research paper on dalit literature

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Dalit Literature – Concept, Origin and Features

Abstract: Dalit literature in India over the past many decades has emerged as a separate and important category of literature in many Indian languages. It has provided a new voice and identity to the communities that have experienced discrimination, exploitation and marginalization due to hierarchical caste system. Dalit literature has also made a forceful case for human dignity and social equality. In the light of the growing importance of the study of Dalit literature, this paper attempts to explore the origin, concept and contributions of Dalit literature in India and brings out its significance and key features. Keywords:Challenged, Communities, Dalit literature, Dignity, Equality, Exploitation, History of Dalit Literature, Socio-political commitment, Untouchable

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International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences

As a major literary trend in India through Indian regional languages and translations. Dalit literature is marked for self-assertion of Dalits, subalterns, lower strata of Indian caste-class-religionlanguage-capital ridden society through poetry, plays, short stories, self-narratives, and oral performances challenging inhuman treatment, atrocities, inequality, and the so-called mainstream literary and critical conventions. Dalit literature is emerged as an outcome of the exploitative nature of Indian caste system.The ideology is drawn from Buddha, Charvak, Kabir, JyotiraoPhule, Karl Marx and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. At this stage, Dalit literature needs to be stabilized at theoretical and critical level, considering western critical approaches in order to explore the essence of Dalit literature on the contemporary literary and critical canvass. This paper attempts to focus onthe term 'Dalit', the elements of Dalit literature, Dalit literature in English, the term 'Dalit identity' and how it reflected in Dalit literature, theorizing Dalit literature and literary critical standards, précising Dalit literature in the recent literary trends in India, comparison and contrast of Dalit literature with the Anglo-American and third world literary tradition, the issues raised by Dalit literature and their validity in the present era, the sources and forces of Dalit literature and future course of Dalit literature.

This research paper attempts to study the emergence of the term dalit and its various interpretations. Though the opinion of pro minent figures like Gandhi, A mbedkar, Phule, EV Ramaswami, Dalit Panthers Movement, Marxist, and others are analyzed, the contemporary writers have not been included in this paper. Further I analyse the term "dalit literature" and its various implications. I argue that the representation of dalit literature celebrates the dalit condition as an unparalleled one an d a permanent entity. It ignores the differences within the dalit communities; rather they concentrate on building on similarities. Through these similarit ies they create a dalit identity and culture that defines "Dalitness' which is not only national but international in its inspiration. To this end dalit writers find and celebrate the similarities of dalit literature with Black literature inspired by the Panthers Movements in USA. Thus transformation of the "dalit" identity" represents a new type of polit ical assertion that confronts, counters and redesigns older forms of struggles, against both class and caste exploitation.

Booksclinic Publishing, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, 2020

The book “Perspectives on Indian Dalit Literature: Critical Responses” is a volume of twenty six scholarly articles focusing on the theme of Dalit’s freedom and emancipation from traditional caste-stigmatised society which sacrifices the interest of Dalits on the altar of tradition. The book endeavours to articulate voices among this marginalized class of people to come in action from their passivity and stillness. The book also tries to cover almost all eminent Dalit writers of past and present century like Omprakash Valmiki, Baby Kamble, Bama Faustina Soosairaj, Meena Kandasamy, Namdeo Dhasal, Sharankumar Limbale, Bhimrao Shirwale, Hira Bansode etc. along with some non-Dalit wrters like Munshi Premchand, Mulk Raj Anand, Arvind Adiga etc. who have sought plea for this marginalized class of people with same ardour and passion as other Dalit writers through their write ups. Hopefully this anthology would serve for better humanity.

An anthology of Dalit literature, Poisoned Bread, stirred the literary world not only in Maharashtra but in the whole country. The editor of this anthology is Arjun Dangle, an eminent scholar, who wrote about the past, present and future of Dalit literature. He explored several issues related to Dalit Literature such as B. R. Ambedkar’s influence on the Dalit Literary movement, Progressive Writer’s Association with Dalit Literature, the caste system in India, Little Magazine Movement, Dalit Panthers and Dalit Literature, the importance of Dalit autobiographies in Dalit Literature, etc. The host of Dalit writers like Anna Bhau Sathe, Laxman Mane, Laxman Gaikwad, Arun Kamble, Shantabai Kamble, Baby Kamble, Namdeo Dhasal, Raja Dhale, Uttam Bandu Tupe, Bandu Madhav, Sharankumar Limbale, Waman Nimbalkar, and Bhimsen Dethe have enriched Dalit Literature with their bitter life experiences and literary sensibilities. The most crucial motive of the Dalit Literature is the liberation of Dalit...

What is a Dalit literature? It is always very hard to define the exact time and place of its beginning. Dalit word is originated form Sanskrit word ‘dalita’ which means broken, oppressed, split, untouchable and exploited. Dalits came from poor section of the society that under the caste system of India used to be known as untouchables. Dr. B.R. Ambedker called them ‘broken people’ and Mahatma Gandhi gave them a new name ‘Harijan’. We only can guess its history from the written source based on “Manusmirity”, one of the most religious books of Hindu mythology. Traditional Indian society is divided into four hierarchical caste systems or varnas: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. The four varnas or castes are subdivided into many sub castes. Shudras occupy the lowest position in the social order and Dalits are from this section of society. Even we find some streak of Dalits in the Hindu epics in “Ramayana” and “Mahabharta”. In Mahabharta we find the episode of Eklaviya, whom Guru Drona refused to teach him, because he was from a dalit caste. And we know how he learnt the archery and Drona asked for his right hand’s thumb

Galaxy: International Multidisciplinary Research journal, 2014

The term ‘Dalit’ is synonymous with poor, exploited, oppressed and needy people. There is no universally acclaimed concept about the origin of Indian caste system. In every civilized society, there are some types of inequalities that lead to social discrimination. And in India, it comes in the garb of ‘Casteism’. The discourses catering to the gentry tastes did not include the subaltern literary voices of the tribals, Dalits and other minority people. The dalits are deprived of their fundamental rights of education, possession of assets and right to equality. Thus Dalit Literature emerges to voice for all those oppressed, exploited and marginalized communities who endured this social inequality and exploitation for so long. The major concern of Dalit Literature is the emancipation of Dalits from this ageless bondage of slavery. Dalits use their writings as a weapon to vent out their anger against the social hierarchy which is responsible for their degradation. After a so long slumber now, they have become conscious about their identity as a human being. This Dalit consciousness and self-realization about their identity has been centrally focused in various vibrant and multifarious creative writings and is also widely applauded in the works of Mahasweta Devi, Bama, Arjun Dangle, D. Gopi and in many more. The anguish represented by the Dalit writers is not that of an individual but of the whole outcast society. The primary concern of present paper is to show how Dalit writers shatter the silence surrounding the unheard exploitation of Dalits in our country in their writings? And how Dalit Literature has become a vehicle of explosion of these muffled voices. The paper makes an attempt to comprehend the vision and voice of the Dalits and their journey from voiceless and passive objects of history to self-conscious subject. The paper will also make a study of the reasons behind the development of Dalit Literature with its consequences on our society, social condition of Dalit in India and how they write their own history. Keywords: Self-realization, Identity, Exploitation, Caste, Subaltern

Oxford Bibliographies in Literary and Critical Theory, 2021

Dalit Literature is at once the expression of a “Dalit consciousness” about identity (both individual and communal), human rights and human dignity, and the community, as well as the discursive supplement to a ground-level sociopolitical movement that seeks redress for historically persistent oppression and social justice in the present. While its origins are often deemed to be coterminous with the movement dating back to the reformist campaigns in several parts of India during the 19th century, contemporary researchers have found precursors to both the Dalit consciousness and literary expressions in poets and thinkers of earlier eras, such as the saint-poets in the Punjab. Dalit literature’s later development has also run alongside political movements such as the Indian freedom struggle, even as B. R. Ambedkar’s campaign on behalf of what were then called the “depressed classes” intersected, sometimes fractiously, with the Indian National Congress, Mahatma Gandhi, and others in the struggle. Ambedkar’s own voluminous writings and speeches, tracts of various social and reformer organizations, debates, and letters also stimulated the literary. This bibliography includes primary texts in terms of foundational writings by B. R. Ambedkar, Jotirao Phule. and Periyar, followed by select examples of Dalit life writing, fiction, poetry, and anthologies that have brought together some of these texts. Later sections include critical-academic texts that cover some of the contexts, history, and development of Dalit literature. With more poetry, autobiographies, commentaries, anthologies, and compilations of Dalit texts appearing through the 20th century, the foundation for academic studies of the field of Dalit literature were also laid. Contextualizing Dalit texts in many cases, the essays and books listed here represent a wide variety of approaches. The contexts invariably involve the Dalit movement; the campaigns from the late 19th century; the various social, cultural, and political associations; the rise of Ambedkar and his influence; and other subjects. Many link Dalit narratives to other cultural productions, iconography, and practices. Others focus on the intersection of caste and class/political economy and capitalist modernity in the postcolonial state, or caste and patriarchy. And some others, working with Dalit literature from particular languages, offer a history of Dalit literature in that language. The role of this literature in shaping not only political mobilization but also the social imaginary of the Dalit communities and the public sphere are also key components of the protocols of reading and receiving Dalit texts engendered in the academic and cultural discussions around the domain. Aesthetics, politics, genre conventions, influences and the “voice” of resistance, anger, and despair are part of the discussion in many essays. Others offer comparative studies of Dalit texts. Read variously as the literature of protest, sympathy, solidarity, and resistance, Dalit literature thrives in Indian languages, and in multiple forms, although oral narratives and stories that are popular in gatherings and meetings remain largely uncollected. New forms such as the graphic novel have energized the field in recent years.

International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR), 2024

India, recognised as one of the world's fastest-growing nations, bears the burden of a deeply entrenched caste system. This paper delves into the historical backdrop of suppression, the plight of the oppressed, and the genesis of Dalit literature. It meticulously examines the trajectory and breadth of the Dalit literary movement, which is often rooted in the philosophical tenets espoused by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Furthermore, it scrutinises the harsh realities faced by Dalits and their commendable efforts to challenge social hierarchies. Dalit literature serves as a powerful medium for conveying the poignant social and political experiences of the Dalit community within the caste-based framework of Indian society. It sheds light on the myriad social factors shaping the lives of Dalits and their interactions with both Dalit and non-Dalit communities. Through vivid narratives, it elucidates the struggles endured by the Dalit community in their quest for equality and liberty. The relentless efforts of Dalit movements, coupled with the impactful discourse presented in Dalit literature, have contributed to a perceptible shift towards equality within Dalit social dynamics. The legal prohibition of discrimination based on caste and gender signifies a significant milestone in this ongoing journey. Dalit literature encapsulates the journey of the oppressed, from grappling with questions of identity to striving for social parity. This paper underscores the transformative potential of Dalit literature as a catalyst for social change, offering a glimpse into the evolving landscape of equality and justice within Dalit communities. Through their literary expressions, Dalit writers continue to champion the cause of social justice and advocate for the rights and dignity of all individuals, irrespective of caste or gender.

AMRJ PUBLICATION , 2021

The concept of caste Dalit ,as well as the literature created by Dalits in India, has been thoroughly examined in this paper. Dalits have written a diverse range of literary works based on their own personal experiences. The experiences of being a Dalit has inspired them to represent their inhuman situation ,which is exacerbated by India's infamous caste system, which has existed for centuries. The beginning of the caste system with beginning of Hindu religious theology, where in India are there stratification/Savarnas among Hindu communities. The Dalits are on the fourth rung of the social ladder. as a Dalit , they are treated even worse ,as if they were an animal. they have been denied their basic human rights and the dignity to live as human beings for many years, they have been subjected to various forms of humiliation, torture, and slavery, and they have been denied the right to live. This long standing denial has caused India's Dalit community to vent their anguish and sense powerlessness via various forms of writing. They have spoken out against the harsh Hindu caste system that continues to oppress them in all aspects of life through their micronarratives.

In the contemporary socio-cultural and political scenario, ‘caste’ has taken the centre stage in critical analysis. Writings on caste and about those suffering as the result of this hierarchical and discriminatory system have entered the mainstream academia under the rubric of ‘Dalit Literature.’ These writings have not only challenged caste system, but have provided a new dimension to the understanding of the aesthetic value of literature. Noted Dalit writers such as Om Prakash Valmiki, NamdeoDhasal, and BaburaoBagul have broken the conventional understandings of ‘literature’ by including disturbing images and languages in their writing. Most importantly, they have portrayed the Dalits as subjects of analysis rather than objects of interpretation. Studies have been conducted on the thematic and structural aspects of Dalit literature, and a major attraction about Dalit literature has remained its ‘activism’ aspect. But how far has it influenced our views about caste and about litera...

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