Dalit literature

Dalit literatureis a genre of Indian writing that focuses on the lives, experiences, and struggles of theDalitcommunity, who have faced caste-based oppression and discrimination for centuries.This literature encompasses various Indian languages such asMarathi,Bangla,Hindi,Kannada,Punjabi,Sindhi,OdiaandTamiland 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.

Prominent works within Dalit literature emerged in the colonial and post-colonial period, withJyotirao Phule'sGulamgiri,published in 1873, being a seminal work highlighting the plight of the Untouchables in India. Numerous authors, such asSharankumar Limbale,Namdeo Dhasal,andBama,have contributed to the Dalit literary movement, each offering unique perspectives on the Dalit experience. TheDalit Panthermovement inMaharashtraand the influence ofDr. 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 ofDalit feminism,with the autobiographies and testimonios of Dalit women authors emphasizing the intersection ofcaste,class, and gender in the context of social exclusion. Prominent Dalit women authors, such asUrmila PawarandBaby 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 wasMadara Chennaiah,an 11th-century cobbler-saint who lived during the reign of theWestern Chalukyasand who is also regarded by some scholars as the "father ofVachanapoetry ". Another poet from the sameJangamorder, who finds mention isDohara Kakkaiah,a Dalit by birth, whose six confessional poems survive.The origins of Dalit writing can also be traced back toMarathiDalitBhaktipoets like Gora,Chokha MelaandKarmamela,and to theTamilSiddhas,or Chittars — many of whose hagiographies, in accounts such as the 12th-centuryPeriyapuranam,suggest that they may have been Dalits. Modern Dalit writing only emerged as a distinct genre after the democratic and egalitarian thinkers such asSree 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.

Modern Dalit Literature

According toSatyanarayanaandTharu,

"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."

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.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 includeMahasweta 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.

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 isP. 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 inKerala,has also made significant contributions to the genre with three published collections. Her writings typically explore the challenges and issues faced by women.Dev Kumaris 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 Kandasamyis a renowned feminist writer based inTamil Naduwhose work is deeply connected to the anti-caste movement.

Regional Literature

Dalit literature in Marathi

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. In 1958, the term "Dalit literature" was used at the first conference ofMaharashtra Dalit Sahitya Sangha(Maharashtra Dalit Literature Society) inMumbai 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 inMarathi;today it is seen by many critics as an epic portraying lives of the Dalits, and was later made into a film by actor-directorVinay Apte.Gradually with other writers like,Namdeo Dhasal(who foundedDalit Panther), these Dalit writings paved way for the strengthening of Dalit movement. Notable Dalit authors writing in Marathi includeArun 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 Kharatserved as president of the 1984 session ofMarathi Sahitya Sammelan(Marathi literary conference) held inJalgaon.

Although the first Dalit literature conference,Dalit Sahitya Sammelan,was held in 1958 organised byAnnabhau Sathe,a communist, who turned toAmbedkaritemovement in the later part of his life. He is credited as the founding father of Dalit literature.Dalit literature started being mainstream in India with the appearance of the English translations of Marathi Dalit writing.An Anthology of Dalit Literature,edited byMulk Raj AnandandEleanor Zelliot,andPoisoned 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'Poisoned Bread' - the collection takes its name from a story byBandhumadhavabout Yetalya Aja, aMaharwho 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 ofMahars.

In 1993, Ambedkari Sahitya Parishad organized the firstAkhil Bharatiya Ambedkari Sahitya Sammelan(All India Ambedkarite Literature Convention) inWardha,Maharashtra to re-conceptualize and transform Dalit literature intoAmbedkari Sahitya,after the name of the Dalit modern-age hero, scholar and inspirationB.R. Ambedkar,who had successfully campaigned against caste-discrimination and was a strong advocate of Dalit rights.Ambedkari Sahitya Parishadthen 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.

Dalit literature in Bengali

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 inBengalis often referred to as "Charal literature." Some of the notable examples of Charal literature includeJatin Bala'sSekor Chhera Jibon(An Uprooted Life) and Samaj Chetanar Galpa (Stories of Social Awakening) andKalyani Charal's Chandalinir Kobita. In Bengal, the development of Dalit literature was influenced by the leadership ofHarichand Thakur,a leader of the Motua community, and the inspiration of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.TheMotuasplayed a significant role in initiating caste consciousness and anti-caste movements in colonial Bengal, as discussed in Sekhar Bandyopadhyay’s ‘TheNamasudraMovement’ 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.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 toBandophadhay,Motua songs contain messages that aim to boost self-confidence and the collective ego of the depressed community.

However, the organized Dalit literary movement did not begin until 1992 afterChuni Kotal's death by suicide.The protests against her death led to the formation of theBangla Dalit Sahitya Sansthaand the launch of the magazineChaturtha Duniya,which was dedicated to promoting and circulating Dalit writings.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, includingManohar Mouli Biswas,Jatin Bala,Kapil Krishna Thakur,Kalyani Charal, Manju Bala, and many others. The autobiography of Dalit proletariat authorManoranjan 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. TheDalit Panthermovement 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 onromanticismornationalisminstead.

Dalit Literature in Tamil

The development of Dalit literature in Tamil Nadu has a long history, starting with the pioneering efforts of educatedParayars,aScheduled Castein 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 ofsocialism,rationality,andmodernityincolonial India.He also protested against ManudharmicBrahminismand fought for the dignity and rights of the "untouchable communities," urging them to identify themselves asPanchamars(fifth Caste). Dalit intellectuals regularly published journals likeOru 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 ofSwadeshiideals. These journals played a pivotal role in augmenting the sensibility and consciousness ofAdi Dravidapolitics and identity. Adi Dravida leaders appreciated the zeal and social commitment of theSelf-respect movementand urgedAdi Dravidasto support it. They became a vital part of the Self-respect movement and participated in the major struggles launched by the movement.

In the 1940s, there was acommunistupsurge in Tamil Nadu that inspired and influenced Adi Dravidas, who took the lead in protests organized by the communists. Dalit writers likeDaniel Selvaraj,and Poomani were drawn towardMarxism,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. The literary movement gained prominence in Tamil Nadu during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Dalit writers in Tamil Nadu confronted issues of caste-based discrimination, social injustice, and economic disparities within their community. However, it was in the 1990s that the Tamil Dalit literary movement gained momentum. TheMandal commission reporttriggered 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.

The sudden surge in Dalit literature and arts gained ground over the course of the next decade. Writers such as Sivakami,Edayavendan,Unjai Rajan Abimani,Bama,Anbadavan,K. A. Gunasekaran,Imaiyam played pivotal roles in shaping and advancing Dalit literature in Tamil. Notable works include Sivakami's "Pazhiyana Kazhidalum" (The Grip of Change) and Bama's "Karukku," the first Dalit novel in Tamil written by a woman.The annual Dalit cultural festival organized by theDalit Athara Maiyamarticulated issues and problems related to Dalits. Dalit cultural festivals were conducted inPondicherryandNeyveliin 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 likeDalit 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.

Dalit Literature in Punjabi

Dalit literature inPunjabhas 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 toBhai Jaita(1657–1704), a devoted disciple ofGuru Gobind Singh,who composed the devotional epic Sri Gur Katha.In the first half of the nineteenth century, Sant-poetSadhu 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.Giani Ditt Singh(1852–1901), born into a rural Dalit family, played a crucial role in theSingh Sabha movement.As the editor of theKhalsa Akhbar,he significantly contributed to Sikh intellectualism. Ditt Singh's works covered a wide range of subjects, from love-lore andSikhtraditions to history and ethics, often critiquing popular religious practices rooted in what he considered "superstitious beliefs."SadhuDaya Singh Arif(1894–1946), born into a landless untouchableMazhabi Sikhfamily, overcame educational challenges to write poetic works, including "Zindagi Bilas" and "Sputtar Bilas".

Dalit Literature in Telugu

Telugu Dalit literature has a long history, dating back to the 17th century with poets likePotuluri VeerabrahmamandYogi Vemana,who wrote about the evils of caste and untouchability.A new generation of Dalit poets, artists, and intellectuals emerged post-independence and brought literary art into the public sphere and aided socio-political movements inAndhra PradeshandTelangana.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 asBurrakatha,Yakshaganam,Oggukathaand other street plays became key instruments. This gave rise to activist-singers such asGaddar,Masterji,Goreti Venkanna,Suddala Hanumanthu,Bandi Yadagiriand Guda Anjanna, Mittapelli Surender and Andesri. Their songs gave an uncompromising call for revolution and over time found themselves in the mainstream Telugu industry.

The tragic events of theKaramchedu massacrein 1985 not only brought the horrors of caste discrimination to light but also served as a catalyst for the collective conscience of the Dalit community. Notably, it played a pivotal role in uniting two influential Dalit intellectuals,Kathi Padma RaoandBojja Tarakam,who assumed leadership roles within the Dalit Mahasabha in 1987. Under their guidance, theDalit Mahasabhaemerged as a powerful force, mobilizing masses to stand against caste-based discrimination and atrocities inflicted upon Dalits. This era saw the emergence of compelling Dalit poetry anthologies, including notable works such as "Padunekkina Pata" and "Chikkanaina Pata." Women writers such asGogu Shyamala,Joopaka Subhadra,Jajula Gowri,andChallapalli Swaroopa Raniwrote prolifically as well.

The Dandora Movement launched in the 1990s byMadigas,Manda Krishna Madiga, protested against unequal treatment byMalas.Similar sentiments were also raised by other sub-caste communities such as Dakkali,Relli,Jambavas,among others.

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 byRameshchandra Parmar.This was followed by the publication of several other magazines such asAkrosh,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 inAhmedabadstarted publishing a magazine called Panther, inspired by the Dalit Panthers. The movement gained momentum during the state ofemergencyimposed by Prime MinisterIndira Gandhiin 1975 and the anti-reservation agitations in 1981 and 1985. Initially, Dalit writers expressed their experiences and identities through poetry in magazines such asKalo 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 byGanpat ParmarandManishi Jani,was published. Another collection called Visphot, edited by Balkrishna Anand andChandu Maheria,was published in 1983. Asmita, a collection of poems published in the Dalit periodical Nayamarg between 1981 and 1983, was published by theGujarat Khet Vikas Parishadin 1983.

The first Gujarati Dalit Poetry was published in a magazine in 1978, with contributions from writers such as Neerav Patel,Dalpat Chauhan,Pravin Gadhvi,andYogesh Dave.Ganpat Parmar and Manishi Jani later published the first collection of Gujarati Dalit literature. Other notable writers in the field includeSahil Parmar,Joseph Macwan,Harish Mangalam,Pathik Parmar,Mohan Parmar,Madhukantkalpit,andB.N. Vankar.Joseph Macwan was the first Gujarati Dalit writer to receive aSahitya Akademiaward. His works often overlapped between fiction and reality and were characterized by their simplicity and sensitivity. Macwan's novelAngliyatis one of the most famous works in Gujarati literature and portrays the lives and struggles of theVankarcommunity.

Dalit Literature in Odia

Dalit Literature in Odia has a rich history that can be traced back to the fifteenth century.Sudramuni Sarala Dasapioneered the social protest movement inOdishaduring that time. As aSudraby caste, he articulated the voices of the marginalized by writing in the language of the common people. His major works, the Odia Mahabharata, theBilanka RamayanaandChandi Purana,focused on recent events and mundane affairs of real-life situations, which was a protest against the dominance ofSanskritin literature and the excessive concern with royal characters.

ThePanchasakhapoets,Balarama Dasa,Jagannatha Dasa,Achyutanda Dasa,Jasobanta Dasa,andAnanta Dasadominated 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.

In the nineteenth century,Bhima Bhoi,aKondhtribal poet and follower ofMahima 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.In 1953,Dalit Jati Sangha(Dalit League) was founded byGovinda Chandra Seth,Santanu Kumar Das,Jagannath Malik,Kanhu Malik,andKanduri 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.In the 1970s and 1980s, Dalits in Odisha began asserting themselves through their writings.Bichitrananda Nayakwas a pioneer in Odia Dalit writings, publishing Anirbana (Liberation) in 1972 using the term "Dalit" in several poems. Other notable writers and poets includeKrushna Charan Behera.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 includeBasudeb 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,andPravakar Palka.

Other Examples of literary forms

• Dalit Hip-Hop
• Dalit Christian Hymns

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 byDagdu Maruti Pawarthat 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'sJina Amucha,Urmila Pawar's The Weave of my Life, Shantabai Kamble'sMajya 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 asNarendra Jadhav,Loknath Yashwant,Kumar Anil,G.K. Ainapure,Avinash Gaikwad,andSantosh Padmakar Pawarwrite of their achievements, whileUrmila Pawar,Sushama Deshpande,Ushakiran Atram,Ashalata Kamble,Sandhya Rangari,Kavita Morwankar,andChayya Koregaonkarexplore the intersection of caste and gender.

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.

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 asThe Weave of My Life: A Dalit Woman's Memoirsin 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'byYashodara Gaikwad
• 'Mala Uddhvasta Vhaychay' (I Want To Destroy Myself: A Memoir)byMalika Amar Shaik

Dalit women'stestimonioshave 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.

Mentioned Authors

• 
  Annabhau Sathe
• 
  Anand Teltumbde
• 
  Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar
• 
  Chokhamela
• 
  Devanur Mahadeva
• 
  Imayam
• 
  Kancha Ilaiah
• 
  Mahatma Jyotiba Phule
• 
  Joopaka Subhadra
• 
  Monoranjan Bapari
• 
  Meena Kandasamy
• 
  Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy
• 
  Mulk Raj Anand
• 
  ShriRam Nath Kovindpresenting the Swarna Kamal Award toNagraj Manjule
• 
  Perumal Murugan
• 
  Sujatha Gidla
• 
  Urmila Pawar
• 
  VEMULA YELLAIAH
• 
  Dr. Suraj Yengde

List of Dalit literature

Title	Author
Becoming Babasaheb: The Lifeand 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

• Dalit studies
• Dalit music
• Dalit Writing from South India

Further reading

• Muthukkaruppan, Parthasarathi.(2018) "Preliminary Remarks on Dalit Poetry" Rethinking Marxism Vol.30 no.1 available atPreliminary Remarks on Dalit Poetry: Rethinking Marxism: Vol 30, No 1
• Aston, N.M. Ed. (2001)Dalit Literature and African-American Literature.New Delhi: Prestige Books.ISBN81-7551-116-8.
• Chakraborty, Mridula Nath and MacCarter, Kent (2016)Issue 55.1: Dalit Indian and Indigenous AustralianCordite 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.ISBN81-85604-65-7,ISBN978-81-85604-65-7.
• Limbale, Sharankumar.(2004)Towards an Aesthetic of Dalit LiteratureOrient Longman.ISBN81-250-2656-8.
• Gonsalves, Roanna (2016)We Need to Talk about Caste: Roanna Gonsalves Interviews S AnandCordite Poetry Review
• Manohar, D.Murali (2013) Ed.Critical Essays on Dalit Literature.New Delhi: Atlantic.ISBN9788126917846.
• Manohar, D.Murali (2013) Ed.Dalit Hindu Narratives,New Delhi: Global, 2013.ISBN9788189630799
• Prasad, Amar Nath and Gaijan, M.B. (2007)Dalit Literature: A Critical Exploration.ISBN81-7625-817-2.
• Purushotham, K. (2013) Trans. and Ed.Black Lilies: Telugu Dalit PoetryNew Delhi: Critical Quest.
• Ravikumarand Azhagarasan, R (2012) Eds.The Oxford Anthology of Tamil Dalit Writing.New Delhi: OUP India.ISBN978-0-19-807938-5
• 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.ISBN9788189059613.
• 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",Setu,United States.
• Sarangi, Jaydeep, "Dalit Feminist Activist Writes Back: Bama Faustina in Conversation with Jaydeep Sarangi"Writers in Conversation,Australia
• Sarangi, Jaydeep, "In Conversation with Kapilkrishna Thakur",Writers in Conversation,Australia
• Shalin Maria Lawrence(2019)Vadachennaikkaari: Urban Dalit Literature.a mixed genre essays: Chennai.ISBN978-93-87636-25-5.

References

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.

External links

• Excerpt from Arundhati Roy's essay, "The Doctor and the Saint"
• We Need Ambedkar Now: Arundhati Roy Interview
• The Telegraph,Wretched, Writing
• Voice of Dalit:Dalit Voice: Literature and Revolt
• Page not found – justicenews
• Is there ‘Dalit’ literature in Bangla?