Literature and Liberation: The Dalit Movement - II

Literature and Liberation: The Dalit Movement

Part II - pp. 105 - 111 - Cross-currents - Sem. 4 BA English Complementary Course

This blogpost presents the main points of the section; students are urged to read the text (pp. 105 - 111). Also note that some points included here may not exactly match with what is in the text. Modifications and additions are made to give a better picture on the topics.

For a YouTube lecture on the topic, click here.

Maharashtra: The Dalit Sahitya Movement

Maharashtra of the 1970s witnessed an outburst of unprecedented radicalism in literature: an outburst of the poetry of revolt, which today is known as the Dalit Sahitya Movement. Most of the people who associated with this were activists who called themselves “Dalit Panthers” or “Black Panthers”. (This term links them with the late 1960s’ Black Panther Movement of America, which responded to atrocities against people.)

The Black Panthers of Maharashtra demonstrated a revolutionary ardour, and got involved in violent clashes in response to discrimination. This tone of aggression was reflected in literature as well. The works demonstrated an informal roughness and were straight-forward.

[Resource: Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalit_literature

In 1958, the term "Dalit literature" was used at the first conference of Maharashtra Dalit Sahitya Sanghain Mumbai. Baburao Bagul’s Marathi work , a collection of stories, “Jevha Mi Jat Chorali” (When I had Concealed My Caste) depicted a cruel society and thus brought in new momentum to Dalit literature in Marathi. Gradually with other writers like, Namdeo Dhasal (who founded Dalit Panther), these Dalit writings paved way for the strengthening of Dalit movement. 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. ]

Karnataka

1974: The Dalit Sangharsha Samiti, emerging as the result of an outbreak of riots over the statement of a minister B Basavalingappa.

In a programme at Mysuru, Basavalingappa opined that all the literature in Kannada till then is nothing but Boosa (cow fodder / rice husk). Agitations started against this statement. Finally, Basavalingappa had to tender his resignation. This incident galvanized the Dalit identity and nourished its growth. this particular incident had a great impact on Kannada culture, with his leadership, untouchable (Dalit) people mobilized at large in order to formulate a cultural and political identity in Kannada politics. At this juncture, in 1974, he set the foundation for the vibrant organization called ‘Dalita Sangarsha Samiti’ (The Rebelled Dalit organization).

Bihar

Struggle organised by Jagdish Mahato, who was teaching science at HD Jain College, Arrah. His passion for revolt was kindled by his acquaintance with Marx’s writings. Mahto was a staunch supporter of the rights of the Dalits.

Profiles of some Dalit Writers

The works briefly detailed here throw light upon some aspects of the miserable life of the poor Dalits, and shock us by exposing the steps they take and the philosophies they nurture in course of the fight they put up against their plight.

Sharankumar Limbale


Limbale is a Marathi author. His works, especially his poem “White Paper” is typical of the verse of the sixties produced by the Panthers. Replacing the self-pity which characterised early Dalit writing, his works present demands with a daring and sarcastic note.

Annabhau Sathe


Sathe is a writer and social reformer from Maharashtra. His work “Gold From the Grave” is a short story which has the macabre and the grotesque intruding into repulsive narratives of the struggle for survival. The story is of Bhima’s efforts to find a living, once he loses his work in a quarry. He ends up in a cremation ground, and hits upon gold pieces which were part of ornaments worn by the dead. He soon becomes a wanderer in cemeteries, gleaning gold from dead bodies. Once he had to fight a pack of jackals, and while the struggle was still on, he is caught red-handed.

Bhimrao Shirwale

Shirwale’s story “Livelihood” speaks of Kesi’s struggle to survive. Her husband Kesu, a monstrously deformed man, takes up to crime and is imprisoned. Their child resembles the father in deformity. Kesi, with the deformed child in her hand, goes begging. But the return of the prisoner reduces her to poverty again.

Tamil Dalit Literature

Reason for a lag: took time to catch up with others, due to the state’s preoccupation with several issues (trans-caste identity).

Sivakami

Pazhiyana Kazhidalun – first female novel in Tamil – a world corrupted by routinized politics, where women face double oppression, having to cope with male violence at home, added to ill treatment from upper class elites

Bama


Stories on the plight of Dalit women. Autobiography – Karukku – portrays Dalit women battered physically/ spiritually . The deprivation of spiritual help from the church, which has inducted the caste system into it. (Her narrative – the ordinary language of the Dalit women.)

Other works: Sangati, Vanmam


K A Gunasekaran

play – Bali Adugal (Scapegoats) – deals with the victim-oppressor split in the males. This play is considered to be the first ever Tamil Dalit play. 



Prepared by

Jacob Eapen Kunnath

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