DALIT WRITINGS: Emerging Perspectives

Dalit Writings: Emerging Perspectives provides in twenty-four essays and an Introduction, a critical exploration of the Dalit literary works, the new themes, new voices and perspectives that have emerged therein by the first quarter of the twenty-first century. The different essays trace how the historical, political and social developments that have taken place in India within the last century have made deep impact on the different Dalit groups as well as in the reconstruction of the entire country. Dalit writings, from the Dalits and non-Dalits, from early thinkers like Jotirao Phule and B.R. Ambedkar to the contemporary, such as Kancha Ilaiah, poets like Kalyani Thakur reflect the slow and subtle changes in the identity formation of individuals and groups, their economic and socio-cultural expressions.

For ages, the caste-dominated Indian society practiced forms of inequalities and injustice that affected Dalit consciousness and its modes of self-expression. Social reform movements created a growing awareness of their rights and various protest movements spread across the country gave rise to increased literary creativity. The volume here studies closely the Dalit questioning of the nation’s claims to provide an egalitarian, democratic society and texts that remind the Indian society its promise to provide equal opportunity to all.
In their critical and analytical essays Jasbir Jain, Raj Kumar, Nibir Ghosh, Usha Bande, Jaydeep Sarangi and others examine the theoretical and aesthetic aspects of the literature which has used a wide variety of forms and genre, written in many different Indian languages. With deep roots in acute sense of protest, rebellion and pain, the literature has grown in its variety and output. Recognized on international forums, a review of the Dalit Literature serves an academic purpose. This book is an attempt to meet that need.

Santosh Gupta is an independent scholar. She was formerly Professor and Chairperson of the Department of English, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur. Her main areas of interest are Modern Fiction, Indian Literature and Postcolonial Studies. For her Emeritus Fellow Projects (2013–2015), she worked on Modern Literature from India’s Border states, mainly the North-East and Jammu & Kashmir.

Bandana Chakrabarty, an independent scholar, was formerly Joint-Director (Academic) in the Commissionerate of College Education, Rajasthan, Jaipur. She has also been Principal of Rajasthan School of Art, Jaipur. She has taught English at various government colleges of Rajasthan for over three decades. Author of Fictions of the Self: Alice Munro, she has co-edited several anthologies.