Dalit Literature

Dalit Literature

Ø  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.

Ø  The term ‘Dalit’ literally means ‘oppressed’

Ø  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.

Ø  Numerous authors, such as Sharankumar Limbale, Namdeo Dhasal, and Bama, have contributed to the Dalit literary movement

Ø  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.

 

Works:

 B.R. Ambedkar (1891-1956)

1.     Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development 1916- paper read by him at an anthropology seminar in New York in 1916

2.     Annihilation of Caste (1936)- speech written for Jat-Pat Todak Mandal (Society for the Break Up of Caste system), an anti-caste Hindu reformist organization based in Lahore, who invited Dr.Ambedkar to deliver a speech on the caste system in India at their annual conference in 1936. The organisers found some of the content to be objectionable towards the orthodox Hindu religion, so they wrote to Ambedkar seeking the removal of sections which they found, in their words, "unbearable." Ambedkar declared in response that he "would not change a comma" of his text.

In July 1936, Gandhi wrote articles under the title "A Vindication Of Caste" in his weekly journal (Harijans) in which he defended the right of Ambedkar to deliver his speech and condemned the Jat-Pat-Todak Mandal for rejecting it because the Mandal already knew Ambedkar was a staunch critic of Hinduism and caste system.  

Ambedkar replied to Gandhi's comments in 1937 work titled Annihilation of Caste: With a Reply to Mahatma Gandhi.

In 2014, an annotated edition was released by Navayana, a New Delhi–based publishing house, with an introduction by Arundhati Roy titled "The Doctor and the Saint"

3.     Who were the Shudras? 1946- dedicated to Jyothirao Phule

4.     Buddha or Karl Marx­ 1956- a speech delivered by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar before the delegates of the Fourth Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists held in Kathmandu, Nepal, in the year 1956

5.     The Buddha and His Dhamma 1957- a treatise on Buddha's life and philosophy.

 

Mulk Raj Anand 1905-2004 (see Indian Literature)

1.     Untouchable

2.     An Anthology of Dalit Literature

 

Annabhau Sathe 1920-1969

–original name Dr. Tukaram Bhaurao Sathe. Indian folk poet, writer, and social worker from the state of Maharashtra. He wrote 35 novels¸15 collections short stories, a play, a travelogue on Russia, 12 screenplays, and 10 ballads in the Marathi language.

1.     Fakira 1959     - story of a stout young guy, named Fakira, crusading for the rights of people of his community and religious practice or ritual called 'Jogin' in the British Raj and his enmity towards the evil forces in the village. He became icon to Dalits, especially Mang, or Matang community

Dr. Kumud Sonkuwar Pawde (1938-)- Sanskrit Pandit

born into a Mahar Dalit family in Maharashtra. Later she became a Buddhist. She is the first Ambedkarite scholar of Sanskrit. She is a founder member of the National Federation of Dalit Women.

1.     Antahsphot or Outburst 1981 – her autobiography- discusses the issue of exploitation of Dalit Women

2.     “The Story of My Sanskrit” is a chapter in it.

Urmila Pawar (1945-- )

born in Adgaon village of Ratnagiri district in the Konkan district of Bombay Presidency (now the state of Maharashtra)

1.     Aidan (The Weave of My Life: A Dalit Woman’s Memoirs)-autobiography - first of its kind account by a dalit woman, won her acclaim and numerous accolades. The book was later translated into English by Maya Pandit and released under the title The Weave of My Life: A Dalit Woman’s Memoirs.

2.     "Kavach" and "A Childhood Tale"- her famous stories

 

OM PRAKASH VALMIKI (1950-2013)-

      Born in Barla in the Muzzafarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

1. Joothan: A Dalit’s life (1997)-, Joothan eats the scraps of food left on plated intended for garbage/animals. Detailed description of Chuhra community.
2. Three collections of poetry:

• Sadiyon Ka Santaap (1989),

• Bas! Bahut Ho Chuka (1997), and

• Ab Aur Nahin (2009).

1. Two collections of short stories,

• Salaam (2000), and

• Ghuspethiye (2004).

1. Dalit Sahitya Ka Saundaryshaastra (2001)

1. Safai Devata (2009)- history of the Valmiki community

1. Do Chera' (a play)

Kancha Ialaiah (1952-    )

born in the village of Papaiahpet of Chennaraopet mandal, Warangal district in present-day Telangana. Ilaaih suffixed 'Shepherd' to his name symbolically, as he comes from a shepherding family

1.     Why I Am Not a Hindu: A Sudra critique of Hindutva philosophy, culture and political economy (1996). 

2.     God as Political Philosopher: Buddha's Challenge to Brahminism 2001

3.     Buffalo Nationalism: A Critique of Spiritual Fascism 2004

4.     Untouchable God: A Novel on Caste and Race 2011

5.     In 2016, Ilaiah gave a controversial remark that vegetarianism is anti-nationalism.

6.     In 2017, He wrote a controversial book “komatollu - samajika smugglerlu”

 

Sharankumar Limbale(1956-….)- Marathi Writer

1.     The Outcaste (Akkarmashi 1984)- autobiography, considered a landmark in Dalit literature.

2.     Hindu: A Novel

3.     Pradnyasurya-- Biography of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar

4.     Towards An Aesthetic Of Dalit Literature: History, Controversies And Considerations (2004)-   discusses how Dalit anubhava (experiences) should take precedence over anuman (speculation).

 

BAMA (1958-…..): 

(Bama Faustina Soosairaj), is a Tamil Dalit feminist, teacher and novelist. Born as Faustina Mary Fatima Rani in Periyar family of Tamilnadu. Susairaj is her father.

1.     Karukku: An Autobiography (1992)­ -The first autobiography by a Dalit woman writer. About the joys and sorrows experienced by Dalit Christian women in Tamil Nadu.

2.     Sangati (1994­)- novel

3.     Vanmam (2002)- novel

4.     Three short story collections:

o   Kusumbukkaran (1996)

o   Oru Tattvum Erumaiyum (2003),

o   'Kandattam'(2009)

 

Gogu Shyamala (1969-   )

born in Peddemul village in Ranga Reddy district (now part of Telangana)

1.     Tataki Wins Again & Brave Heart Badeyya 2008

2.     Father May Be an Elephant and Mother Only a Small Basket, But...  (2012)- landmark in Telangana dalit literature in translation.

 

Ilavenil Meena Kandasamy (1984-    ) - 

Indian poet, fiction writer, translator and activist from Chennai, Tamil Nadu

1.     two collections of poetry, 

a.     Touch (2006)  

b.     Ms. Militancy (2010)

2.     A Dalit History 2017- essays- (with Gopal Guru)     

3.     The Gypsy Goddess 2014- novel

4.     When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife 2017- novel

5.     Exquisite Cadavers 2019- novel

6.     AYYANKALI: A Dalit leader of Organic Protest, a biography of Ayyankali, a dalit leader in Kerala (co-authored with M. Nisar)

7.     Meena made her acting debut in the 2014 Malayalam film Oraalppokkam. 

  

Arjun Dangle  (1945-  )- 

born in Mumbai, A founder member of the militant Dalit youth organization, the Dalit Panthers

1.     Dalit vidroh: collection of articles 1998

2.     Poisoned Bread: Translations from Modern Marathi Dalit Literature 2009           

3.     Homeless in my Land: Translations from Modern Marathi Dalit Short Stories

 

Namdeo Laxman Dhasal 1949-2014- 

Marathi poet, writer and Dalit activist from Maharashtra. He founded the Dalit Panther movement in 1972. Padma Shri in 1999 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sahitya Akademi in 2004.

1.     A Current of Blood 2019- poetry      

2.     Dilip Chitre translated a selection of Dhasal's poems into English under the title Namdeo Dhasal: Poet of the Underground Poems 1972-2006

 

Daya Pawar (Dagdu Maruti Pawar) – 1935-1996­ 

Indian Marathi language author and poet

1.     Baluta 1978- ­autobio­graphy written in the Marathi language. a story told by Dagdu Pawar to the more literate Daya Pawar, both being personas of the author. According to Kalita, Baluta "introduced autobiographical writing" to Dalit literature. He gave expression to the oppression of the Dalits through his verse. "Shilekhali haat hota, tari nahi phodla hambarda, Kitr janmachi kaid, kuni nirmila ha kondvada"

(The hand was crushed under a stone, yet no outcry was heard. How many generations of imprisonment? Who created this prison?)

 

Sharmila Rege  (1964-2013)- 

born in Pune, Maharastra

1.     Caste and gender: the violence against women in India 1996

2.     Sociology of Gender: The Challenge of Feminist Sociological Thought 2003

Writing Caste/Writing Gender: Narrating Dalit Women's Testimonios (2006)­-collection of a few Marathi Dalit women’s biographies

Other minor works:

    

Shantabai Kamble

1.     Majhya Jalmachi Chittarkatha (The Kaleidoscopic Story Of My Life,1983),

 

Baby Kamble

1.     Jine Amuche (Prisons We Broke, 1987)

 

Janabai Girhe

1.     Maranakala (Death Pains, 1992),

 

Kaushalya Baisantry

1.     Dohra Abhshaap (Twice Cursed,1999),

 

Susheela Takbhaure

1.     Shikanje ka Dard (The Pain of the Trap, 2011) 

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