Sangha (Maharashtra Dalit Literature Society) in Mumbai[18] Baburao Bagul's first collection of stories, Jevha Mi Jat Chorali (English: When I had Concealed My Caste), published in 1963, depicted a cruel society and thus brought in a new momentum to Dalit literature in Marathi; today it is seen by many critics as an epic portraying lives of the Dalits, and was later made into a film by actor-director Vinay Apte.[19][20][21] Gradually with other writers like, Namdeo Dhasal (who founded Dalit Panther), these Dalit writings paved way for the strengthening of Dalit movement.[22] Notable Dalit authors writing in Marathi include Arun Kamble, Shantabai Kamble, Raja Dhale, Namdev Dhasal, Daya Pawar, Annabhau Sathe, Laxman Mane, Laxman Gaikwad, Sharankumar Limbale, Bhau Panchbhai, Kishor Shantabai Kale, Narendra Jadhav, Shankar Rao Kharat, and Urmila Pawar. Shankarrao Kharat served as president of the 1984 session of Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (Marathi literary conference) held in Jalgaon.[23]

Although the first Dalit literature conference, Dalit Sahitya Sammelan, was held in 1958 organised by Annabhau Sathe, a communist, who turned to Ambedkarite movement in the later part of his life. He is credited as the founding father of Dalit literature.[24][25] Dalit literature started being mainstream in India with the appearance of the English translations of Marathi Dalit writing. An Anthology of Dalit Literature, edited by Mulk Raj Anand and Eleanor Zelliot, and Poisoned Bread: Translations from Modern Marathi Dalit Literature, originally published in three volumes and later collected in a single volume, edited by Arjun Dangle, both published in 1992, were perhaps the first books that popularised the genre throughout India [26][27] 'Poisoned Bread' - the collection takes its name from a story by Bandhumadhav about Yetalya Aja, a Mahar who is forced to consume stale bread covered in dung and urine and dies as a result. Before he dies, Aja tells his grandson to get an education and take away the accursed bread from the mouths of Mahars.[28]

In 1993, Ambedkari Sahitya Parishad organized the first Akhil Bharatiya Ambedkari Sahitya Sammelan (All India Ambedkarite Literature Convention) in Wardha, Maharashtra to re-conceptualize and transform Dalit literature into Ambedkari Sahitya, after the name of the Dalit modern-age hero, scholar and inspiration B.R. Ambedkar, who had successfully campaigned against caste-discrimination and was a strong advocate of Dalit rights. Ambedkari Sahitya Parishad then successfully organized the Third Akhil Bharatiya Ambedkari Sahitya Sammelan in 1996 and became a voice of advocacy for awareness and transformation. Since then multiple similar literary gatherings, were held in various places.[13][29][30][31]

Dalit literature in Bengal

The term "charal," a corruption of the Sanskrit word "chandal," is often used as an umbrella term for Scheduled Castes, and the literature that emerged from this movement in Bengal is often referred to as "Charal literature." Some of the notable examples of Charal literature include Jatin Bala's Sekor Chhera Jibon (An Uprooted Life) and Samaj Chetanar Galpa (Stories of Social Awakening) and Kalyani Charal's Chandalinir Kobita. In Bengal, the development of Dalit literature was influenced by the leadership of Harichand Thakur, a leader of the Motua community, and the inspiration of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.[32] The Motuas played a significant role in initiating caste consciousness and anti-caste movements in colonial Bengal, as discussed in Sekhar Bandyopadhyay’s ‘The Namasudra Movement’ and Sumit Sarkar’s ‘Writing Social History.’ The Motua faith emerged as a protest against Brahmanical Hinduism in East Bengal and has since expanded to include various lower castes marginalized by upper caste domination.[33] These works deal with a range of themes, from the position of women in Motua religious teachings to the ethic of work preached by Harichand Thakur, the significance of Harichand's teachings in the context of the Namasudra uprisings, and the relationship between the Matua dharma and the writings of B.R. Ambedkar. According to Bandophadhay, Motua songs contain messages that aim to boost self-confidence and the collective ego of the depressed community.[34][35][36]

However, the organized Dalit literary movement did not begin until 1992 after Chuni Kotal's death by suicide.[37][38] The protests against her death led to the formation of the Bangla Dalit Sahitya Sanstha and the launch of the magazine Chaturtha Duniya, which was dedicated to promoting and circulating Dalit writings.[32] Chaturtha Duniya, which translates to "Fourth World," refers to the world of the fourth varna of the caste system while articulating the experiences of living in a world within the third world. This magazine paved the way for several important Dalit writers in Bengal, including Manohar Mouli Biswas, Jatin Bala, Kapil Krishna Thakur, Kalyani Charal, Manju Bala, and many others. The autobiography of Dalit proletariat author Manoranjan Byapari, Itibritte Chandal Jiban, has received critical acclaim from both readers and academics, further fueling the attention and popularity of Dalit literature in Bengal. Some other Dalit journals that are active in Bengal include Adhikar, Dalit Mirror, Nikhil Bharat and Neer. The Dalit Panther movement in Maharashtra led by literary giants such as Namdeo Dhasal also played a significant role in inspiring the Dalit literary movement in Bengal. This movement yielded literature that was in stark contrast to existing literature in Bengal that took little note of social issues and concentrated on romanticism or nationalism instead.[28]

Dalit Literature in Tamil Nadu

The development of Dalit literature in Tamil Nadu has a long history, starting with the pioneering efforts of educated Parayars, a Scheduled Caste in Tamil Nadu, in the late 19th century. Iyothee Thass Pandithar, a prominent leader among them, worked to build a new casteless Tamil society based on his research on ancient Tamil history. His re-readings of ancient Tamil history spread ideas of socialism, rationality, and modernity in colonial India. He also protested against Manudharmic Brahminism and fought for the dignity and rights of the "untouchable communities," urging them to identify themselves as Panchamars (fifth Caste). Dalit intellectuals regularly published journals like Oru Paisa Tamizhan, Parayan, Adi Dravidan, and Vazhikattovone in the early decades of the 20th century, providing a space to discuss and denounce Brahminical ideals and notions of Swadeshi ideals. These journals played a pivotal role in augmenting the sensibility and consciousness of Adi Dravida politics and identity. Adi Dravida leaders appreciated the zeal and social commitment of the Self-respect movement and urged Adi Dravidas to support it. They became a vital part of the Self-respect movement and participated in the major struggles launched by the movement.[39]

In the 1940s, there was a communist upsurge in Tamil Nadu that inspired and influenced Adi Dravidas, who took the lead in protests organized by the communists. Dalit writers like Daniel Selvaraj, and Poomani were drawn toward Marxism, and their works represent the economic struggles of the Adi Dravida community. They established themselves more as Marxists by suppressing their caste identity. During this period, novels and short stories came to be written by Adi Dravida writers, marking the beginnings of Tamil Dalit literature. However, it was in the 1990s that the Tamil Dalit literary movement gained momentum. The Mandal commission report triggered communal clashes, arousing Dalit consciousness and sensibility and motivating Dalits to form a distinct caste identity. Secondly, the Ambedkar centenary celebrations held in 1992 were a driving force among Tamil Dalits, bringing to the fore Ambedkar's ideals and thoughts.[40]

The sudden surge in Dalit literature and arts gained ground over the course of the next decade. The annual Dalit cultural festival organized by the Dalit Athara Maiyam articulated issues and problems related to Dalits. Dalit cultural festivals were conducted in Pondicherry and Neyveli in 1992. The little magazine movement that had gained momentum throughout India in the fifties and sixties influenced the Tamil Dalit literary movement in the 1990s. This period witnessed a spurt of Dalit journals like Dalit Murasu, Kodangi (later changed to Pudiya Kodangi), Manusanga, Dalit, and Mallar Malar, which provided a platform to discuss Tamil Dalit politics and literature. Special issues on Dalit literature were also published by journals like Subamangala, Nirapirigai, Kavithasaran, Ilakku, Thinamani Kathir, Sathangai contributing significantly to the development of Tamil Dalit literature.[41]

Dalit Literature in Punjab

Dalit literature in Punjab has a rich and enduring tradition shaped by the contributions of notable poets across different historical periods. The roots of this literary tradition can be traced back to Bhai Jaita (1657–1704), a devoted disciple of Guru Gobind Singh, who composed the devotional epic Sri Gur Katha.[42] In the first half of the nineteenth century, Sant-poet Sadhu Wazir Singh (1790–1859) emerged as a prominent figure, creating a body of work that delved into spiritual, social, and philosophical realms. Wazir Singh's writings challenged established Brahmanical structures, advocating for gender equality and envisioning a society liberated from hierarchical constraints.[43] Giani Ditt Singh (1852–1901), born into a rural Dalit family, played a crucial role in the Singh Sabha movement. As the editor of the Khalsa Akhbar, he significantly contributed to Sikh intellectualism. Ditt Singh's works covered a wide range of subjects, from love-lore and Sikh traditions to history and ethics, often critiquing popular religious practices rooted in what he considered "superstitious beliefs."[44] Sadhu Daya Singh Arif (1894–1946), born into a landless untouchable Mazhabi Sikh family, overcame educational challenges to write poetic works, including "Zindagi Bilas" and "Sputtar Bilas".[45]

Dalit Literature in Telugu

Telugu Dalit literature has a long history, dating back to the 17th century with poets like Potuluri Veerabrahmam and Yogi Vemana, who wrote about the evils of caste and untouchability.[46]

A new generation of Dalit poets, artists, and intellectuals emerged post-independence and dictated the terms of Telugu literature. This movement brought literary art into the public sphere and aided socio-political movements in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It mobilized the masses into a class struggle against existing feudal structures and oppressive forces. The Communist Party’s Jana Natya Mandali played a significant role in taking messages to the masses through the tradition of oral storytelling and folk art among Dalits. Theatre forms such as Burrakatha, Yakshaganam, Oggukatha and other street plays became key instruments. This gave rise to activist-singers such as Gaddar, Masterji, Goreti Venkanna, Suddala Hanumanthu, Bandi Yadagiri and Guda Venkaiah. Their songs gave an uncompromising call for revolution and over time found themselves in the mainstream Telugu industry.[47]

The Karamchedu massacre in 1985 brought the collective conscience of the Dalits to the fore. It also brought together two Dalit intellectuals, Kathi Padma Rao and Bojja Tarakam, who led the Dalit Mahasabha in 1987. The Dalit Mahasabha mobilized the masses to fight against caste discrimination and atrocities on Dalits. Several student organizations, literary forums, and volunteer forums were constituted across the state. This movement gave birth to a new generation of Dalit writers and poets whose ideas were rooted in the fight for self-respect. Proudly adopting BR Ambedkar's principles as their foundation, they questioned the mainstream ideologies, Brahminical hegemony, and called out the hypocrisy of the communists. This gave birth to powerful Dalit poetry anthologies such as Padunekkina Pata and Chikkanaina Pata.[48]

The Dandora Movement launched in the 1990s by Madigas protested against unequal treatment by Malas. Similar sentiments were also raised by other sub-caste communities such as Dakkali, Relli, Jambavas, among others.[47]

Women writers such as Gogu Shyamala, Joopaka Subhadra, Jajula Gowri, and Challapalli Swaroopa Rani ensured that the voice of the Dalit woman is heard.

Dalit literature in Gujarati

Dalit literature in Gujarati began to gain momentum in the mid-1970s with the launch of Puma, a literary magazine edited by Rameshchandra Parmar. This was followed by the publication of several other magazines such as Akrosh, KaloSooraj, Garud, Dalit Bandhu, NayaMarg, and Disa. The rise of Dalit literature in Gujarat can be attributed to the influence of the Dalit Panthers movement in Maharashtra. In 1975, a group of youths in Ahmedabad started publishing a magazine called Panther, inspired by the Dalit Panthers. The movement gained momentum during the state of emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 and the anti-reservation agitations in 1981 and 1985. Initially, Dalit writers expressed their experiences and identities through poetry in magazines such as Kalo Suraj. However, the movement soon encapsulated other forms of writing, such as stories, novels, dramas, and autobiographies. In 1981, the first collection of Dalit poetry, Dalit Kavita, edited by Ganpat Parmar and Manishi Jani, was published. Another collection called Visphot, edited by Balkrishna Anand and Chandu Maheria, was published in 1983. Asmita, a collection of poems published in the Dalit periodical Nayamarg between 1981 and 1983, was published by the Gujarat Khet Vikas Parishad in 1983.[49][50]

The first Gujarati Dalit Poetry was published in a magazine in 1978, with contributions from writers such as Neerav Patel, Dalpat Chauhan, Pravin Gadhvi, and Yogesh Dave. Ganpat Parmar and Manishi Jani later published the first collection of Gujarati Dalit literature. Other notable writers in the field include Sahil Parmar, Joseph Macwan, Harish Mangalam, Pathik Parmar, Mohan Parmar, Madhukantkalpit, and B.N. Vankar. Joseph Macwan was the first Gujarati Dalit writer to receive a Sahitya Akademi award. His works often overlapped between fiction and reality and were characterized by their simplicity and sensitivity. Macwan's novel Angliyat is one of the most famous works in Gujarati literature and portrays the lives and struggles of the Vankar community.[51][49]

Dalit Literature in Odia

Dalit Literature in Odia has a rich history that can be traced back to the fifteenth century. Sudramuni Sarala Dasa pioneered the social protest movement in Odisha during that time. As a Sudra by caste, he articulated the voices of the marginalized by writing in the language of the common people. His major works, the Odia Mahabharata, the Bilanka Ramayana and Chandi Purana, focused on recent events and mundane affairs of real-life situations, which was a protest against the dominance of Sanskrit in literature and the excessive concern with royal characters.[52]

The Panchasakha poets, Balarama Dasa, Jagannatha Dasa, Achyutanda Dasa, Jasobanta Dasa, and Ananta Dasa dominated Odia literature from 1450 to 1550 AD, and also protested against Sanskrit's dominance in literature. They wrote in the language of the people and made major contributions to the use of plebeian Odia language in Odia literature. Their works, including Jagmohan Ramayan, Odia Bhagabata, Harivamsa, Premabhakti Brahmagita, and Hetudaya Bhagabata, translated the sacred books of the Hindus into the people's language. They also protested against the rigidities of life in temples and monasteries, seeking to rise above dualistic debates.[52]

In the nineteenth century, Bhima Bhoi, a Kondh tribal poet and follower of Mahima Dharma, continued the tradition of protest literature. His works, such as the Stuti Chintamani, the Srutinisedha Gita, and the Nirbeda Sadhana, attacked orthodox rituals and customs of Odia society and sought to redefine and redesign societal norms.[53] In 1953, Dalit Jati Sangha (Dalit League) was founded by Govinda Chandra Seth, Santanu Kumar Das, Jagannath Malik, Kanhu Malik, and Kanduri Malik. These leaders, who were also creative writers, wrote literary pieces to bring awareness among Dalits. Seth's biography of Ambedkar and Das's novels, Awhana, Vitamati, Sania, and Pheria, dealt with caste inequality and social injustice.[53] In the 1970s and 1980s, Dalits in Odisha began asserting themselves through their writings. Bichitrananda Nayak was a pioneer in Odia Dalit writings, publishing Anirbana (Liberation) in 1972 using the term "Dalit" in several poems. Other notable writers and poets include Krushna Charan Behera.[53] It was not until 1991, during the Ambedkar centenary celebrations, that a significant number of Odia Dalit poets and writers were inspired to write about their own histories. Educated members of the community began openly discussing caste, class, and gender exploitation in Odia society. Notable writers from this period include Basudeb Sunani, Samir Ranjan, Sanjay Bag, Pitambar Tarai, Ramesh Malik, Chandrakant Malik, Kumaramani Tanti, Supriya Malik, Basant Malik, Akhila Nayak, Anjubala Jena, Mohan Jena, Samuel Dani, Anand Mahanand, Panchanan Dalei, and Pravakar Palka.[53][54]

Other Examples

Dalit Autobiographies

In the 1960s and 1970s, Dalit autobiographies in India emerged as a powerful tool for social and political protest. Baluta, a groundbreaking autobiography by Dagdu Maruti Pawar that questioned the caste system and the social stigma associated with Dalit names, was one of the first and most impactful works. Many other Dalit writers followed suit, asserting their identity and protesting oppression through memoirs, poetry, and autobiographical fiction. Annabhau Sathe's autobiography Fakira (1972), Baburao Bagul's autobiographical novel Jevha Mi Jaat Chorli Hoti (1963), Babytai Kamble's Jina Amucha, Urmila Pawar's The Weave of my Life, Shantabai Kamble's Majya Jalmachi Chittarkatha, Omprakash Valmiki's autobiographical poetry Joothan (1997), Siddalingaiah's Ooru Keri (1995), and Bama's Karukku (1992) are among the notable writers and works. Authors such as Narendra Jadhav, Loknath Yashwant, Kumar Anil, G.K. Ainapure, Avinash Gaikwad, and Santosh Padmakar Pawar write of their achievements, while Urmila Pawar, Sushama Deshpande, Ushakiran Atram, Ashalata Kamble, Sandhya Rangari, Kavita Morwankar, and Chayya Koregaonkar explore the intersection of caste and gender.[55][56][57]

Dalit Women's Autobiographies and Testimonios in Dalit Literature

the testimonio is for a Dalit woman a powerful medium to protest against adversaries within and without

— Sharmila Rege, The Weave of My Life, Afterword. by Urmila Pawar, Translated by Maya Pandit (2008).

Dalit women's autobiographies and testimonios have significantly influenced Dalit literature by highlighting the collective experiences of individuals and communities facing caste-based oppression and discrimination. These narratives emphasize the intersection of caste, class, and gender in the context of social exclusion. Prominent Dalit women authors, have brought attention to the struggles of their communities, contributing to the development of Dalit feminism and providing a foundation for understanding the complexities of caste, class, and gender in Indian society.[58][59][60]

Some prominent Dalit women authors and their works include:

  • Bama's Karukku (1992): This Tamil work, translated into English with the same title, highlights the issues of caste, class, and gender as important markers for social exclusion. Bama's writing has been praised for breaking taboos and giving voice to the marginalized.
  • Urmila Pawar's Aaydan (2003): Translated into English as The Weave of My Life: A Dalit Woman's Memoirs in 2008, Pawar compares her act of writing about her life with her mother's weaving of bamboo baskets, representing the pain, suffering, and agony of their experiences.
  • Shantabai Dhanaji Dani's Ratrandin Amha ('For Us – These Nights and Days', 1990): This testimonio recounts her participation in protests against British colonial authority, her arrest, and detainment in Yerwada jail in 1946. Dani was the secretary of the Nasik branch of Scheduled Caste Federation at the time, a significant accomplishment for a Dalit woman.
  • Kumud Pawade's Antasphot ('Thoughtful Outburst', 1981): Pawade emphasizes that her outburst is not emotional but analytical, examining the experiences of individuals and communities. She highlights the double exploitation faced by Dalit women in a culture based on hierarchy.
  • Baby Kondiba Kamble's Jinne Amuche ('Our Lives', 1986): Kamble's work underscores the inextricability of the individual and the collective in Dalit narratives by contextualizing her life against the backdrop of the five-decade history of the Mahar community.
  • Janabai Kachru Girhe's Deathly Pains (1992): As the first woman teacher and first woman of the Gopal community, a nomadic group, to write her testimonio, Girhe offers insight into the lives of nomadic families and their experiences of hardship
  • 'Maajhi Me' by Yashodara Gaikwad
  • 'Mala Uddhvasta Vhaychay' (I Want To Destroy Myself: A Memoir) by Malika Amar Shaik

Dalit women's testimonios have been recognized for challenging selective memory and univocal history, both in the Dalit and women's movements. These narratives function as expressions of protest, resistance, and identity formation, asserting the subjectivity of marginalized individuals and communities.[61]

Mentioned Authors

List of Dalit Literature

Title Author
Becoming Babasaheb: The Life and Times of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (Volume 1) Aakash Singh Rathore
Fakira Annabhau Sathe
Unclaimed Terrain Ajay Navaria
Bheda Akhila Naik
Republic of Caste: Thinking Equality in the Time of Neoliberal Hindutva Anand Teltumbde
The Persistence of Caste: The Khairlanji Murders and India's Hidden Apartheid
Khairlanji: A Strange And Bitter Crop
Karya Aravind Malagatti
Poisoned Bread: Translations from Modern Marathi Dalit Literature Arjun Dangle
Homeless in my Land: Translations from Modern Marathi Dalit Short Stories
No entry for the new Sun: Translations from modern Marathi Dalit poetry
Annihilation of Caste B.R. Ambedkar
Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development
Who were the Shudras?
Buddha or Karl Marx
जेव्हा मी जात चोरली होती Baburao Bagul
When I Hid My Caste: Stories
The Prisons We Broke Baby Kamble
Kanshiram: Leader of the Dalits Badri Narayan
Karukku Bama
Harum-Scarum Saar & Other Stories
Sangati: Events
VANMAM: Vendetta
Just One Word: Short Stories
The Ichi Tree Monkey: New and Selected Stories
Translating Caste Basu Tapan
One Hundred Poems of Chokha Mela ChokhaMela, Chandrakant Kaluram Mhatre
Letters to Namdeo Dhasal Chandramohan S.
Vultures Dalpat Chauhan
Fear and Other Stories
Baluta Daya Pawar
Under My Dark Skin Flows A Red River Debi Chatterjee
Kusumabale Devanura Mahadeva
Defying the Odds: The Rise of Dalit Entrepreneurs Devesh Kapur
Ambedkar's World: The Making of Babasaheb and the Dalit Movement Eleanor Zelliot
Untouchable Spring G. Kalyana Rao
Understanding Caste: From Buddha To Ambedkar And Beyond Gail Omvedt
Seeking Begumpura
Dalit Visions (Tracts for the Times)
Ambedkar: Towards an Enlightened India
Father May Be an Elephant and Mother Only a Small Basket, But... Gogu Shyamala
Gabbilam: A Dalit Epic Gurram Jashuva
The Adivasi Will Not Dance Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar
Pethavan: The Begetter Imaiyam
If There is a God and Other Stories: Short Stories
An Order from the Sky and Other Stories
Stories of Social Awakening: Reflections of Dalit Refugee Lives of Bengal Jatin Bala
Gulamgiri Jyotirao Phule
How Are You Veg? Dalit Stories from Telugu Joopaka Subhadra
Dalit Literatures in India Joshil K. Abraham
Dalit Text: Aesthetics and Politics Re-imagined Judith Misrahi-barak
Concealing Caste: Narratives of Passing and Personhood in Dalit Literature K. Satyanarayana
An Introduction to Tamil Dalit Literature K.A. Geetha
The Scar K.A. Gunasekaran
Murder in Mudukulathur: Caste and Electoral Politics in Tamil Nadu K.A. Manikumar
Dalit Lekhika: Women's Writings from Bengal Kalyani Thakur Charal
Days Will Come Back Kamal Dev Pall
Why I Am Not a Hindu Kancha Ilaiah
Writing Resistance: The Rhetorical Imagination of Hindi Dalit Literature Laura R. Brueck
The Branded Laxman Gaikwad
Broken Man: In Search Of Homeland Loknath Yashwant
The Oxford India Anthology of Malayalam Dalit Writing M. Dasan
Don’t Want Caste M.R. Renukumar
City, Slum and the Marginalised: Dalits and Muslims in Delhi Slums M.V. Bijulal
Interrogating My Chandal Life: An Autobiography of a Dalit Manoranjan Byapari
The Runaway Boy
A Dalit History Meena Kandasamy
Ms Militancy
The Gypsy Goddess
Before It Rains Again Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy
Untouchable Mulk Raj Anand
An Anthology Of Dalit Literature
Critical Essays on Dalit Literature Murali Manohar
Give Us This Day A Feast Of Flesh N.D. Rajkumar
उन्हाच्या कटाविरुद्ध Nagraj Manjule
A Current of Blood Namdeo Dhasal
Namdeo Dhasal: Poet of the Underground Poems 1972-2006
Untouchables: My Family’s Triumphant Journey Out of the Caste System in Modern India Dr. Narendra Jadhav
To Be Cared For: The Power of Conversion and Foreignness of Belonging in an Indian Slum Nathaniel Roberts
Joothan: An Untouchable's Life Omprakash Valmiki
Salaam
Ghuspaithiye
The Grip of Change P. Sivakami
The Taming of Women P. Sivakami & Pritham K. Chakravarthy (Tr.)
Black Coffee in a Coconut Shell: Caste as Lived Experience Perumal Murugan
Let The Rumours Be True Pradnya Daya Pawar
The Dalit Brahmin And Other Stories Priya Adarkar (tr.) Sharankumar Limbale
Anthology of Telugu Dalit Writing Purushotham
Dalit Personal Narratives: Reading Caste, Nation and Identity Raj Kumar
Dalit Literature and Criticism
Thunderstorm: Dalit Stories Ratan Kumar Sambharia
Anthology of Tamil Dalit Writing Ravikumar
On the Threshold: Songs of Chokhamela (Sacred Literature Series) Rohini Mokashi-Punekar
Touchable Tales: Publishing And Reading Dalit Literature S. Anand
Dalit Voices in Indian Poetry: A Study of Malayalam and Marathi Poems Sakunthala A.I.
Collected Plays of Sanjay Jiwane: a saga of dalit-ism Sanjay Jiwane
Majya Jalmachi Chittarkatha Shantabai Kamble
Survival and Other Stories: Bangla Dalit Fiction in Translation Sankar Prasad Singha
The Outcaste (Akkarmashi) Sharankumar Limbale
Hindu: A Novel
Towards An Aesthetic Of Dalit Literature: History, Controversies And Considerations
Writing Caste/Writing Gender: Reading Dalit Women's Testimonials Sharmila Rege
Ooru Keri Siddalingaiah
A Word With You, World: The Autobiography of a Poet
Ants Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family and the Making of Modern India Sujatha Gidla
Affairs of Caste: a Young Diary Sumeet Samos
Dalit Feminist Theory: A Reader Sunaina Arya
Caste Matters Suraj Yengde
No Alphabet in Sight: New Dalit Writing from South India Susie J. Tharu
Steel Nibs are Sprouting: New Dalit Writing from South India Dossier 2
The Exercise of Freedom: An Introduction to Dalit Writing
Hindi Dalit Literature in the United Provinces: Swami Acchutanand and Chandrika Prasad Jigyasu, 1900-1930 Tapan Basu
LISTEN TO THE FLAMES: TEXTS AND READINGS FROM THE MARGINS
Untouchable Fictions: Literary Realism and the Crisis of Caste Toral Jatin Gajarawala
Manikarnika Tulsiram
Motherwit Urmila Pawar
The Weave of My Life: A Dalit Woman's Memoirs
Growing Up Untouchable in India: A Dalit Autobiography Vasant Moon
Kakka: a Dalit Novel Vemula Yellaiah
Coming Out as Dalit: A Memoir Yashica Dutt
Water in a Broken Pot Yogesh Maitreya
Singing/Thinking Anti Caste: Essays on Anti Caste Music and Text
The Bridge of Migration
Blues from Bhimnagar

See also

Further reading

  • Muthukkaruppan, Parthasarathi.(2018) " Preliminary Remarks on Dalit Poetry" Rethinking Marxism Vol.30 no.1 available at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08935696.2018.1456762?journalCode=rrmx20
  • Aston, N.M. Ed. (2001) Dalit Literature and African-American Literature. New Delhi: Prestige Books. ISBN 81-7551-116-8.
  • Chakraborty, Mridula Nath and MacCarter, Kent (2016) Issue 55.1: Dalit Indian and Indigenous Australian Cordite Poetry Review, full issue in translation.
  • Dangle, Arjun (1992) Ed. Poisoned Bread: Translations from Modern Marathi Dalit Literature. Hyderabad: Orient Longman.
  • Dasan, M. Pratibha, V. Chandrika, C.S. and Pradeepan Pampirikunnu (2012) Eds. The Oxford India Anthology of Malayalam Dalit Writing, OUP India
  • Dutta, Angana and Sarangi, Jaydeep (2015) Trans. Eds. Surviving in My world: Growing up Dalit in Bengal. Kolkata: Stree-Samya.
  • Sarangi, Jaydeep Ed. "Stories of Social Awakening:Jatin Bala", Authorspress, New Delhi, 2017
  • Franco, Fernando, Macwan, Jyotsna & Ramanathan, Suguna (2004) Journeys to Freedom: Dalit Narratives. Bombay: Popular Prakashan. ISBN 81-85604-65-7, ISBN 978-81-85604-65-7.
  • Limbale, Sharankumar. (2004) Towards an Aesthetic of Dalit Literature Orient Longman. ISBN 81-250-2656-8.
  • Gonsalves, Roanna (2016) We Need to Talk about Caste: Roanna Gonsalves Interviews S Anand Cordite Poetry Review
  • Manohar, D.Murali (2013) Ed.Critical Essays on Dalit Literature. New Delhi: Atlantic. ISBN 9788126917846.
  • Manohar, D.Murali (2013) Ed. Dalit Hindu Narratives, New Delhi: Global, 2013. ISBN 9788189630799
  • Prasad, Amar Nath and Gaijan, M.B. (2007) Dalit Literature : A Critical Exploration. ISBN 81-7625-817-2.
  • Purushotham, K. (2013) Trans. and Ed. Black Lilies: Telugu Dalit Poetry New Delhi: Critical Quest.
  • Ravikumar and Azhagarasan, R (2012) Eds. The Oxford Anthology of Tamil Dalit Writing. New Delhi: OUP India. ISBN 978-0-19-807938-5
  • Ravikumar (2009) Venomous Touch: Notes on Caste, Culture and Politics. Calcutta: Samaya
  • Satyanarayana, K & Tharu, Susie (2011) No Alphabet in Sight: New Dalit Writing from South Asia, Dossier 1: Tamil and Malayalam, New Delhi: Penguin Books.
  • Satyanarayana, K & Tharu, Susie (2013) From those Stubs Steel Nibs are Sprouting: New Dalit Writing from South Asia, Dossier 2: Kannada and Telugu, New Delhi: HarperCollins India.
  • Satyanarayana, K and Tharu, Susie (2013). The Exercise of Freedom: An Introduction to Dalit Writing. New Delhi: Navayana. p. 21. ISBN 9788189059613.
  • Uma, Alladi. Rani, K. Suneetha. and Manohar, D. Murali. (2014) Eds. English in the Dalit Context. New Delhi: OrientBlackswan.
  • Sarangi, Jaydeep , "An Interview with Arjun Dangle",[62]Setu, United States.
  • Sarangi, Jaydeep, "Dalit Feminist Activist Writes Back: Bama Faustina in Conversation with Jaydeep Sarangi"[63] Writers in Conversation, Australia
  • Sarangi, Jaydeep, "In Conversation with Kapilkrishna Thakur",[64] Writers in Conversation, Australia
  • Shalin Maria Lawrence (2019) Vadachennaikkaari: Urban Dalit Literature. a mixed genre essays: Chennai. ISBN 978-93-87636-25-5.

References

  1. ↑ Joshi, Prakash Bal (2019-03-09). "'Dalit Literatures in India' review: Voice of protest". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  2. ↑ Dalit literature
  3. ↑ Brief Introduction to Dalit Literature Archived January 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Patterns of Dalit Literature  : Dr. N. Singh, Publisher  : Vani Prakashan, New Delhi-110002, Edition: 2012
  5. ↑ Akshaya Kumar (14 March 2014). Poetry, Politics and Culture: Essays on Indian Texts and Contexts. Routledge. pp. 272–314. ISBN 978-1-317-80963-0.
  6. ↑ "Dalit literature reflects oppression of Dalits". The Hindu. March 19, 2002. Archived from the original on September 13, 2009.
  7. ↑ "TAMIL: Dalit literature". The Hindu. February 26, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Healing with languages". The Hindu. August 6, 2006. Archived from the original on August 13, 2006.
  9. ↑ "Dohaara Kakkayya (ಡೋಹಾರ ಕಕ್ಕಯ್ಯ)". Lingayat Religion. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  10. ↑ "The value of vachanas". Deccan Herald. 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  11. ↑ Noble, Barnes &. "The castes and tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's dominions (Volume I)|Paperback". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  12. ↑ Satchidanandan, K (Jan 25, 2013). "Mainstreaming the subaltern". Frontline. No. Volume 30 - Issue 01.
  13. 1 2 3 Gundappa, Dr. (2019). "Emergence of Dalit Literature in India" (PDF). Shodhmanthan. X (3): 27–28. ISSN 0976-5255.
  14. ↑ Satyanarayana and Tharu (2013). The Exercise of Freedom: An Introduction to Dait Writing. New Delhi: Navayana. p. 21. ISBN 9788189059613.
  15. ↑ Dalit voice : literature and revolt. Śaraṇakumāra Limbāḷe, Jaydeep Sarangi. New Delhi. 2018. ISBN 978-93-87281-78-3. OCLC 1035315175.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. ↑ M.S., Thimmanaik (2019). "Dalit Literature and Culture in Marginalized Society" (PDF). Shodhmanthan. X (3): 104–105. ISSN 0976-5255.
  17. ↑ Muthukkaruppan (2018). "Preliminary Remarks on Dalit Poetry". 30 (1): 61–71. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. ↑ Natarajan, Nalini; Emmanuel Sampath Nelson (1996). "Chap 13: Dalit Literature in Marathi by Veena Deo". Handbook of twentieth-century literatures of India. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 363. ISBN 0-313-28778-3.
  19. ↑ Issues of Language and Representation:Babu Rao Bagul Handbook of twentieth-century literatures of India, Editors: Nalini Natarajan, Emmanuel Sampath Nelson. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996. ISBN 0-313-28778-3. Page 368.
  20. ↑ Mother 1970 Indian short stories, 1900–2000, by E. V. Ramakrishnan. Sahitya Akademi. Page 217, Page 409 (Biography).
  21. ↑ Jevha Mi Jat Chorali Hoti (1963) Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 2. Editors Amaresh Datta. Sahitya Akademi, 1988. ISBN 81-260-1194-7. Page 1823.
  22. ↑ "Of art, identity, and politics". The Hindu. Jan 23, 2003. Archived from the original on July 2, 2003.
  23. ↑ R. S. Morkhandikar. “Dilemmas of Dalit Movement in Maharashtra: Unity Moves and After.” Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 25, no. 12, 1990, pp. 586–590. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/4396063 . Accessed 21 July 2020.
  24. ↑ "Remembering Annabhau Sathe, The Dalit Writer Who Dealt A Blow To Class and Caste Slavery". HuffPost India. 2019-08-01. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  25. ↑ "Annabhau Sathe – Remembering The Founder of 'Dalit Literature'". Velivada. August 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  26. ↑ Joshi, Prakash Bal (2017-07-08). "Poisoned Bread, an anthology of Dalit writings published in 1992, created a literature of protest". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  27. ↑ Oza, Preeti (2020-08-18). "Empathy of Power and Effect on Knowledge–Perspectives from Dalit Studies". Rochester, NY. doi:10.2139/ssrn.3676312. S2CID 241560667. SSRN 3676312. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  28. 1 2 "Wretched, Writing". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  29. ↑ Karas, Shri Krishna (2023-02-22). "आंबेडकरी साहित्य संमेलनाच्या अध्यक्षपदी सांगलीकर गौतमीपुत्र कांबळे". Lokmat (in Marathi). Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  30. ↑ Irshad (2023-02-22). "Gautamiputra Kamble as President of Ambedkari Sahitya Sammelan Pipa News - PiPa News". Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  31. ↑ "'Ambedkarite lit inspires by showing beauty of life'". The Times of India. 2017-03-19. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  32. 1 2 admin (8 June 2016). "A Brief Introductory Overview of Bengali Dalit Literature – Y – The ILF Samanvay Blog". Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  33. ↑ Mukherjee, Sipra, "Creating Their Own Gods: Literature from the margins of Bengal", Dalit Literatures in India, doi:10.4324/9780429489563-10, ISBN 9780429489563, retrieved 2023-05-06
  34. ↑ Bandyopādhyāẏa, Śekhara (1997). Caste, protest and identity in colonial India : the Namasudras of Bengal, 1872-1947. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon. ISBN 0-7007-0626-7. OCLC 37390836.
  35. ↑ Bandyopadhyay, Sekhar (2004-07-01). Caste, Culture and Hegemony: Social Dominance in Colonial Bengal. SAGE Publishing India. ISBN 978-93-5280-072-8.
  36. ↑ Bandyopadhyay, Sekhar (2005). The Namasudra movement. New Delhi: Critical Quest. ISBN 81-89524-00-3. OCLC 296275255.
  37. ↑ Taneja, Nidhima (2022-04-30). "Meet Chuni Kotal, the Dalit Advasi woman from Bengal who battled stigma in Indian education". ThePrint. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  38. ↑ admin (25 September 2016). "A Brief Introductory Overview of Bengali Dalit Literature – Y – The ILF Samanvay Blog". Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  39. ↑ Buck, David C.; M, Kannan (2020-10-09), Kannan, M. (ed.), "Introduction", Tamil dalit literature : My own experience, Mondes Indiens/South Asia, Pondichéry: Institut Français de Pondichéry, pp. vii–xxxviii, ISBN 979-10-365-4987-8, retrieved 2023-05-06
  40. ↑ Mangalam, B. (2007-01-01). "Tamil Dalit literature: an overview". Language Forum. 33 (1): 73–85.
  41. ↑ Geetha, Krishnamurthy Alamelu (2011-08-01). "From Panchamars to Dalit". Prose Studies. 33 (2): 117–131. doi:10.1080/01440357.2011.632220. ISSN 0144-0357. S2CID 162139858.
  42. ↑ Rawat, Ramnarayan S.; Satyanarayana, K.; Hans, Raj Kumar (2016). "Making Sense of Dalit Sikh History". Dalit studies. Durham: Duke university press. pp. 135–136. ISBN 978-0-8223-6113-8.
  43. ↑ Hans, Raj Kumar (2013). "Sant Poet Wazir Singh: A Window for Reimagining Nineteenth Century Punjab" (PDF). Journal of Punjab Studies. 20: 135–150.
  44. ↑ Malhotra, Anshul (2013). "Living and Defining Caste: The Life and Writing of Giani Ditt Singh/Sant Ditta Ram" (PDF). Journal of Punjab Studies. 20: 159–165.
  45. ↑ Hans, Raj Kumar (2018), "Dalit Intellectual Poets of Punjab: 1690–1925", Dalit Literatures in India (2 ed.), Routledge India, doi:10.4324/9780429489563-13/dalit-intellectual-poets-punjab-raj-kumar-hans?context=ubx&refid=d3aaa18d-f064-4d92-b1ab-88f71a8cbae8, ISBN 978-0-429-48956-3, retrieved 2024-01-17
  46. ↑ PURUSHOTHAM, K (2010). "Evolution of Telugu Dalit Literature". Economic and Political Weekly. 45 (22): 55–63. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 27807079.
  47. 1 2 "Telugu Dalit literature's evolution is a living movement for an egalitarian society, nurturing dignity in resistance". Firstpost. 2020-04-24. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  48. ↑ Bharathi, Thummapudi (2008). A history of Telugu Dalit literature. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. ISBN 978-81-7835-688-4. OCLC 276229077.
  49. 1 2 "Dalit Theatre in Gujarati: Trends, Patterns, Differences". Sahapedia. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  50. ↑ rti_admin (2012-01-31). "Gujarati Dalit Literature: An Overview". Round Table India. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  51. ↑ "Tale of Dalit Sahitya in Gujarati literature". The Times of India. 2018-02-25. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  52. 1 2 Malik, Suratha Kumar (2021). "Genesis, Historicity and Persistence of Dalit Protest Literature and Movements in Odisha". Contemporary Voice of Dalit. 13 (1): 81–94. doi:10.1177/2455328X20987370. ISSN 2455-328X. S2CID 233926734.
  53. 1 2 3 4 KUMAR, RAJ (2016). "Caste and the literary imagination in the context of Odia literature: a reading of Akhila Nayak's Bheda". Dalit Literatures in India. doi:10.4324/9781315684314. ISBN 9781315684314.
  54. ↑ Bureau, KalingaTV (2017-09-05). "First Odia Dalit novel 'Bheda' is a poignant tale of caste discrimination". KalingaTV. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  55. ↑ Koppikar, Smruti (2015-04-25). "A brief history of the Dalit memoir". mint. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  56. ↑ Beth, Sarah (2007). "Hindi Dalit Autobiography: an Exploration of Identity". Modern Asian Studies. 41 (3): 545–574. doi:10.1017/S0026749X0600240X. ISSN 0026-749X. S2CID 145731967.
  57. ↑ Poitevin, Guy (2002). "Dalit Autobiographical Narratives: Figures of Subaltern Consciousness, Assertion and Identity". Centre for Cooperative Research in Social Sciences.
  58. ↑ Sen, Shoma (March 2019). "The village and the city: Dalit feminism in the autobiographies of Baby Kamble and Urmila Pawar". The Journal of Commonwealth Literature. 54 (1): 38–51. doi:10.1177/0021989417720251. ISSN 0021-9894. S2CID 164470465.
  59. ↑ Guru, Gopal (1995). "Dalit Women Talk Differently". Economic and Political Weekly. 30 (41/42): 2548–2550. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4403327.
  60. ↑ Rege, Sharmila (1998). "Dalit Women Talk Differently: A Critique of 'Difference' and Towards a Dalit Feminist Standpoint Position". Economic and Political Weekly. 33 (44): WS39–WS46. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4407323.
  61. ↑ Mukhopadhyay, Arpita Chattaraj, "Literatures of Suffering and Resistance: Dalit women's Testimonios and Black women slave narratives – a comparative study", Dalit Literatures in India, doi:10.4324/9780429489563-18, ISBN 9780429489563, retrieved 2023-05-06
  62. ↑ Dangle, Arjun. "An Interview with Arjun Dangle".
  63. ↑ Bama (28 January 2018). "Dalit Feminist Activist Writes Back: Bama Faustina in Conversation with Jaydeep Sarangi". Writers in Conversation. 5 (1). doi:10.22356/wic.v5i1.28.
  64. ↑ Thakur (28 January 2018). "In Conversation with Kapilkrishna Thakur". Writers in Conversation. 5 (1). doi:10.22356/wic.v5i1.27.

Manohar, D.Murali. Priesthood: Theorizing Mala/Vaishnava Dasari's Life, Culture and History. New Delhi: Serials, 2016.

____. Dalit Literature: A Pedagogic Discourse. New Delhi: Serials, 2016.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.